This past weekend, a wave of tornadoes with winds over 150 miles per hour pummeled the state of Kentucky, killing dozens of people and destroying untold amounts of property.
One of the state's Republican Senators, Rand Paul, rightly called on President Joe Biden and the federal government to deliver aid to the state to offset the damage.
This morning I sent a letter to @POTUS asking for expeditious approval of any request for federal assistance by our Governor. If you are a Kentuckian & need assistance with federal agencies following the devastating & deadly storms, please contact my KY office at 270-782-8303. pic.twitter.com/7t01njodwY
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 11, 2021
Paul attached his letter to Biden, which read in part:
"The Governor of the Commonwealth has requested federal assistance this morning and certainly further requests will be coming in as the situation is assessed. I fully support those requests and ask that you move expeditiously to approve the appropriate resources for our state."
It's certainly true that Kentucky needs relief, but what seemed out of place for social media users was Paul's support of distributing federal aid to territories after they've suffered natural disasters—something he's spoken out wholeheartedly against.
In 2017, Paul spoke on the Senate floor against a disaster relief bill providing funds for Puerto Rico, Florida, California and other states grappling with Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria as well as devastating wildfires.
Paul said of the bill:
"People here will say they have great compassion and they want to help the people of Puerto Rico and the people of Florida, but notice they have great compassion with someone else’s money"
Democratic Congresswoman Ilhan Omar of Minnesota gently pointed out Paul's hypocrisy.
Glad he is finally realizing states needing federal assistance after a disaster isn’t gritty, wasteful or being “compassionate with someone else’s money”.
We are one Nation and should always be able to count on one another regardless of your state’s politics.
This is America. https://t.co/xofBJHfw0c
— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) December 12, 2021
Social media users shared the sentiment.
Amen 🙏 https://t.co/e68L5U1CPK
— Amy Roark (@Todays_Pretty) December 13, 2021
Rand loves the free market talk, but when push comes to shove, it’s head down & hand out.
Kentucky deserves so much more than the hypocrisy that Rand is giving them. https://t.co/KO1RG3HuZf
— Inkaíno (❄️⛄️ El Burrito Sabanero 🎄 🎅) (@Inkaino) December 12, 2021
Hmm, Rand Paul changed his mind when it happens to his state! https://t.co/BZk29B1uvn https://t.co/mr3gkkQy74
— Judy Gorley (@56010198jgorley) December 12, 2021
Omar was far from the only one to call out the hypocrisy.
We should do all we can to help our Kentucky neighbors. God be with them — they are hurting. But do not for one second forget that @RandPaul has voted against helping most Americans most times they’re in need. https://t.co/JkZQOZ4HuG
— Rep. Eric Swalwell (@RepSwalwell) December 12, 2021
I remember when you called federal disaster relief funds for Puerto Rico “socialism” after Hurricane Maria. I wonder what changed? https://t.co/UWnLemWHF2
— Joel Berrocal (@joelbNPRCC) December 13, 2021
The people of Kentucky should absolutely receive this help without delay, and I also hope the senator will keep this tragedy in mind the next time he wants to whine about the federal government using taxpayer dollars to help victims of natural disasters in other states. https://t.co/Fr15M6JIvq
— Gary Legum (@GaryLegum) December 11, 2021
So the Senator that voted no to help Sandy & Harvey as well as trying to block victims fund for 9/11 is now requesting help. Fortunately for Kentucky @POTUS does not help only those states that carried him. #BidenDelivers https://t.co/KqNBZbn3GU
— Christa Johnson (@txchristabelle) December 13, 2021
This you? https://t.co/PLgydaZms4 pic.twitter.com/X2hdmUcDfA
— Sandy Garossino (@Garossino) December 11, 2021
Of course we need to help the people of Kentucky. But remember that @RandPaul voted against disaster relief for…
Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Harvey (Texas)
Hurricane Maria (Puerto Rico)
And in 2019 Paul voted against increasing funding to the 9/11 victim compensations fund. https://t.co/SSO0GsQY8T
— Derick Waller (@wallerABC7) December 13, 2021
The Red Cross is currently taking donations for tornado relief at this website.
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AMC