Rand Paul gives Obama the royal treatment
(CNN) - Saying President Barack Obama is acting like a "king" by threatening to take executive action on gun laws, Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul cautioned the president to be ready for a fight on Capitol Hill.
"I'm against having a king," he said Tuesday in an interview in Jerusalem with the Christian Broadcasting Network. "I think having a monarch is what we fought the American Revolution over and someone who wants to bypass the Constitution, bypass Congress - that's someone who wants to act like a king or a monarch."
[twitter-follow screen_name='politicalticker']
Obama will announce proposals to curb gun violence Wednesday based on recommendations by Vice President Joe Biden's task force, which held meetings with multiple stakeholders in the gun control debate. The announcement comes just over a month after the deadly Connecticut elementary school massacre that left 26 killed, in addition to the gunman's mother.
According to White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, Obama "intends to take a comprehensive approach," including renewal of the assault weapons ban that expired in 2004, a ban of high-capacity gun magazines and closing background check loopholes.
Among the proposals are 19 executive actions that Obama could take without congressional approval, legislators briefed by Biden said Tuesday.
But Carney noted "there are limits on what can be done within existing law" and said Congress would have to act on certain proposals "because the power to do that is reserved by Congress and to Congress."
If the president does decide to make unilateral moves, however, Sen. Paul warned such action would spark intense backlash.
"I've been opposed to executive orders, even with Republican presidents," he said. "But one that wants to infringe on the Second Amendment, we will fight tooth and nail."
"And I promise you," he continued. "There'll be no rock left unturned as far as trying to stop him from usurping the Constitution, running roughshod over Congress. And you will see one heck of a debate if he decides to try to do this."
His argument falls in line with critics who say recent legislative pushes–both at the federal and state level–to amend gun laws mark an aggressive front against Second Amendment rights. The National Rifle Association on Monday posted to Twitter that gun owners are "under assault" and argued the White House and New York Politicians "declare war on the #SecondAmendment."
New York lawmakers, led by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, approved tough new firearm legislation Tuesday that represents the first gun control laws passed since the Newtown shooting.
Paul, a first-term senator, has not shot down potential interest in a 2016 presidential bid. His father, former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, is widely considered a leader among libertarians and made three White House runs, including a 2012 campaign.
- CNN's Ashley Killough and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
- How Liz Cheney went from Republican scion to party pariah
- Elise Stefanik faces increased conservative headwinds in rise to leadership May 13, 2021 12:50 am
- Inhofe tells EPA nominee, 'if you don't behave, I'm going to talk to your daddy' May 13, 2021 12:45 am
- Colonial Pipeline not likely to pay millions in ransom demanded by hackers May 12, 2021 11:44 pm
- Federal prosecutor overseeing Rudy Giuliani probe stepping down May 12, 2021 11:09 pm
- Biden signs cybersecurity executive order, though rules wouldn't have applied to Colonial Pipeline May 12, 2021 10:51 pm
Rand Paul is the face of all that is wrong in this country; ignorance, intolerance, bigotry, and fear based conspiracy lunacy. Go home Tea Party!!!!!
What's with this "king" crap. He was elected for four more years. End of story.
Considering the source....what a joke....
He doesn't like kings. yet his party is trying to destroy our democracy and insure nothing but rethugs are elected by disenfranchising every likely Democratic voter they can. is there no end to this group's hypocrisy??? so sad there are still enough people in this country stupid enough to vote for these anarchist traitors.
MIkey wrote,
"This coming from an idiot who would like to see businesses be able to discriminate based on race, etc. "
Mikey, would you please define affirmative action for me?
@Daniel says "I hope I am around to see the day that His royal magi-sty takes something you want. If he is successful in this then it will be even easier next time and get even easier. Then one day he will have all of the power and guess what?"
-------------------------------------------------He's already hit me on the Payroll Tax. Not to violate my rights. Your bunch started a war not paid for and cut taxes for the wealthy. Now I have to pay "Obama" for their loyalty to the oligarchs. You don't see me up in arms do ya"? I made a pun. About a gun. I'd better run....
Put a paper bag over your head Rand and shut up. That's it.
Disrespect to the MAX! Rand Paul cautioned the president to be ready for a fight on Capitol Hill.! A wha dis worl a come to! (Patios)! A who im tink im is? Someone needs to remind Mr. Paul that he needs to speak of the president of the free world with much due respect!
This jerk for a senator has consumed too much tainted tea.
Agree with Jersey Jeff brown! Dems need to start showing up for mid-term elections so we can stop this foolishness both ifor congress (US and State) and Gov.
So let's have more children get killed in the name of this jerk named after Ayn Rand who said that selfishness is good!! How stupid is stupid!!!!
It would be nice to have the republicans speak up when the government does things that can actually infringe upon freedom here in the 21st century, like search and seizure without warrant, watchlists, reading your email, all those nice little touches that Big Brother can bring to the table. But as long as they have their totemic guns, they could be living in a gulag and would be happy. Look at the other countries with high per capita rates of guns, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan, yup you can almost smell the freedom in the air...
@ stevencravis
Oh, c'mon, Rand, we're trying to save children's lives here.
lmao!!!!!! You people and the way you think will be the demise of this great country. I just about had to throw up when I read all these posts talking such mindless nonsense hiding behind the "I'm such a good person , pat me on the back!! Give me a pule bag quick!
Here is what happened in New-town: You have a whack out little punk kid that was allowed to play violent video games all day and night in the basement of his home. Even though its a known fact that his mother was scared of him, did not want him to play with other kids and even talked of having him committed she still had a fully stocked gun cabinet full of guns she trained him to use sitting unlocked in this same basement and you people are blaming the gun!!?? Guns have been around forever, millions and millions of people own them. Stop being so stupid and fix the real problem , bad parenting and a non existent accessible mental health treatment system...Ever had trouble with your head and tried to talk to someone about it? Believe me it is non existent. But hey lets pass a useless law completely in defiance of " Shall not be infringed" because fixing the real problem would cost billions. I am so ashamed of you people, this is America start acting like one.
One Paul like another... They don't understand the needs of the country or the greater good of the community. He is thinking that individual freedoms always trump the greater good for the community and safety thereof. What does this guy value? Someone's liberty stops when it harms someone else. That is why we have gun laws in the first place.
Here we go again, another nut job in the House trying to make Obama into something he isn't. And the knee-jerk ideologues will eat it up and regurgitate it happily, like the mindless monkeys they are.
Thank you, Rand!
Dad has alot of good ideas but Rand here is another one of those leeches like harry reid;lindsey graham;john McCaim;asa--whatever.Supporting the NRA with no compromising,it's a threat to their longevity in the senate.These donkeys are all about themselves...very selfserving & its time for the people to wake up against these leeches.Perhaps the states should tax the living hell out of the gun industry like it has been done to the tobacco companies.
Jeez these repugs sure are passionate about their nasty hobby, guns, too bad they don't get as passionate about other things that actually matter. Somehow starting a phony war, as our last King did didn't generate much comment from these nuts.
The Pauls' are on the looney side of the political spectrum. Their pronouncements are not worthy of attention.
Which President said it would be much easier to run this country if it were a dictatorship, and he were the dictator? I'll give you a hint – his initials were G.W.B. And the rabid mob attacking Obama for fantasies invented by his enemies had absolutely nothing to say when G.W.B. made that comment. That says a lot about the Party First morons.
My guns are mine and will keep them
@thomase
Obama has the lowest number of executive orders of, what, the last 10 presidents?
Obama 138
GWB 290
Clinton 360
GHB 166
Reagan 380
FDR 3,500
You shouldve also included the filibuster ratio and the debt ceiling numbers compared to other Presidents. GOPers hate facts and numbers.
OMG Daniel – "Then one day he will have all of the power and guess what? It will be way too late to do anything. We as Americans have to draw a line and tell the president that this is as far as he goes and we will not let him go any farther!!!"
Are you really THAT paranoid??? How on earth do you fall asleep at night! Medication does wonders my boy.
Paul posturing and pandering for presidential primary preference...pyoowwww!
I concur with you "ME" all of them must have failed government classes. It's a disgrace to display ignorance on this level.