You can make a philosophical argument that individuals have a right to be stupid and discriminate

[Tony_FLADEM]

against others. This is what Rand Paul is saying. However, there are more things you have to look at besides a philosophical argument that sounds good. If we are truly equal under the constitution, we have the right not to be denied certain things just because of our status. If there was no history of discrimination in this country some might be able to argue the civil rights act passed in the 60's is not needed. The philosophical argument that liberations make might be more relevant. Unfortunately, we did discriminate against African Americans for many years, and to make them equal under the constitution we needed to codify this value into law.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Yep. That is exactly what he was arguing with Rachel Maddow about today. He was

trying to make it about private property rights...not the obvious discrimination that it is.

It was during that discussion that I realized how much he reminded me of Henry Gibson.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Reminds me of my friends' view of Jesse Helms.

He would say "Sure he was racist, but at least he was honest and true to his beliefs, and therefore deserves some respect".

This type of reasoning leads to the false equivalence we are seeing in the media.

SOME THINGS ARE FALSE. OR WRONG.

And any person thinking that they are inherently better than anyone else - anyone discriminating against anyone based on any parameter - is just plain wrong.

[lazarus]

3. it's an intellectual game to him

That's what struck me. He kept saying the various ramifications are "interesting". He's likely never faced discrimination, nor known anyone who has, so it's all an intellectual exercise. That's what comes of being raised to believe Ayn Rand's philosophy has anything to do with reality.

[Chulanowa]

4. Bingo

That's why a lot of people either wince or roll their eyes when white people start talking about racial issues; most of them (not all, but most) have no damned idea what is doing on in that arena. They're not racists themselves - I don't think Rand Paul is any more racist than your standard Libertarian (which is to say, I believe him to be a "soft" racist) but he certainly is clueless.

[handmade34]

5. you have put your finger on it

it is an intellectual game to him... yes, philosophically we can understand his argument, but as history goes, as human nature exists, we cannot simply call it an individual right of free speech to discriminate. Rand Paul is toast for the general election unless he can explain himself better.

[David__77]

6. That is the libertarian view.

I believe people have the right to be educated to contribute to humanity. No one has the right to be wrong.