Just now, on a conference call with reporters, Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) slammed Sen. John McCain’s tea-party comments:
McCain took to the Senate floor Wednesday to rail about conservatives in the Tea Party movement who have “bizarre” plans and believe a Democratic-controlled Senate can pass a balanced budget amendment before an Aug. 2 deadline to raise the debt limit.
McCain laced his remarks with quotes from a Wall Street Journal article, which referred to the anti-tax movement supporters as “Tea Party hobbits” — the characters in the Lord of the Rings series who inhabit Middle-earth.
“I would rather be a hobbit than a troll,” Paul said. He added that he will continue to oppose the Boehner plan and champion “Cut, Cap and Balance” in the Senate.