Just because Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is popular with many young Americans doesn’t mean that he’s a natural on a television show geared toward the younger crowd.
The Senator was the featured guest on Monday night’s episode of ‘The Daily Show,’ where he was interviewed by fill-in host John Oliver for an excruciatingly boring eight-minute segment.
The Kentucky Senator argued familiar points, such as the flaws of the Affordable Care Act — that it’s “unaffordable” — and the values of market-based healthcare. He talked about the way Obamacare will harm young people, but even that point, which normally connects him with ordinary Americans, seemed to alienate him from the audience of the show. And it certainly didn’t help that Paul’s jokes with Oliver came off as staged and awkward, resulting in minimal laughter during the segment.
But the Senator did take one perfectly hilarious shot at Oliver and England’s government-run healthcare.
“If I get sick, I’ll get on a plane and go back,” Oliver said of his birth country. “Because they’ll take care of me.”
“They probably will,” Paul conceded. “And I think there’s special coverage for mental illness as well over there.”
“Well played,” Oliver responded with a hearty laugh. “Well played.”
So it’s not like the Senator lacks a sense of humor. Paul displayed his natural flare for jokes during a roundtable with fellow Tea Party Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) at the Young Americans for Liberty National Conference back in July. But that knack for jokes was barely seen during his interview with Oliver.
So what was it about Monday night’s interview that was so different? He had no reason to be nervous. Paul has appeared on countless television shows during his term, many with segments even shorter than his ‘Daily Show‘ appearance. And he’s a gifted speaker for longer durations as well.
Was it the tough crowd, who didn’t seem enthused about Paul from start to finish, giving him only modest applause during his entrance? Was it Oliver’s straightforward, instead of funny, questions? Or maybe the Senator just had an off night. Hopefully he’ll be back on his A game today.
Watch the segment below:
