Paul: I’m ‘universally’ brusque with media

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Wednesday explained his abrasive tone toward the media as “universally” brusque amid accusations he treats female interviewers too harshly. 

{mosads}“I think I should have more patience,” he told host Wolf Blitzer on CNN’s “The Situation Room” when asked about a testy earlier exchange that morning with NBC’s Savannah Guthrie. 

“I’ll have to get better at holding my tongue and holding my temper,” Paul admitted. 

Paul, who announced his candidacy for president on Tuesday, pushed back against the idea he was sexist in his tone when dealing with women interviewers, arguing he did not discriminate against reporters based on gender when striking a confrontational tone. 

“I think I’ve been universally short-tempered and testy with both male and female reporters,” he argued.

The CNN comments were intended to downplay a day of fiery exchanges with the media. The Kentucky lawmaker first butted heads with Guthrie on NBC’s “Today Show, criticizing her line of questioning over his stance on Iran during that verbal showdown.

“Why don’t we let me explain instead of talking over me, OK?” Paul asked Guthrie.

Earlier this year, Paul had another testy exchange, with CNBC’s Kelly Evans, when asked about his plan for a tax “holiday” for companies bringing money back from overseas, at one point even shushing the host and telling her to “calm down.”

Later on Wednesday, Paul also tangled with AP reporter Philip Elliott, snapping over an exchange about rape victims and their access to abortion. 

“I gave you about a five-minute answer,” Paul argued. “Put in my five-minute answer.”

—This post was updated at 6:37 p.m.