Paul: Bill Clinton a ‘throwback to a sort of troglodyte time’

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Friday knocked former President Clinton as a “throwback to a sort of troglodyte time,” where men took advantage of women in the workplace.

Speaking to The Hill prior to his appearance at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, Paul defended his recent attacks on the former president, who he’s criticized as a “sexual predator.” He’s also called for Democrats to return donations raised or contributed by Clinton. 

{mosads}“It is quite hypocritical that a party that says they’re great defenders of women in the workplace supports a guy who violated all of those pledges, all of those promises that the workplace is a safer place for women than it has been in the past,” he said. “He’s a throwback to a sort of troglodyte time, where men did whatever they wanted to women in the workplace.”

He said he believes it’s “fair game for Democrats to have to defend” Clinton, since they lean on him heavily for fundraising and campaigning help. 

Clinton is expected to be a useful figure for the party this election cycle, as he remains a popular Democratic leader, even as President Obama’s unpopularity threatens to drag down some vulnerable Democrats. 

Clinton recently campaigned in Kentucky for Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes, the likely general election opponent to Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who Paul has endorsed.

Paul’s criticism of the former president has been interpreted by many as a preemptive volley in his probable campaign for president in 2016, when Democrats are expected to nominate Hillary Clinton to run.

He said, however, he doesn’t believe Clinton’s indiscretions should disqualify his wife from the presidency. 

However, “not sending reinforcements into Benghazi should disqualify her,” he said.