After Donald Trump slapped him down at the Republican debate, Rand Paul is gunning for the frontrunner. On Wednesday, he released an attack ad featuring archival footage of Trump saying that he identifies more as a Democrat.
Ruh-roh!
The two-minute long ad features a younger Trump (same hair, though) saying, “I’ve been around a long time, and it seems that the economy does better under the Democrats than the Republicans.”
He also says that universal healthcare is a terrific idea and that Hillary Clinton is a great person. Man, what’s changed, Trump?
The ad then introduced Rand Paul with a title card saying, “Defeat the Washington Machine with a Proven Conservative and Real Reformer.” Paul then spouts some boring opinions about how politics should be, like his view that congressmen should read more or something.
Anyway, here’s Trump’s blustering response to Paul’s ad, as quoted in the Washington Post:
Rand Paul is doing so poorly in the polls he has to revert to old footage of me discussing positions I no longer hold. As a world-class businessman, who built one of the great companies with some of the most iconic real estate assets in the world, it was my obligation to my family, my company, my employees and myself to maintain a strong relationship with all politicians whether Republican or Democrat. I did that and I did that well.
Trump then compares himself to Ronald Reagan, who was also apparently a Democrat before having a come-to-Jesus moment and becoming a Republican. He also says that he beat Rand Paul at golf and then donated to his eye center, because he’s so gracious and this race hasn’t already turned into a schoolyard fight.
Rand Paul’s response? “Wow, that took a while to read.” I thought you wanted politicians to read more, Rand. Talk about a flip-flopper.