Paul dismisses King’s ‘bombastic’ criticism

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday said Rep. Peter King’s (R-N.Y.) criticism of him is so “bombastic” that most people will dismiss it out of hand. 

Paul defended his statements against the National Security Agency program that collects phone records on millions of Americans, statements King has said amount to spreading lies. 

{mosads}“I think when people are so over the top like that and really so bombastic that most people discount it,” Paul said on The Laura Ingraham Show. 

Paul said most objective observers would conclude there is little evidence the NSA program has thwarted any terrorist operations.

“The bottom line is when you look at it objectively, when we have asked questions to the NSA, most objective observers have decided that really they don’t think any terrorist plots of been foiled with this data collection program,” he said. 

Paul has announced he will lead a class action lawsuit against the agency over the program. 

King has relentlessly slammed Paul for his criticism of the agency. On Sunday, King said Paul does not deserve to be a senator for “spreading that type of misperception and absolute lies.”

Again on Monday, King urged President Obama to defend the program more aggressively against people who demonize the agency.

“Otherwise you have people — Rand Paul and both Democrats and Republicans — who somehow demonize the NSA and others who are carrying out the work for us,” he said. “And people forget 9/11, it’s a long time ago and they don’t realize that in many ways, al Qaeda and its affiliates is dangerous, if not more so today, than they were on September 11, 2001.”

In reaction to King’s comments, Paul said, “There will always be people who will succumb to fear and trade in their liberties for security. But I think there are valid questions here.”