Rand Paul: 'We Probably Can't Defeat or Get Rid of Obamacare' (UPDATE: Paul Clarifies Statements)

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. (TheBlaze/AP) — Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) was quoted by the Associated Press Saturday saying that President Barack Obama's health care law probably can't be defeated or gotten rid of...and that there is little he and other congressional Republicans can do to stop the law from taking effect.

But in follow-up statements Saturday Paul clarified his position and outlined possible outcomes in the fight to defund Obamacare; he also reiterated that he'll vote against it, even though he believes the Senate will vote to pass it.

Paul told Breitbart News that possible outcomes could include a filibuster of the House bill to prevent Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from stripping it of Obamacare defunding language; if the Senate is able to remove defunding language, the House could go to a conference and negotiate additional moves against Obamacare, he said.

Speaking to reporters Saturday at a gathering of Michigan Republicans, Paul said Republicans could use votes on measures in the House and in the Senate to come up with compromise legislation, but that time for that is running out.

Sen. Rand Paul (Credit: AP)

An opponent of Obamacare, Paul says he's acknowledging that, in his words, "we probably can't defeat or get rid of Obamacare" but not funding the health care law might help render it "less bad" in the end.

Here's Paul speaking with Sean Hannity not long before the House voted to defund Obamacare Friday:

This story has been updated.

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