Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) complained Wednesday about the way presidential primary debates are structured and suggested they may not be fair to Republican candidates since some of the journalists serving as moderators -- namely, ABC's George Stephanopoulos -- may be secretly working with Democrats.
During an interview on Geraldo Rivera's radio show, Paul was asked if he agrees with an effort by Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus to force two networks, CNN and NBC, to cancel planned TV projects on Hillary Clinton ahead of the 2016 presidential race. Otherwise, Priebus has threatened, the Republican Party won't partner with those networks when it comes time to air the GOP primary debates. Paul and Clinton are both considered potential 2016 presidential contenders, though neither has announced plans.
Paul responded by voicing concerns with how the 2012 presidential debates went.
"You can look back to the last primary season and wonder whether there was collusion between some reporters," he said. “You know, Stephanopoulos asks an obscure question about Griswold and birth control when no Republicans were bringing up anything about trying to have any limits on birth control.”
Paul was referring to a January 2012 primary debate moderated by Stephanopoulos, who asked a question about Griswold v. Connecticut, a Supreme Court case that relates to a state's right to ban contraception. Abortion rights were certainly an issue throughout the campaign season, but Paul suggested there may have been foul play behind Stephanopoulos broaching the subject.
"It was a weird thing to bring up in a debate," he said. "Then for two years, the president's campaign ran ads saying Republicans were against allowing people birth control. You wonder if there was a concerted action between a former Democrat operative and basically the president’s campaign."
Paul also took issue with the way primary debates are structured, suggesting that some of the journalists serving as moderators may have ties to the Democratic Party.
“Should we be scheduling debates and allowing people who used to, and still do, have contact with the active Democrat Party?" Paul asked. "Should we be subjecting ourselves to that or should we try to have more neutral or objective type of moderators?”
During an interview on Geraldo Rivera's radio show, Paul was asked if he agrees with an effort by Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus to force two networks, CNN and NBC, to cancel planned TV projects on Hillary Clinton ahead of the 2016 presidential race. Otherwise, Priebus has threatened, the Republican Party won't partner with those networks when it comes time to air the GOP primary debates. Paul and Clinton are both considered potential 2016 presidential contenders, though neither has announced plans.
Paul responded by voicing concerns with how the 2012 presidential debates went.
"You can look back to the last primary season and wonder whether there was collusion between some reporters," he said. “You know, Stephanopoulos asks an obscure question about Griswold and birth control when no Republicans were bringing up anything about trying to have any limits on birth control.”
Paul was referring to a January 2012 primary debate moderated by Stephanopoulos, who asked a question about Griswold v. Connecticut, a Supreme Court case that relates to a state's right to ban contraception. Abortion rights were certainly an issue throughout the campaign season, but Paul suggested there may have been foul play behind Stephanopoulos broaching the subject.
"It was a weird thing to bring up in a debate," he said. "Then for two years, the president's campaign ran ads saying Republicans were against allowing people birth control. You wonder if there was a concerted action between a former Democrat operative and basically the president’s campaign."
Paul also took issue with the way primary debates are structured, suggesting that some of the journalists serving as moderators may have ties to the Democratic Party.
“Should we be scheduling debates and allowing people who used to, and still do, have contact with the active Democrat Party?" Paul asked. "Should we be subjecting ourselves to that or should we try to have more neutral or objective type of moderators?”
