VIDEO: FEMA asked about Drones by Sen. Paul, claims ‘only hobby aircraft’

I guess I’d be nervous too if Senator Paul asked me about my secret stash of drones! Today, Timothy Manning, FEMA deputy administrator, was questioned by Senator Paul during a Senate hearing on FEMA’s usage or purchase of drones. Unintentional comedy ensues:

RAND PAUL: Are FEMA preparedness grants being used to purchase drones?

MANNING (FEMA): Senator, uh, no. Dro–there are…there have been some grantees that have purchased remote controlled low-level aircraft…basically RV, um, like what you…would think of as uh, like a hobby aircraft…that have, uh, cameras for monitoring…

Don’t worry, citizen. FEMA just has some toy planes with, uh, cameras for monitoring stuff. Senator Paul proceeded to remind the FEMA officials of the infamous MIAC documents put out by a Missouri Homeland Security fusion center in 2009.

That report specifically describes supporters of presidential candidates Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, and Bob Barr as “militia” influenced and ‘potential terrorists.’ It instructs the Missouri police to be on the lookout for supporters displaying bumper stickers and other paraphernalia associated with the Constitutional, Campaign for Liberty, and Libertarian parties.

UPDATE: Senator Paul had more questions about FEMA expenditures later in the hearing. At the end of the clip Paul’s mic was hot for the real politico nerds out there!