Palin Says Rand Paul Was Victim of 'Gotcha' Moment

Sarah Palin said Sunday that Republican Senate candidate Rand Paul, who stirred controversy last week over his views on federal enforcement of civil rights, was the victim of the same kind of "gotcha" moment from a hostile press that she encountered during the 2008 presidential campaign.

Paul, a libertarian and Tea Party favorite who won the GOP nomination in Kentucky on Tuesday, had prompted a political ruckus when he appeared to question whether private businesses should have to abide by federal civil rights law provisions prohibiting discrimination when it came to who they did or did not serve. Paul made his comments in an interview on the Rachel Maddow show.

Paul issued a clarification a day later, saying it was in response to "liberal media attacks. "I unequivocally state that I will not support any efforts to repeal the Civil Rights Act of 1964," the statement said.

Paul canceled a planned appearance on Sunday's Meet the Press.

Palin and Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele, both appearing on Fox News Sunday, portrayed Paul's remarks as more of a philosophical reflection on the issue of limited government and individual rights, and said his clarification made clear his support for the law.

"One thing that we can learn in this lesson that I have learned, and Rand Paul is learning now, is don't assume that you can engage in a hypothetical discussion about constitutional impacts with a reporter or a media personality who has an agenda," Palin said.

"You know, they're looking for that 'gotcha' moment. And that's what it evidently appears to be that they did with Rand Paul, but I'm thankful that he was able to clarify his answer about his support for the Civil Rights Act."

Steele said on ABC's This Week that he had talked to Paul and that Paul "as United States senator will be four-square with the Republican Party, in lockstep with moving forward on civil rights, not looking backwards."

But on Fox, he took a less charitable view than Palin about how Rand landed in the controversy.

Referring to his libertarianism, Steele said, "I think his philosophy is misplaced in these times. I don't think it's where the country is right now."

"But I think in this case Rand Paul's philosophy got in the way of reality," Steele said. "And the reality of it is that was important legislation at the time that put in place important benchmarks for the progress of free people. And I think, as he said, he stands foursquare with the party on this issue, but he had a philosophical difference, as many members who come to Congress have ...But when you get here, what you do and how you execute the job is what matters. "