Senator Rand Paul (KY-R) started filibustering at 1:18 pm on Wednesday and as soon as he started his campaign team jumped on social media urging people to Stand with Rand and to donate to his campaign.
After 10 hours Paul was done. He said it was because he was tired but others speculate he probably raised his campaign quota for the day.Paul said:
My voice is rapidly leaving, my bedtime has long since passed. There is a hunger in America for somebody to stand up, for all of us to stand up . . . We need to end the bulk collection of records.
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The Senate currently is debating fast-track trade legislation and is expected to hold a procedural vote on Thursday. Paul’s filibuster blocked his colleagues from offering, debating and voting on amendments to the trade bill thus hurting it per The Hill.
Paul also did not stop a vote on extending the Patriot Act. The vote is expected to be held on Saturday.
The filibuster received bipartisan support but was primarily supported by Democrats. Senators Steve Daines (MT-R) and Mike Lee (UT-R) were the only Republicans to support him. Democrats that supported him were: Martin Heinrich (NM-D), Chris Coons (DE-D), Jon Tester (MT-D), Maria Cantwell (WA-D), Richard Blumenthal (CT-D), Wyden and Joe Manchin (WV-D).Paul’s speech came as some senators were torn over how to deal with expiring provisions of the Patriot Act. It is set to expire on June 1st.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY-R) has said there will be a vote on the USA Freedom Act, which would end the collection of bulk phone records.
Under the bill, the NSA would have to ask private companies for a small amount of phone records which are tied to a particular case. The NSA would not longer hold the phone records in a government database as well.
Paul does not support the USA Freedom Act but ironically he supports improving relations with Cuba and the Iran Nuclear Bill.
The Justice Department had stated the NSA will begin phasing out the controversial program run under the law this week.Many people say Rand Paul is out of touch. With the increasing threat of terrorists living in the United States, citizens are afraid for their safety. His foreign policy views and stance on the Patriot Act will only make citizens less safe.
Paul’s filibuster stunt might backfire for him in 2016.
