Mitch McConnell Praises Rand Paul for Not Attacking Fellow Republicans

In TIME‘s latest 100 Most Influential People edition, Sen. Mitch McConnell praises Sen. Rand Paul’s “rare magnanimity.” 

McConnell points out that the freshman senator from Kentucky embraces the “Eleventh Commandment” made famous by Ronald Reagan: “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” 

He writes, “[M]y Kentucky colleague has been cheerfully clearing a path for Republican ideals in the unlikeliest precincts.” McConnell adds, “And he’s done it with rare magnanimity, making common cause with anyone who agrees that an all-powerful government in Washington is a threat to individual liberty — and to the American project itself.”

Paul endorsed McConnell in his Senate primary, explaining that it was a simple request from the Senate Minority leader.

“He asked me when there was nobody else in the race, and I said ‘yes,'” Paul explained to Glenn Beck in February.