By John Stamper
McClatchy Newspapers
LEXINGTON, Ky. – Republican U.S. Senate nominee Rand Paul’s decision to cancel his planned appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press” didn’t prevent him from being the primary topic of discussion on just about every Sunday morning news show.
Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele offered the sternest comments of any Republican about Paul’s recent controversial statements concerning the nation’s anti-discrimination laws. “Rand Paul’s philosophy got in the way of reality,” he said on “Fox News Sunday.”
Paul, who is running for a Kentucky Senate seat, triggered a firestorm of criticism and questions when he said in recent media interviews that private businesses should be able to decide whether they want to serve minorities, even though he said he abhors racism and discrimination. He also said President Barack Obama sounded “un-American” for criticizing BP for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and that “sometimes accidents happen” when discussing the recent coal mine fatalities.