WATCH: GlennÂ’s full interview with Senator Rand Paul
3/7/13
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RAND PAUL: Yeah, IÂ’m not going after people necessarily caring a rifle around. That would be half of the South, and myself included. So ‑‑ and half of my staff. So now I am not talking about that but I am talking about if youÂ’ve been investigating a group and obviously you see them going into the World Trade Center basement with a bomb, you know, lethal force can be used at many stages and always has been. Same with police. Police use lethal force all the time. If someoneÂ’s robbing a liquor store, you donÂ’t get a warrant and you call out “stop” and if they donÂ’t stop, you get shot if youÂ’ve got a weapon and youÂ’re a threat to people.
So but whatÂ’s interesting is the president wants to answer the question we are not asking: Can you use lethal force when someone is imminently using lethal force. And the reason we worry about this is his drone strike program overseas, he says that you have to be an imminent threat but you donÂ’t have to be immediate. So if that standardÂ’s going to be used in the United States, weÂ’re concerned that that could be somebody sitting in a diner.
GLENN: The ‑‑ Van Jones came out and supported you.
RAND PAUL: Hey, we got Code Pink too.
GLENN: I know. IÂ’m not sure I believe either of them but IÂ’ll ‑‑ you know, thatÂ’s fine if ‑‑ I mean, I donÂ’t know why all of a sudden the Bill of Rights means something.
RAND PAUL: HereÂ’s the thing, Glenn: This is an issue that does get people who believe in liberty on the left and right, and there are people who do have consistent, sincere beliefs. Like Ron Wyden I thinkÂ’s a good man. I donÂ’t agree with him on most economic liberty issues, but on civil liberties he and I have a lot of agreement.
The other thing about this is if weÂ’re ever to grow as a party, the Republican Party to grow, we need to interest young people who are interested in civil liberties who may not be quite with us on the economic issues yet.
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GLENN: Yeah. The Southern Poverty Law Center just came out with a new study. Shows that these, quote, patriot groups are a danger and pose a terrorist threat, an increasing terrorist threat. ThatÂ’s their language. So youÂ’ve got to be really careful.
One last question, Senator, and weÂ’ll let you go: Are you going to vote for Brennan?
RAND PAUL: WeÂ’re hoping to get an announcement from the White House this morning, and I donÂ’t intend to. WeÂ’re trying to get a statement this morning that confirms that they are not going to target com ‑‑ not going to target Americans who are not engaged in combat in America for targeted killing. And my argument really still is mainly with that ‑‑ with the idea, not the person. IÂ’m concerned, though, that Brennan really, itÂ’s been like pulling teeth to get him to say heÂ’ll support the Constitution and so my inclination is still to vote, you know, not letting end debate if I donÂ’t get the information. If I get the information, you know, you and I have had this discussion before. My opinion a lot of times has been to give deference even to people I disagree with, but I wonÂ’t vote for him on any of the votes if I donÂ’t get information from the White House saying they are going to adhere to the Constitution. I hate doing that. ‑‑
GLENN: Senator ‑‑
RAND PAUL: I know I lost a little bit there, but ‑‑
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WATCH: Glenn?s full interview with Senator Rand Paul ? Glenn Beck