Perhaps diminishing her ahead of his own presidential run, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) provided a candid and lengthy broadside against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at a conservative gathering Friday.
Speaking at Americans For Prosperity’s “Defending the American Dream Summit” in Dallas, Paul called Clinton’s service during the attacks on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi a “dereliction of duty” so egregious that no boss should have abode her performance.
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“I think had Hillary Clinton worked for Bill Clinton, she’d probably have been fired,” Paul said. “If she wants to be Commander in Chief, and she cannot protect our embassies, I don’t think that she could or should be. I think it precludes her from ever being considered as Commander in Chief.”
Paul himself has said he would’ve fired Clinton if he were president, telling her during a January committee hearing “I would have relieved you of your post” over neglecting to read cables from Benghazi.
The Kentucky senator also dismissed — frankly — those who criticize attacks on Clinton as being politically motivated.
“Politics is what happens to discuss whether people are fit for office,” Paul said. “There will be a discussion over the next four years whether or not Hillary Clinton is fit to lead this country.”
Paul — and a crowd screaming “no!” — clearly don’t believe she is.
The possible presidential contender touched on other topics during his address, including efforts to expand the GOP base and privacy rights. In regard to the latter, Paul relayed an anecdote about how a Texan said his grandfather didn’t live to be 105 on a diet of barbecue, as Paul had took him to mean during a conversation, but by “minding his own business.”
“There’s a moral to that story: Maybe we could have a government that was minding its own business,” Paul joked.
“There are things that the government has to do, and there are things the government should do. But frankly, when you’re looking at your cell phone listening … downloading … it’s none of the government’s damn business what you do on your phone.”
