Bumpy start for Rand Paul’s 2016 presidential campaign as he clashes with journalists

Bumpy start for Rand Paul’s 2016 presidential campaign as he clashes with journalists

The terse exchange between Rand Paul and a Guardian reporter was the latest in a series of terse exchanges between him and the press.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) recently became the latest presidential candidate to throw his hat into the ring, and the Republican is already solidifying his reputation as a combative personality who is not afraid to clash with reporters.

His most recent tense encounter was with a Guardian reporter as he continues to butt heads with the press after announcing his bid on Tuesday, according to The Hill.

During the interview, which was streamed live, reporter Paul Lewis brought up that Paul had indicated he wanted laws that disproportionately result in the incarceration of minorities repealed, and Lewis asked if he could name a specific law that should be repealed. That led to arguments between the two over whether Paul had directly answered the question.

Lewis later acknowledged he was being “a bit forceful” but added that “when you stand [for] president you get pressed on questions, and you understand that,” he said.

He was also asked if he thought criminal justice reform was something that would resonate with the Republican base, something that Paul bristled at, saying the “premise is incorrect” and he could go into any white evangelical church in Iowa and give the same speech, according to the report.

That was supposed to be Lewis’ last question, but instead he followed up with a question about poll data, leading Paul to talk to an aide and then walk off screen in the middle of the question. Then the lights turned off — something that Paul’s staff said happened because of CNN, not his staff — and CNN’s Dana Bash confirmed this on Twitter.

The awkward encounter has become fairly typical with Paul. Earlier this year, he told a CNBC reporter that she should “clam down,” and got into a terse exchange with the Today Show’s Savannah Guthrie.

Paul acknowledged that he can be combative, noting that he’s “been universally short-tempered and testy with both male and female reporters.”

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