Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has taken the lead in fighting back against the recent revelation of the National Security Agency’s surveillance program and does not seem to be giving up any time soon, especially as he gains the support of the youth.
“There was a poll out just this week that said well over 60 percent of Republicans think the NSA has gone too far, that they think your private phone calls and your records, you should have to have a warrant,” the Kentucky Republican told CNN in an interview Tuesday. “I think as we have a fuller debate on these discussions you’re going to find that not only Republicans are with me on this issue, the youth are.”
And Paul may be right on that. The recent leaks of the NSA surveillance program and the Internal Revenue Service’s targeting of conservative groups that took place under the Obama Administration seem to have contributed to a sharp decline in the President’s approval rating among Millennials, who were some of the president’s greatest supporters in both the 2008 and 2012 elections.
A CNN/ORC international poll released Monday revealed that only 48 percent of 18-to-34-year-olds approve of President Obama’s job performance. That number was 63 percent in May. Among Millennials, the President’s approval rating dropped by a total of 17 points, according to CNN Polling Director Keating Holland.
“They see him now as a hypocrite who’s unwilling to defend the privacy of the internet,” Paul said. “I think issues like this resonate beyond the Republican label and I think they’re going to help us become a bigger national party and Republicans will find out that I will and I do say that we do everything we can to protect our country, consistent with our constitution. That’s what we’re defending.”
Hear Paul’s remarks below:
