Has Rand Changed Public Opinion on Bulk Collection? A Review of MSM coverage

[Created4]

As of tonight, a review of mainstream media's coverage of today's events in the Senate suggest the public opinion is swinging around to Rand Paul's position on bulk collection, forcing MSM to give him better press coverage. Some quotes:

NY Times:

“Little by little, we’ve allowed our freedom to slip away,” Mr. Paul said during a lengthy floor soliloquy.

The expiration of surveillance authority demonstrates a profound shift in American attitudes since the days after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, when national security was pre-eminent in both parties. Fourteen years after that attack, even as American conflicts continue abroad, a swell of privacy concerns stemming from both the vast expansion of communication systems and an increasing distrust of government’s use of data has turned those concerns on their head.

Mr. McConnell and other national security hawks who failed to continue the program badly underestimated the shift in the national mood, which has found its voice with Democrats and the libertarian wing of the Republican Party. The moment also put him at odds with Mr. Paul, whom he has endorsed for president.

Source.

USA Today quoted Paul in length (after a critical statement):

Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky declined to provide an opposing view. He posted this statement Saturday on the website for his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination.

I have fought for several years now to end the illegal spying of the National Security Agency on ordinary Americans. The callous use of general warrants and the disregard for the Bill of Rights must end. Forcing us to choose between our rights and our safety is a false choice, and we are better than that as a nation and as a people.

OUR VIEW: Security is not a game of chicken

That's why two years ago, I sued the NSA. It's why I proposed the Fourth Amendment Protection Act. It's why I have been seeking for months to have a full, open and honest debate on this issue — a debate that never came.

So last week, seeing proponents of this illegal spying rushing toward a deadline to wholesale renew this unconstitutional power, I filibustered the bill. I spoke for over 10 hours to call attention to the vast expansion of the spy state and the corresponding erosion of our liberties.

Then, last week, I further blocked the extension of these powers, and the Senate adjourned for recess rather than stay and debate them.

(It came back) with just hours left before the NSA illegal spying powers expire.

Let me be clear: I acknowledge the need for a robust intelligence agency and for a vigilant national security.

I believe we must fight terrorism, and I believe we must stand strong against our enemies.

But we do not need to give up who we are to defeat them. In fact, we must not.

There has to be another way. We must find it together.

So (I have decided to) force the expiration of the NSA illegal spy program.

I am ready and willing to start the debate on how we fight terrorism without giving up our liberty.

Sometimes when the problem is big enough, you just have to start over. The tax code and our regulatory burdens are two good examples.

Fighting against unconditional, illegal powers that take away our rights, taken by previous Congresses and administrations, is just as important.

I do not do this to obstruct. I do it to build something better, more effective, more lasting, and more cognizant of who we are as Americans.

Source.

NBCNews:

"Tonight we stopped the illegal NSA bulk data collection," Rand said in a statement. "This is a victory no matter how you look at it. It might be short lived, but I hope that it provides a road for a robust debate, which will strengthen our intelligence community, while also respecting our Constitution."

Paul refused to give ground.

"People here in town think I am making a huge mistake," he said on the Senate floor. They "want there to be a great attack so they can blame me."

Paul told NBC News that he wasn't campaigning from the Senate floor.

"I don't think many people question my sincerity on this issue," Paul said. "I've been fighting this battle since I came here. I forced the issue in 2011. There's always going to be cynics."

Source.

 

[Crashland]

Well, he did it to a large extent with the drone policy. Rand had risked a lot with this position I really hope it pays off. I think it will with the general public, but with GOP primary voters? We'll see

 

[cat_woman]

The one thing we know for sure is that Rand is the only Presidential candidate to oppose the PA and so called "freedom act". I suspect the majority of GOP primary voters are quite hawkish but hope I am wrong.

In any case, Rand did the right thing. He deserves a lot of credit for that.

 

[idiom]

"People here in town think I am making a huge mistake," he said on the Senate floor. They "want there to be a great attack so they can blame me."

Aint that the truth.

 

[RonPaul4Prez2012]

Public Opinion is not the same thing as MSM

 

[Created4]

Public Opinion is not the same thing as MSM

No, it is not. You are correct. But the MSM has been attacking him all week, and then when it became clear that the Patriot Act was history, the NYT put out their piece saying public sentiment had changed. I don't know if they are correct, and as others have noted it may not reflect many of the "hawks" in the GOP, but if his polling numbers go up and it looks like he is gaining ground in the general public, then even Fox will probably have to start coming around somewhat to remain relevant with their viewers.

 

[01000110]

Fox & Friends were hammering him pretty hard from the little I could stomach to watch this morning. I thought they were going to all burst out crying and run for their bomb shelters. The neocons are really going to be hammering on him, which might be a good thing and get more independents to consider supporting Rand.

 

[hillertexas]

I'll be joining @AmericaNewsroom on @FoxNews at 9:15am to discuss yesterday's defeat of the NSA overreach, tune in! Cc: @BillHemmer --Rand

 

[libertyplz]

Glenn Greenwald interview with Democracy Now from this morning talking about Rand Paul, Patriot Act expiration, Freedom Act, etc

http://www.democracynow.org/2015/6/1/glenn_greenwald_as_bulk_nsa_spying

 

[Created4]

Fox & Friends were hammering him pretty hard from the little I could stomach to watch this morning. I thought they were going to all burst out crying and run for their bomb shelters. The neocons are really going to be hammering on him, which might be a good thing and get more independents to consider supporting Rand.

Rand Paul and his handling of the media, including the hawks at Fox News, continues to impress me. Check out Rand's interview on Fox today:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/01/paul-takes-heat-as-nsa-collection-program-expires/

How can anyone watch this interview, and not see the idocacy of the reporter, and the brilliant responses by Paul?

 

[Created4]

I'll be joining @AmericaNewsroom on @FoxNews at 9:15am to discuss yesterday's defeat of the NSA overreach, tune in! Cc: @BillHemmer --Rand

Hemmer was a jerk, but Paul was brilliant:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/01/paul-takes-heat-as-nsa-collection-program-expires/

 

[timosman]

Brilliant play on Rand part, they can not avoid looking like idiots when opposing him.

 

[thoughtomator]

The one thing we know for sure is that Rand is the only Presidential candidate to oppose the PA and so called "freedom act". I suspect the majority of GOP primary voters are quite hawkish but hope I am wrong.

In any case, Rand did the right thing. He deserves a lot of credit for that.

The hard right is being presented this year with a very explicit "liberty (Paul) or security (all other offerings)" choice. I've learned to have a low opinion of the general level of character of that type of voter, but I've been surprised before - maybe when repeatedly faced with such explicit choices they will understand that they are indeed making such a choice and are responsible for their own lack of freedom.

 

[r3volution 3.0]

This is a case where he improved his image among both conservative/tea-party GOP primary voters and independents/democrats.

...judging by the comments sections of assorted MSM articles.

...we shall see what the next round of polls show.

I was blown away by the positive comments, say 99/100 being positive.

Including quite a few soon to be former Cruzsters asking awkward questions about why Cruz is on the other side of this.

Huge PR-wise, IMO. Huge.

...and the reaction by the neocon media is weak, transparent, over the top, hurting them even more, IMO.

 

[francisco]

Rand Paul and his handling of the media, including the hawks at Fox News, continues to impress me. Check out Rand's interview on Fox today:

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/06/01/paul-takes-heat-as-nsa-collection-program-expires/

How can anyone watch this interview, and not see the idocacy of the reporter, and the brilliant responses by Paul?

From the comments on the Fox interview:

We Hold These Truths To be Self-evident, That All Men are Created Equal.


Considering the comments posted on Fox and the quality of the journalism that prompts them, I guess that is NOT an accurate statement.