Rand Paul, Jack Conway Brawl Over 'Aqua Buddha'

The words “ugly” and “new low” are being tossed around a lot in reports of last night’s Kentucky Senate debate, in which Rand Paul and Jack Conway sparred over a new Conway ad bashing Paul for his alleged “Aqua Buddha” shenanigans. (Background available here and here.) Paul accused Conway of attacking his religious beliefs. Conway said the ad wasn't about religion, to howls from the crowd. “Values matter,” he protested. “When is it ever a good idea to tie up a woman and ask her to kneel before Aqua Buddha?”

“Jack, have you no decency? Have you no shame?” Paul replied. “You demean the state of Kentucky. You embarrass yourself.” At the end of the debate, Paul said he was too offended to shake hands with Conway. “Don’t make up stuff about me from college that you think you’ve read on the Internet blogs,” he said. He also at one point told Conway to “Run a race like a man … instead of calling me names.” Conway replied by accusing Paul of flip-flopping. “You told me to be a man. … Have the guts to stay by your positions.”
For a smattering of the incredulous reports, click here, here or here. (More Rand Paul stories.)