Rand Paul Tired Of Being Called Racist, Still Defends ‘Southern Avenger’

Rand Paul says he is tired of being called a racist. And he doesn’t want to talk about it. At least, these were the Kentucky senator’s remarks during a new interview Tuesday. When asked about his former aide Jack Hunter, Paul says he doesn’t support his beliefs. He adds that Hunter is not a racist, though.

This refers to the revelation last month about Paul’s aide, Jack Hunter, also known as the “Southern Avenger.” Hunter once hosted a radio show where he advocated Southern secession while wearing a Confederate flag, reports Talking Points Memo. This put Hunter at the center of major controversy at the time. Paul said he supported his aide, despite calls for him to be fired. Eventually, Hunter resigned.

Speaking during Tuesday’s radio interview, Rand Paul said that the Southern Avenger persona was “stupid.” But he says that he still supports Hunter. As the interview continued, Paul was asked further about Hunter.

After asking Senator Rand Paul about claims that libertarian politicians have been linked to racist organizations in the past, the senator from Kentucky decided he had had enough. Paul shot back at interviewer John Harwood, according to CBS News. Paul asked whether he didn’t “have something better to read” than questions about “crap” from people who dislike Paul.

Clearly frustrated, Paul said the interview was a waste of time if it was only going to be able people who had called him a racist. “If you want to talk about issues or what I stand for,” Rand Paul added testily, “I’m happy to,” but he says that he is not a racist and is tired of responding to these types of claims.

Senator Rand Paul says he’s done talking about claims that he’s racist, accusing Harwood and his critics of merely “doing ad hominem” on him instead of talking about important issues.

[Image via Gage Skidmore via photopin cc]