May 24, 2007
Ron vs. Rudy: The Battle Rages On
Is Ron Paul running in the wrong primary?
That was the question FOX News Channel's Chris Wallace asked the five-term Republican congressman from Texas in the May 15 GOP presidential debate in South Carolina, and the question still haunts Paul as his feud with front-runner Rudy Giuliani over foreign policy continues.
The latest chapter came this morning, when Paul teamed up with Michael Scheuer, former head of the CIA's Bin Laden Unit, to "educate" Giuliani about terrorism and foreign policy. Reuters covered the event at the National Press Club, where Paul unveiled a reading list for the former mayor that included the 9/11 commission report and Scheuer's own book, "Imperial Hubris." In a press release, campaign chairman Kent Snyder added, "We have also included some Cliffs Notes in case Mr. Giuliani is too busy giving $100,000 speeches on national security."
So why is Ron Paul, arguably the darkest horse in the GOP race, going after the front-runner with such gusto? Let's review the events that brought us here.
By most accounts, Paul took a beating in the May 15 debate after FNC moderator Wendell Goler reacted to the congressman's advocacy for a "non-interventionist" foreign policy by asking if he was implying that the United States "invited" the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. YouTube has a clip of the full exchange.
"I'm suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it," Paul answered. "And they are delighted that we're over there [in Iraq], because Osama bin Laden has said 'I am glad you're over on our sand, because we can target you so much easier.'"
In a now-infamous rebuke, Rudy Giuliani stepped in, chastising Paul for his "extraordinary statement" that "we invited the attack because we were attacking Iraq." Looking disgusted, the former New York City mayor reminded the audience that he was there when the World Trade Center was hit and asked Paul to "withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn't really mean that" -- a request Paul did not oblige.
Rather than allow the other candidates, who were clamoring for the chance to react to Paul's assessment, to chime in, Goler changed the subject, saying with a smile, "I don't think we're going to solve this tonight, gentlemen." The mainstream media largely credited Giuliani for seizing the moment and making mincemeat out of Paul.
Paul's remarks did earn some praise -- from liberal commentators like the Nation's John Nichols and even Rosie O'Donnell and Joy Behar of "The View." Not exactly the endorsements a GOP presidential hopeful wants to invite.
And yet, some conservatives are taking the doctor-turned-congressman very seriously. Andrew Sullivan has become of one Paul's staunchest defenders, crediting him with taking "Republicans home" by remaining wary of "entangling alliances" abroad. And Paul's initial comments in favor of a non-interventionist foreign policy actually earned him some applause from the South Carolina crowd (although Giuliani's applause was stronger). Paul boasts a loyal online following, winning second place in FNC's post-debate online poll, much to the confusion of the debate sponsors.
So is Ron Paul running in the wrong primary -- he was, after all, the 1988 Libertarian Party presidential nominee -- or is he giving voice to a very real contingent of anti-war Republican voters? The fact that staunch supporters of the war like Giuliani and Arizona Sen. John McCain continue to top most national polls of Republican voters, while Paul generally fails to garner more than 1 percent, suggests the congressman's niche isn't large enough to get him much traction in the long run. But his continued presence in the race could yield more interesting moments in future GOP debates on foreign policy.
Posted at 3:43 PM
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Al-Qaida, Campaigns, Iraq, Middle East, Republicans, Ron Paul, Rudy Giuliani, Terrorism, WH 2008
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