Rand Paul’s Memorial Day Salute

There seems to be an incessant buzz in America these days caused by our collective carping about the game playing of elected officials. I have contributed mightily to this noise and have fed it a fair amount through my writing for print media and in this space. On the eve of the Memorial Day weekend, I am going to do something different and praise one politician for holding his ground and keeping his word.

As Congress scrambled to renew parts of the Patriot Act, freshman Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky took an unyielding stand to force a vote on three provisions of the Act he found particularly objectionable. Paul filibustered for three days. In the process, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid berated Paul and, in an outrageous display, even accused Paul of wanting to arm terrorists.

"He is fighting for an amendment to protect the right — not of average citizens, but of terrorists — to cover up their gun purchases," Reid said.

That is a scurrilous statement for which Senator Reid should be ashamed. The Republican Leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, was only slightly kinder to his fellow Republican, but Senator Paul did not back down. In the end, Paul forced votes on his amendments and they all failed.