Libertarian Republican Sen. Rand Paul is sounding off after Sen. John McCain suggested that Paul was a Kremlin stooge. After accusing the Kentucky senator of “working for Vladimir Putin,” McCain said Wednesday that Paul’s decision to obstruct a preliminary process that would ultimately reify a treaty incorporating Montenegro into NATO qualified as unpatriotic, even traitorous behavior.
“If there’s objection, you are achieving the objectives of Vladimir Putin,” McCain stressed. “If they object, they are now carrying out the desires and ambitions of Vladimir Putin, and I do not say that lightly.”
Paul struck back Thursday morning, insisting that the Republican senator was “unhinged.” At one point, Paul even suggested that it was time for McCain to leave the Senate.
“You know, I think he makes a really, really strong case … for term limits,” the libertarian firebrand said. “I think maybe he’s past his prime. I think maybe he’s gotten a little unhinged.”
Dismissing McCain’s bold allegations, Paul explained that his opposition to expanding NATO stemmed from his unwillingness to place American soldiers into harm’s way.
“There’s a real debate about how big NATO should be and whether or not it’s been more provocative than good,” Paul stated. “We seem to be paying for all of it. Whenever there’s a war fought, our soldiers fight it and our dollars pay for it.”