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The Spectacle Blog
I suppose I should elaborate further on my comment about Senator Rand Paul being the apple that doesn’t fall far from the tree.
I made the comment for several reasons. First, Senator Paul’s call to end foreign aid to Israel is consistent with that of his father, Ron Paul. Second, because I share Philip Klein’s concerns about the younger Paul’s derisive use of the term “welfare” as well as his concerns about his father’s long standing hostility to Israel.
Third, when you put Dr. Paul’s policy prescription against the backdrop of an Obama Administration that has behaved boorishly towards Israel, a regime in Iran pursuing a nuclear program while calling for Israel’s elimination and the possible loss of a long standing partner in peace in Egypt strikes me as penny wise and a pound foolish. It sends Israel gives the appearance that its closest ally is wavering and emboldens its enemies. Can you imagine the propaganda value of a U.S. Senator calling for an end to aid for Israel in the Arab and Muslim world? Rand Paul runs the risk of becoming a useful idiot.
Yet Paul’s statement raises another question. If he feels so strongly about ending aid to Israel why didn’t he say so when he wrote about “The United States Special Relationship with Israel” last April? Paul writes, “In the Senate, I would strive to eliminate all aid to countries that threaten Israel.” Apparently, he neglected to mention he would also strive to eliminate all aid to Israel as well. It’s the sort of thing one could tend to forget when one is trying to court Jewish voters.
View all comments (34) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by Aaron Goldstein
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/02/04/let-me-elaborate-on-rand-paul
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Truth to Power| 2.4.11 @ 4:58PM
"It's the sort of thing one could tend to forget when one is trying to court Jewish voters."
This is a minuscule number of voters. I suspect he said what he said to placate Christian voters who support Israel. Calling welfare welfare shouldn't be seen as antisemitic act. In the long run Israel will be better for not getting this money. Aaron needs to close ranks with fellow conservatives to solve our budget issues. Just as he didn't stay with the pack with regard to dadt, Rand or Ron doesn't need to stay with the pack regarding Israel. We have bigger fish to fry now.
mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 5:12PM
no politician is concered with the jewish vote,however they ARE concerned with the fact that jews contribute over 60 percent of democratic capaign funds and 40 percent of republican funds.so lets not pretend supporting israel is about votes its about doing what jews in america want and what they want is undying loyalty to the jewish state
Conservative Bob| 2.4.11 @ 5:33PM
50% of all campaign contributions? Are you referring to Presidential or Federal offices... where can I read more details on this?
mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 6:10PM
YOU DO KNOW HOW TO USE GOOGLE YES?
Ken (Old Texican)| 2.4.11 @ 6:31PM
Mortimer,
Your name fits.
You are a liar.
mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 6:50PM
ken (old jew) tell us why we should cut an additional 3 billion from americans social security,medicaid,foodstamps and give it to your fellow jews?????? we'll wait
Cameron| 2.4.11 @ 9:46PM
Hater.
Clint| 2.4.11 @ 5:33PM
" WASHINGTON (JTA) — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul wants to end all foreign assistance, including aid to Israel.
Paul, a Republican newly elected in Kentucky, was on CNN Wednesday outlining where he would cut the $500 billion in government spending he says is critical to sustaining the U.S. economy. His focus was on the departments of energy, education and housing.
Interviewer Wolf Blitzer then asked about foreign assistance, asking if he wanted to end “all foreign aid.” Paul said yes, and Blitzer asked him about aid to Israel.
“Well, I think what you have to do is you have to look,” Paul said. “When you send foreign aid, you actually [send] quite a bit to Israel’s enemies. Islamic nations around Israel get quite a bit of foreign aid, too.
“You have to ask yourself, are we funding an arms race on both sides? I have a lot of sympathy and respect for Israel as a democratic nation, as a, you know, a fountain of peace and a fountain of democracy within the Middle East.”
Blitzer pressed, “End all foreign aid including the foreign aid to Israel as well. Is that right?” he asked.
Paul answered, “Yes.”
mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 6:15PM
THE DECISION AMERICANS NEED TO MAKE IS ,do you want to take an additional 3 billion from medicaid and social security from our parents and grandmothers to give 5,985 dollars to every jew in israel. israelis enjoy totally free healthcare by the way with our tax dollars.
bluecollarbytes| 2.4.11 @ 7:22PM
I support Israel because in the scheme of things, it is a solid ally and serves as a threat to the Arab states who supply us with oil. The last thing we should do is abide by all Arab demands with regards to Israel. Standing firm on Israel keeps us from having to cave on the following set of Arab demands (post-Israel) from the 'eeevil infidellish decadent' U.S.
-----------
On the supernatural level, those supporting Israel will be blessed while those who oppose her will eventually be wiped out.
mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 7:37PM
arabs hate jews not americans they attacked us for our support of israeli terror against the muslims, both muslims and christians praise jesus while jews despise jesus so much they have banned crosses and christmas trees in israel and burn new testaments in their religious ceromonies GOOGLE IT.. first of all americans dont support israel our representatives are FORCED to support israel by aipac. and that nonsense about support israel or be cursed is laughable
Cameron| 2.4.11 @ 9:36PM
Go home, Ahab; your camels and goats are waiting for you.
Jay Dee| 2.5.11 @ 7:53PM
Yours is the most ignorant rant I've ever read. I guess the Muslims (note the cap of the name) who flew airplanes into the Towers just wanted to get closer to Americans and their Jesus.
Your "burn New Testament" (not the cap again) is a real knee slapper.
MYGAWD you're ignorant.
mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 9:45PM
so you think by calling it laughable americans wont google it and see for themselves???? lol
Moe| 2.5.11 @ 10:27PM
Exactly! No one cares about the drivel you spew.
Clint| 2.4.11 @ 9:37PM
Tell us about Israel Spies Ben ami Kadish & Jonathan Pollard, who had the same Israeli handler out of the NYC Israel Consulate. Tell us about Illegal Israeli Sales of U.S. Weapons Technology to The Red Chinese, jeopardizing Our Allies Taiwan and Japan. Tell us about The Israeli Company Checkpoint's Sourcefire Deal getting scotched by C.F.I.U.S. just like Dubai Ports.
John - TMF| 2.4.11 @ 8:22PM
Isolationism is like zipping up the tent to keep the ravenous grizzly bear from eating you.
Isolationism is the ultimate expression of sovereign petulance. It is lazy, and dangerous in a world with no borders. It proceeds on the mistaken assumption that the bully will leave you alone if you just let him beat everybody else up.
Sure, right.
A teenager was recently killed by one of the gangs operating in the area. A woman at church asked "Why was he murdered? He was such a nice boy, and wanted nothing to do with the gangs."
We either defend ourselves over there, or we die in droves over here. Take your pick.
I can hear the zipper on the tent from the Isolationists.
As to those who refuse to support Israel. It is surrounded by those who would destroy it. It is prudent to remember that the story of Sampson will provide a useful lesson. Are we Delilah?
Neo-Merchantilists like the Pauls are penny wise and pound stupid. Selling their bows, swords, and allies for gold.
We live in interesting times.
r/The Mighty Fahvaag
Cameron| 2.4.11 @ 9:44PM
We're broke. Who will be there to bail us out?
You and I both know the answer.
Denial ain't just a river in Egypt.
axbucxdu| 2.5.11 @ 10:29AM
"We're broke".
What is it with this fact that it goes right past the spenders on both the left AND right? Neither can add. The Founders warned us about government scope creep, and now the inevitable financial consequences of this largess are obvious to anyone with any capacity to do arithmetic.
It's detestable that people who surely know better engage in this kind of willful stupidity. The progs on the left and right must have alternate motives: they can't be this dumb.
Sean| 2.5.11 @ 12:32AM
No one is being isolationist. We are just not wanting to hand out our money to foreign countries. Why are you so afraid. America has the biggest baddest military in the world. We could destroy other countries with a phone call. Stop peeing your pants and grow a set.
axbucxdu| 2.5.11 @ 10:43AM
What often gets lost in this argument is that with a non-interventionist posture, the U.S. could engage threats unilaterally, without first having to get nominal permission from the "international community".
When it comes to international relations, respect is paramount. We'll earn more of it with the Pauls' philosophy than with military welfare and entangling alliances.
Clint| 2.4.11 @ 9:30PM
"To the extent foreign aid should even exist the sole question that matters is whether it is being spent in a manner that advances and protects the interests of the United States. That’s all. Despite what groups like AIPAC may say, it isn’t the job of legislators on Capitol Hill to worry about the interests of Israel.
In this case, Senator Paul is making an argument that others have made recently; namely that it isn’t at all in the interests of the United States to be spending money that we don’t have and, if we’re going to cut spending (which we have to do) then it makes sense to start with money that is going to nations that can afford to pay for their own defense. This doesn’t just mean Israel, but the countless other nations around the world who are living without the worries of a defense budget thanks to a U.S. military umbrella that they don’t contribute to financially. The gravy train is over folks, you’re going to have to do a little more to take care of yourselves from now on."
Occam's Tool| 2.4.11 @ 11:32PM
I have a feeling that the Israelis don't exactly "live under the US Defense Umbrella," Clint.
Clint| 2.5.11 @ 11:04AM
The United States has no written defense treaty with Israel, Israel Firster Tool.
Red Phillips | 2.4.11 @ 11:54PM
So we now have it on record that "conservative" Aaron supports foreign aid to Israel. Thanks for making that clear. What's next? Conservatives for tax increases and more social welfare spending?
BTW, I supported Rand Paul, but I was critical of his statement on Israel for being deliberately clever.
http://conservativetimes.org/?p=5157
But as I said in the Jennifer Rubin post, you can not possible expect it to be a credible position to want to end foreign aid to every country but Israel. A person has to be either for continuing foreign aid to every country or for ending it to every country. To be for ending foreign aid to every country except Israel is obnoxious special pleading.
Cato| 2.5.11 @ 10:53AM
Neocons will always find a reason to condemn a libertarian in the Republican party; now Rand Paul is a kind of closet "anti-Semite" for stating the obvious that any foreign aid is welfare, thus repeating what any classical liberal economist would say and had said (not only Sowel and Bandow, but also Friedman, Hayek and many others).
Lisa| 2.5.11 @ 7:57PM
I love how the MSM is having a big hissy fit over Paul's real views on Israel, but have no problems with their Muslim born and raised lord and god crapping all over the best friend America has ever had!
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yisong| 11.5.11 @ 3:21AM
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