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Ron Paul Exposes Cracks in GOP's Tea Party Pot
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While Ron Paul wants America to quit its "endless wars," he's blasting away at fellow Republicans.
Paul has become increasingly cantankerous as he rises in the polls (now in first place in Iowa, according to Public Policy Polling). Accusing his GOP rivals of warmongering, he baldly declares that Michele Bachmann "hates Muslims."
Sometimes, he gets as good as he gives. At the last presidential debate before the Iowa caucuses, Bachmann, founder of the House Tea Party Caucus, called Paul's pacifistic pronouncements on Iran "the most irresponsible thing I've ever heard."
Paul brags that he was a tea partier before there was a tea party. And when it comes to the fiscal issues that the tea party purports to care about, no one is tighter with a buck than the congressman. His budget cuts would shut down five Cabinet-level departments -- a pledge that none of his opponents has matched.
But Paul's non-interventionist foreign policy goes far beyond standard tea party orthodoxy. And that's where he exposes the shortcomings of the movement.
It's good and right for tea partiers to criticize federal spending and to attack the government's ballooning debt. They have stiffened the GOP's spine and energized the conservative base, as evidenced in the virtual Republican sweep of the 2010 elections.
Now along comes Paul to upset the party. From his unstinting assault on the Federal Reserve to his "Bring the Troops Home" mantra, the congressman roils the teapot. He knocks it completely over with libertarian rhetoric that offends social conservatives.
Tea party purists say they can only succeed by sticking strictly to fiscal issues. But Paul counters that America's foreign engagements -- costly both in terms of blood and treasure -- are an inextricable part of the problem.
In that respect, the former Air Force physician is reminding voters of President Dwight Eisenhower's parting plea to beware of the "military-industrial complex." It's a warning that echoes George Washington's admonition to steer clear of "foreign entanglements."
Indeed, Paul may be the Republicans' best crossover candidate. His insular foreign policy hits home with a wide range of voters leery of -- if not exhausted by -- America's role as nation builder and global cop at a time of serious economic and social disarray in this country.
The irony is that the mainstream media and so-called conservative pundits continue to portray Paul as a fringe candidate, even as he rises in the polls. Notably, those Republican surveys fail to reflect Paul's appeal to the left end of the political spectrum.
Building from a paleoconservative base, Paul sets himself against the neoconservative establishment that has controlled the Republican Party for decades. These "neocons" relentlessly advocate an ever-expanding military presence under the guise of exporting "freedom and democracy."
Neocons -- reformed liberals, actually -- are also architects for bigger government. They link arms with the likes of Ted Kennedy to federalize education, cozy up to corporations and shill for "comprehensive immigration reform" (i.e., open borders). Among the current crop of GOP candidates, Newt Gingrich is a neocon poster boy.
None of the neocons' global agenda and few of their domestic initiatives have anything to do with classic conservatism -- or classic liberalism, for that matter. Yet neocon Republicans have grafted themselves onto the tea party with remarkable success.
But St. Paul is chipping away at the unholy alliance. His insurgent bid for the Republican presidential nomination is a battle for the future direction of the GOP, as well as the independence and relevance of the tea movement.
Someday, political science textbooks will be written to lay out one of two scenarios:
- The tea party was a genuine grass-roots phenomenon hijacked by political opportunists who were not truly "conservative."
- The tea party movement was a neocon front all along, a crass branding exercise by the GOP establishment.
Either way -- or both -- Ron Paul's 2012 campaign is telling the tale.
"Making Ron Paul the GOP candidate for president will send the strongest possible message to a Republican establishment that is hell-bent on co-opting the tea party and maintaining the status quo," says Russ Paladino, a founding tea partier from New York and convert to Paul's campaign.
"A primary victory will make it unmistakably clear that we meant it when we marched in D.C. We meant it when we gathered to protest Obamacare. We mean it when we petition our representatives about government intrusions into the free market and individual liberty, and we will not be patted on the head and disregarded anymore."
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
Comments (36)
And to all the sheep who believe in M$M sensationalist crap from Fox MSNBC Rush and Beck, get a damn brain. Paul's the only candidate honest about what's really goin' on in America today. He respects all Americans' autonomy and will NEVER let any big brother kook (cough Santorum cough) say otherwise.
How come you guys will compare the Tea Party to "Dhimmis", but stick your neck out to defend the Occupy Marxists?
"and we will not be patted on the head and disregarded anymore." -just excellent!
Dr. Paul taught me about Neocons, I had been very interested how the communist revolution was funded by big business, and how all of the big foundations purpose is to gently guiding the USA toward a Soviet style of government. Big business and the New York bankers were the ones who funded the rise of the NAZI party and Hitler. But the Neocon movement started by Irving Krystal a devout Trotskyite and proud member of the 4th International (US Communism Movement) until the day he died have used his ideas to taking over the Republican Party, because they were too far left for the Democratic Party to stomach. Now that is a knee slapper if there ever was one the Neocon Republicans have a Communist founder. While Communism and Socialism always place people focus on their lies telling people everyone will be equal (Slaves) and the big idea of a New World Order and that they are helping us poor stupid people have better lives. The truth is they (Necons) could care less they want the final solution for the American People. It does not matter if they are Neocon Republicans or Social Democrats they are the same. Their lies are the all the same and they are coming out of the shadows to attempt to destroy Dr. Paul and the Liberty Movement. Why you ask? Well Liberty and Free Markets is what they fear most. Once people are free to think for themselves and the market is untethered, prosperity will follow and that is not the environment they want as then NO Body will want their Insane brand of Government that has destroyed every country and Millions of people in every place it has taken root. The Neocons in fear of the education people are getting from the web are taking out all of the stops to push their agenda and in doing so have exposed themselves for who they really are Crack head commies who hate our freedom and our free markets (what there is left of it) and truly hate the American People. Why else would the subvert our constitution, make the American People the Enemy. American is waking up and Dr. Paul is educating people on the truth. He sees what we can not see and will guide the USA and her people from the darkness and into the Light. He will unleash the mighty engine of the American People and surgically remove the Parasites that have been bleeding us dry and killing or brightest and best in stupid wars, run the money changers from the Temple or our government. I suppose if Jesus was here now he would get similar treatment as Dr. Paul is getting in fact I am sure the same kind of people are behind the destroy Dr. Paul campaign. We who stand by him should be very proud both of him and our United Stand for Freedom as we are truly on the side of God.
What does the Federal Reserve and Bringing the troops home, have to do with social conservatives? Are you saying these are traditional values?
Dr. Paul is trying to restore our original values. The FED and WARS have destroyed America.
Go-Go-Dr. No!
We are broke and we are financing the defense of other countries. What the heck are we doing in Japan and Germany, the Cold War is over and they are rich enough to take care of themselves.
we are not voting for a party, we are voting for a MAN with great vision for our country.
Historic evidence shows that his support is DOUBLE what the polls show. The media and elites are scared and know that by repeating this drivel, they can defeat a candidate that 60% of Americans support. see VoteYourHeart.us for proof.
America Needs Ron Paul.
Ron Paul has had consistent policy positions from the start. The other candidates simply say what the voters want to hear. Ron Paul warned us about the housing bubble, the debt crisis, the collapse of the US dollar, the high employment and recessions; basically, the entire collapse of our economy. He is the only candidate who can get us out of our mess.
Ron Paul is a man who defends the constitution, civil liberties, peace and prosperity. Paul has the wisdom, foresight, honesty and integrity to be president.
Mitt Romney does not where he stands on any issue; Michelle Bachmann is just very angry; Rick Perry does not know very much; John Huntsman has worked for Democrats for many years; Rick Santorum is an extremist; and Newt Gingrich is philosophically unanchored, an unstable element, whom as Peggy Noonan, former Reagan speechwriter writes is a “human hand grenade who walks around with his hand on the pin, saying, Watch this!”.
America Needs Ron Paul.
Newt? he wants to drag judges before congress, he miss quotes history to affirm his dangerous ideas.. too long a list for printing here. Newts a human hand grenade, and no one knows when he will go off. One thing for sure, with Newt as President, Americans will further lose their freedoms and liberty and we will certainly be in an uncontrollable war with Iran.
Romney is a big government socialist in conservative clothing. You want more of the same? elect Romney, you'll get it!
Ron Paul is the only statesmen in the crowd, his ideas are pro American. Let's face it, today we can't even secure our own borders, how will we secure another countries borders? Isn't it better to protect our soldiers from harm in an area we simply cannot control?
Wake up voters, there is nothing crazy about following our laws and up holding our constitution. There is nothing "nuts" about using diplomats instead of soldiers. Stop drinking the media cool-aid or buying the propaganda.
Here are the facts, most Ron Paul voters WILL NOT vote for Romney or Gingrich.. Most swing voters/independents WILL NOT vote for Romney or Gingrich, fed up Democrats will NOT vote for Romney or Gingrich! if the Republicans want to win, they will support Ron Paul, he is the only candidate that can take the independent vote, pull votes from the democrats AND receive Republican votes. It would be a land slide...
narrative B: Ron Paul is correct on 99%. GOP elite are scared to lose power. GOP elite panic. GOP blames Ron Paul. GOP elite think Obama makes them rich and Paul is ignore them! GOP implodes. Obama wins
If you don’t support Ron Paul because of his foreign policy I can understand because I was a traditional neoconservative type for much of my life. Upon digging into the facts, however, I now recognize that Ron Paul is on the right side of this issue.
The history of the Middle East and world in general, virtually all major surveys taken in Muslim streets, speeches delivered by Muslim leaders, and human nature confirm that meddling in the affairs of other countries and regions is the root cause of resistance, hatred, revenge, and terrorism.
Our meddling in the Middle East for more than 60 years by overthrowing governments (including democratic ones), invasions, occupations, setting up puppet governments and military bases came long before terrorism emerged as a reaction. There is no supporting evidence that organized radical Muslim terrorism results from hating us by nature, because of our religion, or lifestyle.
A universal characteristic of human nature is to be focused on creating a better life for ourselves and our children. Hatred, terrorism, and focus on what goes on in other countries come into play when our own way of life is violated or threatened by them. Until our heavy handed meddling in the Middle East we were rather liked and very much respected in the Middle East.
If a Muslim superpower meddled in our region for 60 years, invaded and occupied countries in North America, set up pro-Muslim puppet governments and military bases there would also be resistance, hatred, and no doubt some of us would also consider it justified to respond with the use of terrorism (even though terrorism should never be justified). Why, therefore, are we surprised that blowback emerges in reaction to our constant and consistent meddling in the Middle East during the course of 60 years?
We kept escalating the war in Vietnam to no avail but since leaving that country we now get along well. When under Soviet occupation the people of Eastern Europe despised and resisted the Russians on a daily basis. Now that the Soviets are out they are hardly given a 2nd thought in the people’s daily lives. Afghanistan practiced resistance and terrorism during the Soviet occupation of that country. Since Soviet departure and American entrance in that arena the hatred and terrorism has shifted to us. There is terrorism being committed by Muslims of Chechnya in an effort to free that country of Russian occupation.
Why then do we violate our Christian, national, and individual values to aggressively meddle in the affairs of others only to create more hatred and terrorism directed against us, while the vast majority of people around the world, and friendly leaders of other countries, warn against this course of action? Do not two of the most important commandments left by Jesus Christ not state “Love thy neighbor as you love yourself” and “Thou shalt not kill?” Does not our Constitution, and did not our forefathers, warn against foreign entanglements and to respect the self-determination of all people whether we agree with them or not? Have we not been taught from early childhood to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves?
History has proven over and over again that empires usually fall not from the strength of enemies but from their own over expansion. Many empires have tried to create a world in their own image by force and to date have all ultimately failed on each occasion.
If you can’t accept supporting Ron Paul’s foreign policy based on true Christian, national, and individual values that maintained the world’s respect for so many decades, then consider the fact that we simply cannot afford our current self-defeating warfare policy. Even if our meddling in the Middle East could create utopia for 30 million people in Afghanistan and 30 million people in Iraq, is it worth leading 312 million Americans into bankruptcy and full scale Depression during this process?
All evidence available thus far shows that our claims against Iran are basically as bogus as those used to justify the war in Iraq, except that the bombing of Iran would have far more serious negative consequences. Iran poses absolutely no threat to the United States. Even if Iran developed nuclear weapons it is unreasonable to believe that they would initiate a nuclear war against Israel as Iran would be toast within 24 hours. Contrary to the claims of so many Ahmadinejad never threatened to nuke Israel. And Iran has not started a war of aggression during its entire modern history, while we have started several, which included 3 acts of war committed against Iran alone.
This is not to say that Ahmadinejad does not represent a despicable dictatorship but we must consider how to deal with the situation with our own best interests and those of our children first. This also does not mean that Ron Paul does not believe in maintaining very strong defense. He absolutely does but that has little to do with constantly, and aggressively, meddling in the affairs of other nations.
Even after reading hundreds of documents that are readily available on the Internet, including those of our own government, which confirm all of the above, it took me a few years to accept the truth. Unfortunately, we don’t have a few more years to resolve these issues any longer thus I hope and pray that all Americans will take the time to examine the facts and accept the truth much more quickly than I did. This election will determine if we continue on the path to endless wars of self-destruction, bankruptcy, and full scale Depression within the next few years, or if we start the process of recovery under President Ron Paul.
What you see is what you get.
It sickens me that my fellow Tea Party and 912 members are racing to support Newt. Do they really want judges brought before Congress? For some reason Teanewts state they want to return to limited Constitutional Government yet if they truly believe that statement there would be no doubt who they would follow.
Ron Paul never said he was against war. He said that he was against non declared war. That if he were president and we had to go to war that we would declare it and then WIN it.
Another interesting note. Some of those who are screaming the loudest against Mr. Paul are the very ones who were screaming the loudest during the Tea Parties. I guess they think they have "matured" or something but if they keep on going they will be saying in the history books that this generation failed their children and grandchildren.
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