Rand Paul breaks with other 2016 GOP contenders to back Obama's opening to Cuba
Source: CS Monitor
Doug Mataconis
Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky is breaking with many members of his own party and other potential Republican candidates for president in 2016 in offering at least some support for the presidents opening to Cuba, highlighting yet another area where he seems likely to offer a contrast but which is also likely to become an area of attack against him in a primary race:
Sen. Rand Paul broke with other likely Republican presidential contenders on Thursday by saying that opening up more trade with Cuba is probably a good idea and declaring that the US embargo on the country just hasnt worked.
The Kentucky senators comments to the West Virginia radio station News Talk 800 WVHU came a day after the White House announced it would normalize relations with the communist island.
The other likely GOP 2016 contenders who have weighed in so far on the plans have expressed fierce opposition. But Paul has taken a number of positions on foreign policy that have been at odds with many in his party.
FULL story at link.
Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky arrives for votes on the Senate floor at the US Capitol on Dec. 12, 2014. On Thursday, he told a West Virgina radio station that opening up trade with Cuba 'is probably a good idea.'
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Voices/2014/1218/Rand-Paul-breaks-with-other-2016-GOP-contenders-to-back-Obama-s-opening-to-Cuba
eridani
(51,907 posts)And a good thing--all we need is someone running to the left of Clinton on foreign policy to attract young people.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)Comrade Grumpy
(13,184 posts)...to really fuck things up among the Republicans.
NBachers
(17,122 posts)They'll bask in the glow of their own creation.
baldguy
(36,649 posts)davidpdx
(22,000 posts)He's left himself open so he can go back (as he always done) and say he never said that. It will be interesting to see if he pulls that this time.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,322 posts)Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the lone Republican 2016 prospect to back the White Houses plans to restore relations with its neighbor 90 miles to the south, picked a high-profile fight with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the moves leading national critic, in a series of tweets. The exchange marked a new level of combativeness among the potential presidential field as GOP primary season approaches.
Hey @marcorubio if the embargo doesnt hurt Cuba, why do you want to keep it?
Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 19, 2014
Senator @marcorubio is acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat. I reject this isolationism.
Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 19, 2014
The United States trades and engages with other communist nations, such as China and Vietnam. So @marcorubio why not Cuba?
Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 19, 2014
...
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/rand-paul-tears-isolationist-marco-rubio-over-cuba
Fight! Fight!