A blogger hired by Sen. Rand Paul’s (R., Ky.) team has apologized for some of the comments she made on social media.
The Washington Free Beacon reported on Marianne Copenhaver’s support for Edward Snowden and opposition to the Pledge of Allegiance on Tuesday, as well as her criticism of Israel and her claim that Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) tries to foment international wars to satisfy his "blood lust."
Copenhaver said her "opinions are mine and not Senator Paul’s. I don’t speak for him, nor do I have any role in which I would ever speak for or advise him on policy," in a statement to a former reporter for NSFWCorp on Thursday.
"I don’t think it is fair to have my old Facebook comments scrutinized by the media," said Copenhaver. "Those comments were made long before I worked for Senator Paul. I’m sure neither Graham nor McCain will lose any sleep over my comments but for what it’s worth I am sorry. Regardless of my policy disagreements with them I certainly could have been more polite."
Most of Copenhaver’s comments cited were made during the past two years. She was hired by Paul’s RandPAC last year to do social media and graphic design work. She traveled with the senator to Las Vegas earlier this month.
Doug Stafford, who runs RandPAC, also weighed in to the Daily Beast:
Stafford, distancing the senator from his latest hire, told The Daily Beast: "I think if you are in your twenties, you grew up in a world where far too much of your life and your words are online. It’s something that’s never been dealt with before."
"Is it fair? No, not really. Especially for someone who isn’t in a job that involves policy or isn’t a spokesman for the person in office or running for office."
"Those of us in politics ask often why people hold it in low regard, and also why more people don’t enter into it. This little episode answers both of those questions if you look closely."
Asked if Copenhaver would be fired, Stafford, who is from Long Island, texted: "Fire my graphic and web designer for old Facebook comments? Y’all are more than a little crazy, you know that right?"
Paul’s former social media director Jack Hunter—who resigned in 2013 after the Free Beacon reported upon his career as the "Southern Avenger," a neo-Confederate radio personality—said the fallout over Copenhaver was a sign that the "neoconservatives are scared":
Asked about Copenhaver, Hunter said in an email: "The neoconservatives are scared to death of Rand Paul right now, particularly his influence on the Republican foreign policy debate. They can either attack his views head-on or they can try to paint him as some sort of extremist using guilt by association… In bringing up extreme and embarrassing statements from my past, they drew blood. With this latest story, they embarrassed themselves. I’m sure it won’t be the last time, especially as they become more desperate."