Rand Paul continued his media tour Wednesday night, responding to charges that he’s thin-skinned after he got into testy exchanges with “Today” co-anchor Savannah Guthrie earlier in the day
Appearing on Megyn Kelly’s Fox News show, she brought up “Meet the Press” moderator Chuck Todd, who advised Paul to be “careful” because his contentious interviews are “turning into a habit.”
“He needs to probably watch videotape of himself,” Todd had said.
Kelly didn’t like Todd’s assertion: “We don’t need your help, Savannah Guthrie doesn’t need your help, Kelly Evans doesn’t need your help and you are entitled to push back on the interviewer just as much as you would if it were a man, so these male commentators can butt out,” she said to Paul.
“To me it’s ironic that the people trying to step in and protect these female interviewers are themselves being sexist,” she concluded.
Responding to charges that he’s being overly aggressive with the media, Paul answered “interviews are difficult” and when you’re not in front of the interviewer and on the receiving end of anchors editorializing and giving opinion, he “does lose his cool” sometimes and should “be better at that.”
Kelly answered that the female anchors he’s got into testy exchanges with weren’t yelling at him, and many people are wondering if he’s “ready for primetime.”
He defended himself that people “want someone who will stand up and not just roll over and take it.” He also said he’s not going to let presumed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton get the best of him.
“I’m not going to lay down and let Clinton talk over me,” he said.