Rand Paul on Meet The Press: “Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in!” (VIDEO)

It’s a Shutdown Shakedown!

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) appeared on Meet The Press Sunday to discuss the ongoing government shutdown and the looming debt ceiling debacle. Senator Paul battled with the anchor over whether the congress has the authority to fund the government as they please. The host then attempted to pin the blame on Republicans for not funding the government, despite the fact that the congress has the right to defund any program they wish and they funded the entire government, except for Obamacare.

The anchor used the argument of mass democracy, claiming that Obamacare passed in the House and Senate, was signed by the President and upheld by the Supreme Court. However, the branches of government are all separate and coequal for a reason. The congress has the right not to fund any program it wishes for whatever reason. That was the beauty of separation of powers enshrined in the Constitution of the United States of America.

READ: Economist explains why the shutdown is the fault of Obama and the Democrats

Senator Paul believes that President Barack Obama‘s intransigence is what is holding up the restoration of normal government functions. Paul realizes that he won’t be able to stop all of Obamacare, but that it is his responsibility to have oversight over legislation.

Paul was confronted over comments made by Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) where he chastised Republicans who claim “we’re winning” the government shutdown debate. Then they played a clip by Senator Paul where he was caught on a hot mic saying “I think we are going to win this thing.”

The anchor then suggested how disgusted Americans are with his approach to which Paul responded that the government isn’t doing its job. That’s exactly why he is standing firm in his convictions. It was then suggested that Paul was a leading contender for President in 2016, and the anchor wondered if his stances now might harm his chances of future elective office. Paul responded, “Sometimes you have to fight for what you believe in.”