Sen. Rand Paul said that comedian Jon Stewart “doesn’t care about the truth” in response to Stewart’s comments about the Kentucky Republican forcing debate on authorizing a permanent Sept. 11 victims compensation fund.
Paul and Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah drew backlash Wednesday for objecting to a unanimous consent measure to authorize the fund. Paul said he did so because it lacked a funding mechanism. After the move, Stewart and first responder John Feal criticized the senators’ action in an interview with Bret Baier. Feal said the senators “lack humanity,” and Stewart said that it was an “outrageous place for them to take a stand.”
Paul pushed back on the notion Thursday on Fox News, saying that Stewart had made himself part of political “B.S.”
“I know Jon Stewart, and Jon Stewart is sometimes funny and sometimes informed,” Paul said.
“In this case, he’s neither funny nor informed,” he added. “I’ve spent my entire Senate career putting forward ‘pay-fors’ for any time spending is expanded. I put forward a pay-for for the border funding bill.”
“Jon Stewart doesn’t care about the truth,” he said. “It’s all about ‘me-me-me Jon Stewart, look at me, I’m on TV.’”
“He’s really not informed, and his name-calling just sort of exposes him as a left-winger, part of the left-wing mob that really isn’t using its brain,” Paul added.
Stewart has been a vocal advocate of getting the fund through Congress. Last month, flanked by first responders, he made an impassioned plea before the House Judiciary Committee.
“I’m sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic, but I am angry, and you should be too,” Stewart said at the hearing. “Certainly, 9/11 first responders shouldn’t have to decide whether to live or to have a place to live.”
Paul said that he wants to see Sept. 11 victims taken care of but also wanted to have a way to pay for the fund, which will go through 2090 and cost $10 billion in the first decade.
It was announced Thursday that the Senate will vote on the legislation next week. The measure provides compensation for economic losses experienced by those who became sick after the terror attacks. Paul said he would offer up an amendment requiring offsets.
