ClydeR
03-26-2015, 08:09 PM
Commence primary repositioning in 3, 2, 1..
Just weeks before announcing his 2016 presidential bid, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is completing an about-face on a longstanding pledge to curb the growth in defense spending.
In an olive branch to defense hawks hell-bent on curtailing his White House ambitions, the libertarian Senator introduced a budget amendment late Wednesday calling for a nearly $190 billion infusion to the defense budget over the next two years—a roughly 16 percent increase.
Paul’s amendment brings him in line with his likely presidential primary rivals, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who introduced a measure calling for nearly the same level of increases just days ago. The amendment was first noticed by TIME and later confirmed by Paul’s office.
More... (http://time.com/3759378/rand-paul-defense-spending/)
If you are a Paul supporter who approved of Paul's earlier position on defense spending, you have to ask yourself if you believe him. You may think he really wants to reduce defense spending and would if elected, but he has to say this to survive the primary even though he doesn't believe it. I'm sure that's what Paul hopes his long-time supporters will think.
If that sounds too complicated, just remember that it worked for Obama on marriage.
Axelrod writes that he knew Obama was in favor of same-sex marriages during the first presidential campaign, even as Obama publicly said he only supported civil unions, not full marriages. Axelrod also admits to counseling Obama to conceal that position for political reasons. “Opposition to gay marriage was particularly strong in the black church, and as he ran for higher office, he grudgingly accepted the counsel of more pragmatic folks like me, and modified his position to support civil unions rather than marriage, which he would term a ‘sacred union,’ ” Axelrod writes.
More... (http://time.com/3702584/gay-marriage-axelrod-obama/)
Obama's long-time supporters didn't believe he had really changed his position, and they were right. Even so, Obama stuck with his stated belief, as opposed to his real belief, until Joe Biden forced him to change positions six months before the 2012 election.
Paul supporters have to ask themselves how long Paul will stick with his stated position -- one with which he actually disagrees, much like Obama actually disagreed with Obama's stated position on marriage.
Just weeks before announcing his 2016 presidential bid, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul is completing an about-face on a longstanding pledge to curb the growth in defense spending.
In an olive branch to defense hawks hell-bent on curtailing his White House ambitions, the libertarian Senator introduced a budget amendment late Wednesday calling for a nearly $190 billion infusion to the defense budget over the next two years—a roughly 16 percent increase.
Paul’s amendment brings him in line with his likely presidential primary rivals, including Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who introduced a measure calling for nearly the same level of increases just days ago. The amendment was first noticed by TIME and later confirmed by Paul’s office.
More... (http://time.com/3759378/rand-paul-defense-spending/)
If you are a Paul supporter who approved of Paul's earlier position on defense spending, you have to ask yourself if you believe him. You may think he really wants to reduce defense spending and would if elected, but he has to say this to survive the primary even though he doesn't believe it. I'm sure that's what Paul hopes his long-time supporters will think.
If that sounds too complicated, just remember that it worked for Obama on marriage.
Axelrod writes that he knew Obama was in favor of same-sex marriages during the first presidential campaign, even as Obama publicly said he only supported civil unions, not full marriages. Axelrod also admits to counseling Obama to conceal that position for political reasons. “Opposition to gay marriage was particularly strong in the black church, and as he ran for higher office, he grudgingly accepted the counsel of more pragmatic folks like me, and modified his position to support civil unions rather than marriage, which he would term a ‘sacred union,’ ” Axelrod writes.
More... (http://time.com/3702584/gay-marriage-axelrod-obama/)
Obama's long-time supporters didn't believe he had really changed his position, and they were right. Even so, Obama stuck with his stated belief, as opposed to his real belief, until Joe Biden forced him to change positions six months before the 2012 election.
Paul supporters have to ask themselves how long Paul will stick with his stated position -- one with which he actually disagrees, much like Obama actually disagreed with Obama's stated position on marriage.