I really think Sarah Palin has previewed the strategy for Republican candidates in the future. Here are the new media rules for Republican candidates:
1) If you have a bad interview, blame the media and “gotcha” questions. You know, questions like “What do you read?” are so unfair. Also, questions about things you previously said are extremely unfair, especially if people pay attention to them and find them appalling.
2) Avoid hard questions, only take question from fawning Fox party operatives
3) Issue statements through Facebook
Rand Paul’s already at the avoid hard questions phase and now he’s issuing his own defense, this time through the Bowling Green Daily News. After accusing the media of lying for reporting what he actually said Rand Paul gives us this defense:
I am unlike many folks who run for office. I am an idealist. When I read history I side with abolitionists such as William Lloyd Garrison and Frederick Douglas who fought for 30 years to end slavery and to integrate public transportation in the free North in the 1840s. I see our failure to end slavery for decade after decade as a failure of weak-kneed politicians.
I cheer the abolitionist Lysander Spooner, who argued that slavery was unconstitutional 20 years before the Civil War. I cheer Lerone Bennet when he argues that the right of habeas corpus guaranteed in the Constitution should have derailed slavery long before the Civil War.
Only when the brave idealists, the abolitionists, finally provoked the weak-kneed politicians into action, did the emancipation proclamation come about. Our body politic has enough pragmatists, we need a few idealists.
Segregation ended only after a great and momentous uprising by idealists like Martin Luther King Jr., who provoked weak-kneed politicians to action.
…
For example, I am opposed to the government telling restaurant owners that they cannot allow smoking in their establishments. I believe we as consumers can choose whether to patronize a smoke-filled restaurant or do business with a smoke-free option.
Smoking – it’s just like Civil Rights! I totally see that parallel. Paul is just like MLK, except he supports legal segregation. I’m sure the King family is preparing their endorsement announcement as we speak.
What depressing to me is that Rand Paul is still the favorite to win that Kentucky Senate seat.
Additional: Ph.D. Octopus explains how Paul gets the history wrong on William Lloyd Garrison.