---

Democratic National Committee

April 6, 2015 at 3:07 PM

6 Things You Need to Know about Rand Paul – in His Own Words

“Tomorrow Rand Paul plans to officially enter the 2016 presidential race vowing to be a ‘new type of Republican.’  Unfortunately for Paul, it doesn’t matter how many times he tries to reinvent himself. His policies are entirely outside the mainstream, his plans are bad for the middle class, and he would weaken the United States and our allies.  Whether it’s his skepticism over the need for fundamental civil rights and voting rights legislation, his opposition to LGBT rights, his plan that would increase taxes on the middle class, or his desire to eliminate all foreign aid including to our allies, it is abundantly clear that the American people cannot trust Rand Paul.” – Michael Tyler, DNC spokesperson

1.      Rand Paul sided with millionaires and billionaires by proposing a flat tax that would raise taxes on hardworking Americans while cheerleading a tax structure that would “lower rates dramatically for the upper income folks”.
 
Watch it here and read about it here.
 
2.      Rand Paul repeatedly suggests there is a right to discriminate and said decisions in the private sector should go “unhindered,” even if that includes discrimination.
 
Read it here. 
 
3.      Rand Paul on LGBT rights: “I don’t really believe in rights based on your behavior.”
 
Watch it here. 
4.      Rand Paul warned that ensuring equal pay for women would “give away freedom.”
 
Read it here.
 
5.      Rand Paul voted against allowing students to refinance their loans and suggested refinancing would threaten the “stability” and “fabric” of society.
 
Watch it here. 
 
6.      Rand Paul called foreign aid to Israel “welfare” and insisted we should completely end it.
 
Watch it here.  ________________________________________________________________________
April 7, 2015 at 9:59 AM

DNC Chair Statement on Rand Paul’s 2016 Announcement

Washington, DC – In response to Senator Rand Paul’s announcement that he will run for president in 2016, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

"Rand Paul says he wants to unleash the American Dream but the only thing a Paul presidential candidacy unleashes is a massive lurch backwards to failed policies and narrow-minded extremism. He says he’s something different, but when you take a look, he’s the same as any other Republican presidential hopeful: good for the wealthiest few and bad for the middle class, and taking positions that are way outside the mainstream on issue after issue.

This is a classic example of a GOP presidential candidate thinking he can talk his way into our communities while turning his back on us when it comes to his policy prescriptions. Not only is Rand Paul not going to make the GOP’s tent any bigger, the tent actually collapses under the weight of his harmful policies. How can Rand Paul seek to broaden Republicans’ appeal when he has voiced opposition to the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, opposed comprehensive immigration reform, written a budget slashing Pell Grants, belittled LGBT rights, and introduced bills to take women’s health care decisions out of their hands?

“On issue after issue his policies are the same as the rest of the GOP, but even more extreme, and will turn back the clock on the progress we have made.  That sounds like the same old Republican Party to me and it will to voters as well, who want a president who will fight to help them climb the ladder of opportunity."

---

April 7, 2015 at 12:00 PM

*New DNC Video*: Rand Paul doesn't sound like a different kind of Republican...

Well it’s official, Rand Paul is running for President. While Paul claims to be a different kind of Republican, we wanted to remind you what he really thinks on a whole variety of issues that will hugely impact American families.

article

---

April 7, 2015 at 6:41 PM

The Day 1 Coverage is Clear: Rand Paul Can't Run From His Record

It’s been only six hours since Rand Paul announced to the world that he’s running for president, but the coverage in Kentucky and across the country makes one thing clear: Rand Paul won’t be fooling anybody when it comes to his record.  

Here’s a look at the coverage from today:  

“Democrats took little time Tuesday to blast U.S. Sen. Rand Paul's presidential ambitions.  

“Within an hour after the Bowling Green Republican announced his candidacy on his website, Democratic National Committee chairwoman Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, and civil rights advocate and former Kentucky state Sen. Georgia Davis Powers of Louisville accused Paul of trying to reinvent himself.  

“Joined by College Democrats of America president Natasha McKenzie in a national telephone conference call, the three claimed that Paul's views remain outside the mainstream and are bad for the middle class.”  


“Democrats are already on the attack, Democratic National Committee Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz called Paul's views ‘outdated and way out of the mainstream.’  

“Former Kentucky State Sen. Georgia Davis Powers questioned Paul's record on civil rights.”  


“The DNC lashes back at Paul criticizing the senator for trying to reinvent himself calling his policies out of touch.”  


“Democrats were quick to counter the euphoria by some of a Rand Paul presidential bid.  Former Kentucky State Senator Georgia Davis Powers took part in a DNC teleconference earlier today.  

“Powers, the first black female to serve in the Kentucky Senate, blasted Paul for his previous statements pertaining to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  In 2010 Paul told the Courier Journal editorial staff that discriminating against anyone was ‘bad for business but at the same time I do believe in private ownership.’”  


“But Democrats were eager Tuesday to push back on the notion that Paul is genuine in his desire to help minorities, recalling Paul's previous criticism of a portion of the Civil Rights Act and his suggestion that the free market should have been allowed to ferret out discriminatory businesses.  

“U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said in a statement that Paul ‘says he wants to unleash the American Dream, but the only thing a Paul presidential candidacy unleashes is a massive lurch backwards to failed policies and narrow-minded extremism.’"  


“And Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz continued the pile-on, telling reporters, ‘Rand Paul's policies are way outside the mainstream.’  

“Perhaps reflecting the challenges he faces in convincing his critics he deserves the nomination, Paul is also leaving open the door to a second term in the Senate.”
  

“Before the announcement, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the chair of the Democratic National Committee, attacked Mr. Paul, labeling him as an extremist and warning that he embraces policies that will ‘turn back the clock on the progress we have made.’

“‘He says he’s something different, but when you take a look, he’s the same as any other Republican presidential hopeful: good for the wealthiest few and bad for the middle class, and taking positions that are way outside the mainstream on issue after issue,’  Mrs. Wasserman Schultz said.”


“Debbie Wasserman Schultz, chair of the Democratic National Committee, held a conference call with reporters that dismissed Paul’s attempt to reach beyond traditional Republican voters.

 “’It doesn’t matter how many times he tries to reinvent himself, the fact remains that Rand Paul’s policies are way outside the mainstream,’ she said.”  

---

---

Dream Action Coalition

---

---

Cruz for President

HOUSTON, Texas -- Today U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, released the following statement regarding the announcement that U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., will also seek the Republican nomination for President of the United States:

"I am glad to welcome my friend Rand Paul into the 2016 GOP primary. Rand is a good friend, and we have worked side by side on many issues. I respect his talent, his passion, and the work he has done for Kentuckians and Americans in the U.S. Senate. His entry into the race will no doubt raise the bar of competition, help make us all stronger, and ultimately ensure that the GOP nominee is equipped to beat Hillary Clinton and to take back the White House for Republicans in 2016."

---

---

Democratic National Committee
April 9, 2015

MEMO: How “different” is Rand Paul?
FROM: Mo Elleithee, DNC Communications Director

Rand Paul says he is ‘different’ and that he’ll be the candidate that the Republican Party needs to expand its appeal to new groups.

But when you take a look at Rand Paul’s policies, you’ll find that he’s just the same as everyone else in his party who want to erase the progress we have made on issue after issue and turn back the clock for women, young people, LGBT Americans, African Americans, and others.

In fact, when compared to other Republicans, Rand Paul’s record matches up almost exactly with the Republican Party’s policy positions and interest groups – a “top student” with a “4.0 GPA”.

• - Club for Growth ranked Rand Paul #5 out of all senators, but he topped the list of  the senators considering runs for president.
• - Americans for Prosperity gave Rand Paul a perfect 100 percent on its scorecard.
• - According to CQ,  Rand Paul has voted the Republican Party line more often than the average Senate Republican and has voted the party line increasingly so in recent years. In 2014, he voted with his party 96% of the time.

So what about expanding the tent? Well, Rand Paul’s tent is shrinking by the day and may in fact collapse on his campaign.

LGBT Americans? Rand Paul doesn’t believe in the concept of gay rights, because “I don’t really believe in rights based on your behavior.” Meanwhile, the number of Americans supporting marriage equality continues to grow, hitting 59% in a recent poll.

Women? Rand Paul has warned that ensuring equal pay for women would “give away freedom,” even though 69% of women think Congress should pass legislation that would help eliminate the pay gap. Rand also helped delay reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, and later joined the GOP fringe by voting against it. Rand says he would defund Planned Parenthood, despite 56% of women saying such a move would be “mostly or totally unacceptable.” On abortion, Rand has supported banning abortion with no exception for rape, incest, or the life of the mother.

African Americans? Rand Paul repeatedly suggests there is a right to discriminate and said decisions in the private sector should go “unhindered,” even if that includes discrimination, a concept that 61% of African Americans disagree with. Six out of ten Americans support raising the federal minimum wage, but Rand still stands opposed, saying that the “marketplace does a better job” determining the minimum wage. And his tax plan would raise the burden on the middle class at a time when 58% of Americans believe that they pay their fair share in taxes, and 55% think American corporations pay less than their fair share.

Young people? The average college student graduates with $29,400 in student loan debt, but Rand Paul voted against allowing students to refinance their loans, suggesting that refinancing would threaten the “stability” of society. Rand wants to take quality health care coverage away from millions of young people who are now able to stay on their parents’ insurance. Rand opposes marriage equality and opposes taking action on climate change, despite 69% of millennials saying that government should be more involved in addressing climate change.

If Rand Paul is at all “different” than his Republican colleagues, it’s because on some issues he has taken even more extreme positions than his colleagues. But any attempt he has to expand the Republican Party’s appeal to women, LGBT Americans, African Americans, Millennials, or otherwise will certainly be foiled by his horrible policies that are just more of the same.