Asked if he was alleging that Stephanopoulos is a Democratic plant, Paul replied, "I'm saying that it makes you wonder."
Stephanopoulos was a top aide to Bill Clinton from 1992 until 1996, both on his campaign and in the White House, but since then has arguably earned his journalistic bona fides. He's currently the chief political correspondent for ABC News and the host of ABC's Sunday show, "This Week.'
Looking ahead to 2016, Paul said GOP presidential contenders may not get "a fair shake" if primary debates are moderated by people like Stephanopoulos, who Paul noted has publicly talked about his frequent correspondence with friends still involved in White House affairs.
"It's not unreasonable to say that we ... would not want to subject all of our candidates to withering cross-examination in front of hostile moderators while some get a free pass," Paul said, noting that Obama didn't have to endure the primary process in 2012. "Basically, Obama got a free pass. He didn't have to go through 20 debates with other Democrats slinging mud at him."
An ABC network source, who requested anonymity, said only that Paul has been interviewed by Stephanopoulos many times and has never complained about being treated unfairly.
Doug Stafford, a spokesman for Paul's 2016 Senate reelection campaign, said he would let Paul's remarks speak for themselves. He said he wasn't aware of the last time the senator was on a show with Stephanopoulos.
Paul's complaints about the presidential primary debates come amid some speculation as to what is really driving the RNC's threats to boycott ABC and NBC in 2016: a desire for fewer debates.
Time's Zeke Miller reported earlier this week that reforming the primary debate process has been "a central component of the RNC’s 2012 autopsy." Republican Party officials believe the 20 GOP primary debates in 2012 "hurt their party and Mitt Romney," Miller writes, and Priebus wants to lower the number of debates to 10 or 12, "in part to protect better-funded candidates from insurgents who capitalize on their time before the cameras."
Romney said as much after he lost the election, calling the 20 GOP primary debates "absolutely nuts" and lamenting that those debates "opened us up to gaffes and to material that could be used against us in the general."
Stephanopoulos was a top aide to Bill Clinton from 1992 until 1996, both on his campaign and in the White House, but since then has arguably earned his journalistic bona fides. He's currently the chief political correspondent for ABC News and the host of ABC's Sunday show, "This Week.'
Looking ahead to 2016, Paul said GOP presidential contenders may not get "a fair shake" if primary debates are moderated by people like Stephanopoulos, who Paul noted has publicly talked about his frequent correspondence with friends still involved in White House affairs.
"It's not unreasonable to say that we ... would not want to subject all of our candidates to withering cross-examination in front of hostile moderators while some get a free pass," Paul said, noting that Obama didn't have to endure the primary process in 2012. "Basically, Obama got a free pass. He didn't have to go through 20 debates with other Democrats slinging mud at him."
An ABC network source, who requested anonymity, said only that Paul has been interviewed by Stephanopoulos many times and has never complained about being treated unfairly.
Doug Stafford, a spokesman for Paul's 2016 Senate reelection campaign, said he would let Paul's remarks speak for themselves. He said he wasn't aware of the last time the senator was on a show with Stephanopoulos.
Paul's complaints about the presidential primary debates come amid some speculation as to what is really driving the RNC's threats to boycott ABC and NBC in 2016: a desire for fewer debates.
Time's Zeke Miller reported earlier this week that reforming the primary debate process has been "a central component of the RNC’s 2012 autopsy." Republican Party officials believe the 20 GOP primary debates in 2012 "hurt their party and Mitt Romney," Miller writes, and Priebus wants to lower the number of debates to 10 or 12, "in part to protect better-funded candidates from insurgents who capitalize on their time before the cameras."
Romney said as much after he lost the election, calling the 20 GOP primary debates "absolutely nuts" and lamenting that those debates "opened us up to gaffes and to material that could be used against us in the general."