'Lunatic' GOP congressman: Rand Paul is like ISIS

Sen. Rand Paul

Sen. Rand Paul's supporters swirled to his defense after Rep. Peter King from New York seemed to suggest the libertarian-minded leader – one of the most outspoken opponents of NSA spying – is about as bad as ISIS.

In a tweet, King wrote of the Senate's passage of the USA Freedom Act that contains National Security Agency spying powers: "Today's Senate NSA vote is a victory for America, for freedom over ignorance and defeat for ISIS, Edward Snowden & Rand Paul," the IJReview wrote.

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It didn't take long for social media to respond with outrage at the seeming grouping of Paul with ISIS and Snowden.

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"@RepPeteKing you're a lunatic," wrote one.

And another: "@RepPeteKing you are an enemy of liberty. You have no idea what the constitution is do you?"

Another: "@RepPeteKing @zerohedge Sir, please step away from the keyboard and not the white van. Eaaaasy now, sir ..."

Another: "@RepPeteKing wtf is wrong with you?"

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And yet more, from someone who claimed no love for Paul: "@RepPeteKing do not put Snowden & RPaul (who I do not like) in same sentence w ISIS. U were in favor of Ireland's terrorists hypocrite!"

And finally, from Hollywood actor Nick Searcy, IJReview found: "dear @RepPeteKing you'd make a better Democrat."

The Senate passed the USA Freedom Act with a vote of 62 to 32, putting an end to the NSA's bulk collection of phone records. Instead, federal agents must first obtain a warrant to tap into select phone data.