On ABC’s This Week, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) responded to charges of plagiarism by suggesting that he would like to duel the source of those charges — which have been reported upon repeatedly by MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow since he gave a speech on behalf of Virginia’s Republican nominee for governor, Ken Cuccinelli.
“Yes, there are times when [my speeches] have been sloppy or not correct or we’ve made an error,” Paul said. “But the difference is, I take it as an insult and I will not lie down and say people can call me dishonest, misleading or misrepresenting. I have never intentionally done so. And like I say, if, you know, if dueling were legal in Kentucky, if they keep it up, you know, it would be a duel challenge. But I can’t do that, because I can’t hold office in Kentucky then.”
The senator was “humorously” referencing Section 228 of the Kentucky Constitution, the oath for officers and attorneys, which concludes, “…I, being a citizen of this State, have not fought a duel with deadly weapons within this State nor out of it, nor have I sent or accepted a challenge to fight a duel with deadly weapons, nor have I acted as second in carrying a challenge, nor aided or assisted any person thus offending, so help me God.”
Paul went on to say that he wasn’t going to put up with attacks on his character from a bunch of “hacks and haters.” Well, one of those people suggesting that he was “misleading” is the senator himself.
In October, while speaking to medical students at the University of Louisville, Paul was asked if he had any advice on a forthcoming exam.
“Actually, I do,” he said. “I never, ever cheated. I don’t condone cheating. But I would sometimes spread misinformation. This is a great tactic. Misinformation can be very important.”
Rand Paul is very lucky that dueling would make him ineligible for holding office in Kentucky, or Rand Paul would be in big trouble.
Screenshot: ABC’s This Week
(h/t @nycsouthpaw)
