The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Re: Rand Paul and Israel

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There are plenty of arguments in favor of cutting aid to Israel. As a strong supporter of Israel, I even think there's a case to be made that cutting aid would actually be a good thing for Israel in the long run, because then they'd have a freer hand to do what they need to do militarily, and could be in a better position to resist pressure for constant concessions to their adversaries.

But perhaps I should have offered a bit more context in my post. Ron Paul's foreign policy views are well known. They are shared by many libertarians and a subset of conservatives, but -- broadly speaking -- are not representative of the views of most conservatives. When it comes to Israel, I know that Ron Paul's defenders would argue that he isn't pro or anti, but merely neutral, in keeping with his non-interventionist views. However, the way he goes out of his way to condemn Israel on a regular basis undermines that argument. For instance, when Israel invaded Gaza to go after the terrorist group Hamas, Ron Paul released a video. Sure, he said we shouldn't take a side, but his arguments were those of Israel's adversaries. He referred to Palestinians in Gaza as living in a "concentration camp," a term which is of particular historical significance to Jews, and he dismissed the threat from Hamas, claiming they only had "a few small missiles."

So when Rand decided to run for Senate, we all knew where he stood on fiscal policy, but the big question was whether or not he agreed with his father's views on foreign policy. Luckily for Rand, his Senate race was dominated by domestic issues and Aqua Buddha, allowing him to thread the needle on foreign policy. Many supporters of his father assumed he was with them, while those who disagreed with the elder Paul on foreign policy were generally willing to give him the benefit of the doubt that he was different from his father, although there were skeptics.

When Rand revealed his budget plan, he came under fire for ending aid to Israel, but not from me -- because it was part of a $500 billion budget-cutting package that also eliminated all other foreign aid. Yet when he specifically refers to aid to Israel as "welfare," it comes off as resentful toward the country, and helps add to the perception that his foreign policy views really are in line with his father's -- which could be a good or bad thing, depending on your perspective. If his aim is to play to the Lew Rockwell crowd, such terminology is perfectly appropriate. But if he wants to convince small government conservatives -- who broadly support Israel -- that we cannot afford foreign aid, then I just don't think it's very helpful to his cause.

View all comments (56) | Leave a comment

Clint| 2.4.11 @ 3:19PM

Dr. Rand Paul is A Tea Party Senator & Dr. Ron Paul is A Tea Party favorite like Sarah Palin.

If you wanna criticize them, then many of We,Tea Party Patriots just don't think it's very helpful to your cause.

Mark| 2.4.11 @ 4:43PM

What is a Tea party patriot? Are you living in the kings rule? What is your issue? Lets see. You are lower income white Americans that are against abortion, very pro NRA and it must give you folks a near heart attack a Black man is your leader. And of course all that money given to those Jewsssssssss...... That must really burn you guys up. Along come your shepards in the wind the saviours of your great cause, the voice of reason, your voice. Sarah Palin, Rand Paul dangerous extreme lunatics. People that spread racial hatreds, and radical Ideas about how goverment should be run. They tell the ignorant masses what they want to hear as they pad there pocket books with your stupidity. Sound about right eh?

Clint| 2.4.11 @ 5:28PM

Tea Party Patriots Mission Statement and Core Values

Mission Statement
The impetus for the Tea Party movement is excessive government spending and taxation. Our mission is to attract, educate, organize, and mobilize our fellow citizens to secure public policy consistent with our three core values of Fiscal Responsibility, Constitutionally Limited Government and Free Markets.

Core Values

* Fiscal Responsibility
* Constitutionally Limited Government
* Free Markets

Fiscal Responsibility: Fiscal Responsibility by government honors and respects the freedom of the individual to spend the money that is the fruit of their own labor. A constitutionally limited government, designed to protect the blessings of liberty, must be fiscally responsible or it must subject its citizenry to high levels of taxation that unjustly restrict the liberty our Constitution was designed to protect. Such runaway deficit spending as we now see in Washington D.C. compels us to take action as the increasing national debt is a grave threat to our national sovereignty and the personal and economic liberty of future generations.

Constitutionally Limited Government: We, the members of The Tea Party Patriots, are inspired by our founding documents and regard the Constitution of the United States to be the supreme law of the land. We believe that it is possible to know the original intent of the government our founders set forth, and stand in support of that intent. Like the founders, we support states' rights for those powers not expressly stated in the Constitution. As the government is of the people, by the people and for the people, in all other matters we support the personal liberty of the individual, within the rule of law.

Free Markets: A free market is the economic consequence of personal liberty. The founders believed that personal and economic freedom were indivisible, as do we. Our current government's interference distorts the free market and inhibits the pursuit of individual and economic liberty. Therefore, we support a return to the free market principles on which this nation was founded and oppose government intervention into the operations of private business.

Cameron| 2.4.11 @ 10:09PM

Yeah, we believe in radical ideas about how government should be run--FOUND IN THE CONSTITUTION! You're absolutely clueless, that's why you push the predictable race card.

Low IQ morons like you are the reason Obama got elected.

Occam's Tool| 2.4.11 @ 11:34PM

Clint, many Tea Partiers, like Sarah Palin, support Israel. Go put on your white sheet.

Traditional Conservative| 2.5.11 @ 12:22AM

Go join the Daily Kooks if you believe in income redistribution.

Clint| 2.5.11 @ 11:13AM

Tool Job, many Tea Party Patriots support Tea Party Favorite Dr.Ron Paul and Sarah Palin Endorsed Dr.Rand Paul.
Ya gonna tell Us Tea Party Patriots that Sarah Palin wears a white sheet, Bigot Jew Tool Job .

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 1:27PM

hes a jew so of course he puts jewish interests over america.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:25PM

thanks for the assist clint. you hate jews as much as i do.

WJ| 2.4.11 @ 3:39PM

I'm sure where you find the "small government" conservatives that broadly support Israel. Most small government conservatives don't actively support or actively oppose Israel. They way they treat their uprising and enemies is their own business. When they do it with US tax payer assistance it becomes our business.

An analogy is National Public Radio. They can be liberal and biased all day long, but not with my tax dollars.

Traditional Conservative| 2.4.11 @ 3:47PM

Well perhaps "income redistribution" would be a better term. It's money that's stolen from the taxpayers and given to Israel.

Warrior| 2.4.11 @ 3:51PM

That may be the best definition yet.

Ken (Old Texican)| 2.4.11 @ 3:57PM

Philip,
It is like I posted before. These guys boiling out of the woodwork are about the same percentage as the Pauls in Congress.
You can't convince these guys of how short sighted they are...ever.
They will never understand the wide wide world, except trough the wrong end of the telescope.

Traditional Conservative| 2.4.11 @ 4:37PM

Why do you support stealing my money and redistributing it to other countries? What kind of a conservative believes in income redistribution?

Mojo Nixon| 2.4.11 @ 6:08PM

neoconservatives.

Occam's Tool| 2.4.11 @ 11:35PM

Israel serves a lot of US defense purposes, TC. Sorry, but they do. Your white sheet is showing.

Traditional Conservative| 2.5.11 @ 12:21AM

Lol. Right, because you can't oppose foreign aid without being a racist. It's pretty clear that you can't be a fiscal conservative and a neocon at the same time. Hopefully we'll continue to purge the neocons from the GOP.

Clint| 2.4.11 @ 3:59PM

That's what they said about We Tea Party Patriots before We placed Our Candidates into Congress in November.

Dr.Rand Paul is One of Our Tea Party Senators & Dr.Ron Paul is a Tea Party Favorite like Sarah Palin.

Mark| 2.4.11 @ 4:30PM

The funding Israel receives is put back in the defense industry of the United States where either directly or indirectly one of six people make there living. These are loans that are paid back. As for all my self Rightous fellow citizens who want to have a say in it you have no say. If you read the news you know how corrupt our military contractors are ten thousand dollars for a hammer? It is cheaper to have Israels army being the only democracy in the middle east then if the united states had to field an army in the middle east. If you withdraw funds from Israel there are plenty of other countrys who would be more then happy to work with them.

Mojo Nixon| 2.4.11 @ 6:10PM

we would be far better off using that money to replace worn out equipment for our GIs since we are fielding an army in the middle east.

Michael J. Keating| 2.4.11 @ 6:21PM

“Our "friendship" with this country Israel brings us:

1) Hatred by Arabs all over the World for our "indifference" about UN resolutions and other "Laws" (i.e. Israel does not obey the rules and orders of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) but pushes us to attack Iran for non-compliance; while Iran DOES comply).

2) a refusal to let us use their military ports and bases.

3) Spies like Ben Ami Kadish; who stole US Military Nuclear and F15 secrets and handed them to the same Israeli agent Jonathan Pollard worked with. Kadish got a $50K fine and was set free; if he was Iranian or Muslim Israel would have us gear up another war.

4) Attack on our Sovereign Flag and murder of our sailors on the USS Liberty (GOOGLE IT!; the History Channel VHS episode was pulled from the channel's offerings).

5) none of the intelligence the Mossad had on the upcoming bombing of our Marines (220 Marines KIA) in Beirut 1983; the Biggest single day loss of US Marine lives since Iwo Jima.

6) Refusal by the Democratic National Commitee for Jimmy Carter to speak at the 2008 Convention because of his book on Palestine.

Now before I am jumped on as an "Anti-Semite" have a listen to this snippet on the subject direct from an ex-Israeli Ministers mouth:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-Caq0h_Wds”

Mojo Nixon| 2.4.11 @ 6:24PM

you're going to be called a Nazi for sure.

mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 6:37PM

jews in america act as a collective to further jewish interests to the detriment of their host country, the same reason they were expelled from every country in the world,they will never change their behavior because they have been taught since birth that god chose jews and non jews were put here to serve jews google it , without total media controll they would have been rounded up and kicked out of america years ago,but they learned from their german experience .

Mojo Nixon| 2.4.11 @ 8:45PM

do my a favor, don't be on my side

Cameron| 2.4.11 @ 9:51PM

The problem is, Mojo, vicious Nazis like "Mortimer" are on your side.

How does it feel?

Mojo Nixon| 2.4.11 @ 9:54PM

not good. this subject always seems to bring out the worst in people.

Cameron| 2.4.11 @ 9:59PM

I agree. That sick kind of hatred makes my skin crawl. "Mortimer" makes my skin crawl.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 1:35PM

be a man a stand up for america , moron

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:27PM

i'm nuts somebody please put me out of my misery.

Occam's Tool| 2.4.11 @ 11:36PM

Funny, one of my nurses is a former CPO. She remembers docking in Haifa.

Look, all the scum are coming out under their rocks.

mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 6:40PM

so if we stop giving israel 3 billion in aid the parasite will find another host?? is that your threat my little traitorous jew friend. BEHOLD THE NATURE OF THE COMMON JEW my fellow americans.

mortimer| 2.4.11 @ 6:47PM

we pay for their military budget so they can have universal healthcare for every jew in israel while we cut our grandparents medicaid. and so they can have 2 million orthodox jews on welfare because they are forbidden by god to work ,but who cares right jews are more important than american elderly and infirmed

Cameron| 2.4.11 @ 10:02PM

You don't care about the aged and infirm, Marxist freak. You'd "Death Panel" them any chance you got if you could. Corrosive hatred has eaten through your insides.

I pity you, and I will fight the evil that suffuses you.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 12:15AM

the "camerons" and" occams tool" are jewish internet defense bloggers ..heres where the come from 'giyus" www.standwithus.org www.jidf.org ...they are directed by "action alerts" from these websites that jewish organizations have set up to mobilize jews to influence american public opinion on israel. do you really think conservatives would suggest taking our tax dollars and sending it to israel while we cut social security for americans? jews will sacrifice america in a heartbeat for jewish interests. ron paul/rand paul 2012

Cameron| 2.5.11 @ 2:25AM

I'm a pro-life Roman Catholic, moron, and I've blogged at AmSpec since its inception. Your pathetic attempts to marginalize me are laughable. Nice try though.

Americans of good faith have honest differences and may disagree on matters of importance, but evil beasts like you are quite a different matter. You will be ridiculed and excoriated.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 1:36PM

you are a jew who post pro israel propaganda,just like you were calling for pollard to be released on another thread

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:28PM

i'm nuts somebody please put me out of my misery. i'm sure there are many takers. i like little boys.

Clint| 2.4.11 @ 5:30PM

" 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.”

martin j smith| 2.5.11 @ 8:44AM

More Mortimer the jew hating,anti-semite. Get rid of him. he is an insult to the human race.

Beyond that what Rand and Ronnie fail to take into account is this: Russia and China and their suggogates Iran and North Korea WILL SEND ARMS TO THE MIDDLE-EAST. SO WHAT WILL BE GAINED JERKS ? !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
AND, INSTEAD OF SAVING MONEY OR SAVING LIVES WE WILL SEE AN EVEN BIGGER BLOOD BATH WHICH WILL DRAW US IN.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 1:39PM

sorry jew not going to work, americans cant be manipulated by fear to do israeli dirty work anymore. the terrorist who attacked america on 9-11 were motivated by americas support for israeli policies in palestine.............9-11 commission report

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:29PM

i like little boys.

Oldefarte| 2.5.11 @ 10:35AM

ALL foreign aid is WELFARE, and should be eliminated entirely. The American taxpayers simply cannot afford to be funding ANY foreign government. Individuals [especially children] IN THIS COUNTRY are starving in some dire situations [and have no decent roof over their heads], and if any taxpayer money is of nessessity to be expended, then CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

martin j smith| 2.5.11 @ 11:43AM

To all isolationists and appeasers. what you do not take into consideration is simply this: The world does not revolve around us. Each entity does its own thing. Bottom line you will be held responsible if as a result your belief in appeasement and isolationism a major thermonueclear or other wmd war breaks out and their is utter destruction. I do not have any illusions about the Islamic radicals--for all they care even their grandmother and children could die as long as its in "good cause". But, as for me, those voters and politicians who allow by their deeds destruction of Israel will learn that they too will be destroyed ( and that means me ) and I do not go for that at all. IT IS YOUR TYPE OF POLICIES THAT AT LEAST PARTIALLY LED TO WWII. And appeasement of Hitler was an abject failure. As was the appeasement of Stalin by FDR.
You who have these tendencies have the moral responsibilities to prove thru history that your beliefs work. I say they are and will continue to be a failure. It does me no good at all to say-"I told you so" if we are all dead. So in existential terms at least appeasers and isolationists will be the blame should things go "not quite right". And, do not forget: Russia,China,N Korea

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 2:14PM

israel can change its behavior or they will be annihilated by the countries in the region,but dont think aipac and jewish interests can force american children to die invading israels enemies and bankrupt america anymore

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 3:19PM

ww2 cwas totally unnecessary from an american standpoint.......read pat buchanon.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:30PM

i'm really into little boys.

Clint| 2.5.11 @ 12:08PM

"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."

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 1:40PM

only a jew would disagree

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:30PM

little boys are delicious.

Ben| 2.5.11 @ 2:24PM

If only Israel could stop their ever-increasing settlement expansions. Then I wouldn't mind supporting them minus my money of course. At the moment however, I pray that God will send a 200 m meteroid at 15,000 mph to his chosen people for their sins.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 3:17PM

if they stopped slaughtering and occupying palestinians america would never be attacked again for supporting israeli behavior against muslims.......you would think they would feel a sense of guilt for causing blowback on innocent americans,,,but no ,the jew is human garbage and cannot live in 21st century civilized society

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:31PM

little boys are fun!

TeaPartyPete| 2.5.11 @ 5:13PM

We will never stop welfare to Israel as long as media is owned by the Zionist. I have nothing whatsoever against the Jewish/Hebrew/Israeli
People but there hiding amongst them are groups of the most evil enemies of humanity in recorded history. It was Mossad Agents that spent months
planting military grade thermate throughout the Twin Towers and Buildings, Zionist Interests who benefit the most from 9-11 and the destruction of our country from with in and Zionist Interest who have been brainwashing everyone through the conrol of all media, except the Internet and that's
next. God is not on the side of the Zionist, Lucifer is and all these people/puppets in control are Luciferians. Obama, Bush, Clinton, Bush,
Regan..all Lucuiferians. It's really too late; there is no Gold in Fort Knox, they are going to crash our dollar and we are all going to be turned
into their slaves.

mortimer| 2.5.11 @ 7:31PM

i bet you like little boys too.

mortimer| 2.6.11 @ 2:30PM

AIPAC= OUR BIGGEST THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY

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