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Newt Gingrich: Ron Paul wants weaker military than Barack Obama

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Spokane Conservative Examiner

In a Fox News report that aired Friday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich had strong words about Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who is currently the front runner in Iowa according to Real Clear Politics.

"The only person I know who's for a weaker military than Barack Obama is Ron Paul," Gingrich said.

"We ought to be honest about this," he added.  "His positions are fundamentally wrong on national security."

Gingrich went on to say he did not agree with Paul that America is at fault for the terror attacks of Sept 11.

"I do not agree with him that we can ignore an Iranian nuclear weapon, and I do not agree with him that it's okay if Israel disappears," he added.

The New York Times added that the Paul campaign reacted sharply to Gingrich's statements:

A top official with the Paul campaign, Jesse Benton, suggested that Mr. Gingrich’s comments were slanderous.

“Today was a bad day for Newt Gingrich,” Mr. Benton said in an e-mail. “First, he failed to get on the ballot in Virginia. Then, he jumped the shark trying to slander Dr. Paul.”
 
Mr. Benton added: “Dr. Paul supports the strongest national defense and most pro-American foreign policy of any candidate, and is a great friend to Israel. Newt needs to explain to voters why they should even consider supporting him when he can’t even get in the ballot in the 12th biggest state in the country, supported TARP and individual health care mandates and took millions advocating for Freddie Mac.”
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The Fox report delved into Paul's controversial foreign policy positions and newsletters bearing Paul's name that contain a number of racist statements.
 
Paul has been questioned about the newsletters repeatedly, and his story has shifted considerably over the years.  He has gone from promoting them in 1995 to recently saying he didn't even read the articles for ten years after they were published.
 
Gingrich addressed that issue as well.
 
“These things are really nasty, and he didn’t know about it, wasn't aware of it?  But he's sufficiently ready to be President?” he asked reporters.
 
He said Paul's statements over the newsletters "raises fundamental questions" over Paul's ability to lead as President.

Gingrich made the comments outside the Blue Marlin Restaurant in Columbia, South Carolina.

Paul's statement that Congresswoman Michele Bachmann "hates Muslims" was also addressed by the Fox report, as was his position that the so-called "war on drugs" should be ended.
 
The report also highlighted his statement that Army PFC Bradley Manning, the man currently on trial for leaking classified information to Wikileaks, is a "political hero" and a "true patriot."
 
According to Fox, most of the other candidates don't spend money attacking Paul because they don't take him seriously, and that his own words actually work against him with mainstream Republicans.
 
But some polls show Paul leading in Iowa, and some say that while he won't be the Republican candidate in the general election, he could play a role in who ultimately becomes the GOP nominee.
 
Video of the Fox News expose can be at The Right Scoop.
 

More on Ron Paul at Examiner.com can be found here.

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Newt Gingrich slams Ron Paul over foreign policy
Newt Gingrich slams Ron Paul over foreign policy
Photo credit: 
John Adkisson/The New York Times

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, Spokane Conservative Examiner

Joe Newby is an IT professional who has been involved in conservative politics for years. In 1991, he ran for City Council in Riverside, California, and has served as a campaign manager for local conservatives in California and Idaho, including former Idaho State Representative Jeff Alltus. For...

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