The media was out to destroy Sarah Palin and now they are out to destroy Rand Paul if you believe the former Republican vice presidential candidate.
In an interview with National Public Radio, Paul criticized some aspects of the 1964 Civil Right Act. Paul indicated that privately-owned businesses should be free to be able to discriminate against minorities. In his view, businesses that don't treat all patrons equally will suffer in the marketplace but the federal government should have no role in enforcing fairness.
Based on Paul's comments on NPR, he faced tough questioning later that evening by Rachel Maddow. And Palin believes that Maddow was out of bounds.
"Rand Paul had anticipated he would be able to engage in a discussion, he being a libertarian-leaning Constitutional conservative, being able to engage in the discussion with a TV character, a media personality who perhaps had an agenda in asking the question and then interpreting his answer in the way that she did," Palin said of Maddow Sunday.
At that, Fox News' Chris Wallace prompted Palin to blame the media for the missteps she suffered after becoming the Republican vice presidential candidate. "Do you see some similarities to what politicians and the press did to you in the fall of 2008?" asked Wallace.
"Yeah, absolutely," replied Palin.
"So, you know one thing we can learn in this lesson that I have learned and Rand Paul is learning now is don't assume that you can engage in a hypothetical discussion about Constitutional impacts with reporter or a media personality who has an agenda, who may be prejudiced before they even get into the interview in regards to what your answer may be," she continued.
"Then the opportunity that they seize to get you. You know, they are looking for the gotcha moment. That's evidently appears to be what they did with Rand Paul and I'm thankful he was able to clarify his answer about his support for the Civil Rights Act," Palin concluded.
(Nicole:) Um, no. Palin has been on Fox News too long if she thinks that any politician should be able to say any crazy thing that comes into his or her head and expect no follow up from people interested in presenting actual news. "Let me understand how far you're willing to take this ideology you profess" is not a "gotcha" question. And like you, Failin' Palin, if Rand Paul can't take the questions, maybe he shouldn't be in politics.
John Amato:
Any reporter or pundit who ask Baby Paul to clarify his whacky beliefs is out of bounds for Palin. And basing a future interview on a previous one is definitely off limits too.
Just assume that Baby Paul will stick to FOX News and an occasional CNN spot. He was also too scared to show up to MTP today so if he can't face David Gregory then....
