Sen. Rand Paul Filibusters John Brennan's Nomination Over Drone Strikes

Rand Paul, Republican Senator from Kentucky, filibustered John Brennan’s nomination to the CIA, holding the Senate floor for nearly 13 hours on Wednesday to talk about the potential of drones striking American soil.

Paul’s motivation for the filibuster was that he wants to know, and wants every American to know that no American will ever suffer the fate of a drone strike on American soil. "When I asked the president, can you kill an American on American soil, it should have been an easy answer,” he stated. “It's an easy question. It should have been a resounding and unequivocal, 'no.' The president's response? He hasn't killed anyone yet. “

Using the Fifth Amendment for leverage, Paul claimed that the lack of a firm ‘no’ from President Barack Obama violates Americans' right of due process. Hypothetically, a drone strike on U.S. soil could yield innocent casualties as it has done abroad. He went on to accuse the White House of perpetuating the idea that American soil is a battlefield – where the laws of war apply, due process is thrown out the window and noncombatants can be killed.

Paul was quick to assert that his efforts on the Senate floor were not tainted by politics. “Certain things rise above partisanship,” Paul said. “And I think your right to be secure in your person, the right to be secure in your liberty, the right to be tried by a jury of your peers — these are things that are so important and rise to such a level that we shouldn't give up on them easily.” He even made the point to claim that he’d be taking this stand even if the president in the White House were a Republican like himself. Paul also believes that if Obama was still in the Senate and not changed by his presidential position, he’d be with Paul on the floor.

During the filibuster, Paul made it clear that he does not believe the president would willfully kill innocent Americans. He’s just looking for absolute confirmation that an instance like that would definitively not occur.

Throughout Paul’s lengthy filibuster effort, he was joined by Republican Sens. Mike Lee (Utah), Ted Cruz (Tex.), Jerry Moran (Kan.), Marco Rubio (Fla.), Saxby Chambliss (Ga.) and Pat Toomey (Pa.). He received bipartisan support from Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden (Ore.). Although Paul’s message might appeal to the sensibilities of more liberals, his conservative stance on social civil liberties like reproduction rights and marriage equality while putting the idea of a free market front and center, is likely to hinder broader support. —Chelsea Regan

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