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After Rand Paul said GOP defense hawks had created ISIS, he told Sean Hannity: I think I could have stated it better. When he claimed some of his adversaries were secretly hoping for a terrorist attack so they could blame him for shutting down the PATRIOT Act, the next day he admitted that hyperbole got the better of him in the heat of battle.

And when Paul quipped that he was glad his train didnt stop in Baltimore in the wake of riots there, he later offered regret that his comments were misinterpreted.

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As Paul has sought to stand out from the clustered GOP presidential field, hes finding that his freewheeling, off-the-cuff speaking style can cut both ways. His supporters say its whats refreshing about him: Hes not a typical programmed pol who spews the same talking points over and over; theres an authenticity thats rare in todays poll-driven politics, they say. But his critics say it betrays a lack of discipline that should concern Republicans in a general election when any rhetorical blunder can trigger a media circus lasting days let alone in the White House.

In an interview, Paul spurned advice he often receives to say the same thing over and over again, even as he acknowledged his comments are not always perfect.

People have to choose what they want, he told POLITICO this week. If they want robots, who say the same thing over and over again, there are plenty of them. If they want something more genuine, where everything is not always perfect well see what people want. I am who I am.

The 52-year-old ophthalmologist may seem like a political neophyte, given that his 2010 Senate victory was his first foray into elective politics. But he has spent a good portion of his life around the spotlight, learning the political ropes from his father, former Rep. Ron Paul, whose brand of libertarianism set him apart from much of his party.

And, like his father, he has methodically worked to portray himself as a different type of candidate, including speaking to an array of different audiences and not shying away from the press. Its in stark contrast to other candidates who fear unscripted moments and adopt a more disciplined approach to the media when running for higher office.

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, for one, has not participated in a formal sit-down interview and has sharply limited press availability since announcing her presidential run in April. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who was known for his willingness to engage with reporters in the Capitol, is now limiting if not avoiding interactions with Hill media. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) takes questions from reporters and often gives long-winded answers, but he rarely deviates from the precise point hes trying to make.

Paul said Clintons press avoidance strategy may have spared her some bad headlines in the short term, but he asserted its backfired on her lately. Shes had a bad month. I think I like my month better than her month, he said.

Of course, Paul isnt the front-runner for his partys nomination, so he has a lot more to gain than Clinton does by mixing it up with the press.

In the past month, Paul became the scourge of his caucus for his defiant stand against the PATRIOT Act, forcing a two-day lapse in the law by refusing to allow a temporary extension to pass. As GOP hawks slammed the libertarian-minded Paul over his view that the anti-terrorism law invaded privacy rights, the Kentucky Republican took to the floor in a rare Sunday night session and made a rather incendiary claim.

People here in town think Im making a huge mistake, Paul said. Some of them, I think, secretly want there to be an attack on the United States so they can blame it on me.

A day later, Paul was walking it back. I think hyperbole can sometimes get the better of us, he told reporters outside the Capitol.

Last week, Paul was on MSNBCs Morning Joe when he was asked about Sen. Lindsey Grahams position that a more restrained foreign policy empowered Islamic State militants.

ISIS exists and grew stronger because of the hawks in our party who gave arms indiscriminately and most of those arms were snatched up by ISIS, Paul said. These hawks also wanted to bomb [Syrian leader Bashar] Assad, which would have made ISIS job even easier. They created these people.

After an uproar, Paul was confronted about the comments on Hannitys Fox News show. Ultimately, I think I could have stated it better, Paul said. The ultimate people who are responsible for terrorism are obviously the terrorists.

In the POLITICO interview, Paul said the backlash was an instance of him saying something 1,000 times and then changing his wording once, prompting criticism. He said he should have also pinned blame on Clinton and President Barack Obama for backing policies that created ISIS. But he stood by the essence of his remarks that Republican hawks are culprits, as well.

Pauls supporters believe voters will cut some slack to a candidate whos unafraid to speak his mind. | John Shinkle/POLITICO

The comments I said about ISIS, Ive said 1,000 times, Paul said. I used one different word which is probably not the correct word the created word. I probably should have said, enabled or make worse. And all things Ive said, a million times, and I still believe that.

Such comments have already given fodder to Pauls foes.

I think it really shows how little understanding he has on both the conflict and the challenges and the threat it presents to the security of the United States, said Arizona Sen. John McCain, a leading GOP hawk who backs Graham (R-S.C.) for president.

Unlike some candidates who tend to hew closer to their scripts, Paul, at times, grows weary of giving the same defense of a policy position. So he is prone to veer off topic and offer a new argument publicly. Doing that, however, has its risks. His advisers have tried to impress upon Paul the need to hash out his line of thinking privately before speaking publicly about it for the first time.

For instance, when he said on Fox Business Network in 2013, I dont care if a drone were to kill a man robbing a liquor store, it seemed incongruent with his 13-hour filibuster the month earlier against U.S. policies on unmanned drones. And after contending in February during a testy CNBC interview there were cases of vaccinations causing mental disorders in some children, he later stressed he believes all kids should be inoculated, even tweeting a picture of himself getting a booster shot.

Pauls supporters believe voters will cut some slack to a candidate whos unafraid to speak his mind.

Its a two-edged sword, yet his greatest strength, said Brian Darling, a former senior aide to Paul. Its a risk at times when comments get him in trouble. But its a huge upside in the sense that people know hes a genuine guy.

Darling added: Rand Paul may be the new Straight-talk Express from the Senate, a riff on McCains 2008 presidential campaign slogan.

While Paul comes across as a no-nonsense senator, he occasionally likes to flash his sense of humor. Yet, his timing can sometimes fall flat, as it did when he quipped on Laura Ingrahams radio program about moving quickly through Baltimore amid riots there in April. Im glad the train didnt stop, he said.

The remark undercut his long-running effort to reach out to communities of color, and Paul and his team moved quickly to contain the fallout.

Missteps aside, Jesse Benton, a longtime political adviser to Paul who is married to the senators niece, said the senator has improved vastly as a communicator during his short time in public office.

I think hes a master at it, but even a master is not always perfect, said Benton, who now runs Pauls super PAC. Sometimes, he makes news in a way that is not exactly in the way he wants it. However, the vast majority of the news he makes is extremely positive for him.

Manu Raju is senior congressional reporter for Politico.

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Rand Paul 2016: Interview discussing his straight talking ...

Rand Paul plans to force the expiration of the PATRIOT Act Sunday by refusing to allow Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to expedite debate on a key surveillance bill.

In a statement to POLITICO Saturday, Paul warned that he would not consent to any efforts to pass either an extension of current law or the USA Freedom Act, a reform bill passed overwhelmingly by the House earlier this month.

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So tomorrow, I will force the expiration of the NSA illegal spy program, Paul said.

Because of the nature of the Senate rules, Paul can force the expiration of the PATRIOT Act, which he has vowed on the campaign trail to repeal as president because he contends it invades Americans privacy rights.

In a rare Sunday session, McConnell, sources said, appears likely to move the USA Freedom Act, despite his opposition to how the bill overhauls the National Security Agencys bulk data collection program. Thats because McConnell has little other choice given the vast support within Congress for the bill.

But Paul argues that bill actually expands the PATRIOT Act and hes threatening to prevent the Senate from moving to final passage Sunday. He can likely prevent the bill from passing until at least Thursday, three days after the expiration of a law many argue is central to the nations security.

Heres Paul statement to POLITICO in full:

I have fought for several years now to end the illegal spying of the NSA on ordinary Americans. The callous use of general warrants and the disregard for the Bill of Rights must end. Forcing us to choose between our rights and our safety is a false choice and we are better than that as a nation and as a people. Thats why two years ago, I sued the NSA. Its why I proposed the Fourth Amendment Protection Act. Its why I have been seeking for months to have a full, open and honest debate on this issue a debate that never came. So last week, seeing proponents of this illegal spying rushing toward a deadline to wholesale renew this unconstitutional power, I filibustered the bill. I spoke for over 10 hours to call attention to the vast expansion of the spy state and the corresponding erosion of our liberties.

Then, last week, I further blocked the extension of these powers and the Senate adjourned for recess rather than stay and debate them. Tomorrow, we will come back with just hours left before the NSA illegal spying powers expire. Let me be clear: I acknowledge the need for a robust intelligence agency and for a vigilant national security.

I believe we must fight terrorism, and I believe we must stand strong against our enemies.

But we do not need to give up who we are to defeat them. In fact, we must not.

There has to be another way. We must find it together.

So tomorrow, I will force the expiration of the NSA illegal spy program.

I am ready and willing to start the debate on how we fight terrorism without giving up our liberty.

Sometimes when the problem is big enough, you just have to start over. The tax code and our regulatory burdens are two good examples.

Fighting against unconditional, illegal powers that take away our rights, taken by previous Congresses and administrations is just as important.

I do not do this to obstruct. I do it to build something better, more effective, more lasting, and more cognizant of who we are as Americans.

Manu Raju is senior congressional reporter for Politico.

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Rand Paul: 'I will force the expiration' of the PATRIOT Act ...

U.S. Senator Rand Paul, M.D., is one of the nations leading advocates for liberty. Elected to the United States Senate in 2010, Dr. Paul has proven to be an outspoken champion for constitutional liberties and fiscal responsibility. As a fierce advocate against government overreach, Dr. Paul has fought tirelessly to return government to its limited, constitutional scope.

As a hard-working and dedicated physician - not a career politician - Dr. Paul came to Washington to shake things up and to make a difference. Dr. Paul is a devoted husband and father of three that is currently living with his family in Bowling Green, Ky., where Dr. Paul owned his own ophthalmology practice and performed eye surgery for 18 years.

Dr. Paul has been married for 25 years to Kelley Ashby Paul of Russellville, Ky., and they have three sons together: William, 22; Duncan, 19; and Robert, 16. He regularly volunteered to coach teams for each of his three sons in Little League baseball, soccer, and basketball. Dr. Paul and Kelley are both devout Christians and are active in their local church.

Dr. Paul is the third of five children born to Carol and Ron Paul. He grew up in Lake Jackson, Tex., and attended Baylor University. He graduated from Duke Medical School in 1988. Dr. Paul completed a general surgery internship at Georgia Baptist Medical Center in Atlanta, Ga., and completed his residency in ophthalmology at Duke University Medical Center. Upon completion of his training in 1993, Dr. Paul and Kelley moved to Bowling Green to start their family and begin his ophthalmology practice.

Dr. Paul's entrance into politics is indicative of his lifes work as a surgeon: a desire to diagnose problems and provide practical solutions, whether it be in Bowling Green, Ky., or Washington, D.C.

In 1995, Dr. Paul founded the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, an organization that provides eye exams and surgery to needy families and individuals. He is a former president and 17 year member of Lions Clubs International, which is dedicated to preserving sight by providing eyeglasses and surgery to the less fortunate around the world. In recognition of his outstanding and sustained efforts to provide vision care to Kentuckians in need, Lions Clubs International has awarded Dr. Paul many of its highest commendations.

A large part of Dr. Paul's daily work as an ophthalmologist was dedicated to preserving the vision of our seniors. In 2002, The Twilight Wish Foundation recognized Dr. Paul for Outstanding Service and Commitment to Seniors.

During his free time, Dr. Paul currently performs pro-bono eye surgeries for patients across Kentucky. Additionally, he provides free eye surgery to children from around the world through his participation in the Children of the Americas Program. Most recently, he traveled to Guatemala and Haiti on a medical mission trip with the University of Utah's Moran Eye Center. During his time in Guatemala and Haiti, over 200 patients, many of them blind with cataracts, had their vision restored.

Dr. Paul's entrance into politics is indicative of his lifes work as a surgeon: a desire to diagnose problems and provide practical solutions, whether it be in Bowling Green, Ky., or Washington, D.C.

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Meet Rand | About Rand | U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky

The 11-stop, three-day swing starts Monday. The goal is to fire up young voters the campaign believes will be drawn to the senator's emphasis on issues like curtailing government surveillance, criminal justice reform and questioning continued U.S. involvement in wars overseas.

"I think that many of these kids are ready to come our way," Paul told CNN in a brief telephone interview. "Our goal is to turn 10,000 students out -- that could be enough to win the Iowa caucus. We think it's an achievable goal for us."

The swing will take the senator to Cedar Rapids, Mount, Vernon, Iowa City, Davenport, Dubuque, Fayette, Waverly, Cedar Falls, Sioux City, Storm Lake and Des Moines. It builds on an initiative the campaign launched in August aimed at encouraging college students to launch chapters for Paul supporters on 300 college campuses over 30 days. The campaign beat that goal, with 340 chapters set up on campuses nationwide in that time period and has added several more since, 15 of them in Iowa.

The libertarian firebrand, who was one of the first candidates to throw his hat in the ring, is hoping college students will give him an edge in Iowa and other early states. Wooing them could make an impact in Iowa, which has more than 130,000 students at four-year colleges alone, according to the 2013 Iowa College and University Enrollment Report.

The state makes it easy for such students, and all voters, to cast a ballot: One can register and vote on the same day, which will allow people to make a last-minute decision to participate in the state's first in the nation caucus in February.

Paul's campaign notes that his father, former Rep. Ron Paul, came in third in the caucuses here in 2012, a year when they were held during Christmas break. In 2016, they are set for February 1, when school will be in session, making students a key group to engage.

Outside college campuses, Paul says his campaign is well-organized ahead of the caucuses here.

"I think the main thing is our organizational strength is under-reported," he said, adding his campaign had mounted a statewide effort to contact all potential supporters. "We have county chairmen in all 99 counties in Iowa."

The senator is languishing in the single digits in national and early state polls and his campaign is also struggling on the fundraising front, raising some $2.5 million in the third quarter. That's well under the $7 million he raised in the second quarter, but the campaign says part of that figure was money that was transferred from his Senate committee, a practice allowed under campaign finance laws. The campaign has $2 million cash-on-hand, which aides believe is enough for a long race.

Paul's third quarter take is just a fraction of the $20 million the campaign of retired brain surgeon Ben Carson. Paul's campaign says it is on track to post for the third quarter, but the senator says the focus should be on a more comprehensive figure of $16.3 million -- that's how much he says his campaign and supporting super PACs have raised this year, with the help of 120,000 donors. Paul said 96% of donations to his campaign were under $100.

And despite his standing in polls, he says he is not going anywhere.

"We're in it to win and we're in it for the long haul," Paul said, adding that he believes he can win in the first two states to vote. "We still consider that we are contending to win in Iowa and New Hampshire."

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Rand Paul focuses on young votes with Iowa college tour ...

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul believes Edward Snowden deserves some punishment for leaking classified documents about government surveillance, though he says it should be less than what some of his fellow Republicans have called for against the former National Security Agency worker.

During the convention of the Republican Liberty Caucus on Friday, a college student asked Paul whether he would pardon Snowden if elected president. The ballroom in Nashua, New Hampshire, quickly fell silent as Paul joked, "There's always got to be an easy question."

Some libertarians have called for Snowden to be pardoned. Paul's own father and one-time presidential candidate, Ron Paul, has praised Snowden in the past and supported a petition asking for clemency.

Snowden is currently living in exile in Russia and recently joined Twitter.

I know most people would want me to say yes [to pardoning Snowden] and part of me says yes and part of me says we cannot have no rules, Paul said. "We do have secrets -- maybe too many -- but we do have secrets that need to be protected. We have operatives who try to risk our lives to defend our country and he [Snowden] didnt reveal that, but you dont want people to reveal things like that.

Paul said Snowden did something that some see value in: revealing a surveillance program that may have gone hidden were it not for the leak.

"He revealed a program that we probably wouldve never known about had not he revealed it because the government was lying to us," he said. "So in many ways, you could call him a whistle-blower.

Paul said Snowden deserves some sort of punishment, but not a severe penalty like some of his fellow Republicans have called for.

"I think the best compromise on it is that there would be some penalty but that people who are going nuts -- which includes half the people in our party, wanting to execute him, shoot him, chop his head off, all this crazy stuff -- theyre completely wrong," he said. "I think there could be some accommodation. I think he would actually serve some sentence if it were reasonable and were negotiated."

The college student who asked the question, 18-year-old Jake Soraghan, said he believed Snowden should be pardoned and hoped Paul would support that. He added he knew he was asking a tough question of his favorite presidential candidate.

"Even if you support someone, I think you got to give them the tough questions," Soraghan said. "He gave a decent answer."

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Would Rand Paul Pardon Edward Snowden? - ABC News