Journalists Want to Know: Can Rand Paul Talk to Women Without Getting Mad?

It seems the media has decided that presidential contender Rand Paul, the libertarian Kentucky senator, has something of a problem dealing with women.

Critics cite a few recent examples: In February Paul made headlines for shushing a female CNBC reporter and earlier this month he interrupted Today's Savannah Guthrie in a tense interview.

On Sunday, CNN's Dana Bash asked whether Paul would be able to debate a female opponent like, say, Hillary Clinton, without losing his cool.

“I would treat her with the same respect that I would treat a man, but I wouldn’t lay down and say ‘I’m not going to respond,’” Paul said. “That would be a sexist sort of response, to say, ‘Oh, my goodness, she deserves not to be treated as aggressively because she’s only a woman.’ I would never say that about anybody. I don’t come into our interview thinking, ‘Okay, it’s a woman-versus-man interview.’ I just think she has tough questions, she will ask tough questions, I have to be prepared.”

Paul also fielded questions about his ability to relate with women on "Meet the Press" — watch the clip below for both segments:

This story has been updated.

(H/T: Mediaite)

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