AP/ November 2, 2010, 8:21 PM

Paul Lambastes Health Care, Financial Overhauls

In this photo taken Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, newborn babies wait to be bathed at a hospital in Zouping county in east China's Shandong province. On Friday, June 15, 2012, China suspended three officials and apologized to a woman who was forced to undergo an abortion seven months into her pregnancy in a case that sparked a public uproar after graphic photos of the mother and her dead baby were circulated online. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT

In this photo taken Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2012, newborn babies wait to be bathed at a hospital in Zouping county in east China's Shandong province. On Friday, June 15, 2012, China suspended three officials and apologized to a woman who was forced to undergo an abortion seven months into her pregnancy in a case that sparked a public uproar after graphic photos of the mother and her dead baby were circulated online. (AP Photo) CHINA OUT

Updated at 11:11 p.m.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul slammed President Barack Obama's overhaul of health care and Wall Street regulation with opponent Jack Conway firing back on Monday that Paul was looking for a $2,000 Medicare deductible and a national sales tax.

Their final debate lacked the fireworks of a prior exchange when Paul angrily confronted Conway about a TV ad that pointed out accusations that Paul, while a student at Baylor University, was a member of a secret society that mocked Christians. The ad revisited claims by a woman that Paul helped tie her up and told her to worship an idol, and that he told the woman his god was "Aqua Buddha."

Instead, with just a week left in the bitterly fought campaign, Paul pressed his tea party-backed message of limited government and said Obama's health care and financial policies will stifle job creation at a time of chronically high unemployment.

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"ObamaCare is going to be worse than we can even imagine," Paul, a Bowling Green eye doctor, said during the nationally televised debate at the studios of Kentucky Educational Television.

Democrat Conway hit back by linking Paul to the Republican's past statements that discussed the possibility of the deductible and a sales tax to replace the federal income tax. Conway, who supports the health care law, acknowledged it's not perfect but said he wants to fix it.

He defended the landmark law for providing first-time coverage for some 654,000 of Kentuckians, and said it will keep young adults on their parents' health plans longer.

The two also sparred over the financial overhaul law pushed by Obama.

Paul said the law is "very dangerous for our economy," and said it will punish banks in Kentucky with more layers of regulations even though the state's banks didn't cause the economic meltdown.

Conway said prudent oversight is needed to keep Wall Street from gambling with investors' money.

"Leaving them alone in the first place got us in this mess," he said.

Paul also criticized the economic stimulus passed early in Obama's first term, saying it added significantly to the nation's debt without spurring job growth.

"This election is about which agenda do you want," Paul said. "Do you want President Obama's agenda that believes in government as this mode of stimulus?"

The two are vying for the seat of 79-year-old Sen. Jim Bunning, who is retiring after two terms.

As for the ad, Paul has denied being involved in any kidnapping and has called the ad false. The Washington Post reported last week that the woman has since described the incident as a "hazing prank" that Paul should acknowledge.
© 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
18 Comments Add a Comment
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noloyalisti says:
This poor schmuck Paul is still stuck on the absolute disaster of Reaganomics: the failed deregulation and free market. The wreckage of those failed Republican economic conspiracies are all around us. Stupid schmuck.
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Amusedbyitall says:
An even better idea, disassociate from Tea Partiers who have solicited and distributed stimulus money, such as Michele Bauchman.
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Amusedbyitall says:
If the stimulus package was so horrible, why doesn't Rand Paul chastise his daddy for petitioning and distributing money from the fund? Or chastise Mitch McConnell for taking money from the stimulus package and distributing the money?
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nomossonmyrocks says:
If social security had been privatized as the GOP wanted, and still wants, where would we be now? When everything started going south the GOP were leading the charge to let Wall Street go under. It was a dangerous idea then and even more dangerous now.
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akwriter replies:
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If the GOP really wanted to reduce the deficit, they would reduce the obscene Pentagon budget and stop attacking the old and sick. Unfortunately, they'll use that "National Security" ruse so they can pump more money into their friends wallets.
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KPeters_from_UK says:
For all the Republicans who want to quickly cut Federal spending and thus drastically reduce the deficit please, please look to Ireland. Check out what happened to Ireland. A decaded ago Ireland was considered the economic Tiger of Europe...then financial trouble...followed by massive cuts..bam!
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akwriter replies:
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You're asking a conservative to look at the long term effects over short term actions. They'll say "that could never happen in America" as they watch the ship slide beneath the waves. We are like the Romans and the Proletarian Guards are taking over the Senate.....the end result will be the barbarians taking over America and the beginning of the second Dark Ages.
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rightbehind says:
I wonder if Rand is praying to the aqua Buddha for a win? Do you think that may be the god that is talking to Christine O'Donnell?
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rightbehind says:
Rand Paul is an empty suit. He is controlled by strings from his corporate masters.
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pepawjoe replies:
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While Barrack Obama, is "TOTALLY" owned and controlled by Corporate America, and the International Bribery Organizations, (IBO's), known to the public as "LOBBIST".
I'm not a Paul fan either, but, if you want to point fingers in the "YES-MAN" direction, at least start with the biggest ever in the history of this country, Barrack Obama.
Several other members of congress are very high on the "Debt List" of of "THEIR" Corporate contributors. Strangely enough, these congressional members are also "IN-CHARGE" of most issues in our Government's everyday activities. Dodd, Franks, especially Bacucus. Ever wonder WHY! Ask yourself this simple question; Who is the "REAL BENEFIT" recipiants of all passed legislation for the past 10-12 years. It certainly "AIN'T" the people. If you guessed Corporate America, thanks for being patrotic, thanks for caring.
akwriter replies:
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He pepawjoe....the biggest "yes-man" in history is also one of the most successful Presidents we've had. He got a Health Care Bill passed when presidents for the last 80 years failed, and he did it without the help of the Party of No, who tried to block everything to save their health industry mega-rich friends. As for the debt, where were you when Dubya took a surplus and created the largest deficit in America's history? He followed on the footsteps of Reagan and his father, Bush the Elder. President Obama stopped the slide in the depression. You're really loose with your accusations and name calling, but woefully lacking in your facts.
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toridorio says:
Gee Rand paul is against Health Care and for Wall Steet. What a surprise.
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RobAla replies:
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That terrible bill is not so much about health care as it is about the raw expansion of the federal government on the backs of businesses and taxpayers. And where does the federal government get off on telling any free American what service or good we have to purchase (or suffer a fine)? This is not Communist China.
rightbehind replies:
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That terrible bill is not so much about health care as it is about the raw expansion of the federal government on the backs of businesses and taxpayers. And where does the federal government get off on telling any free American what service or good we have to purchase (or suffer a fine)? This is not Communist China.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Where have you been? China is pouring donations into "republican" campaigns through the chamber of commerce. That health care bill is like a baby we don't want to throw out with the bath water. We'll get it fixed and hopefully it will grow up to be a single payer system.
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RobAla says:
From what I understand, that horrible health care bill has a provision which imposes a 3.5% tax on the profit one might get from selling a home. In this climate, with massive foreclosures, that is absolutely cold! The entire stinking bill must be repealed as soon as possible.
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rightbehind replies:
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Spreading a little innuendo! Why don't you talk about no longer being denied for a pre existing condition. How about no longer loosing benefits because of a paperwork mistake. We should have added the public option to get rid of the phony baloney health care insurance markets.
retiredgustav replies:
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That is just another republican lie (I realize that statement was redundent). Check out snopes for the real story. stohttp://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/realestate.aspry.
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