Rand Paul Says Taxpayers Fund 'War on Christianity'

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., is one of the rising stars of the tea-party who has always championed the Libertarian ideals that made his father, Ron, famous. Paul has now started to reach out to Christian conservatives in what is seen by many as the first step toward a potential run for the presidency in 2016, according to the Washington Post.

Paul attended a luncheon at the annual Faith and Freedom Conference on Thursday where he gave remarks about a war on Christianity.

"There is a war on Christianity," Paul said. "Not just from liberal elites here at home, but worldwide. And your government, or more correctly, you, the taxpayer, are funding it. You are being taxed to send money to countries that are not only intolerant of Christians, but openly hostile. Christians are imprisoned and threatened with death for their beliefs."

In his remarks Paul attacked the U.S. for sending aid money to Libya, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan. Paul also was adamant against the potential of the U.S. aiding the anti-government rebels in Syria, according to ABC News.

"The Senate is attempting to arm the rebel forces in Syria, many of whom are Al Qaeda or affiliates," Paul said. "They do so out of a misguided attempt to stop the violence in Syria. Instead their actions will bring more violence and more persecution of Christians, who have long been protected in Syria."

Paul has long supported ending foreign aid to many Muslim-majority countries, he introduced a bill to the Senate to do so last year, but he has not always claimed a faith based reason for doing so, according to Yahoo.

"In Egypt, in Pakistan, they burn our flag - I say not one penny more to countries that burn the American flag," Paul said. "While they burn the American flag and the mobs chant 'Death to America,' more of your money is sent to these haters of Christianity."

Paul has also been actively trying to gain support from Americans to bring a class-action lawsuit against the National Security Agency for the collection of phone records that was revealed when Edward Snowden leaked government documents to the Guardian, reports the Associated Press.

"Americans are rightly concerned about having all of their phone records collected and monitored all of the time," Paul said. "There is a large groundswell of people who are upset about their privacy."

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