Ron Paul, Mitt Romney Clash On Afghanistan

MANCHESTER, N.H. – Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and Texas Congressman Ron Paul are disagreeing on how quickly to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.

Romney said at a Republican presidential debate Monday that generals in Afghanistan should guide the pullout schedule based to conditions on the ground. He said the troops should come home as soon as possible under those conditions.

Paul said the president must tell generals what to do. He said if he were president he would begin withdrawing troops almost immediately. He said the United States has no purpose fighting a war in Afghanistan.

HuffPost's Sam Stein reports:

"I wouldn't wait for my generals. I'm the commander in chief," said the isolationist Texas Republican. "I would bring them home as quickly as possible and I'd get them out of Iraq as well."

As is custom, Paul seemed to be applauded by slightly more than half of the crowd.

Comments

[imrnlil]

07:43 AM on 06/25/2011

It is one thng to have a moderator to remove spam, profane or abusive posts, it is another thing to have one like PWM who has an axe to grind and does so with the approval of Huffpo. Do you think that we are not able to do google searches, locate articles and voting records, listen to you tube vids and then suss the facts and form our own opions? Of course we can, and you know that, therefore you need a stooge like PWM to come along and bash Ron Paul. Cowards, Ron has you running scared, eh?

[PWM]

01:48 PM on 06/16/2011

From Ron Paul on the Issues http://www.ontheissues.org/tx/ron_paul.htm
Paul: Abortion is murder. (Apr 2008)
Consequence of this view: Every miscarriage and false pregnancy would have to be investigated by the police to make sure a homocide did not take place. (BIG GOVERNMENT).
Paul: Define life at conception in law, as scientific statement. (Feb 2008)
Consequence: The government takes on the role of making scientific statements. (BIG GOVERNMENT).
Paul: Nominate only judges who refuse to legislate from the bench. (Sep 2007)
Consequences: Ignore the checks and balances as set up IN the constitution (BIG GOVERNMENT).
Paul: Present scientific facts that support creationism. (Sep 2007)
Consequences: The government and not the scientific community decide what constitutes a scientific fact (BIG GOVERNMENT).

[Jonathan Martin]

08:24 AM on 06/19/2011

Ron Paul would leave abortions up to the states. How is that big government? That is exactly how issues such as abortion should be handled.

[PWM]

01:47 PM on 06/16/2011

From Ron Paul's voting record:
06/22/2006 voted against giving the president a line item veto.
04/29/1998 voted to ban needle exchange program.
07/31/2007 voted against campaign finance disclosure requirements.
03/11/2008 voted against the establishment of an office of congressional ethics.
07/03/200808 voted against the FDA regulating the tobacco industry.
06/30/2010 voted against regulating the financial industry.
07/30/2010 voted against offshore drillinlg regulations.
07/30/2010 voted against protections for offshore oil worker whistleblowers.
12/21/2010 voted against the FDA Food Safety Modernization ACt
03/17/2011 voted to cut funding for Public Broadcasting.
Consistently voted against bills to protect endangered species or cruelty to animals.
Consistently voted against bills that would benefit our service people even during war.
Consistently voted against bills that would protect women, children, seniors, and minorities.

http://www.votesmart.org/voting_category.php?can_id=296

[New by]

07:26 PM on 06/20/2011

Don't be fooled by this post by PWM lol, If you read about Ron Paul you will see why he votes against these issues..He is against spending when your BANKRUPT...and he wants to limit big government.. Every politician campaigns on the promise of limiting big govt, but Ron Paul shows by the above voting record he will deliver..Ths is cut and paste form another HuffPost article about Ron

"He has quite often been the lone advocate for fiscal responsibility by Congress, and a staunch defender for the American people against the Fed, and banking oligarchies."

Vote Ron Paul if you want less wars, sound money, smaller federal govt, and more power to the states..

He votes against the above issues because its federal laws, federal spending, Ron believes these issues should be dealt with by the states..Power to the people... Vote Ron Paul set your self free..I am Irish and can't believe such an honest, ethical politician exists..Fair play to him you guys should be so proud of him, he is a beacon of truth amongst gangsters...

[PWM]

01:47 PM on 06/16/2011

From "We The People Act" Bill. Section three:
The Supreme Court of the United States and each Federal court:
(1) Shall not adjudicate -- (A) Any claim involving laws ... related to the free exercise of the establishment of religion [Allows states to promote one religion over another]. (B). Any claim based on the right of privacy... sexual... orientiation, or reproduction [Allows states to persecute women and gays]. (C) Any claim based upon equal protection of the laws to the extent such claim is based on the right to marry....
Read the bill for yourself at http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c109:H.R.4379 :

The Citizens Protection Bill of 2009 sponsored by Ron Paul would have abolished the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990 and its amendments. In short, Paul uses misleading language since such a repeal would make citizens less safe.
Read the bill for yourself at http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-3021

[New by]

09:12 PM on 06/20/2011

I replied to this already but it did not come up???

I say that Ron Paul repealed this act because he believes it is big govt getting involved in issues the states should resolve...I think the only one using misleading language her is Permanent War Monger PWM here!

[PWM]

01:46 PM on 06/16/2011

Things Ron Paul believes:
1) The UN wants to confiscate all guns, impose a global tax, and create a one-world government.
2) In his Ron Paul Political Report, he wrote "I think we can safely assume that 95% of the black males in that city [Washington, D.C.] are semi-criminal or entirely criminal". Although when the blacklash came, his only defense was someone on his staff wrote it under his name - he never repudiated that assertion.
3) That an elite are planning of merging the US with Canada and Mexico.
4) He rejects evolution even claiming neither side has any proof either way and that discussions of human development are theological not scientific.
5) His "We The People Act" would have prevented the federal courts from hearing cases where a state violated the rights of its people. In short, that bill is a direct attack on the 1st Amendment.

[New by]

08:29 PM on 06/20/2011

This is complete rubbish, and shameful to post...."I think we can safely assume that 95% of the black males in that city [Washingto­n, D.C.] are semi-crimi­nal or entirely criminal"

May be white folk might fall for this crap, but the Black Americans already know Ron Pauls got their back..

Here is Ron Paul defending this himself, please watch and make your own minds up

Please watch his response..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6hTCQpYegU&feature=related

In one way its great to see people try and slander him because it shows the fear they have for the truth...

There is growing evidence of a union of Canada, mexico and the USA and having a currency called the Amero

He rejects evolution...Who cares, my gf is a protestant and rejects that too, but I embrace the theory of evolution, but it doesn't bother me that she believes the bible..I am a catholic, I should believe but I don't. I am not saying your right about Ron Pauls beliefs here, its the first I heard of it, but who cares..

Your posts on Ron Paul are a joke and designed to misrepresent him in every way....Shame on you...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_currency_union

[twaek]

11:47 AM on 06/16/2011

to Sam Stein: Ron Paul is not an isolationist. He is a non-interventionist. There is a big difference.

[cobry4949]

06:06 PM on 06/15/2011

RON PAUL was the true winner it is the media and who there trying to sell. The generals there not even there, they fly in for photo ops they get there info form the enlisted guy and then they change it to prolong the wars for more war toys. Romneys is a draft dodger yes hw ould ask the generals like all the draft dodgers we had in before thats why were still there spending billions for war toys,

[PerotVentuSheehCarte]

03:56 AM on 06/15/2011

... we all have your number now Willard the Neocon ...

[thera646]

07:45 PM on 06/14/2011

I not only voted for the president but even stayed up into the wee hours doing the Texas dem primary to make sure he was fairly represented. I have to tell you though that Ron Paul is the truth. I am not a Republican but i will make the needed changes to my Texas voters registration so I can vote for Paul in the GOP primary. He is truly anti war. He will reduce the deficit and bring the FED under control. I know they will be painful but its whats needed to divert disaster. He is not in the pockets of Wallstreet either. How else can he not be taken seriously when so many people I know who are not his "base" saying wow we have been asleep. Im not into conspiracys but why he is not getting frontrunner coverage in the media is suspicious. Is the media really out of touch, or do the powers that be not want the word to get out. Im glad my grandmother had a chance to see a black president because she fought so hard for equal rights, but Ron Paul is the truth and he has my vote. I do not agree with every single view but he is honest and on point on the big stuff.

[Stevede]

08:20 PM on 06/14/2011

Oh it is definitely a conspiracy, that was proven a few times in 08 at various primaries and again in 08 at the electoral college. I do not have links at the moment but you need only look into the election fraud watch group black box voting to start putting dots together.

The status quo is terrified of this man and more so the message he represents.

[Kyle McDaniel]

07:25 PM on 06/14/2011

Since Ron Paul is one candidate that both parties can get behind and we can all agree that he is capable of fixing some serious problems this nation faces, here's my idea: Every registered democrat reading this should convince at least 3 of their friends (including themselves) to re-register as republicans so we can get Ron Paul elected in the primaries. It won't hurt the democrat side in any way shape or form since they won't be having primaries in 2012.
Ron Paul 2012!

[brandonslayton]

05:12 PM on 06/14/2011

I hate to have a war with words but if Ron Paul is an isolationist then that is better than being an intrusive-war-mongering president.

Ron Paul is not an isolationist. He is just logical. If there is no reason to be in war in Afghanistan, then why are we there?

[Melissa McCarthy]

12:07 PM on 06/14/2011

Democrats for Ron Paul!!! Woohoo! Too bad the Tea Party....errrr....I mean REPUBLICAN Party, is too stupid to nominate the one person on the ticket with integrity, honesty and a BRAIN in his head. I can't, for the life of me, understand why everyone is so quick to ignore the great things this man has to say. I urge everyone to check out the candidates' voting records at VoteSmart.org to see who REALLY stands up for the things that are important to you. It's time to educate yourself America.

[Mickey1]

02:01 PM on 06/14/2011

Nice dig at Ron Paul in the article. "said the isolationist Texas Republican". It's spin like this that seeps into and fools the under informed citizens.
http://paul.house.gov/
http://www.votesmart.org/summary.php?can_id=296
Ron Paul / Bernie Sanders 2012
Their shared priorities could save US

[Y3rMawm]

08:55 PM on 06/14/2011

I know this might sound like the most revolting idea on the surface, but perhaps you will consider registering Repub, if for no other reason, than to show those Repubs what's up during the primaries?

[Melissa McCarthy]

01:00 PM on 06/24/2011

I've actually done just that. I'm not really concerned about which party I'm registered under - just want to get a chance to vote for someone I believe in.

[Justin Bilyj]

10:17 AM on 06/14/2011

Did anyone see Romney say he was gonna give Afghanistan back to the Taliban??? I bet he would LOL!

[Justin Bilyj]

10:13 AM on 06/14/2011

Isolationist?? Again, more slanted journalism, I mean propaganda. He gets applause cause everyone knows hes right. The constitution says to trade with all, but treaties with none. Whats so isolationist about that. The fact that our foreign policy only fuels people to convert to terrorism cause we are bombing their families and cities out there, only makes us less safer. Thats common sense!

Also, we are giving billions to foreign dictators, foreign banks, bailing out the foreign wealthy elite who got us into this mess via the FEDERAL RESERVE banking cartel, I'd personally rather shut down all the bases, come home, and defend this great country of ours. Why bomb and rebuild other places that will only hate us in the end. Thats just stupidity!

Im voting Ron Paul in 2012, the man has military, medical, economic, and congressional experience, which is a lot more than anyone else on that platform, and we aren't even talking about voting records.

[rich07]

01:23 PM on 06/14/2011

Nicely stated F&F

[JWigz]

09:39 AM on 06/14/2011

With social networking alive and well, the 'kool-aid' journalism, will no longer be able to choose the candidates for the American people.

If you thought the youth vote turned out for Obama, just wait until 2012 when we pull together for Ron Paul.