Special Report discuss Paul's comments criticizing Civil Right Act, but not Stossel's call to repeal part of it

Fox's Steve Brown: Paul “has had some explaining to do” for criticizing the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Discussing Kentucky Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul's comments critical of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Fox News correspondent Steve Brown stated that Paul “has had some explaining to do about his position on the 1964 landmark federal law which made racial discrimination illegal” and that Paul criticized part of the bill that “outlaws discrimination by private businesses, a central issue in the civil rights struggle symbolized by some of the most memorable '60s protests. African-Americans at lunch counters refused service because of the color of their skin.” Brown went on to report: “Paul's response has set off a downpour of criticism.”

Krauthammer on Paul: “Why are you even discussing” a position on repealing part of the Civil Rights Act? During a subsequent discussion of the controversy, Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer stated, “This is not going to sink him, but it is a negative. If on the first day of the general election campaign you have to issue a statement saying I'm not in favor of repealing the Civil Rights Act, you have a problem. Why are you even discussing it?”

Stossel called for repealing part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 on Fox News earlier that day

Stossel: "[I]t's time now to repeal that part of the" Civil Rights Act of 1964. During an appearance on Fox News' America Live hours before Special Report, Stossel discussed Paul's comments and stated: “I'm in total agreement with Rand Paul. You can call it public accommodation, and it is, but it's a private business. And if a private business wants to say, 'We don't want any blond anchorwomen or mustached guys,' it ought to be their right. Are we going to say to the black students' association they have to take white people, or the gay softball association they have to take straight people? We should have freedom of association in America.” Host Megyn Kelly subsequently stated, “Rand Paul agreed that if it's run by the government, yes intervention is fine. He took issue with the public accommodations, with private businesses being forced to pony up under the discrimination laws.” Stossel responded:

STOSSEL: And I would go further than he was willing to go, as he just issued the statement, and say it's time now to repeal that part of the law

KELLY: What?

STOSSEL: Because private businesses ought to get to discriminate. And I won't won't ever go to a place that's racist and I will tell everybody else not to and I'll speak against them. But it should be their right to be racist.