Rand Paul’s tepid McConnell endorsement: ‘He asked me when there was nobody else in the race’

washingtonpost.com ^ | 2/10/14 | Jaime Fuller

[cotton1706]

On Saturday, Glenn Beck conducted an interview with Rand Paul for the Blaze. When Beck asked the Kentucky senator why he endorsed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who's facing a tough reelection fight this year, Paul couldn't come up with much of an answer.

"Can we start with the hardest question that I have for you," Beck says in the video first published by Talking Points Memo. "Why are you endorsing Mitch McConnell?"

After a few moments of silence, Paul answered, "Um, I'm here in Texas today to endorse Don Huffines!" Huffines is a conservative running for the Texas Senate who has also been endorsed by Rick Santorum. Rand Paul laughed, and then went on to say, "We've got our signals crossed here!"

Paul then answered Beck's question: "I'm going back to Kentucky because he asked me. He asked me when there was nobody else in the race. And I said yes."

Beck responded, "Well, Al Gore has asked me to change my opinion on global warming, and I don't do that.

[cotton1706]

Anybody else getting the feeling that there is blood in the Kentucky water??

[hinckley buzzard]

Makes Paul sound like a sellout. But then this IS the WaPo isn't it. The truth could be entirely different.

[Republican Wildcat]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX1m43oPgrM

If there is, Rand Paul isn’t an indication of it - that’s pretty recent and Bevin had been in the race for quite a long time before that event.

[cotton1706]

“Makes Paul sound like a sellout. But then this IS the WaPo isn’t it. The truth could be entirely different.”

In all honesty, I think Paul endorsed McConnell because he thought he’d need his help in 2016. But now...he’s beginning to realize that old Mitch might be an ex-senator by the time 2016 rolls around, so his reciprocal endorsement might not mean so much or even be needed or wanted. So I’m finding the tepid support for McConnell pretty funny. McConnell’s power is waning by the day. Such is the beauty of elections.

[Theodore R.]

The last poll I saw said McC leads by 26 points in the May 20 primary. People in KY only know McC; they don’t recognize Bevin.

[cdcdawg]

He endorsed Mitch for the same reason that same party Senators pretty much always endorse each other, or Palin endorsed McCain, or Santorum endorsed Specter, or Reagan picked George H.W. Bush as a running mate. Politics.

I agree with the original poster that Paul’s answer is more interesting for what it tells us about how things look on the ground in KY.

[arthurus]

The Pauls are shedding credibility daily. I think they have been bitten by the desire to be liked by the Establishment. Hooda thunk it?

[Cyber Liberty]

Sorry, Senator. Endorsing the incumbent this early in the race was a rookie mistake. You are not ready for prime time.

[VRWC For Truth]

GOP Ca$h > principles.

[lakecumberlandvet]

If Paul is truly a man of conservative principles then he will explain to McConnell that due to unforeseen circumstances (Bevin’s candidacy) he must, regrettably, withdraw his prior endorsement. Immediately thereafter he should endorse Bevin.

[Windflier]

The last poll I saw said McC leads by 26 points in the May 20 primary. People in KY only know McC; they don’t recognize Bevin.

There you go again. Throwing ice water on the Tea Party challenger.

You see this, Johnny?

[FreedomOfExpression]

Spreading his negativity on a Cornyn thread, too.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3121482/posts?page=2#2

[skinkinthegrass]

!

[SoConPubbie]

You see this, Johnny?

I've noticed the same consistent pattern with this poster.

[9YearLurker]

Sure, Paul’s vote in the Senate—when not involving amnesty—is often nice.

But he’s really too sleazy/slick by half to be considered at the national level.

[Windflier]

Yep, I saw that post too. I haven’t checked his posting history, but what do you want to bet that it’s full of the same sort of stuff?

[Din Maker]

Makes Paul sound like a sellout. But then this IS the WaPo isn't it. _________________________________________________________________________________ Aw; come on now. Just because he's one of our boys, we can't give him a pass. The WAPO is not making Paul sound like a sellout; Rand Paul made himself looking like a sellout. If what he says is true, then he should have kept his powder dry for awhile and told McConnell: "I'll get back with you on that." Honestly, I don't think he had the balls to tell McConnell "No".

[Din Maker]

The last poll I saw said McC leads by 26 points in the May 20 primary. People in KY only know McC; they don’t recognize Bevin.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nice try Theodore. I saw an interview, online, with Matt Bevin in which he said: “By the time the Election rolls around, the people of Kentucky will know who I am and what I stand for.” You need to give it up dude.

[Din Maker]

The last poll I saw said McC leads by 26 points in the May 20 primary. People in KY only know McC; they don’t recognize Bevin.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Nice try Theodore. I saw an interview, online, with Matt Bevin in which he said: “By the time the Election rolls around, the people of Kentucky will know who I am and what I stand for.” You need to give it up dude.