Sue Lowden declined to say whether private companies should be forced to abide by the Civil Rights Act. Lowden ducks civil rights question

Nevada Senate GOP candidate Sue Lowden again refused Wednesday to take a position on whether the landmark Civil Rights Act should extend into private businesses, an issue that has already rocked the Senate campaign of Republican Rand Paul in Kentucky.

Speaking on a Las Vegas political talk show, Lowden repeatedly declined to discuss her views on whether private companies should be forced to abide by the anti-discrimination law — and she later sought to get ahead of the fallout by issuing a statement saying she supports the law.


Her comments came a week after Paul ignited a political firestorm by suggesting that the law’s requirement that private businesses can’t discriminate against minorities violates constitutional rights to free speech. Paul, who said he abhors racism, fiercely sought to contain the political damage by walking back his comment and stating his strong support for the 1964 law.

But after declining to comment to POLITICO about the issue, Lowden would not discuss her views Wednesday during the televised interview, saying she was “more interested in what we’re doing here in Nevada.”

“It’s a simple question, but it’s a ‘gotcha’ question,” Lowden, a former state Republican Party chairwoman, said on the show “Face to Face.” “Frankly, I wouldn't even know Rand Paul if I saw him on TV."

Jon Ralston, the host of the show, said he wasn’t asking about Paul but wanted to know what her views were on the matter.

“Do you think the Civil Rights Act should apply to private businesses?” Ralston asked.

“I think you want to change the subject from what’s really happening here,” Lowden said. “Nobody’s asking that question, Jon.”

“So you’re not going to answer it?” Ralston asked.

“No, no,” Lowden said.

After leaving the set, Lowden sent Ralston a statement clarifying her position and said she supports “all aspects” of the law.

“After reviewing the comments and news stories from Kentucky, I want voters to know that I strongly support all aspects of the Civil Rights Act, just as I strongly believe it applies to my private business and all others,” she said in a statement. “My focus has been on campaigning here in Nevada, and therefore I have not paid close attention to races outside of our state.”

Lowden is in the middle of a tight race for her party’s nomination in the June 8 primary, battling with Sharron Angle, a tea party favorite who served in the state Assembly, and Las Vegas businessman Danny Tarkanian for the right to take on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the fall.

Ralston’s comments were spurred by a POLITICO article published Monday that quoted Lowden dodging the same question about the Civil Rights Act.

“You can’t resist this, can you? I have no idea what another candidate says,” Lowden told POLITICO on Friday, referring to Paul.

In a follow-up question, Lowden was asked whether she had any concerns about the law’s reach into private business, but she said, “I’m going, thank you,” and hung up the phone.

Asked by Ralston about the episode, Lowden denied hanging up on a POLITICO reporter — and said she hoped that a recording of the call would be released. But the interview with Lowden, which occurred via a POLITICO reporter’s cell phone, was not recorded.