Could this be the gaffe that breaks Rand Paul?

During an interview earlier Thursday on WHAS-AM in Louisville, Paul was asked what cuts could be made to such popular programs as Medicare as the Republican spoke of the need for spending cuts across government. "You want to have more participation by the person who's receiving the entitlement," Paul replied. "By that I mean that they need to be more involved with some sort of economic transaction every time they use their entitlement, and that means they have to bear more of the burden."

For much of the campaign, Paul has assiduously avoided saying he wants to to make any changes to Medicare for seniors. But now, in saying he believes costs should go up for each transaction involving an entitlement like Medicare, he's committed a classic Kinsley gaffe: accidentally telling the truth about what he believes. And in Rand Paul's case that truth is that even though seniors have paid Medicare taxes since the program was first created, he doesn't believe they've paid enough -- so they should now "have to bear more of the burden."

No doubt he'll try to spin this away just like he tried to spin his opposition to the Civil Rights Act. But this time Paul will be spinning with a track record of saying unpopular things and then claiming he never meant them -- and that poses a serious challenge to his credibility. Moreover, he's sure to be challenged by his opponent Jack Conway about this on October 3 when the pair debate before a national audience on Fox News Sunday -- and I wouldn't bet on Conway letting Paul getting away with it again.

Help Jack Conway get out the message -- contribute to his campaign.