The rush to send $40 billion to Ukraine at a time when there are grave domestic problems that are receiving scant attention from elected leaders hit a roadblock when U.S. Senator Rand Paul singlehandedly blocked the package, citing his loyalty to the United States over a foreign country.
On Thursday, the Kentucky Republican stunned his colleagues by derailing the fast track process, insisting that an inspector general be appointed to oversee the spending of the funds included in the gargantuan financial gift to a country that has long been notorious for its political corruption.
Senator Paul’s resistance to a lightning-fast vote puts him at odds with Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell who claimed that the Ukraine giveaway is the “the most important thing in the world right now,” putting him in lockstep with President Joe Biden and the entirety of the Democratic Party.
According to Paul, “My oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation and no matter how sympathetic the cause, my oath of office is to the national security of the United States of America.”
“We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy,” he added, citing record gas and diesel fuel prices, staggering food costs and the highest inflation rate that the nation has seen in over four decades.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) explains his rationale for blocking $40 billion Ukraine military aid package:
“My oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation … We cannot save Ukraine by dooming the U.S. economy.” pic.twitter.com/0DmaXIxSbJ
— The Recount (@therecount) May 12, 2022
Paul took to Twitter to explain the reasoning behind his actions.
“My oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation. Congress is trying yet again to ram through a spending bill – one that I doubt anyone has actually read – and there’s no oversight included into how the money is being spent,” he wrote on Twitter.
My oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation. Congress is trying yet again to ram through a spending bill – one that I doubt anyone has actually read – and there’s no oversight included into how the money is being spent.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 13, 2022
“All I requested is an amendment to be included in the final bill that allows for the Inspector General to oversee how funds are spent. Anyone who is opposed to this is irresponsible,” he wrote.
All I requested is an amendment to be included in the final bill that allows for the Inspector General to oversee how funds are spent. Anyone who is opposed to this is irresponsible.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 13, 2022
He added, “While I sympathize with the people of Ukraine, and commend their fight against Putin, we cannot continue to spend money we don’t have. Passing this bill brings the total we’ve sent to Ukraine to nearly $54 billion over the course of two months.”
While I sympathize with the people of Ukraine, and commend their fight against Putin, we cannot continue to spend money we don’t have. Passing this bill brings the total we’ve sent to Ukraine to nearly $54 billion over the course of two months.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 13, 2022
“It’s threatening our own national security, and it’s frankly a slap in the face to millions of taxpayers who are struggling to buy gas, groceries, and find baby formula,” Paul said, daring to suggest that the government is indifferent to the suffering of Americans, including mothers who are unable to find baby formula to nourish their newborns.
It’s threatening our own national security, and it’s frankly a slap in the face to millions of taxpayers who are struggling to buy gas, groceries, and find baby formula.
— Rand Paul (@RandPaul) May 13, 2022
Video quickly resurfaced of deceased GOP Senator John McCain denouncing Paul, who has been consistent in his criticism of foreign wars as being in the service of Russian leader Vladimir Putin, strong words from a man whose warmongering was only exceeded by his zeal to put American troops into harm’s way in conflicts of dubious benefit to the nation.
John McCain WARNED us about Rand Paul when he said "The Senator from Kentucky is NOW working for Vladimir Putin."
Senator Paul voting today to BLOCK $40 Billion to aid Ukraine is UNFATHOMABLE!pic.twitter.com/Niz2HUbQXC
— Peter Morley (@morethanmySLE) May 12, 2022
Paul’s resistance drew a spirited response from Twitter users, both from those praising him and others who predictably smeared him as a Putin puppet among other things.
.@RandPaul is a legend!!! We need 100 of him in the senate.
Most Hurt: BIG WAR/Mil Industrial Complex, DC insiders getting Raytheon kickbacks, and generals looking for board seats… and those looking to get into a nuclear war over two corrupt NON-NATO countries. https://t.co/qX1sV6U2lo
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 12, 2022
God bless Rand Paul. This, not the neocon patrioteering of Dan Crenshaw and Adam Kinzinger, is what courage looks like right now. https://t.co/9AVz2cIQoH
— Pedro L. Gonzalez (@emeriticus) May 12, 2022
Rand Paul is a national treasure.🇺🇸
— Tim Swain (@SwainForSenate) May 12, 2022
So let me get this straight, @RandPaul stopped the $40B Ukrainian/Zel giveaway to something just by asking where the money was going? Hell, let’s do this all the time.
— 🇺🇸Lionel🇺🇸 (@LionelMedia) May 13, 2022
Rand Paul is putting Americans First!
— Troy Nehls (@SheriffTNehls) May 12, 2022
Thanks to @RandPaul, we still have time to BLOCK the $40B Ukrainian Slush Fund that puts America Last!
Call your Senators offices and tell them to vote NO!
Capitol Switchboard: 202-224-3121
— Alex Bruesewitz (@alexbruesewitz) May 12, 2022
Who wants to tell Rand Paul that masks work, women are people, and Putin isn't his president? 🖐️
— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) May 13, 2022
Bathroom rug head Rand Paul is a traitorous Putin-loving fraudulent soulless sadistic immoral shitbag and he can go fuck himself every day of the week.
— Ricky Davila 🇺🇦 (@TheRickyDavila) May 13, 2022
Rand Paul,is a Russian asset. His loyalty to to Vladimir Putin. Not to the people of Kentucky.
— The Ghost of El Guapo (@schachjohn1) May 13, 2022
Paul’s insistence on accountability will only temporarily delay the transfer of the money to Ukraine, a matter that the entire political establishment is unified on regardless of the pain that is inflicted upon ordinary Americans.
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Chris Donaldson is an ordinary American who is concerned about rampant corruption as well as the ongoing attacks on our way of life by those who have contempt for our hard-earned freedoms. A Navy veteran, he has been a frequent contributor to conservative websites and resides in Florida.
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Congress and DC Establishment are upset because Rand Paul stopped their stealing from the American people? How stupid are We The People to elect these thieves to Congress.
What I don’t understand is why the European Union is not defending Ukraine, one of their own. The U.S. is NOT the policeman for the world. Then, there is the Budapest Memorandum, where Russia, the UK, and the USA signed an agreement to protect Ukraine in return for Ukraine giving up their Nuclear weapons. It is obvious that Russia’s word is worthless. Where is the UN?
Well done! We have absolutely no business being involved with this Ukraine debacle in any way except maybe as a PAID supplier.
Everyone who is happy about this is still perfectly fine with sending Israel over $80 billion every single year.
correction. Its $3billion a year
The USA does not send Israel $80 Bil annually. The US aid to Israel is MUCH less than that. Israel doesn’t get $40 Billion in 10 years.
Viva Rand Paul. America first. Fack Mitch McConnell and Schmuck Schummer
Totally agree with Rand Paul and Ukraine should repay the money plus interest and the should buy all food – equipment- tools – technology- building materials from the USA .
Two of the things that will send liberals into apoplexy are President Donald Trump and oversight on their spending plans. Cannot have the voters finding out where their money actually goes. It would doom the liberal agenda which, all things considerd, is not a bad thing.