Video Shows Rand Paul Walking Out Of Interview With Newspaper

United States Senator Rand Paul (Republican of Kentucky) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National at National Harbor, Maryland on Friday, February 27, 2015. Credit: Ron Sa... United States Senator Rand Paul (Republican of Kentucky) speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Gaylord National at National Harbor, Maryland on Friday, February 27, 2015. Credit: Ron Sachs/CNP - NO WIRE SERVICE - Photo by: Ron Sachs/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images MORE LESS
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) had yet another contentious interaction with the media on Friday when he reportedly walked out of an interview with The Guardian.

Staffers of The Guardian newspaper tweeted that Paul refused to answer a question from reporter Paul Lewis and abruptly ended the interview:

The exchange comes two days after Paul tussled with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie over his shifting foreign policy positions and got “testy” with Associated Press reporter Phillip Elliott when pressed about abortion bans.

Paul later disputed that his staff turned off the lights after he left the interview. The reporter from the Guardian conceded that point to Paul, but stood by the assertion that the Kentucky Republican abruptly ended the interview:

Video of the exchange posted by The Guardian doesn’t make it clear whether Paul peeled out of the interview to make another media appearance or walked out in response to Lewis’ line of questioning. Here’s a transcript of their conversation:

RP: I have a third bill — let me answer the question, you complain I don’t answer the question.

PL: I haven’t complained yet, have I senator?

RP: I’m giving you the specifics. So here’s the thing. We also have a civil forfeiture bill, we also have a voting rights restoration. I’ve got time for one more.

PL: One more question. Sorry, sometimes we have to be a bit forceful. When you stand for Presdient, you get pressed on questions and you understand that. Last question’s about campaign strategy. You gave that speech in that hall and you got a lot of enthusiastic response from people that care about criminal justice. Young people do, Democrats do, liberals do. You’re standing for the Republican nomination. All the research shows that Republicans — white Republicans who’re going to determine the outcome of this race — don’t think that the criminal law is applied in an unfair way. So how are you going to win the nomination with this —

RP: I think that’s incorrect. I think your premise is incorrect. Actually, I think that I can take that message into a white evangelical church anywhere in Iowa and give exactly the same speech and be received well.

At that point, Paul gestures to someone off-camera and walks away. Another person off-camera can be heard saying “Thanks, Paul.”

Watch below:

This post has been updated.

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Notable Replies

  1. Rand Paul stands for nothing. His father must be rolling over in his bunker.

  2. How dare someone ask him a question that he doesn’t want to answer. The interviewer apparently didn’t understand that asking real questions is a no -no for the GOP wannabees. OH MY!

  3. I love that he thinks that turning off of the lights was the problem

  4. This guy’s campaign is going down faster than Marcus Bachmann at a furry convention.

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