Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said he doesn’t have “a personal dispute” with Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), clarifying remarks he made late last week.
“I don’t have a personal dispute,” Paul said during an interview on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer. “I think people make more about this than is actually accurate. I like John McCain as a person, and I really try never to disrespect him.”
When Paul spoke at the Conservative Political Action Conference last Thursday, he slammed members of his party for being “stale and moss-covered,” joking that he wasn’t going to name any names.
But during Tuesday’s interview with Blitzer, Paul said his comment wasn’t directed at anyone in particular within the GOP.
“I would say it’s a figurative sort of sentence, in the sense that it really isn’t to be taken literally, and it was also meant for humor,” Paul said. “I think it garnered a little bit of humor. But it really is to say that we as the GOP need to embrace new ideas and grow in a way that some haven’t, but I really didn’t intend it to be directed at one person.”
Blitzer pressed further, asking if McCain was one of the people to whom the Kentucky Senator was referring. Paul responded that he and McCain have differences, but that they are limited to the issues and nothing more. He expressed his respect for the Arizona Senator and his military history, but said the two could have “healthy debate” on the future of the GOP.
But, as Blitzer pointed out, McCain seemed to think Paul’s “moss-covered” remark was directed at him. In remarks on the Senate floor on Monday, McCain addressed the comments.
“References were made to people are too old and moss-covered, that we need new, fresh individuals and ideas and thoughts, and I agree with all of those recommendations and comments that were made,” he said. “But there is a little bit of benefit of being around.”
Blitzer said that Paul likely agreed with McCain on that point.
Yeah, I don’t disagree with him,” Paul said. “My dad’s been around for a while. I think you do gain knowledge through experience and time, and I think, you know, our elders do need to be respected.”
Paul did add, however, that there needs to be continued discussion about how to expand and grow the Republican party.
