Ky. governor criticizes Paul’s ‘radical philosophy’

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s Democratic governor criticized Republican U.S. Senate nominee Rand Paul on Monday for comments he made last week deriding the 1964 Civil Rights Act and described the political newcomer’s libertarian leanings as “fairly radical.”

Paul told MSNBC host Rachel Maddow that he abhors racial discrimination, but suggested the federal government shouldn’t have the power to force restaurants to serve minorities if business owners don’t want to.

“It causes me great concern that a person standing for public office in the commonwealth of Kentucky does not believe that government has a role in making sure that every person in this country, regardless of race, color, creed, religion or whatever, has the same equal opportunity to eat at the lunch counter in a department store,” Gov. Steve Beshear said.

“This was settled 50 years ago. It’s very disturbing that … a person running for public office and has the nomination of a major political party in our state has that kind of philosophy.”

Beshear described Paul’s libertarian leanings as “a fairly radical philosophy.” He also bashed Paul for what he termed “unbridled support” of BP in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Paul, son of former Republican presidential candidate and Texas Congressman Ron Paul, criticized President Barack Obama last week for holding BP accountable for the spill.

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Paul campaign spokesman David Adams responded in a written statement late Monday: “With all due respect, Gov. Beshear should pay more attention to his own budget mess or perhaps someone will start asking him to explain his party’s Senate nominee’s dangerous and expensive anti-coal and pro-government takeover of health care positions.”

In a written statement following the remarks on MSNBC, Paul said, “I believe we should work to end all racism in American society and staunchly defend the inherent rights of every person.”

Beshear, who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 1996, said Paul’s comments about the Civil Rights Act and his criticism of the Obama administration should concern voters.

“That’s what motivates me to say that every Kentuckian really needs to dig in here and find out what this fellow really thinks and who he is,” Beshear said. “They may like what they find; they may not.”

Copyright 2010 The Associated Press.