WAGNER: Speaking of agitated, the AP asked Senator Paul yesterday about some reproductive rights issues. And he responded, “Why don't we ask the DNC, is it okay to kill a seven-pound baby in the uterus? You go back and you ask Debbie Wasserman-Schultz if she's okay with killing a seven-pound baby that is not born yet.” Is that the right way to talk about the issue of abortion?

JESS MCINTOSH: That seems like a screeching halt to any sort of discussion. Democrats are pretty clear on this, we want to leave it up to doctors when that's appropriate, and Rand Paul thinks it should be left up to him. Which means he has to answer a lot more questions about this. Not having exemptions for the life of the mother is so outside of the mainstream, even among people who call themselves pro-life. If you hold that position, you have to explain why if you want people to put their trust in you. And he seems entirely unwilling to do it. I think the Randsplaining phenomenon is more problematic if he tries to be a different kind of Republican, which seems to be how he's branding himself. He's trying to bring new people into the tent, that's the whole point of Rand. He's going to talk to voters that [the] Republican Party has traditionally left behind. But if he does it this way, he's going to alienate the people who are already in the tent, and would be willing to support him. 

 

Previously:

Media Should Remember: Rand Paul Has A Problem With Women's Health, Not Just Female Journalists

Fox's Megyn Kelly Runs Defense For Rand Paul's Controversial Interviews With Women

On NBC's Today, Savannah Guthrie Grills Sen. Rand Paul Over Shifting Foreign Policy Stances

Media Ignore Rand Paul's Harmful Policy Positions To Tout His Claims Of Inclusivity