After Rand Paul won the Republican nomination for Senate in Kentucky last night, the folks at CNN had a big laugh over the “optics” of an anti-government spending candidate celebrating his victory from a private country club.
But host John King put things in perspective. It’s only “like $7,500 a year,” he said. “He is an eye doctor.”
King was the first to bring up Paul’s choice of locale: “I can’t resist. This might come across as a bit of a cheap shot, but he’s the tea party favorite or is he a country club Republican?”
Amid some laughter, panel member Paul Begala scoffed: “It’s a cocktail party, not a tea party. It’s the worst optics he could have.”
When the yuks died down, King said that his team had looked it up, and “the membership dues are not that obnoxious. It’s like $7,500 a year. He is an eye doctor.”
King added: “And if you want to talk fiscal conservatism, one of the reasons his staff says he’s there is because he gets the room for free as a member. He doesn’t have to spend money on a hotel ballroom.”
But there was something else going on in Bowling Green. When John King first talked to CNN correspondent Jessica Yellin, who was on the ground at the club, the “Bowling Green Country Club” sign was clearly visible behind her.
A few minutes later, when CNN switched to Campbell Brown’s show, Yellin was back. But the club’s name was covered up by a “Rand Paul: U.S. Senate 2010” sign.
Watch:
