Paul announced he'll be visiting Simmons College, a historically black Kentucky college. NAACP wants Sen. Paul to speak

The NAACP has offered Republican Sen. Rand Paul the opportunity to speak to the organization, with the its interim president saying, “We’d love to have him.”

In an interview taped for C-SPAN’s “Newsmakers” that will air Sunday, Lorraine Miller said she was interested in hearing more about the “Economic Freedom Zones” that the Kentucky senator has pushed.


“We’d love to talk with him about it and work with him on it,” Miller said, adding that her comments amounted to an invitation to Paul to address the group.

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A top Paul aide said the senator is game.

“Senator Paul is pleased to hear that the NAACP would like to work with him on reforms like economic freedom zones and he would be honored to address the organization,” Doug Stafford, a senior adviser to Paul said.

Paul announced Friday that he will be visiting Simmons College, a historically black college in his state, on Monday. He previously spoke at Howard University in Washington last spring.

Miller also addressed the challenge the Republican Party has faced in gaining support from African-Americans, noting the jobs program proposed by President Barack Obama that was defeated in Congress.

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“African-Americans see this. It’s clear. It’s evident. And so you vote for who supports you and we haven’t seen a lot of support from the Republican Party,” she said.

Nevertheless, Miller acknowledged that many members of the GOP understand the issues facing the African-American community, but said “we just need to connect those dots and work together.”

“We’re willing to extend our hand in an effort of sincere, sincere collaboration,” Miller said. “And once we do that, I think we can come up with things that will mutually benefit the African-American community.”