Mediaboss Marketing

"John Lewis isn't in a position where there can't be a healthy debate. Because he's a civil rights icon, shouldn't make him immune" to criticism, the Kentucky senator told Jake Tapper on CNN's "State of the Union."

On Saturday, President-elect Donald Trump responded to Lewis' questioning of his legitimacy by unleashing a string of attacks on Twitter, calling the Georgia congressman -- who was beaten and nearly killed in Selma, Alabama in 1965 while marching for voting rights -- "all talk" and "no action."

Paul added that Lewis is, like his Democratic colleagues, a fair subject for criticism from across the aisle.

"John Lewis is a partisan," he said. "I have a great deal of respect for him, but he is a partisan and I disagree with him on issues. I should be able to honestly disagree with him and not have it all come back to I have no appreciation for a civil rights icon because of this and I think that's the part I think somehow is unfair in this."

Vice President-elect Mike Pence said in a separate interview he was "deeply disappointed" to see Lewis question Trump's legitimacy.

"Donald Trump has the right to defend himself," Pence told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." "When someone of John Lewis' stature, someone who is not only an icon in the civil rights movement, but also by somebody who by virtue of his sacrifice on that day we know as bloody Sunday ... for someone of his stature to use terms like this -- that (Trump) is not a legitimate president -- it's just deeply disappointing to me."

Pence said he hopes Lewis reconsiders his decision to skip inauguration.

Incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus called Lewis' comments "incredibly disappointing."

"We look up to John Lewis and his historic contribution to civil rights and voting rights," Priebus told George Stephanopoulos on ABC's "This Week." "It's incredibly disappointing, and I think it's irresponsible, for people like himself to question the legitimacy of the next United States president."

Read more:
Rand Paul: John Lewis isn't immune to criticism - CNN

Senators Rand Paul and Mike Lee have beentwo ofthe most outspoken members of congress insisting that President Obama obey the Constitution in regard toforeign policy, including declaring war. Obama has a bad record on this front, preferring questionable executive orders over proper constitutional procedure.

Now, Paul and Lee want President Trump to do much better.

RELATED:Rand Paul: Donald Trump fully supports my plan to repeal and replace Obamacare

In a joint letter to the President-elect, Paul and Lee write, As you begin your administration, we hope that you will work closely with Congress to determine and implement foreign policy and security strategies that have broad support from the American people.

The constitutional powers to carry out this duty are shared between the President and Congress so that our military and diplomatic policies are informed by a long-term vision of American interests forged through the kind of open debate and patient deliberation that is the province of Congress while remaining flexible enough to respond to threats as they appear, the letter reads.

The complexity of the security questions we face as a nation calls for robust debate, prudence and cooperation. The challenges are too great and the risks too high to simply defer to yesterdays status quo. Now is the time for bold leadership and sober judgment, the letter continues.

The Hill observed of Paul and Lee, The two GOP senators have also broken with their party on some foreign policy fights. Lee partnered in 2015 with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Tom Udall (N.M.) and Chris Murphy (Conn.) to call on President Obama to end the train-and-equip program for Syrian rebels.

Paul and Lee added in their letter that an uptick in military operations, including a no-fly zone or increasing the number of troops, in the Middle East or northern Africa should only take place after formal authorization by Congress, The Hill notes.

RELATED:Incoming President Donald Trump is right to question Washingtons basic credibility

Paul and Lee also see the need to revisit Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) powers, used liberally by both Presidents Obama and George W. Bush. We further believe that you should work closely with Congress to review, reform or repeal the 2001 and 2002 AUMFs, Paul and Leesay in the letter.

Paul and Lee advise Trump, You have an opportunity at the beginning of your presidency to help recommit the Executive Branch to preserving this constitutional balance that has always defined our government at its best, and we stand ready to work with your administration toward that end.

Read the senators letter in its entirety here.

Disclosure: I co-authored the 2011 book The Tea Party Goes to Washington by Sen. Rand Paul.

See the rest here:
Rand Paul and Mike Lee urge Donald Trump to follow the ... - Rare - Rare.us

CNN

Rand Paul: 'We're Going to Legalize the Sale of Inexpensive Insurance' CNSNews.com "We are going to help people save through health savings accounts, as well as a tax credit," Paul continued. "And then one of the things that we need to talk more about -- and this is the third part of the replacement bill -- is, we're going to allow ... Rand Paul previews Obamacare replacement planCNN Rand Paul: ObamaCare replacement goal is to insure most people at lowest costThe Hill Rand Paul says he's drafting a measure to replace ObamacareThe Boston Globe Politico -Yahoo Finance all 49 news articles »

See more here:
Rand Paul: 'We're Going to Legalize the Sale of Inexpensive Insurance' - CNSNews.com

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Tuesday on CNNs Wolf, while discussing leaks about the unverified dossier on President-elect Donald Trump and Russia and leaks about the intelligence briefing received by the president-elect, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) doubled down on a claim he made last week suggesting jail time for the parties behind the leak.

SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

Partial transcript as follows:

PAUL: I think its unseemly that people in our intelligence community, the CIA director, is out there giving press conferences, criticizing the incoming president I think thats inexcusable and I would not have anybody in the CIA thats publicly criticizing the president. Its not their job, its not their role and its frankly, unseemly, and it takes away from the credibility. Look, the intelligence community has had a great loss of credibility in the last couple of years. James Clapper came to the Senate and lied under oath. Now we have the head of the CIA publicly criticizing the incoming president. I think thats not the role of the CIA. The CIA should be in the background trying to protect our country and not out there trying to score political points. I think its a terrible and tragic day, and it hurts all of our intelligence gathering and their credibility to have the head of the CIA out there doing this.

BLITZER: But Senator, when Donald Trump twice compares elements in the U.S. intelligence community at the CIA as behaving as if they were in Nazi Germany, doesnt the CIA director have the right to defend the men and women in the intelligence community?

PAUL: I think its very important that private information thats discussed in private intelligence briefings be private. Classified information should not be leaked to the press. I dont know who did this, but I can tell you in all likelihood, it wasnt a Republican. It wasnt Donald Trump. It wasnt his people. So you have a couple of choices. This was either leaked to networks and other organizations by intelligence officials or by Democrats that are part of the elite eight that get these briefings. Theres only a few people who could have leaked this information. The reason why this is important is that you dont want public officials who are being blackmailed to be afraid to go to the FBI and say heres this information. If a public official takes private information that you are being blackmailed with to the FBI and then it leaks into the public domain, that is inexcusable, and really somebody should go to jail and we have not talked about this enough. A leak like that is so significant if it came from the intelligence community, they should go to jail. If it came from the Obama administration, they should go to jail. You cannot allow the leaking of classified documents, particularly whens it goes to someones character So I think this is a tragedy and Donald Trump is right to be mad.

BLITZER: But you agree with Donald Trump that the CIA is like Nazi Germany?

PAUL: I dont know who leaked this. Im telling you what my position isthat its inexcusable, and someone should be prosecuted for the leaks.

BLITZER But you disagree with him making a comparison to Nazi Germany?

PAUL: I can only do my I can only vouch for what Im for and for my statements. I would spend too much time if I had to defend everybody elses statements, but I would say my position is that its inexcusable and someone should be prosecuted, and its not just about this instance. Its about how we move forward as a country. Are we going to make it so public officials are not going to report blackmail because theyre afraid that either the FBI or the CIA is going to leak this to the press? I dont know if they did it, but it was either them or President Obamas administration or lead Democrats in Congress. Its a very narrow window. There were about ten people aware of this briefing and it became public. Now, Im not blaming the news for reporting it. What Im blaming is the government officials who leaked this broke the law and they ought to be prosecuted.

Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN

Read more:
Rand Paul: 'Somebody Should Go To Jail' For Trump Intel Leaks - Breitbart News

But first he thanked the representative from Georgia for advice about his knee.

Rep. Tom Price of Georgia is an orthopedic surgeon, as well as a member of the Tea Party caucus and a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act. Hes also President-elect Donald Trumps nominee for Health and Human Services.

Ive never shown my knee to any nominee before, Bennet said before switching gears.

Much of the questioning of Price Wednesday focused on his stake in an Australian company that makes experimental drugs at the same time he helped draft legislation that makes it easier for new drugs to get approval from the Food and Drug Administration, as well as on his positions on repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act.

Sen. Michael Bennet, a Colorado Democrat, pushed hard on a different line of attack that borrowed generously with attribution from Republican Sen. Rand Paul, the only Republican to vote against the budget resolutionthat includes the repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Paul voted no because the resolution allows for more than $9 trillion in new debt over the next 10 years. During hearings before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Bennet quoted Paul at length to say that Republicans were tramping on principles of fiscal conservatism in their rush to repeal Obamacare. He asked Price if he would promise not to increase the debt or the deficit in the process of getting rid of the outgoing presidents signature legislation.

Youve been a strong advocate of balancing the budget, Bennet said. What Ive noticed is that after gaining control of theHouse, the Senate and the White House, the first order of business for the Republican majority here has been to pass a budget resolution repealing the ACA. This budget resolutionspecificallyauthorizes $9 trillion in additional debt over the next 10 years.

Bennet grew emotional as he quoted Paul describing the way he was lobbied: Were in a hurry. We cant be bothered. Its just numbers. Dont worry. Itsnot really a budget. And yet the legislation says its a budget!

So, Bennet asked Price,how does he square hisbudget hawk position with this vehicle for repealing the ACA? Does he supportthis budget?

What I support is an opportunity to use reconciliation to address the real challenges inthe Affordable Care Act and to make certain we put in place at the same time a provision thatallows us to move the health care system in a much betterdirection, Price said.

Do you support the budget that was passed by the Senate Republicans? Bennet pressed.

I support the process that allows for and provides for the fiscal year 17 reconciliation bill to come forward, Price said.

Will you commit as a member of the Tea Party that no replacement for this dreadful Obamacare that allegedly created this deficit and debt wont contribute to the deficit and debt? Bennet asked.

Price said he could commit to working with Democrats to reduce the deficit.

Well then.

Oh, and on Bennets painful knee, Price recommends an MRI.

Erica Meltzer covers government and politics. She's worked for newspapers in Colorado, Arizona and Illinois and once won a First Amendment Award by showing up in the wrong place at the wrong time. She served in the Peace Corps in Paraguay and can swear fluently in Guarani. She gets emotional about public libraries. Contact Erica Meltzer at 303-502-2802, emeltzer@denverite.com or @meltzere. View all posts by Erica Meltzer

Original post:
Michael Bennet went after Trump's HHS pick with Rand Paul's line ... - Denverite (blog)