{"id":58514,"date":"2018-02-10T05:45:27","date_gmt":"2018-02-10T05:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/?p=58514"},"modified":"2018-02-10T05:48:30","modified_gmt":"2018-02-10T05:48:30","slug":"who-knew-libertarians-were-so-sensitive-lawmaker-wont-apologize-for-rand-paul-crack","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.biphoo.com\/bipnews\/news\/who-knew-libertarians-were-so-sensitive-lawmaker-wont-apologize-for-rand-paul-crack.html","title":{"rendered":"‘Who knew libertarians were so sensitive?’ Lawmaker won’t apologize for Rand Paul crack."},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Who knew libertarians were so sensitive?\u2019 Lawmaker won\u2019t apologize for Rand Paul crack.<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n

There was bipartisan support Thursday night on essentially one issue: for Rand Paul to quiet down.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the libertarian held the Senate at bay into Friday morning to protest an estimated $320 billion being added to the national debt under a bipartisan budget deal, Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) and outspoken liberal actress Bette Midler both made quips that referenced a physical attack made in November against the Republican senator from Kentucky.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Rand Paul pulls a stunt like this, it [is] easy to understand why it\u2019s difficult to be Rand Paul\u2019s next-door neighbor,\u201d Dent said Thursday night.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a message posted to Twitter, Midler made a similar comment around the same time: \u201cWhere\u2019s Rand Paul\u2019s neighbor when we need him?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s neighbor, Rene Boucher, pleaded guilty in January to attacking the senator, leaving him with six broken ribs and a bout with pneumonia, over an apparent lawn-care dispute.<\/span><\/p>\n

Paul\u2019s camp did not take well to Dent\u2019s quip.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThat comment is disgusting, and Charlie Dent should apologize. Sen. Rand Paul will always stand up for what is right, regardless of which party is in control,\u201d Sergio Gor, a spokesman for Paul, said in a statement to The Washington Post. \u201cHe successfully brought much-needed attention to the hypocrisy in the halls of Congress when it comes to out-of-control spending.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

In a phone interview with The Post, Dent said he likes and respects Paul, but he would not apologize for what he called a \u201cclearly facetious\u201d comment made in jest.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWho knew libertarians were so sensitive and concerned with political correctness?\u201d he said, as he arrived in Pennsylvania to celebrate the Super Bowl-winning Philadelphia Eagles.<\/span><\/p>\n

What Dent says he is serious about is the need to increase funding for the military. He described the budget deal as a necessary yet imperfect agreement to deliver on Trump\u2019s and Republicans\u2019 desires to increase the defense budget and satisfy the demands of congressional Democrats to increase domestic spending.<\/span><\/p>\n

He called Paul\u2019s holding up the Senate vote gratuitous. \u201cThere was no chance of success. He knew it,\u201d Dent said. \u201cEveryone knew it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIs he [Paul] going to apologize for shutting down the government?\u201d Dent asked rhetorically. \u201cNo.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Dent said the two-year budget is \u201ca bit larger\u201d than he preferred, but it has cleared the legislative runway for other key measures such as the battle to grant permanent legal status to \u201cdreamers,\u201d immigrants brought to United States illegally as children, and Trump-fueled efforts to bolster security on the U.S.-Mexico border.<\/span><\/p>\n

On Friday, the stinging criticism of Paul continued in what Politico called the dumbest shutdown ever, though Midler has not weighed in since her tweet and could not be reached for comment.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMidler has become so irrelevant that she had to resort to advocating violence to make it back in the news,\u201d Paul\u2019s spokesman, Gor, said.<\/span><\/p>\n

He did not demand an apology from Midler, and it does not appear that Dent, who will not seek reelection this year, will offer one, either.<\/span><\/p>\n

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