Rand Paul actually said...

Over the years I have been an outspoken critic of socialism, in general, Chinese socialism, Mao, the history of trying to get to absolute so...

We should think twice before ending relations and ending trade with China.

This is about the business of science with China, this will disturb our relations with China if anybody questions this.

That does not sound to me like open-mindedness, and I wonder what you would tell a younger researcher...