Rand Paul’s Dire Warning For Texas

Conservative Texans must remain vigilant and learn to adapt or they will lose their state to Democratic politicians, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) reportedly told a group of Republicans over the weekend.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaks during a meeting for the Arkansas Republican Party at the Hot Springs Convention Center in Hot Springs, Ark., on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014 (AP)

Texas will be “a Democratic state within 10 years” if Republicans fail to reach out to more voters, the Kentucky senator told the group in Houston, according to reports of the event.

The senator, who has expressed similar sentiments before, said party leaders in the state need to learn to adapt with the times and to be the party of inclusion.

“That means we evolve. It doesn’t mean we give up on what we believe in, but it means we have to be a welcoming party,” Paul said Saturday at an event hosted by the Harris County Republican Party. “We have to welcome people of all races. We need to welcome people of all classes — business class, working class.”

He said the Republican Party needs to focus outreach efforts on traditionally ignored voting blocs.

“We need to have people with ties and without ties, with tattoos and without tattoos — with earrings, without earrings,” he said. “We need a more diverse party. We need a party that looks like America.”

Paul said immigration reform could be an area where Republicans adapt and evolve in order to attract a broader base of voters.

“We won’t all agree on it,” Paul said. “But I’ll tell you, what I will say and what I’ll continue to say, and it’s not an exact policy prescription ... but if you want to work and you want a job and you want to be part of America, we’ll find a place for you.”

But he was careful to reiterate his position on securing the border.

“Doesn’t mean I don’t believe in securing the border first, doesn’t mean I don’t believe it’s important we have a secure country,” Paul said. “But it does mean we have to have a different attitude.”

(H/T: Washington Examiner)

--

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter