Rand Paul Blasted By James Clyburn Over Civil Rights Act: 'He Is Not Good For This Country' (VIDEO)

GOP leaders in Congress have been cautious -- if not tepid -- in their rebuke of Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul for his refusal to endorse the Civil Rights Act. He is, after all, a Republican candidate and a beloved figure within the Tea Party.

For Democrats, however, the Paul controversy has been received with astonishment and shock -- rhetorical restraint deliberately checked at the door.

On Thursday Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) an iconic figure of the Civil Rights movement seemed visibly angered when discussing Paul's comments on MSNBC.

"I do believe he is not good for this country going forward," the South Carolina Democrat declared.

I was absolutely appalled... I happened to be watching his victory speech and I could not believe that he was holding his victory party in a private, member's only club where the vast majority of people who just finished voting for him would not even be welcome. I couldn't believe that. And then on the next day I hear him making these statements about not believing in the efficacy of the Civil Rights Act. Here is a man who is answering 14th amendment questions with second amendment responses. This is absolutely appalling. And now today, he's put out a statement that limits his acceptance to the 1964 Civil Rights Act. I want to say to him that voting rights are found in the '65 civil rights act, that fair housing, which is private, in the '68 civil rights act and not until 1972 did we outlaw discrimination in the public sector. So once again, he is parsing his words, he is saying things, sending signals that I hope the vast majority of the people who voted for him would reject and I am sure that come November, they will.

Clyburn approaches the issue from the personal perspective of having marched and protested for the very piece of legislation that Paul suggested was a government overreach. But he expanded his criticism to other issues, noting that a libertarian philosophy contributed to the lax rules for Wall Street and the poor regulation of offshore drilling.

As for Kentucky politics, that was left for John Yarmuth, a Democratic representative from the state.

"Rand Paul has already embarrassed Kentuckians in the eyes of the world," the congressman said in a statement. "The Commonwealth deserves better because we are better -- and I call on Mitch McConnell and my other colleagues in the Kentucky Congressional Delegation to join me in condemning his despicable views."

WATCH Clyburn's appearance:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Comments

[Adakin Valorem]

09:17 PM on 06/10/2010

Clyburn said: "And then on the next day I hear him making these statements about not believing in the efficacy of he Civil Rights Act" I guess that means that those that DO believe in the efficacy of the Civil Rights Act don't believe in private property rights, or the how a free market...and the press... would demonize a business that discriminated against minorities. The Civil Rights Act was needed when segregation was prevolent. But todays society would demonize such a business practices today even without having a law that mandates it.

I think that was Dr. Paul's point.

[Whitley2009]

09:19 AM on 05/27/2010

I was there when Congressman Clyburn became active in the civil rights movement. He has always conducted himself with a proper demeanor and attitude as to racial issues. He is absolutely correct about Rand Paul.

This body plumber obtained his medical degree and now thinks he is a font of knowledge about advanced economics, international relations, constitutional law, inter alias. Is is amazing how people like him can jump from biochemistry to federal corporate goverance without any training or schooling.

Like his father, he is a vain and narcissistic personality problem. Then, again, the Republican Party and TeaBaggers are full of such personalities.

[clearthinker2008]

07:49 AM on 05/24/2010

Paul isn't good for this country. It would be awesome if all the tea party folks would pool their assets and buy an island, move there and name it tea party land or crazy racist republican island, or whatever they choose and leave the rest of us the heck alone. We are not going back to days when my father had to pee in a cup and sleep in his car on a road trip. Not. Going. To. Happen.

But thanks for playing, Mr. Paul.

[kittyma]

11:29 PM on 05/23/2010

It's really very simple: The Tea Party "movement" is racist. AND The Republicans are not uncomfortable with racism. It is time we stop being afraid to say it and it is time we call it for what it is.

[pammiethekid]

07:35 PM on 05/23/2010

Mitch McConnell is crapping in a corner tonight, knowing that Rand Paul was elected in part precisely BECAUSE of, rather than IN SPITE OF his views on how it's really up to each state/business/individual as to whether they want to recognize any American as a whole person or not. So who does McConnell apologize to? The thinking public, or the people who voted for Rand Paul because McConnell wasn't quite wacked-out enough for them?

[MWOwens05]

05:52 PM on 05/21/2010

Clearly he was holding back.....

[3in1]

11:26 AM on 05/21/2010

Suppose an "terrorist American customer sits down at a “blacks only” restaurant and asks for dinner. The owner tells him to leave. The customer refuses and stays put. What are the owner’s options at that point? He can forcibly remove the customer himself, but, as Paul concedes, that could expose the restaurateur to criminal or civil liability. So he’ll have to call the cops. When they arrive, he’ll have to explain his blacks-only policy and ask them to remove the unwanted terrorist man because he’s violating it. But they can only do that on the basis of some law, presumably trespassing. In other words, the business owner’s discriminatory edict is meaningless unless some public authority enforces it.

[pammiethekid]

07:38 PM on 05/23/2010

good. seriously. post this again or it will be overlooked. Post it ten times. Please. Fanned.

[kittyma]

11:23 PM on 05/23/2010

????? Are you for real??

[3in1]

11:16 AM on 05/21/2010

Big Jim came into office promising rainbows and puppies for everyone and has, like Pizza Hut during a blizzard, failed to deliver.

[monstermash9]

02:29 AM on 05/22/2010

You fail as a poster.

[pammiethekid]

07:41 PM on 05/23/2010

Big Jim? Do you really expect to make a point by putting the word Big in front of Jim? No wait, don't answer that. 3in1, I'll remember not to read any of your responses in the future. Not, as they say, the sharpest knife in the drawer.

[ObamaIsTheOne]

11:07 AM on 05/21/2010

All Tea Baggers are racist.

[3in1]

09:46 AM on 05/21/2010

"Big Jim" should resign his seat. obama was not "black enough" for "Big Jim" him until he had enough delegates. South Carolina jerry manders his 6th district. But he continues not to back blacks in their businesses in SC. He supports Wall Street because they are his top money backers.

[lizt]

09:49 AM on 05/21/2010

Gerrymanders not jerry manders.

[3in1]

10:02 AM on 05/21/2010

Thank you for correcting my spelling eroor.(sic) I need a spell check.

Rach and General Electric need "Big Jim." These are "Big Jim" top donors.

1 General Electric $31,000 $21,000 $10,000
2 DaVita Inc $22,350 $13,850 $8,500
3 RLJ Companies $17,000 $17,000 $0
4 CSX Corp $16,250 $6,250 $10,000
5 Verizon Communications $15,400 $10,400 $5,000
6 Crawford Group $14,800 $4,800 $10,000
7 Akin, Gump et al $13,500 $9,000 $4,500
8 Southern Co $12,500 $2,500 $10,000
9 National Community Pharmacists Assn $12,000 $0 $12,000
10 Podesta Group

[sankofaman]

10:13 AM on 05/21/2010

What the hell does your inane post have to do with James Clyburn DENOUNCING the despicable views of Ron Paul and the civil rights act. I smell a racist apologist.

[Judann]

09:29 AM on 05/21/2010

Paul's appearance on the Maddow show and his complete turnaround on his position the next day re the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (even the private business section was needed, he said), underscores his inability to be the rock star the cable media has made of him - and that is not just Faux News. This guy is the male version of Palin without the charisma.

[lizt]

09:51 AM on 05/21/2010

No joke. It was almost painful to watch Rachel try to get him to give a clear answer without blowing political smoke.

[RudyE]

08:12 AM on 05/21/2010

.....and yet, the Fox Network pundits spent last night vehemently denying that Paul said anything he actually said. Note to the conservative press: Guys: argue against political views you don't espouse and criticize the things you believe are legitimately wrong. But don't lie and expect us to believe you simply because it's you who are saying it. C'mon. The guy stuck his foot squarely in his mouth, he's bad for politics and the voters will decide in Nov if they can live with this or not. Ain't the first time it's ever happened and I'm willing to bet it's far from the last time, either. But present the mistakes that are made by politicians across the board with an even approach, okay?

[From the Raft]

07:58 AM on 05/21/2010

James Clyburn is an American hero!

Bless you for speaking up.

[bkrider9]

08:08 AM on 05/21/2010

x2

[OmarLocke 36]

07:48 AM on 05/21/2010

race baiting.

[ztck5356]

07:30 AM on 05/21/2010

According to other news sources, he made these comments way before the election and the media chose not to report this. This is an example of the media influencing out elections by choosing what they report. The more our news sources are owned by one person, like Rupert Murdoch, a conservative leaning man who owns Fox news. This should be a wake-up call for Americans. Read this man's bio:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rupert_Murdoch

[3in1]

11:12 AM on 05/21/2010

left wing wikipedia??????????

[monstermash9]

02:32 AM on 05/22/2010

Just like the dictionary. Remember the dingbat claiming that? Facts are some kind of left wing conspiracy to you guys.