Ron Paul Jabs Donald Trump: 'I Didn't Know He Had The Ability To Anoint People'

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul took a bit of a swipe at Donald Trump Sunday, saying he didn't quite understand the reality star's power status in the 2012 election.

"I don't understand the marching to his office. I didn't know he had the ability to lay on hands and anoint people," said Paul on CNN's "State of the Union."

The row between the two began when Paul announced he'd be boycotting the Dec. 27 GOP presidential debate because Trump was chosen to moderate it.

"To be sure, Mr. Trump's participation will contribute to an unwanted circus-like atmosphere," Paul's campaign chairman said in a statement. He added the selection of Trump as moderator was "beneath the office of the Presidency" and also "wildly inappropriate" considering Trump was a former candidate in the presidential primary race.

Trump fired back: "Few people take Ron Paul seriously and many of his views and presentation make him a clown-like candidate."

Nevertheless, Paul's position in the race seems to be on the rise. A Des Moines Register poll found Paul pulling ahead of Mitt Romney in Iowa, securing the second place spot behind Newt Gingrich. Matt Dowd, former campaign strategist for President George W. Bush, recently said he would not be at all surprised if Paul wins the Iowa caucuses.

Paul speculated Sunday on why Trump doesn't like him. "He probably doesn't like my position on the federal reserve ... It may be, deep down, philosophic. And of course his position on China was quite different. So I think it’s philosophic and probably his personality that doesn’t like to be challenged."

Last week, Trump took a shot at President Barack Obama, tweeting that "in order to get elected, Barack Obama will start a war with Iran."

Comments

[joe22180]

06:34 PM on 12/06/2011

Trump's retaliation proves why he isn't capable of MODERATING a debate.

[Jimmy Dean 420]

11:18 AM on 12/06/2011

trump is the clown. Ron Paul is this country's only hope for freedom.

[doitron2012]

08:36 AM on 12/06/2011

bv

[Eagleman]

09:06 PM on 12/05/2011

It is nice GOP family Christmas party

Uncle Looney Paul jabbing Uncle Scrooge Trump

[Y3rMawm]

12:38 AM on 12/06/2011

Why exactly is Paul, "Looney?"

[pomegrante]

06:15 PM on 12/05/2011

Ron Paul is truly the GOP frontrunner. The controlled and rigged polls cannot continue their fraud.

[Y3rMawm]

12:39 AM on 12/06/2011

They will continue it as long as we allow it.

[onlyinvegas]

05:02 PM on 12/05/2011

It is truly stunning that the GOP is bend to the will of the carnival barker. What has happened to this party? It seems that the last 11 years they have stumbled like drunken teenagers.

[jjkrjw0]

07:29 PM on 12/07/2011

Speaking of carnival barkers. What's in the WH?

[onlyinvegas]

12:18 AM on 12/08/2011

answer the question... what has happened to the republican party bending to this macadam. Unless you are in with this macadam... Hmmm

[Deschris]

04:25 PM on 12/05/2011

The whole republican party is a freak show and a very unreality show.

[dmm1047]

04:10 PM on 12/05/2011

Trump is one smug SOB. He gives people the finger every day of his life.

[Tejascc]

03:45 PM on 12/05/2011

What's with the circus-like atmosphere, Ron? Haven't all the debates been circus-like? Only difference I see in this circus is a clown will be asking questions to other clowns. So, Ron and Jon, put those red noses on, lace up your clown shoes and get with the program. IT'S SHOW TIME....

[Nic Wilson]

07:22 PM on 12/06/2011

the difference is the two sane candidates wont be there (and no Romney has followed suit)

[Tejascc]

07:49 PM on 12/06/2011

Aah yes, Larry, Curly & Moe.....

[camelias and sweet tea]

03:39 PM on 12/05/2011

The family Cook Book and now this, Paul is the winner in Iowa.

[camelias and sweet tea]

03:38 PM on 12/05/2011

Paul probably wins the Iowa caucus now..Thanks to Donald

[had410]

10:50 PM on 12/05/2011

The Ronald already had Iowa, the Donald is irrellevent.

[camelias and sweet tea]

08:45 AM on 12/06/2011

Not in his mind, he thinks he is soooo great, he makes me sick.

[Branson Huggins]

03:09 PM on 12/05/2011

Is this really what we have become? Is this where we are at in this country? That reality stars, people that we generally thought were jokes, can somehow wield so much power? What does that say about us as a nation? We are a joke.

[lrae2007]

03:31 PM on 12/05/2011

It says the Republican party is chasing ratings and is desperate.

[krenzny]

03:54 PM on 12/05/2011

I agree. EVERYTHING is being reduced to a reality show, run by wanna be's and scandalous losers. It frankly frightens me that hollywood is trying to take over the political process, its bad enough when actors run for office.

[RoninSRM]

11:15 AM on 12/06/2011

Like Ronald Reagan?
In his defense, he at least was Gov. of California.
All the GOP candidates should boycott the STrumpet

[jjkrjw0]

07:33 PM on 12/07/2011

Yeah, I heard Alec Baldwin wants to be mayor of New York City. And New Yorkers are just dumb enough to vote for him.

[Dewts]

03:04 PM on 12/05/2011

bet paul would win in a fight. he was in the military and he's a doctor so he knows lots of places to hit that really really hurt.

[thegreatdaveo]

02:20 PM on 12/06/2011

He was a doctor in the military. Medical personnel in the military are generally noncombatant and rarely receive any combat training. That being said, I agree that his knowledge of human anatomy would be useful if he would ever decide to abandon his Hippocratic oath.

[Gestas]

02:55 PM on 12/05/2011

Ron Paul is at lest 10 times smarter than Donadl Trump and 20 times more honest. But lacks a collection of Trophy Brides.

[Nic Wilson]

07:25 PM on 12/06/2011

I will not stand for this blatant propaganda you are spreading. Paul is at least 100 times smarter than trump

[robertstone1robert]

02:41 PM on 12/05/2011

If nonGOP Paul's stock is on the upswing, we are in great peril. This is not dealing with the real world. This guy is somewhere in outer space.. He is a C ivil Libertarian, not a Republican. Why he's not tossed is a mystery to me. To be an isolationist now in 21st century is to be blind and inviting our destruction. To believe that you can talk to Iran like reasonable people is askink to be lied to some more. If they agree it just a stall. Wake up. Stop the space walk.

[Dewts]

03:05 PM on 12/05/2011

he's not an isolationist. he wants to trade with other countries, and to visit other countries, he just doesn't want to bomb other countries.

[robertstone1robert]

08:51 PM on 12/05/2011

What if other countries decide to bomb ,say, Wash. or Mass.,what would he do?

[miket23]

06:28 PM on 12/05/2011

1. He's the opposite of an isolationist. A policy of free trade, open diplomacy, cultural exchange, voluntary associations, etc is NOT isolationist. A policy of imposing sanction, embargoes, propping up select dictators, engaging in entangling alliances, etc is more isolationist.

2. "To believe that you can talk to Iran like reasonable people is askink to be lied to some more. If they agree it just a stall. Wake up. Stop the space walk"

> This is a frightenting statement. The only conclusion one draws from this statement is that you advocate war with Iran. Because sanctions won't work and if you remove diplomacy, then that's basically what this is concluding. You think the country is really ready for that? Why we act like a schizophrenic bully in front of a 3rd world country half way across the world that poses no realistic threat to us is just beyond belief and to pardon the phrase.. coming from "somewhere in outer space".

[robertstone1robert]

08:07 PM on 12/05/2011

Nice. You forgot to mention he's promotherhood. He wants all the nice things but none of the ugly things. I'm not urging war with anybody. Even this administrstion, full of leftists, has come to the realization that Iran means to to do us harm, that its nuclear capability is for evil purposes.
What if they bomb Mass. or Calif. Will Paul wring his hand futilely trying to figure out what to do.

[robertstone1robert]

08:56 PM on 12/05/2011

Nice. What would Paul do if somebody the temerity to bomb the US? Would he do something beyond wringing his hands futilely?