Sen. Rand Paul isn’t afraid to take a stand for principle, even when it puts him at odds with the rest of his colleagues in Congress, and, yes, even when it’s going to piss a lot of people off online and stir up a Twitter mob.

The libertarian-leaning Kentucky Republican’s latest act of defiance came during Thursday afternoon’s vote on an $8 billion emergency funding aid package focused on responding to the outbreak of the coronavirus in the United States. Paul had proposed an amendment that would have offset this additional spending with cuts elsewhere, as to avoid adding even more onto the $23 trillion national debt and further burdening future generations.

For anyone even remotely consistent with fiscal conservatism, supporting this amendment seems like common sense. So, naturally, the Senate quickly voted it down with a bipartisan majority. In light of his colleagues abandoning any effort to actually offset the billions in new spending they were shelling out, Paul voted against the final package, making him the sole dissenting vote as it passed the Senate 99-1. Suffice it to say, this didn’t go over very well with many liberals.

Here’s a sample of the vitriolic liberal backlash that broke out on Twitter, to the point where #RandPaul trended nationally almost all afternoon:

‘Go to Hell’: Internet trounces ‘useless’ Rand Paul for lone ‘no’ vote on emergency $8 billion coronavirus spending bill https://t.co/b8XCO7yjeR — Raw Story (@RawStory) March 5, 2020

Thought I’d remind everyone that Rand Paul easily voted for the $1.5 Trillion GOP tax scam.



So, the only logical reason I can think of for him voting against $8.3 Billion in funding for Coronavirus today is that he’s an asshole.



His neighbor should get a medal. — Ricky Davila (@TheRickyDavila) March 5, 2020

When it comes time for coronavirus clinical trials, I nominate Rand Paul for any necessary human experimental testing. — Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) March 5, 2020

Rand Paul just voted against Coronavirus funding. Now I understand why his neighbor punched him in his face. — Christopher Bouzy (@cbouzy) March 5, 2020

Good that there are still constants amidst the chaos, like Rand Paul being an asshole. https://t.co/piIkonL8vQ — Schooley (@Rschooley) March 5, 2020

BREAKING: GOP Senator Rand Paul just voted against a bill to fund the #coronavirus response. He was the only Senator to do so.



Rand Paul is a piece of crap!

Who agrees? — Ms. Krassenstein (@HKrassenstein) March 5, 2020

This unhinged response is totally unfair. Whether you personally agree with Paul’s stance or not, he deserves credit, not condemnation, for being the only Republican to actually vote in line with his espoused fiscally conservative principles.

“I support our government’s efforts to fight the coronavirus,” Paul said. “We also owe it to the American people to do it in a way that avoids piling billions more in debt on their backs. My amendment responsibly uses taxpayer resources by reducing waste to pay for this new spending.”

What part of that makes him a villain, exactly?

Remember, the GOP controls the Senate. While Republicans may not ultimately have been able to get spending offsets passed for this package due to Democratic control of the House of Representatives, they could have at least given it a real effort. Instead, establishment Republicans went along to go along, voting for the umpteenth time to spend more of our money without regard for the future.

And let’s be clear: It’s not as if Paul opposes coronavirus funding. He doesn’t, and the senator would have almost certainly supported the aid if the spending had just been offset. You might disagree with that position, sure, but it’s hardly an evil stance to take.

What’s truly reprehensible is the bipartisan congressional disregard for the financial future of my generation. Both parties keep voting to add more to the debt, essentially cashing out the credit card at their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s expense. They aren’t the ones who bear most of the cost of decreased economic growth, reduced investment, and larger interest payments that come with the skyrocketing debt — we are.

As radio host Jennifer Bukowsky put it:

JFC, people.

Rand Paul wasn’t opposed to funding to combat the coronavirus, he just wanted Congress to carve out other spending to PAY for it.



Instead we’re just continuing to screw over our kids, who’ll be paying for this & future pandemics with interest now. Thanks kids! GL! — Jennifer Bukowsky (@esqonfire) March 5, 2020

I couldn’t agree more. Critics need to calm down and realize that nothing about Paul’s principled vote makes him evil in the slightest.