2010 Essays

Why Rand Paul's Victory Matters for Republican Foreign Policy

Mitchell, Lincoln A.

The biggest news stories following Rand Paul's victory in the recent Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat in Kentucky have focused on his comments regarding his view that the 1964 Civil Rights Act abridged the rights of business owners, his defense of BP regarding the recent oil spill on the grounds that "accidents happen", and that it is wrong to criticize BP or seek to hold them accountable for the spill. These comments have all but obscured some other implications of Paul's victory. Paul's victory has also been described as a win for the Tea Party movement. While Paul still must win a tough race in November, his primary victory certainly demonstrates that the Tea Party movement is likely to remain an important part of the Republican Party, at least for the short term. This is not without implications for U.S. foreign policy.