Rand Paul Says The Lack Of Black GOP Voters Stems From The Great Depression During Speech At Howard University

Updated 11:20 p.m. (EST)

Republican Sen. Rand Paul made a bold and courageous attempt to reach out to African Americans on behalf of the GOP on Wednesday by delivering a speech at Howard University, an historically Black college in Washington, D.C. 

Although his effort to step outside of the GOP comfort zone is commendable, the speech came across as awkward, forced and even insulting at times.

"I'm happy that he came, that he reached out," Howard grad Dawn Hay told NPR. "But it felt like a plea."

Paul, a potential 2016 presidential contender, forgot the name of the first African American Republican elected to the U.S. Senate, who happened to be a Howard graduate.  "Edward Brooke" an audience member shouted out.  

The Kentucky senator also drew groans when he asked the crowd if they knew that Black Republicans founded the NAACP in the early 1900s.  "We know our history!," an audience member yelled out.

Just as painful was hearing Paul's recounts of Black history.  According to him, Republicans lost a majority of Black votes not because the party made efforts to appease white Southern voters, but because African Americans became "impatient for economic equality" and thus gravitated toward Democrats who offered free stuff "unlimited federal assistance."

"I think what happened during the Great Depression was that African Americans understood that Republicans championed citizenship and voting rights but they became impatient for economic emancipation," stated the Kentucky senator.

"African Americans languished below white Americans in every measure of economic success and the Depression was especially harsh for those at the lowest rung of poverty," continued the first term congressman.

"The Democrats promised equalizing outcomes through unlimited federal assistance while Republicans offered something that seemed less tangible-the promise of equalizing opportunity through free markets."

Paul's history lesson also seemed factually inaccurate when he tried to convince students that the Republican Party has not changed since Abraham Lincoln freed slaves to the Reagan Administration which ushered in policies that led to the mass incarceration of Blacks and Latinos.

"The argument that I'm trying to make is that we haven't changed. We don't talk about it... There are some of us who haven't changed, who are part of that party that you liked, who truly believe that Reagan was still part of that. Who don't see an abrupt difference."