Rand Paul: Cruz's Audience Was Required To Attend; I'm Not Interested In Just Throwing Out Red Meat

Real Clear Politics ^ | 03/23/2015 | Ian Schwartz

[thetallguy24]

MEGYN KELLY, KELLY FILE: Senator, good to see you tonight. A lot of Rand Paul supporters showed up today at the Ted Cruz announcement. Was that orchestrated?

SEN. RAND PAUL: Somebody did. I'm not sure know who did orchestrate it. I kind of remember those days because I went to Baylor University and we were all required to go to convocation. So all these kids are required and some of those who are required wanted to make sure that just by having to be there they weren't expressing their support. But we were glad to see them there and organized and, you know, excited about the possibility of me running

KELLY: What did you make of Ted Cruz's remarks today?

PAUL: Well, you know, the interesting thing is I didn't find much I disagreed with. All I heard was the clip that you played. I've been traveling and busy today. But the thing is, you know, we kind of come from the same wing of the party and if you look at our voting records you'll find we're very, very similar.

I guess what makes us different is probably our approach as to how we would make the party bigger. And I'm a big believer that you should stand on principle and be true to your principles, but I also think that we should take those principles and try to bring in new people with them. So I've spent the last couple years trying to go places Republicans haven't gone. And maybe not just throwing out red meat but actually throwing out something intellectually enticing to people who haven't been listening to our message before.

[showme_the_Glory]

I didn't find much I disagreed with..

WOW! Now there is a bold statement. Rand could be a good follower if given 1/2 the chance.

[tillacum]

You beat me to it. When I saw the headline, I thought, Oh me, the green eyed monster has shown it head”. Paul made a petty remark.

[Servant of the Cross]

I thought Megyn Kelly using Rand Paul as a commentator on Ted Cruz’s rollout was total pandering. The only way to balance such unfairness was to have Paul’sCruz's campaign manager be there for rebuttal.

I completely agree. It was a stupid story (the lame paulbots in t-shirts) anyway and then to bring on Rand when the story is Cruz's POTUS announcement was utter journolistic pap. Megyn unfortunately appears to be an establishment mouthpiece faking fair and balanced.

There is no doubt that this little slam of distraction was on behalf of Jebby/gOpE.

[Georgia Girl 2]

I listened to that segment last night and Rand Paul didn’t diss on Cruz. He was as gracious as anybody could expect from a likely competitor for the GOP nomination. I mean Rand Paul is not going to jump up and down and yell yippee but IMO he was fine.

[DaveA37]

Attendance is mandatory? Sounds just like every time odumbo get a photo op with the military behind him, the Order Of the Day is “Attendance is Mandatory”.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Rand Paul doesn’t understand that the rest of the room would really like him to shut up.

[MaggiesPitchfork]

The Paulbots will invade any venue where Dear Leader Jr. speaks, making it look like there’s overwhelming support for Rand. That’s how they operate. They very much remind me of Scientologists.

[Ron H.]

Rand Paul like his father is just getting more weird and creepy by the day. Maybe he should just don a clowns outfit as it would be more fitting.