Ron Paul fans furious over Rand Paul’s drone flip-flop

Former Texas Rep. Ron Pauls vibrant fan base is in open rebellion this week over Sen. Rand Pauls perceived reversal on domestic drone strikes. The Kentucky Republican, whose famous 13-hour Senate floor filibuster did much to strengthen his ties with his fathers hardcore following, told Fox Business Network on Tuesday hes OK with drone strikes on American citizens who, for instance, rob a liquor store.

Ive never argued against any technology being used when you have an imminent threat, an active crime going on, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., said. If someone comes out of a liquor store with a weapon and fifty dollars in cash. I dont care if a drone kills him or a policeman kills him.

While its true that Rand Paul has always made an exception for imminent threats a 9/11-like moment the liquor store scenario struck many libertarians as a very low threshold for domestic drone strikes, especially considering Pauls Senate floor remarks, which if you recall, took a more anti-drone stance. Heres Rand Paul on the Senate floor:

I will speak as long as it takes, until the alarm is sounded from coast to coast that our Constitution is important, that your rights to trial by jury are precious, that no American should be killed by a drone on American soil without first being charged with a crime, without first being found to be guilty by a court.

Now, a phalanx of Ron Paul, former Texas representative, and libertarian forums are revolting at the senators perceived reversal.

I am stunned by Rands statement, reads a blog post on the Daily Paul, one of the largest Ron Paul fan sites. Unmanned killers in our skys O.K.??? Really? Get away from the Neocons and war mongers Rand, their arrogant and self-righteous air is rotting your brain.

How cute. The Politician emerges, wrote Paladin69, a user on RonPaulForums.com.

I disagree with shooting first and asking questions later, added forum administrator Josh Lowry.

The hell with arresting him I guess, wrote user The Gold Standard sarcastically. Just fire a missile at him and move on to the next mundane.

Reddits brand of libertarian politics also repelled Pauls hypothetical. A missile into the storefront seems like dramatically excessive force, wrote Reddit user Ohyeahthatsright. Rand then seems to be supporting the militarization of police in their use of tools. I thought he was against the police state.

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Ron Paul fans furious over Rand Paul’s drone flip-flop