Rand Paul: I'll pay to send Ilhan Omar back to Somalia so she'll appreciate America

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) has become the latest prominent Republican to join in on Trump’s racist attacks on Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN).

Trump has been fixated on the congresswoman, putting her front and center in his latest wave of bigoted attacks by saying she should “go back” to where she’s from. Trump’s supporters chanted “send her back” at his rally as Trump looked on.

On Wednesday, Paul added his two cents to the hate campaign in an interview with right-wing site Breitbart.

“I’m not saying we forcibly send her anywhere,” Paul said. “I’m willing to contribute to buy her a ticket to go visit Somalia. I think she can look and maybe learn a little bit about the disaster that is Somalia.”

“Maybe after she’s visited Somalia for a while,” he continued, “she might come back and appreciate America more.”

Omar is an immigrant from Somalia who escaped civil war in that country. She is a U.S. citizen and is one of the first two Muslim women to be elected to Congress.

Paul most recently distinguished himself as one of only two senators, along with Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT), to oppose legislation to fund the 9/11 victim compensation fund.

By contrast, Omar was one of the cosponsors of the bill and voted to approve the measure in the House.

When it was time to “appreciate” the heroes who were on the front lines of the worst terrorist attack in American history, Omar did, while Paul did not.

Since helping out Trump’s racist attack on the congresswoman, Paul has not publicly commented on Trump’s decision to smear Baltimore and Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD).

Omar has publicly backed Cummings.

“This president wants to distract with his racism so he can avoid accountability for his corruption,” she wrote.

In Paul, Trump has an ally who is willing to help him wallow in the gutter of racism.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.