After a series of deadly tornadoes hit the midwest, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., requested federal aid for his home state of Kentucky. Twitter users then quickly criticized Paul for his previous opposition to disaster relief.
In a letter to President Biden, Paul wrote., “The Governor of the Commonwealth has requested federal assistance this morning, and certainly further requests will be coming as the situation is assessed. I fully support those requests and ask that you move expeditiously to approve the appropriate resources.”
Kentucky’s congressional delegation wrote another letter requesting “much-needed assistance.” This morning, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., thanked Biden in a tweet for “the Administration’s quick work to speed resources to help deal with this crisis.”
Thank you @POTUS for your rapid approval of Kentucky’s Major Disaster Declaration. Our entire congressional delegation came together to support @GovAndyBeshear’s request. I appreciate the Administration’s quick work to speed resources to help deal with this crisis. pic.twitter.com/3rBPGcDMmK
— U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (@SenMcConnell) December 13, 2021
However, users on Twitter uncovered several instances where Paul criticized other politicians for requesting disaster relief and even voting against disaster relief bills.
When former Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey requested federal aid for Hurricane Sandy in 2012, Paul criticized Christie for having a “gimme, gimme, gimme,” attitude.
“Gimme, gimme, gimme” pic.twitter.com/UIPEtBcG84
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 11, 2021
In 2017, the Senate passed a disaster relief bill for Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, with Paul being one of 17 senators — all Republicans — who voted No. Paul, speaking against the bill, said “People here will say they have great compassion and they want to help the people of Puerto Rico, the people of Texas, and the people of Florida. But notice they have great compassion with somebody else’s money.”
Rand Paul: People here will say they have great compassion and they want to help the people of Puerto Rico, the people of Texas, and the people of Florida but notice they have great compassion with someone else’s money pic.twitter.com/X8KQHaRxQd
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 12, 2021
Aaron Rupar, former journalist at Vox, wrote on Twitter, “Turns out, @RandPaul, that people can’t bootstrap their way out of a storm destroying their house.”
Turns out, @RandPaul, that people can't bootstrap their way out of a storm destroying their house. And it boggles the mind that elected officials don't have the sense of basic morality required to not have to learn this lesson the hard way. https://t.co/JuKOLhgebF
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 12, 2021
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., reacting to Paul’s letter, wrote, “Glad he is finally realizing states needing federal assistance after a disaster isn’t gritty, wasteful or being “compassionate with someone else’s money”.
Glad he is finally realizing states needing federal assistance after a disaster isn’t gritty, wasteful or being “compassionate with someone else’s money”.
We are one Nation and should always be able to count on one another regardless of your state’s politics.
This is America. https://t.co/xofBJHfw0c
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) December 12, 2021
Rep. Eric Swawell, D-Calif., echoed similar sentiments, saying “We should do all we can to help our Kentucky neighbors. God be with them — they are hurting. But do not for one second forget that @RandPaul has voted against helping most Americans most times they’re in need.”
We should do all we can to help our Kentucky neighbors. God be with them — they are hurting. But do not for one second forget that @RandPaul has voted against helping most Americans most times they’re in need. https://t.co/JkZQOZ4HuG
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 12, 2021
Jemele Hill, contributing writer for The Atlantic, pointed out how Paul’s hypocrisy can be used against him, tweeting, “We know @RandPaul is a heartless hypocrite. The people in Kentucky deserve the relief regardless of their buffoonish leadership, but if the Dems don’t use this against him and his party in the future, it is a missed opportunity.”
We know @RandPaul is a heartless hypocrite. The people in Kentucky deserve the relief regardless of their buffoonish leadership, but if the Dems don’t use this against him and his party in the future, it is a missed opportunity. https://t.co/G61GrsNfFq
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) December 11, 2021
Helen Kennedey, former reporter at the New York Daily News, said “Kentuckians might want to have a think about who they choose to represent them.”
