Rand Paul gets laughed off the stage by The View crowd: Our …
The View audience hooted and jeered Sen. Rand Paul for attacking Sen. Bernie Sanders and socialism in a contentious panel discussion.
The Kentucky Republican was promoting his new book, The Case Against Socialism, but he didnt find a receptive audience for his claims.
Bernie Sanders form of socialism is actually unpopular, and he would never get elected to anything in Denmark, Paul said. In fact, the prime minister of Denmark, when he heard Bernie was going around saying hes a socialist, he said, No, no were not socialists, we have private property, and we dont have a minimum wage.'
Paul argued that Scandinavian countries paid massive taxes to pay for free stuff thats given out by the government, and Hostin said Americans paid high taxes but had poor health care and public education.
We have a different form of taxation in our country, Paul countered. Its much more progressive. Weve taken the poor off of the rolls, they dont pay income tax anymore. Most people below $50,000 dont pay any income tax, the top 1 percent in our country pay 40 percent.
The audience began laughing at the senators claims, and Hostin called him out.
Our audience says thats not true, she said, and the crowd continued laughing.
Paul insisted that IRS statistics show the top 1 percent paid a 40 percent income tax rate, and the laughter cascaded loudly over the GOP lawmaker.
Donald Trump doesnt pay any income tax, Hostin said.
Guest host Ana Navarro asked whether Paul agreed with the president that voting for Democrats would turn the U.S. into a Venezuela-style socialist country, and Paul didnt disagree.
Well, if you vote for a socialist, you might get socialism, Paul said.
Navarro erupted, arguing that president Nicols Maduro Moros was a corrupt, murderous thug who is starving his people but Paul said thats not true.
Thats not true? Navarro shot back. Maduro is not a thug and murderer who is starving his people?
Paul gestured for her to calm down, and argued that Venezuelans had voted for socialism, but Navarro cut him off.
Thats kleptocracy, not socialism, Navarro said, as Paul objected. I cant let you finish if youre not going to say Maduros a murderous thug.
The audience went wild, and Paul turned his back to Navarro and waved his hands in her face.
Dont do this to me, Navarro said, mimicking his gesture as audience continued cheering. Dont mansplain, Im 47 years old.
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Rand Paul gets laughed off the stage by The View crowd: Our ...