Don Lemon brought Rand Paul onto CNN interview on the debt debate, but the interview quickly turned into an attack on Rand Paul and other Tea Party members for their unwillingness to sell out every single one of their principles.
The full video, courtesy of Mediaite, is below:
Glenn and Pat provided commentary for the interview, noting Lemon’s hostile tone and Paul’s calm and reasonable response.
“Really far right, most people in the middle want some sort of compromise and they feel that you guys should have gotten to that way before this point,” Lemon told Rand Paul.
“Yeah, I agree, and but compromise means both sides give. For example, our side and the Tea Party conservatives don't think we should be adding more debt. We don't believe in spending financed by debt but we've been willing to give in and give the President wants over 2 trillion in debt to be added and he wants this to get through the election so he has time to fund raise and campaign,” Rand responded. “ I want a solution for our country, and I think our country's more important than any deal or scheme that might be hatched.”
“My point is, my point is that it's not really about just August 2nd. Many of the rating agencies are now saying even if we raise the debt ceiling, which I think we will do, that we still may be downgraded but we're being downgraded for our long term behavior, not our short term behavior. We're struggling in an economy. We have an economy that's barely growing. Many people say that our debt is a burden on the economy and costing us about a million jobs a year. Those are the things that need to change. We need growth in the economy again,” Paul continued.
Even as Paul answered Lemon’s questions, Lemon continued to press Rand on whether he “felt” the frustration of the American people. “I'm asking you what you did, sir. With all due respect I'm asking you how you feel, how the public feels in Washington. You don't have to tell me what you did but are you feeling? Do you understand how people feel about this?”
“I think I've answered the question. I think we're having maybe some trouble understanding each other. But yeah, I have answered the question. I do understand the Americans want us to find a compromise, and I've offered to compromise. I've offered to vote for the Democrat plan if they'll agree to balance the budget gradually over a seven to eight year period,” Paul finally said.
Glenn was shocked by the lack of a journalistic standard, and related his own personal insight from his time in cable news. “That is the worst journalistic standard I have ever heard. And I've been around the hallways. I've seen these people. I have seen the way the media works from the inside. Let me tell you something. Turn it off. Turn it off. They have their own agenda.”
