Ideas don't matter

At least that's the impression you get from watching media "analysts," not to mention Republicans in Washington, react to Rand Paul's "evolving" opinion of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. And I'm sure the same will be true when they respond to his argument that Obama's criticism of BP's response to the oil spill is "un-American" and that "accidents happen."

But TNC is spot on -- this isn't about rookie media training mistakes. Rand Paul's opinions -- his ideas -- should be discussed, not whether or not he should unleash those opinions in public. Maybe, in pure libertarian heaven, he's thought through his ideas on anti-discrimination laws and an interesting discussion may be undertaken. More likely, though, he's just an ignorant asshole whose idea of "liberty" is freedom from any constraints on...him. A senate candidate that doesn't know the slightest thing about one of the most important federal legislative acts of the past 50 years. That's what the focus should be on. Not on "what was he thinking?" when he agreed to do Maddow's show.