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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsLessons from Rand Paul: 'Misinformation can be very important'
by Hunter
I enjoy this one out of all sensible proportion, I admit. If Rand Paul gets a statue of himself somewhere, somedayand he will, because every loud senator gets a free statue of themselves somewhere, someday, as one of the perks of the officeI hope they will have the wisdom to use his humorous anecdote here for the inspirational words they put underneath.
Rand Paul was talking with University of Louisville medical students when one of them tossed him a softball. "The majority of med students here today have a comprehensive exam tomorrow. I'm just wondering if you have any last-minute advice."
"Actually, I do," said the ophthalmologist-turned-senator, who stays sharp (and keeps his license) by doing pro bono eye surgeries during congressional breaks. "I never, ever cheated. I don't condone cheating. But I would sometimes spread misinformation. This is a great tactic. Misinformation can be very important."
He went on to describe studying for a pathology test with friends in the library. "We spread the rumor that we knew what was on the test and it was definitely going to be all about the liver," he said. "We tried to trick all of our competing students into over-studying for the liver" and not studying much else.
"So, that's my advice," he concluded. "Misinformation works."
I I am entranced. I don't think I've ever heard such a beautiful summation of conservative Republicanism. Let us count the intertwined lessons:
- It is all right to lie outright to people if doing so will gain you personal benefit. That's not cheating.
- If you can't do any better yourself, try hurting others. It all counts so long as you end up on top!
- Misdirection is a fine tool for convincing others to do stupid things instead of smarter ones.
And thus one of the most beloved Republican thinkers of our time found his political niche. A crowded niche, to be sure, so we may find out in 2015 that Rand Paul told Cruz, Rubio and certain other Republicans that he had heard the Iowa caucuses were going to be all about who best knew the functions of the liver.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/18/1248682/-Lessons-from-Rand-Paul-Misinformation-can-be-very-important
This is what happens when the nut attached to the squirrel speaks.
Explains a lot.
Did you know Rand Paul isn't a legitimately-certified doctor?
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023866993
Kentucky GOP Senators Were Wrong That State Didnt Want Obamacare
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023864125
Xipe Totec
(43,890 posts)pnwmom
(108,980 posts)But he does not have a legitimate board-certification in his area of specialization, ophthalmology. He has only the board-certification that he conferred on himself.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)He's a nut!
treestar
(82,383 posts)and getting one over on other students. The short cut way around doing anything genuine.
spooky3
(34,458 posts)I'm sure they are all reassured to know that that any high grades he got based on the "curve" could have resulted from these tactics rather than from his superior and comprehensive knowledge and skill pertinent to their medical problems.
And libertarians like him justify it all by blaming the victim (the fellow med students to whom he lied)--"fool me twice, shame on me" and all that.
Demoiselle
(6,787 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]I knew he was a scumbag, but this is just over the top. Analysis in the article is spot on.
Beware the "ethics" of a TeaGOPer!
ProSense
(116,464 posts)silverweb
(16,402 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Ikonoklast
(23,973 posts)"If I lie and you believe me to your personal detriment, and I come out on top, it's all good! Yay, me!"
silverweb
(16,402 posts)[font color="navy" face="Verdana"]Well said!
yurbud
(39,405 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)Saviolo
(3,282 posts)...to look out for #1 only, with no regard for anyone else anywhere along the chain. The other students, or the future patients that will be harmed by people who succeeded not by being better, but by conniving their peers into doing worse.
It's a race to the bottom, folks. Hope the Tea Party is winning! Looks that way right now.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,760 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)nt.
Cha
(297,317 posts)Thanks ProSense!