Paul said he was originally unaware of Hunter’s previous writings. Paul, Harwood spar over ex-aide

Sen. Rand Paul got testy Tuesday morning on the NPR show “ On Point,” chastising guest host and CNBC reporter John Harwood for focusing on the questionable past of Paul’s ex-aide Jack Hunter.

“Why don’t we talk about Rand Paul, I’m the one doing the interview. You can go ahead and beat up on an ex-employee of mine, but why don’t we talk about Rand Paul and what I’m trying to do to grow the party, and then we might have an intelligent discussion,” the Kentucky Republican said.


Harwood shot back, noting that Hunter, who left his post in July, co-wrote the book, “The Tea Party Goes to Washington” with Paul.

( PHOTOS: Rand Paul’s career)

“Well I am, but he is someone who wrote a book with you,” Harwood said.

Paul returned fire, saying Harwood was not holding an intelligent discussion.

“Well you’re not, you think you want to dwell on something, that you want to bring up critical articles from people who don’t like me and don’t support any libertarian ideals,” Paul said.

Harwood began to read from an Economist post which says libertarian-politicians like Paul ally themselves with “racist and nativist movements,” but Paul interrupted.

“Don’t you have something better to read than a bunch of crap from people who don’t like me? I mean that won’t make for much of an interview if I have to sit through reading after recitation of people calling me a racist,” Paul said. “I don’t accept all of that and I don’t need to or spend the time going time[sic] talking about that.”

Paul said he was unaware of Hunter’s previous writings when he was hired and called them “stupid.”

“I’m not going to really go through an interview reciting and responding to every yahoo in the world who wants to throw up a canard,” he said.

Hunter came under scrutiny in July for controversial comments he has made about President Abraham Lincoln, Southern secession and Spanish-speaking immigrants. He had previously worked as a radio host named the Southern Avenger and would wear a Confederate flag mask.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included a photo that misidentified CNBC reporter John Harwood.

CORRECTION: Corrected by: Nick Gass @ 08/06/2013 05:57 PM CORRECTION: A previous version of this story included a photo that misidentified CNBC reporter John Harwood.