[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/05/21/art.oil.gi.jpg caption="Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul is taking aim at President Barack Obama's handling of the oil crisis off the Gulf Coast."](CNN) - Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul is taking aim at President Barack Obama's handling of the oil crisis off the Gulf Coast.
The president, Paul told ABC, is being too tough on BP - the oil giant that controls the well that has been leaking thousands of barrels of oil a day in the Gulf since late last month.
"What I don't like from the president's administration is this sort of 'I'll put my boot heel on the throat of BP,'" said Paul who overwhelmingly won Tuesday's GOP Senate primary in Kentucky and is a favorite of Tea Party activists. "I think that sounds really un-American in his criticisms of businesses."
"I've heard nothing from BP about not paying for the spill," Paul continued. "I think it's part of this blame game society in the sense that it's always got to be someone's fault, instead of the fact that sometimes accidents happen."
Since capturing the Senate nomination, Paul has faced a barrage of questions over his past criticisms of several federal regulations that intrude on the private sector, including provisions of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the national minimum wage.
"When does my honeymoon period start?" said Paul when he was again asked about his past statements Friday. "I had a big victory. I thought I got a honeymoon period from you guys in the media."
Democrat Jack Conway, Paul's opponent in the Kentucky Senate race, released a statement Friday slamming Paul over his comments on BP.
"Rand Paul apparently has a deeply held conviction that corporations should be allowed to do what they see fit without oversight or accountability. He even goes so far as to say that that criticizing corporations when they hurt taxpayers and working families – as in the case of the massive BP oil disaster – is 'un-American,'" Conway said.
Rand Paul is an idiot, who, if elected, will serve the oil industry well.
OMG a MALE version of Sarah Palin....no wonder the Tea Party folks like him so much. Hasn't Mr. Paul heard that this is supposed to be "Obama's Katrina" as so called by Boss Limbaugh and other top neo-cons? So what is he supposed to do/ I will say this though Rand is sounding like a true Republican because no matter what Obama does it's ALWAYS wrong.....but this is a new one to me being TOO TOUGH. Give me a break!
What??? It's un-American to criticize businesses? Please...look what big business has done to this country just in the last decade or so, and we're just supposed to sit back and take it because...why exactly? If this fool and his ilk get elected in November, it'll be disastrous for this country.
so he loves BP and allowing businesses to disciminate? and the majority of people from kentucky will probably vote for him. here's a tip – when you come to the kentucky border, just turn around and head back toward civilization.
And what does Paul think about the $75M cap that BP is allowed by law to get away with? Should it be changed so that companies that cause damage to communities, natural and human, should be held accountable?
This eye Doctor needs to cure his own eyes. Doesn't he see the mess up of Oil, BP has created and yet he blames the President is tough on them!!!!!!
Rand Paul and the Tea Party are giving us an idea of who they really are...the party of "NO government". If people think the government is all bad, just try anarchy or the completely unrestrained version of the"free market." I really think the Tea Party people are the least patriotic individuals in this great country. Fortunately, nuts like him are rekindling energy within the Democratic party. The crazier the Republican candidates are in the fall, the more the Dems will show up at the voting booths to save us from them.
This Rand guy is clueless. BP is ruining the gulf and sounding communities from fishing to tourism and he says Obama is being to tough? If I was President I would be planning on banning from doing business in the US until they get their crap straightened out. To have a company that can just flat out not care, we don't need those companies in America killing our country.
GOP leaders must be gnashing their teeth over the recent turn of events. Palin is an uncontrollable rogue operative and Paul is a loose cannon who can't shut up. Embracing the Tea Pary movement may come back to haunt the GOP in November.
sounds like Rand Paul doesn't have a lot of real world experience. Not tough? BP has out right hid some of the truth on how bad this is. Example the video is just one area. Good job Kentucky Republicans in voting this guy in.
Is this guy for real? Every day he seems more like a parody of a tea-partier thought up by some Hollywood elite comedy writer.
Oh? And if Bushco had done the job they were supposed to do and make sure there were stiff penalties for companies that didn't conform to safety regulations, then we wouldn't have this huge environmental mess, would we?
Sure, BP is going to pay for the mess. They're the ones at fault. It's their fault BECAUSE they didn't put in the necessary safety precautions and safety measures and are completely clueless about what they're doing.
So he thinks that businesses should be able to discriminate based on the color of someone's skin or disability . . . .religion too, I would guess following his logic (?!). And he thinks we should be SOFTER on the oil company giant who's cost-cutting negligance has caused the biggest man-made ecological and, potentially, economical crisis in the history of this country??!! This man is mentally unstable.
Mr Paul, a disabled BOP is not an accident. it is criminal negligence.
That is why we need to regulate business. Most (Wall Street, Massey Energy, BP, etc..) do not have the publics best interest in mind. they will not self regulate. We have tried that and it fails every dang time.
Get your head out of your butt and smell the truth.
Keep talking Rand.
i'll give him the benefit of the doubt and agree that "sometimes accidents happen". but the glaring question is why is there no plan in place to put into action when such an "accident" occurs? why is this oil leak still not contained after so many WEEKS (not days, but WEEKS!)?
What, is he crazy? I don't think Obama has done enough or acted fast enough to get this spill under control. Not only Obama, but the entire world at large should be involved in capping this. BP execs should be placed aboard a submarine and sent down to watch the event until it's remediated.
Yeah, give BP a break. I mean they only cut corners and took unnecessary risks to make a few extra million on top of their multi-billion dollar quarterly profits. This is only potentially the worst environmental disaster in American history. It's not like anyone died due to their greed and negligence. Oh wait.
Keep in mind that if Rand Paul owned a restaurant, any person not white can not dine there. Don't you think Rand Paul is being a little hard on the majority in the world? I am so glad the Tea Party movement is so radical, they we soon realize the majority don't care to be controlled by the minority.
Wow! The greatest environmental disaster of our generation to affect our country and the president is too hard on BP?!!!?! Government is there to protect the citizenry from the rapcious nature of "private: business. When business actions or inactions affect the common good, they must be taken to task. Exxon promised to pay up too and it has kept the settlement in the courts for over 20 years!
Can you believe this guy? When the Gulf and Atlantic states are facing the greatest environmental disaster in memory, this guy thinks BP should be given a pass for compromising safety for increased profits. What planet is this idiot living on?
The media's spin on everything he says raises eye brows.
LOL! Umm, are republicans sure that they want Paul to be the new face of their party? He's off to such a terrific start.
BUT YET – Rand aPAULling wants to BE TOUGH on Washington???? Oh yea, but not the oil companies!!!!
See RAND run
Run RAND run
See RAND so-call WIN
WIN Rand WIN
See RAND's Head Get too BIG
BIG Head RAND
See RAND fail
FAIL RAND FAIL – along with the other far-right – tea-bashing – palin-Sailing – Limbaugh-hating – ChenGANG bangers – BECK losers – Hannity Insannity MORONS!!!!!!!
Who DIED and left RAND the boss!!!!!!!!
Rand Paul is a bigger idiot than Sarah Palin!