Top Items:
David Weigel / Right Now:
Rand Paul, telling the truth — If we use “gaffe” in its proper, Kinsleyan form, that's what U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul issued to NPR yesterday, and that's what he defended on Rachel Maddow's show last night. He told the truth about his stance on the Civil Rights Act.
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Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Rand Paul won't answer Civil Rights Act question — Moving from the Republican Primary to the general election means, for Rand Paul, addressing a broader set of issues than the anti-tax, anti-spending focus of his campaign. — And while he's answered this question before …
Ezra Klein:
Rand Paul may not be a racist, but he is an extremist — Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy — It's safe to say Rand Paul's first few days as the Republican nominee for the open Senate seat in Kentucky are not going well.
Discussion:
Washington Wire, USA Today, The Daily Dish, The New Republic, RHRealityCheck.org and The Awl
Ian M. / Think Progress:
Rand Paul: ‘The Hard Part Of Believing In Freedom’ Is Opposing Ban On Whites-Only Lunch Counters — The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is one of the greatest accomplishments of the 20th century, banning whites-only lunch counters and similar discrimination in hiring, promotions, hotels and restaurants.
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blog:
Paul blames ‘loony left’ for civil rights focus — Rand Paul lashed out at the “loony left” for pressing him on his view of the 1964 Civil Rights Act in an interview with Laura Ingraham this morning. — “I've never really favored any change in the Civil Rights Act,” he said.
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Freedom as White Supremacy — It seems that yesterday US Senate candidate Rand Paul let the cat out of the bag and admitted that under his brand of libertarian conservatism he can't support the 1964 Civil Rights Act or other non-discrimination legislation as applied to private businesses.
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog
The Huffington Post:
Rand Paul On Civil Rights Controversy: I Shouldn't Have Talked To Rachel Maddow [UPDATED] — See new updates below. — The morning after he declined to endorse the totality of the Civil Rights Act in his much-discussed appearance on the Rachel Maddow Show, Dr. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) …
Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
In Defense Of Rand Paul (Kinda) — Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy — It's the top story on Memeorandum this morning. TNC watches the above Maddow interview: … Think Progress highlights an interview Paul did with the Louisville Courier-Journal:
Mike Memoli / Real Clear Politics:
Paul: I Support the Civil Rights Act — Reacting to an avalanche of criticism over his perceived views of the Civil Rights Act, Rand Paul's campaign issues this statement today: … Sphere It!
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Paul: Civil rights ‘settled’ law — Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul acknowledged Thursday that the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was necessary to foster racial integration, a day after stumbling into a political mess by dodging questions about whether he would have voted for the law.
Joan Walsh / Salon:
Rachel Maddow demolishes Rand Paul — The Tea Party favorite says he'd have marched with Martin Luther King Jr., but he opposes the law that forced businesses to serve him — Kentucky GOP Senate nominee Rand Paul is squirming under the bright lights of national media attention since …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, Guardian, Moonbattery, Pam's House Blend, TPMDC and Barefoot and Progressive
Taylor Marsh / The Huffington Post:
Rand Paul on Civil Rights: Private Restaurants Wouldn't Have To …
Rand Paul on Civil Rights: Private Restaurants Wouldn't Have To …
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
RAND PAUL, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, AND ‘THE HARD PART’ OF ‘FREEDOM’. …
RAND PAUL, THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, AND ‘THE HARD PART’ OF ‘FREEDOM’. …
David S. Broder / Washington Post:
A big hit against big government — As we approached the Tuesday night with the year's most significant senatorial primaries so far, I turned for guidance to a man who had already been through the fires that define the incendiary politics of 2010. — Ten days after he was barred from the ballot …
Discussion:
PostPartisan, Commentary, Daily Kos, United States of Jamerica, Firedoglake, Riehl World View, Ezra Klein and Balloon Juice
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Neil Vigdor / Stamford Advocate:
Critics weigh Blumenthal's words — “I wore the uniform in Vietnam and many came back & to all kinds of disrespect. Whatever we think of war, we owe the men and women of the armed forces our unconditional support.” — The occasion was the Stamford Veterans Days parade: Nov. 9, 2008.
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Justin Gillis / New York Times:
Scientists Fault Lack of Studies Over Gulf Oil Spill — Tensions between the Obama administration and the scientific community over the gulf oil spill are escalating, with prominent oceanographers accusing the government of failing to conduct an adequate scientific analysis of the damage …
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Jake Tapper / Political Punch:
Salahis Stopped by Secret Service Near White House Last Night — The Salahis were stopped by the U.S. Secret Service last night at around 8 p.m. ET during the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon as their stretch limousine ran a red light and seemed to be trying to turn …
Zombie / Pajamas Media:
The New Free Speech Movement — Today is Everybody Draw Mohammed Day, a completely made-up satirical “holiday” dedicated to the concept of drawing Mohammed cartoons, as a way of making a statement about freedom of speech. — Not everyone agrees with this idea, however.
Discussion:
Big Hollywood, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, The Jawa Report, Big Government, Telegraph, Confederate Yankee and TigerHawk
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Rasmussen Reports:
Election 2010: South Carolina Republican Primary for Governor — South Carolina GOP Primary for Governor: Haley Jumps Ahead — With South Carolina's Republican Primary for Governor less than three weeks away, State Representative Nikki Haley, coming off a fresh endorsement by Sarah Palin, now leads the GOP pack.
The Hill:
Bring it on: Pelosi predicts ‘for sure’ that Dems will win House — Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a message for Republicans this fall: Bring it on. — A buoyant Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday basked in the Democrats' special-election triumph while bashing Republicans and expressing confidence …