Rand Paul Pulls Out of 'Meet the Press,' but Will That Help?

In an effort to avoid a debacle, it looks like Rand Paul may have created one.

Paul, who's been through a whirlwind week, has told NBC he won't appear on Sunday's Meet the Press as planned. To recap his week: on Tuesday, he defeated establishment candidate Trey Grayson in the Republican primary for the Kentucky Senate nomination, instantly becoming a national figure and Tea Party icon. On Wednesday, he gave interviews to NPR and MSNBC's Rachel Maddow, in which he suggested that although he personally was revolted by racism, he wasn't sure it was the federal government's role to intervene in the affairs of private businesses, as it did in the 1964 Civil Rights Act. That sparked a furor, and led to the hilarious spectacle of Paul strangely disavowing any interest in repealing the act—strange, because neither he nor anyone else had suggested repeal.

It didn't get any easier on Thursday. He was once again the center of a firestorm after an interview on ABC's Good Morning America, in which he complained that President Obama's bashing of BP over the gulf oil spill was "un-American." Paul defended the company, saying: "Sometimes accidents happen."

Clearly, Paul is having some growing pains as he goes from being a local candidate best known for being Ron Paul's son to being a major national figure. It's understandable why he'd want to take a rest and step back from the spotlight, and the string of stories probably isn't helping him (although it's unclear if it will have much negative effect, either). But is canceling good politics?

Justifiably or not, after the events of the last three days, his withdrawal from the show has become just another media circus. Meanwhile, an appearance on Meet the Press would have given Paul a megaphone to clarify his views and calm down some of the frenzy—in a venue that's not as dangerous as it was at its Russert-era peak.

If he stays quiet, however, the fire will continue to smolder, and probably flare up again as soon as he gets back on the campaign trail. On the other hand, maybe it's just as well. Given the results of his turns on NPR, Maddow, and GMA, it might actually be best for him to say nothing.