Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell: Hot Mic Catches Shutdown Talking Points

Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell were both caught on a hot mic Wednesday discussing the government shutdown.
Rand Paul, Mitch McConnell: Hot Mic Catches Shutdown Talking Points
In this July 22, 2103 file photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. speaks with reporters in Louisville, Ky. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)
Jack Phillips
10/4/2013
Updated:
7/18/2015

Senators Rand Paul and Mitch McConnell were both caught on a hot mic Wednesday discussing the government shutdown.

“I just did CNN and I just go over and over again ‘We’re willing to compromise. We’re willing to negotiate.’ I think... I don’t think they poll tested we won’t negotiate. I think it’s awful for [Democrats] to say that over and over again,” said Sen. Paul (R.-Ky), according to local station WPSD.

“Yeah, I do too and I, and I just came back from that two hour meeting with them and that, and that was basically the same view privately as it was publicly,” McConnell responded. Politico points out that he was likely referring to a meeting at the White House with President Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, House Speaker John Boehner, and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi.

Paul the responds that “I think if we keep saying, ‘We wanted to defund it. We fought for that and that we’re willing to compromise on this’, I think they can’t, we’re gonna, I think... well, I know we don’t want to be here, but we’re gonna win this, I think.”

Paul has publicly stated that he doesn’t want the government to shut down but stresses that the federal government needs to quash its debt problems.

 

Jack Phillips is a breaking news reporter with 15 years experience who started as a local New York City reporter. Having joined The Epoch Times' news team in 2009, Jack was born and raised near Modesto in California's Central Valley. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/jackphillips5
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