Republican Jews say Paul is ‘misguided’ on aid - Didn't they know Stormfront was backing this guy?

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.jta.org/news/article/2011/01/27/2742744/publican-jews-paul-misguided-on-aid

January 27, 2011

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition rejected a proposal by Sen. Rand Paul to end foreign aid, including aid to Israel, as "misguided."

"We share Senator Paul's commitment to restraining the growth of federal spending, but we reject his misguided proposal to end U.S. assistance to our ally, Israel," the RJC said in a statement. "We are heartened to know that, with very few exceptions, congressional Republicans understand and appreciate the importance of this alliance to America's national security. And we are confident that few -- if any -- of Senator Paul's Republican colleagues will cosponsor a plan that reneges on an agreement with a critical ally."

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.

[hlthe2b]

1. So, they dance with the Rethugs, the teabaggers & neocons..

--aiding them in getting elected--whose blatant racism and ignorance is on constant display. And then they are surprised at the results?

[northoftheborder]

2. Progressive Democrats need to hire the best public relations firm in the world and....

.....blast a positive message of TRUTH about what we stand for in plain, simple, terms to the whole nation.

[RZM]

3. I doubt that people like Rand Paul

give a shit that stormfront agrees with their position on US funding of Israel. Plenty of DUers advocate the same thing, albeit for different reasons. The reasons that libertarians like Paul and some on the progressive left want to end US aid to Israel have nothing in common with stormfront's reasons.

[hlthe2b]

4. I have seen no one suggest that too be the reason for his stance.

:shrug: You seem to have missed the point of the OP and responses. No one is saying that. :shrug:

[RZM]

6. I do get the point

Jewish Republicans want to keep supporting Israel . . . Rand Paul doesn't. Neither position has anything at all to do with stormfront and that was the point I was trying to make. Why insert those clowns into the story?

[hlthe2b]

7. I didn't...

I suspect the OP did so, only to point out that RP may well exhibit racist, if not antisemitic tendencies. May....

[RZM]

9. I don't know enogh about his stance toward Israel to say anything definitive either way

But . . . here's my armchair take on it. From what I know about him (and his father), I'm guessing their concern with the aid has more to do with federal spending issues, particularly their antipathy to foreign aid of any kind. That's not necessarily what drives some on the progressive left to oppose funding Israel. For that group, I think it's more about Israel itself and its efforts to remain a state with a Jewish character, which informs policies toward the Palestinians that anger many on the left.

For most libertarians, I don't think it's 'personal.' I think their main beef is that Israel isn't America and thus isn't worth a dime to them.

[hlthe2b]

10. Perhaps... but I think those progressives who might argue

changes in aid to Israel do so, not because of Israel's efforts to remain a state with a Jewish character, but rather their total inflexibility--intransigence-- towards the peace process. Continuing to build in the settlements and with the Likudists refusing any discussion of a two-state solution. Then when one factors in the incidents of "overreach" (e.g., the flotilla incident), that would seem a justifiable reason for Leftists to suggest a review of aid. It does not suggest to me--in any way-- that their stance reflects a basic core disagreement with the Jewish state. :shrug:

[RZM]

11. There are lots of different views on this of course

I think you do accurately describe a certain way of thinking on the left. But there are other strains as well. Some people don't support the two-state solution at all (that would be the bedrock position of the 'ei' crowd). And some people, sadly, just don't like Jews. I think the latter view is VERY rare on the left, but I have known people who hold it.

Of course, the same goes for right libertarians as well. Most aren't anti-Semitic, but some undoubtedly are. You have bigots everywhere, I guess.

[hlthe2b]

13. Yes...

I agree.

[madokie]

12. And that is what you call stupid

splchk

[RZM]

5. Oops, wrong place n/t

[pampango]

8. Paul: cut foreign aid, education, housing, energy and war funding.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jl6gViRL5ewCkB3FfQqPDtZhQUvg?docId=0a3ffc614297492fadccbeb481ba1388

The freshman Kentucky lawmaker unveiled his budget proposal this week that would make significant cuts in education, housing and energy while reducing money for wars in Afghanistan and Iraq by $16 billion. Paul's plan also would cut some $20 billion in overseas aid, and he said he wants to eliminate the $3 billion the United States provides to Israel annually in foreign military assistance.

"The overwhelming majority of Americans agree with Senator Paul — our current fiscal crisis makes it impossible to continue the spending policies of the past," Paul spokesman Gary Howard said in a statement responding to the criticism. "We simply cannot afford to give money away, even to our allies, with so much debt mounting on a daily basis."

Rep. Nita Lowey of the New York, the top Democrat on the House Appropriations subcommittee that oversees foreign aid, said the United States cannot renege on its commitment to the only Democratic nation in a dangerous region.

"Using our budget deficit as a reason to abandon Israel is inexcusable," Lowey said in a statement. "It is unclear to me whether Rand Paul speaks for the tea party, the Republican Party or simply himself. I call on all those who value the U.S.-Israel relationship to make it clear that our nation will not abandon our ally Israel."