The power of Twitter: Sen. Ted Cruz reads #StandWithRand tweets during filibuster; Update: Video added

And now tweets are entering the Congressional Record …

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) March 7, 2013

The hashtag #StandWithRand has been at or near the top of Twitter’s trending topics list for hours now, and if you contributed to that trend, there’s a chance Sen. Ted Cruz just read your tweet into the Congressional Record.

"I think the technical term for what the Twitterverse is doing right now is 'blowing up'" -Ted Cruz

— Ethan Klapper (@ethanklapper) March 7, 2013

Cruz, who was quite literally standing with Sen. Rand Paul several hours into his filibuster over the nomination of John Brennan for CIA director, relieved his colleague by reciting a selection of #StandWithRand tweets.

Rand Paul filibuster about to hit 8-hour mark. While he takes a (bathroom?) break, Ted Cruz is reading tweets. Live: http://t.co/7lMJnORiop

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) March 7, 2013

Ted Cruz repping the Twitterverse & reading our tweets to Rand Paul on the Senate floor RIGHT NOW!! #StandWithPaul

— CatsPolitics (@CatsPolitics) March 7, 2013

.@tedcruz bringing Twitter wishes to @SenRandPaul

— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) March 7, 2013

Reading tweets in a filibuster. Phone books hardest hit. #standwithrand

— Mary Katharine Ham (@mkhammer) March 7, 2013

#tcot RT @KristinaRibali: Nice, @sentedcruz reading tweets to @senrandpaul in support.#standwithrand

— Sister Toldjah ? (@sistertoldjah) March 7, 2013

.@repjustinamash Sen Ted Cruz just read your tweet on the Senate floor

— Seung Min Kim (@seungminkim) March 7, 2013

https://twitter.com/fran_chambers/status/309461593731784704

https://twitter.com/billhobbs/status/309461419064164352

Paul, who confessed to not being quite up to speed on social media, did say a tweet from Attorney General Eric Holder on the Constitutionality of drone strikes on American citizens would suffice to end the filibuster. How about it, Attorney General Holder? That would take only two characters; three at most.

Update:

Here is a selection of tweets Cruz read on the floor.

https://twitter.com/AlexTLopez/status/309433786284793857

Rand Paul filibusters Brennan nomination – over four hours now! Glad someone in the Senate has some spine.

— Donna Hornick (@JamminWithDonna) March 6, 2013

@Catwoman2011 Rand Paul is a hero today, a man with a backbone

— Diana (@oledi45) March 6, 2013

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is a true constitutional hero in his filibuster against CIA nominee. Drone attacks on US citizens is real threat!

— Anthony Fulmer (@curlymanofsc) March 6, 2013

SO proud of Rand Paul. He's bringing it! He's not going to let our constitution get trashed! A breath of fresh air. PRAY 4 THIS FIGHT 4 RAND

— marilynn burton (@Mar_lobster) March 6, 2013

https://twitter.com/ThatMarylandGuy/status/309372143483899904

I am VERY proud of Senator Rand Paul… This is an important moment when one person had the courage to yell STOP! #StandWithRand

— CW3 HumanScum Schadenfreude??????????? (@ret_cw3) March 7, 2013

It is frightening that Obama seeks to have an ever growing amount of power. Drone strikes are frightening #StandWithRand

— Karen?duke (@dukiekb) March 6, 2013

Dear @GOP and @GOPLeader – The base is crying out for more of you to #StandWithRand. If you want the base's votes, get it together.

— I Am Xristosdomini (@xristosdomini) March 6, 2013

It seems Sen. Paul is inspring people in more ways than one.

@SenRandPaul I'm a grandma who just learned how to twitter tonight so that I could #StandWithRand and the Constitution!

— MeMe Best (@asia742) March 7, 2013

@SenRandPaul Look, Barack, NO TELEPROMPTER needed! Senator, you are a true Statesman. Thank you! #StandWithRand

— MeMe Best (@asia742) March 7, 2013

Update:

It’s after 10 p.m., and Sen. Cruz is back at it.

Ted Cruz says "Twitter never sleeps," providing an "in-person Twitter feed"

— Steven Dennis (@StevenTDennis) March 7, 2013

This is the 21cent equiv of the Mr. Smith bag of telegrams!

— Jennifer Rubin (@JRubinBlogger) March 7, 2013

@TedCruz back with more tweets! Some highlight the lack of democrats who were willing to #StandWithRand

— TLC (@TracyLConnors) March 7, 2013

Ted Cruz reading Tweets on Senate floor like a poet laureate. #StandWithRand

— Ryan Maue (@RyanMaue) March 7, 2013

Ted Cruz reading tweets. This is gold.

— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) March 7, 2013

Sen. Paul sends his thanks.

Sen. Cruz reading Tweets from all of you meant a lot to me. Protecting the Constitution is everyone's fight.

— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) March 7, 2013

Editor’s note: We removed a tweet that was posted as a joke.