RANDY, WE HARDLY KNOW YE – AT 11:39 A.M. ET:  The Rand Paul problem grows for the GOP, which now realizes it has a pain on its hands.  Paul is now trying to cancel his scheduled appearance on Meet the Press, apparently under pressure from party elders afraid of another gaffe.  From the McClatchy Newspapers:

WASHINGTON — In public, Senate candidate Rand Paul's Republican colleagues have tried to contextualize his controversial comments about anti-discrimination laws and the Obama administration's handling of the Gulf Coast oil spill, but privately they bemoan the political newcomer's gaffes and wish he'd focus less on the national media spotlight and more on Kentucky and the economy.

"In any campaign there's going to be a few bumps," said Brian Walsh, a spokesman for the National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Yeah, but they all shouldn't be within 48 hours.

Paul didn't return calls requesting comment.

In an indication that he was heeding advice to limit his national exposure, Betsy Fischer, the executive producer of NBC's "Meet the Press," Tweeted late Friday afternoon that Paul said he was having "a tough week" and was trying to cancel his scheduled appearance on the show this Sunday. According to Fischer, such cancellations are rare, and only Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan and Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia have ever nixed planned appearances.

I love the way the TV guys make it seem that a scheduled appearance is a command performance.  The public won't care, but it should care about Rand Paul's candidacy.  The makes-your-blood-boil point is that Paul's views should have been examined before the Kentucky primary, but the press was AWOL on issues, reporting only the horse race.  Another great moment in journalism.

I realize we have Rand Paul supporters among our readers.  I've heard from you.  Your opinion will always be treated with respect, but on this dude I'll have to dissent.

May 22, 2010