Rand Paul: Civil Rights Act brouhaha clouds Senate campaign

Paul’s ambivalence toward federal laws mandating the actions of private business – such as disallowing racial discrimination and requiring accommodation for people with disabilities – is nothing new. He suggested as much during the campaign in an interview with the Louisville Courier-Journal editorial board.

But it has come to the fore in interviews since the primary. In addition to the Maddow interview, he spoke with NPR’s “All Things Considered” on Wednesday afternoon and, again, would not say straight up that he would have voted for the Civil Rights Act.

“What I’ve always said is, I’m opposed to institutional racism, and I would have – if I was alive at the time, I think – had the courage to march with Martin Luther King to overturn institutional racism, and I see no place in our society for institutional racism,” he said in response to a first question about the act.

“You would have marched with Martin Luther King but voted with Barry Goldwater?” asked host Robert Siegel.

“I think it’s confusing in a lot of cases in what’s actually in the Civil Rights Case [sic],” Paul replied. “A lot of things that were actually in the bill I’m actually in favor of I’m in favor of – everything with regards to ending institutional racism. So I think there’s a lot to be desired in the Civil Rights – and indeed the truth is, I haven’t read all through it, because it was passed 40 years ago and hadn’t been a real pressing issue on the campaign on whether I’m going to vote for the Civil Rights Act.”

Paul blames the 'loony left'

Paul supporters blame liberal media for going after him – the “loony left,” as Paul refers to critics. On Thursday morning, in an interview with the conservative Laura Ingraham, Paul did not express regret about his comments, but says he regrets appearing on "The Rachel Maddow Show."

“It was a poor political decision and probably won’t be happening anytime in the near future,” he said on Ms. Ingraham’s radio show.

But in a statement Thursday that seemed to acknowledge the political brouhaha he finds himself in, Paul said, “I unequivocally state that I will not support any efforts to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964.” Does he support all aspects of the landmark antidiscrimination legislation? That's still unclear.

Related:

Rand Paul rallies Tea Party with Kentucky GOP Senate primary win

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