Republicans Grapple With the Rand Paul Conundrum

[jct74]

Republicans Grapple With the Rand Paul Conundrum
Senator's Call for Less U.S. Involvement Overseas Creates Unease

By GERALD F. SEIB
June 2, 2014

Strike up a conversation with a Republican official these days, and odds are good the talk will turn to the Rand Paul conundrum. Especially this week.

Rand Paul is, of course, the junior senator from Kentucky and a rising star in his party. He mixes tea-party appeal with the libertarian instincts he inherited from his father, former Rep. Ron Paul.

He attracts some constituencies other Republicans have a hard time reaching—college-age voters, in particular—and is diligently trying to reach out to minority groups that have slipped further from the grasp of others in his party. Indeed, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization not known for its close relations with Republicans, invited him to appear at its July annual meeting, Mr. Paul's office says, though a scheduling conflict likely will prevent him from appearing.

But here's where the conundrum comes in: At a time when many Republicans are trying to portray President Barack Obama as someone who has undermined America's global leadership position with his cautious approach to engaging in hot spots around the world, Mr. Paul advocates an approach that is, if anything, even more cautious.

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it's a WSJ article but go thru google to bypass paywall and read the rest:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ROFnehkyuj6kgqF6pKlA-9w&bvm=bv.68191837,d.cGU

 

[William R]

bump

 

[Matt Collins]

Except that Obama doesn't practice what he preaches.

 

[ClydeCoulter]

Good comments, too.

 

[Brian4Liberty]

Yeah, the Republican establishment struggles with anyone who might actually be serious about fiscal responsibility and conservatism.

 

[Brett85]

"But here's where the conundrum comes in: At a time when many Republicans are trying to portray President Barack Obama as someone who has undermined America's global leadership position with his cautious approach to engaging in hot spots around the world"

And the Republicans think that's somehow a popular position that will help them win elections. They're just completely out of touch and unaware regarding where the American people stand on these issues.

 

[twomp]

Indeed, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization not known for its close relations with Republicans, invited him to appear at its July annual meeting, Mr. Paul's office says, though a scheduling conflict likely will prevent him from appearing.

It's a shame he won't be speaking there.

 

[Tywysog Cymru]

And the Republicans think that's somehow a popular position that will help them win elections. They're just completely out of touch and unaware regarding where the American people stand on these issues.

Yeah, they'll fanatically defend a wars that an overwhelming majority of the American people oppose, and then blame social issues for losing elections.

 

[snorlax]

It's a shame he won't be speaking there.

He should find or make the time and go, if he's genuinely serious about reaching out to black voters.

 

[boneyard bill]

When you stick your neck out, you have to pull it back if you don't want it cut off. So the answer is, don't stick your neck out. We really are risking defeat in Syria, but that wouldn't be the case if we hadn't gotten involved in the first place. Obama (and America) looks weak because he retreats from places we never should have been in the first place. Do we complain that Putin looks weak in Ukraine? No, but what has he done? Actually, not very much. He's just letting us dig our own hole.

 

[eduardo89]

Indeed, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, an organization not known for its close relations with Republicans, invited him to appear at its July annual meeting, Mr. Paul's office says, though a scheduling conflict likely will prevent him from appearing.

Dumb move, Rand.

 

[thoughtomator]

Obama is a hyperinterventionist. The only folks attacking him for not being involved enough or not doing the intervention thing right are uberinterventionists.