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McCain, Paul Differ on Iraq
November 28, 2007 3:52 PM
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf and Ed O'Keefe Report: Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., played with populist fire during the Republican debate Wednesday night.
Segueing from an unrelated topic, John McCain, who has staked his political career on his support for the surge in Iraq and fight against global Islamic terrorism, turned to Paul, who was standing to his left and addressed him directly.
Watch the video HERE.
"Congressman Paul, I've heard him now in many debates talk about brining our troops home and about the war in Iraq and how its failed and I want to tell you that that kind of isolationism, sir, is what caused World War II. We allowed . . ."
McCain was obscured here by jeers and boos and cheers all at once from the crowed auditorium. Poor CNN Anchor Anderson Cooper had no chance against the audience.
But the Arizona Senator continued, "We allowed Hitler to come to power with that kind of attitude of isolationism and (Ron Paul is looking right at McCain and shaking his head 'No')
McCain: "And I want to tell you something sir, I just finished having Thanksgiving with the troops and their message to you is, the message of these brave men and women serving over there is, 'Let us win. Let us win.'
Cheers mixed with jeers and boos and applause rose up all over again.
In a 30 second response, Paul, who recently raised $4 million exclusively from online contributors, calmly asked McCain, "The real question you have to ask is why do I get the most money from active duty officers, military personnel?"
"So what John is saying is just totally distorted. He doesn't understand the difference between nonintervention and isolationism. I'm not an isolationist. I want to trade with people, talk with people, travel. But I don't want to send our troops overseas using force telling them how to live. We would object to it here and they're going to object to us over there."
It was not the first time the two men tangled.
Earlier, talking about fiscal responsibility, McCain, who has been outspoken against pork barrel spending, lamented Republicans who got into politics to change Washington, but "we went to Washington and Washington changed us."
Several questions later, Paul, absolutist in his views and almost in alone in Washington in his opposition to just about every spending bill said to McCain, "Washington didn't change me."
At a later point in the debate, McCain and Paul sparred again.
Recalling Iraq once again, McCain asserted, "We never lost a battle in Vietnam, it was American public opinion that caused us to lose that conflict."
McCain then said that the difference between Iraq and Vietnam is al-Qaeda's determination to attack the United States.
"They want to follow us home, they want Iraq to be a base for al-Qaeda," McCain insisted.
Dr. Paul engaged McCain once again, saying that whether or not the U.S. "never lost a battle" in Vietnam is "irrelevant."
"(Al-Qaeda) want to come here ... because of our military base in Saudi Arabia," Paul retorted.
"They come here because we're occupying their country just as we would object if they occupied our country," he added.
Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-Colo., took McCain's side in the Paul-McCain clash.
"I wish we lived in a world that Ron is describing . . . unfortunately, Ron, I don't believe that is the case," Tancredo said.
Read all the latest in political news from the campaign trail every morning in The Note.
November 28, 2007 in Political Radar | Permalink | Share | User Comments (119)
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John McCain needs to retire,the thought that are troops want to be in Iraq for many years to come is beyond belief. Ron Paul is the candidate who will end this insane Neocon Rambo mentality running our country at the present. Neocons want wars forever,it's a big turnon for these sick people. Ron Paul is Americas best choice.McCain appeals to all the demensia voters.
Posted by: AJ | Nov 28, 2007 4:08:45 PM
Ron Paul and John McCain are the only two Republicans running that have any decent, in-depth and historically accurate understanding of international affairs - so it's too bad they're at each other's throats. I'd like to see them slam the more preposterous statements of Guiliani, Thompson and Romney who are all three utterly clueless on these types of matters. Both McCain and Paul raise good points in this complex debate - but McCain is wrong if he thinks principals can be applied like rules to the complex and constantly shifting political scenarios that arise in instances like Iraq today, or Europe during World War II. Each situation is utterly unique and there are no governing rules - just mitigating factors with few if any exact precedents.
Posted by: Ryan Gabriel | Nov 28, 2007 4:12:18 PM
Because of people like McCain, we are in a mess in Iraq. Countries and people preaching for war and violence will ultimately succumb to it. I thought people become peaceful and wise with age; not with McCain.
Ron
Posted by: Ron | Nov 28, 2007 4:19:40 PM
Give me a break, he doesnt even seem like he wants to be at the debates.
Im done with McCain.
Posted by: justin | Nov 28, 2007 4:23:13 PM
McCain's a fool. It was US pro-Limey interventionist policy in WW1 that led to Hitlers rise. Had Imperial Germany been allowed to kick-Brit-butt in 1917, there would have been no "1933".
So much for the value of interventionist foreign policy.
Posted by: ray | Nov 28, 2007 4:23:34 PM
McCain: Weapons manufacturer lover, War Monger
Paul: Normal Uncorrupted American
Posted by: David Kyriacou | Nov 28, 2007 4:24:23 PM
At 72, Mr.Paul is too old to become president. I don't like his foreign policy views and think he needs to fade away like the days of old. We don't live in 1776 but in 2007 where the threat of terrorism to catastrophic proportions is real. Imagine where that Nuke material that was discovered in Slovakia was going to? That could've ended up detonated in New York city for all we know. Strong foreign policy is vital for self preservation. McCain is right about this.
Posted by: cbeargal | Nov 28, 2007 4:29:46 PM
mccain is a fool. saddam never had any chance for world domination. ron paul, in my opinion, is the only hope america has to regain it's good name, and restore our position as economic leader in the world.
Posted by: jason | Nov 28, 2007 4:33:25 PM
McCain appeals to all the frightened Neocon Republicans who think the boggey man is going to get them. They act tough,but are such scared little girls.
Posted by: AJ | Nov 28, 2007 4:40:37 PM
Mr. 8% in the polls needs to fold up his tent and go back to Arizona and retire...His day has come and gone.He had his day and it is over with. Pack it in John and go on back to Pheonix...Nobody is listening to you any more..
Posted by: Joe MUrphy | Nov 28, 2007 4:45:26 PM
I'm disappointed in McCain. What a cheap shot. It's almost as bad as Bush's "If you're not with me, you're against me". Furthermore, it wasn't U.S. isolationists who "caused" Hitler. Germany allowed Hitler. Appeasers allowed Hitler to make war and spread. Ron Paul took the high ground with his response. The only thing he didn't do is remind us that we are only in Iraq for oil.
Posted by: Patriot | Nov 28, 2007 4:49:08 PM
mccain calling anyone hitler is like the pot calling the kettle black... be very cautious about war mongers seeking total world domination using fear to get people to surrender their rights... this is hypocricy in the highest (and most dangerous) degree... if anyone is enabling the ressurection of another hitler, is the bush/cheney republican right wing religitard nutjobs... mccain is dangerous ... and stupid
Posted by: earthnotflat | Nov 28, 2007 4:56:37 PM
I'm a Ron Paul supporter, and I applaud what he said (when they finally let him speak).
But what has surprised me most is that Mitt Romney comes across as an incredibly slippery ell. How is this guy leading in Iowa and New Hampshire?
Posted by: Ron | Nov 28, 2007 5:03:51 PM
Ron Paul is correct. The ONLY reason that al-Qaida is fighting the US is because of US military bases in Muslim countries.
Arabs/Muslims don't want to fight the US. In fact, they like Americans. They just want their political independence and freedom from foreign domination. The Neocons want to US troops to work for Israel, protecting it from lomg term rivals, who are not even a threat at present.
Ron Paul is the most honest and sincere candidate that I have seen since Carter. He can restore the American pride.
Imperialism no longer works. The rest of the world wants to move on. It's Americans who are living with a Nineteenth century colonial mentality.
Posted by: Ahmad | Nov 28, 2007 5:05:58 PM
I voted for Ron Paul in 1988 when he ran for President on the Libertarian Party ticket. As a former Navy Commander, I believe Paul's remarks about the conflict in Iraq are much more accurate than McCain's thoughts. For two old men, only Paul is living in the 21st Century. I'm sure Barry Goldwater, if he were still alive, would agree with Paul and give his fellow Arizonian McCain a swift kick in the ass.
Posted by: Gene Tinelli | Nov 28, 2007 5:12:25 PM
It's time for Ron Paul to get real. So misguided and taking so many things out of context.
I'm not a McCain fan either but at least he makes sense about Iraq.
Posted by: Patriot | Nov 28, 2007 5:14:40 PM
Hiller and Cheney/Bush were after the same thing: oil from the Mideast and Caucasus regions.
Posted by: Paul | Nov 28, 2007 5:22:16 PM
mccain makes sense about iraq?... LOLOL!!
Posted by: earthnotflat | Nov 28, 2007 5:22:33 PM
I'm sorry Mr. McCain but there is NO COMPARISON. Ron Paul has a very clear understanding of how the Muslim world sees us and our foreign empire. The more we meddle, the more blowback we can expect. Al-Sadr will probably be the prime minister of Iraq in a few years. Or its supreme leader!
Posted by: Brent | Nov 28, 2007 5:23:31 PM
What allowed Hitler to gain power was a population of propaganda induced ignorant voters along with a mandatory gun registration and national identification system in place.
Posted by: Scott K. | Nov 28, 2007 5:25:02 PM
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