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Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.), offering his own 12-minutevideo response to the State of the Union address, Tuesday night said that the nation was adrift and that President Barack Obamas policies have widened the gap between rich and poor.

Mr. Paul, a potential presidential candidate who delivered his remarks via a YouTube video, took up a theme that other Republicans have been sounding of late, when he said: Income inequality has worsened under this administration, and tonight President Obama offers more of the same policies policies that have allowed the poor to get poorer and the rich to get richer.

It is a rhetorical theme that echoes many Republicans eagerness to repair the political damage done in the 2012 presidential campaign when GOP nominee Mitt Romney was seen as out of touch with the concerns of middle- and working-class families.

Mr. Romney himself, as he considers a third presidential bid, seemed eager to undo that perception in remarks about income inequality at a Republican National Committee meeting last Friday.

In his response to Obama Tuesday night, Mr. Paul called for a different approach than Mr. Obamas plan to raise taxes on the wealthy and cut them for the middle class: I propose we cut everyones taxes, from the richest to the poorest, and we cut spending at the same time.

Responding to concerns he would hurt the poor by unravelling federal safety net programs, Mr. Paul proposed cutting tax and spending subsidies for corporations as well.

I say: We will not cut one penny from the safety net until weve cut every penny from corporate welfare, said Mr. Paul, who has said he will decide by this spring whether to seek his partys presidential nomination.

This is the third year Mr. Paul has delivered his own response to the State of the Union, offering another voice besides the Republican response staged by an official selected by party leaders, this year being Sen. Joni Ernst (R., Iowa).

Rebecca Ballhaus contributed to this article.

More From the Speech:

Continued here:
Rand Paul on the State of the Union: Adrift

By Niels Lesniewski Posted at 6:33 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2015

Paul will have his own response to the State of the Union address.(Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Possible 2016 contender Sen. Rand Paul says that the foreign policy potion of his own response to Tuesdays State of the Union address will focus on an old adage from his medical career: Do no harm.

I think one the biggest things about foreign policy is that you should think before you act, and thats one of the themes that Ill have tonight is: First, do no harm. As physicians, were taught first to do no harm, which means think through, the Kentucky Republican said. You have enormous power as a surgeon. Before you cut into someone, make sure you have the right diagnosis. Try not to make mistakes.

Paul is issuing his own video response, separate from the official message to be delivered by Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa.

In an interview in his Washington office ahead of the speech by President Barack Obama, Paulused thepotential for additional sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program as an example where Congress should avoid doing such harm.

My fear is that in eagerness, you know, to put more sanctions on those who are overly eager could get us to a point where there are only two solutions: either Iran gets a bomb or theres war, whereas right now we have a third solution which is a little better, he said.

Ive been talking with many Republicans and many Democrats to try to try find a way forward that does not ruin the chance for negotiations. I voted for sanctions in the past with the intention and the hope that we could find a peaceful outcome to this where Iran does not develop nuclear weapons, Paul said. My fear is that if new sanctions are placed on that, the sanctions coalition will break up.

Paul pointed to recent comments by British Prime Minister David Cameron in opposition to U.S. lawmakers moving ahead with additional sanctions with the P5+1 talks ongoing.

The proposition that Ive been floating has been that we let Iran know that if they dont comply with the current agreement, the interim agreement, that sanctions would be resumed. I think this a better way than placing new sanctions on, Paul said. Then what would happen is you would have presumption of what is already out there, and it would be based on Iranian noncompliance instead of Congress setting new parameters.

Link:
Rand Paul's Message: 'Do No Harm' In Foreign Affairs

By Niels Lesniewski Posted at 6:52 p.m. on Jan. 20, 2015

Paul will deliver his own response to the State of the Union address. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Sen. Rand Paul plans to quote from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. when responding to Tuesday nights State of the Union address.

In an early excerpt provided to CQ Roll Call, the Kentucky Republican cites both King and fellow civil-rights leader Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., in reference to tension and discontent in America today.

At home, much of nation still suffers.Dr. Martin Luther King spoke of two Americas. He described them as two starkly different American experiences that exist side by side.

In one America people experienced the opportunity of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in all its dimensions. In the other America people experienced a daily ugliness that dashes hope and leaves only the fatigue of despair.

There is a tension that has become visible in the protests in every major American city. As Congressman John Lewis put it: There is a growing discontent in this country.

I think peace will come when those of us who have enjoyed the American Dream become aware of those who are missing out on the American Dream. The future of our country will be secure when we break down the wall that separates us from the other America.'

The White House confirmed Tuesday that President Barack Obama is planning a March 7 visit to Selma, Ala., for the 50th anniversary of the historic march across theEdmund Pettus Bridge. Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are expected to attend.

Paul said in an interview with CQ Roll Call that he had a separate trip to Alabama on his schedule.

See more here:
Rand Paul to Quote MLK, John Lewis in SOTU Response

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has made no secret of the fact that he is thinking about running for president in 2016. He has also made no secret of the fact that he is experimenting with a new campaign tactic inspired by #millennials: trolling politicians he doesn't like on Twitter.

During President Obama's State of the Union address, Paul's Twitter account coupled the trolling he has perfected against his potential 2016 competition with the Republican Party's other favorite #millennial-inspired weapon: memes.

Paul isnota fan of Obama's plan to fund community college. If you did not get that message in one tweet, don't worry, he had many more.

If you would like more Republican memes about Obama's community college proposal, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-Ohio) has a meme he would like to share with you.

Rand Paulalso had thoughts about the budget.

Rand Paul ended the speech by releasing his annual State of the Union response, which was basically a longform version of his tweets and previously stated issues of import, along with a few quotes from Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and Martin Luther King Jr.

Paul has flip-flopped on the merits of being a troll. In 2011, he told Politico,"Id rather be a hobbit than a troll. Ithink in reading the books, the hobbits were the heroes. They overcame great obstacles, and I think Id rather be a hobbit than a troll."

In July, he told donors in San Francisco,"Don't be depressed with how bad government is, use your ingenuity, use your big head to think of solutions the marketplace can figure out, that the idiots and trolls in Washington will never come up with."

A few other political figures who frequently appear in 2016 coverage had things to say about the State of the Union on Twitter, unsurprisingly. They were, however, meme-less.

https://twitter.com/SenTedCruz/status/557748156310765569

Go here to see the original:
Oh look, Rand Paul is trolling people again. During the State of the Union.

Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to Block Palestinian Aid
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) wants to cut funding to the Palestinian Authority. The Kentucky lawmaker spoke with OAN #39;s Amanda House.

By: One America News Network

Original post:
Sen. Rand Paul Introduces Bill to Block Palestinian Aid - Video