Are Rand Paul’s inconsistencies fatal to a presidential bid?
No one can be perfectly consistent, but ….
Earlier this week the Democrats released a video contrasting Rand Paul statements against Rand Paul’s previous statements on a handful of issues. The video is a hatchet job and of course some things are taken out of context, but it highlights a major issue that’s been bugging me about Rand Paul.
Take a look at the video the Democrats put together:
It’s not uncommon for politicians to change their views, platforms, or opinions on issues. They are there to serve at the will of the people (at least in theory). Take ISIS for example. ISIS is a different kind of threat to American interests now than they were a few years ago. A policy change from isolationism to one that’s considering an intervention strategy is warranted and few would fault Paul for changing his mind on this particular issue.
My criticism of Paul is not because he’s become an interventionist in a Libertarian body, after all, people don’t flock to presidential election polls all riled up about foreign policy. My criticism is not that he’s changed his mind. My criticism stems from Rand Paul’s refusal to 1) admit his policy stance has changed and 2) handle this policy shift gracefully rather than indignantly.
Matt K. Lewis at the Daily Caller wrote about Paul’s concerning refusal to admit his policy has changed:
If you say to your girlfriend, “Why did you text that guy?” and she denies it, you might then say: “Well here’s a screen shot of you asking him to come over.”
That’s what’s called being caught red handed, and even the worst among us will eventually acknowledge when the jig is up. Sure, she might then employ other tactics such as denial or blame (“But nothing happened!” — “And you never give me enough attention…”), but what she will not do — what she cannot do — is deny (or transcend!) the physical existence of that text message evidence, for, to do so, would be to deny reality and consciousness.
But what if she does continue to deny it? Let’s say she responds with: “I don’t even know that person” — “And besides, I don’t even have a cell phone…”
Now, you are dealing with the type of person who is on a different plane than the rest of us. My advice to you? RUN.
Catching a lot of flak for his foreign policy sidestep, Paul went on Sean Hannity’s show to explain that he was neither an isolationist nor an interventionist. What that leaves, I’m not entirely sure, nor did he bother to explain. He did remind viewers that he loves the Constitution, so that’s good I guess.
The double talk aside, the most off-putting part of the interview was Paul’s visible annoyance to having to explain himself. Unfortunately for would-be presidential contenders, explaining policy platforms and reforms is kind of an important part of the job. Paul’s attitude and tone anytime he’s questioned or backed into a corner is always the same indignant annoyance. It’s that indignant annoyance that seems a tad bit juvenile.
Paul is a mainstream vehicle for some libertarian ideas and I appreciate that about him. He has a distinct advantage over his father in that he’s more likable, personable, wears slightly better fitting suits, and is a significantly better communicator. But his refusal to own these policy adjustments is problematic at best. Ripping the band aid off and dealing with a few distraught supporters now is infinitely better than choosing the path to hackery.
I’d be willing to bet the isolationist crowd will forgive Paul for his foreign policy betrayal given the other issues he supports. But the longer Paul talks out of both sides of his mouth, the more likely he is to lose credibility, not necessarily among galvanized supporters (like his father, they’ll support him to the end), but to the middle of the road voters Paul boasts he’s able to reach.
Paul’s current political strategy leaves a lot to be desired. If the good Senator from Kentucky wishes to remain the consummate Libertarian oracle, he might want to flex those stellar communication skills and communicate his way through this foreign policy mess before it’s too late.
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Comments
being as obviously goofy & unstable as his racist psychotic father sure is reason to never put him near the Oval Office.
he may be many things but he’s obvious not anything like his father … nice attempt to get folks to thinks he may be racist though …
Inconsistency is not the problem. The problem is the attacks like the one just above. If the Democrats can make that attack stick, he’ll be done early.
I’m talking about redc1c4, not the reply.
Ever notice how Democratic hyper partisans run to the crazy card and the racist card every chance they get?
Nope. Hyper-partisanship is not limited to one side. Just stick around here and you will see my point.
“Catching a lot of flak for his foreign policy sidestep, Paul went on Sean Hannity’s show to explain that he was neither an isolationist nor an interventionist. What that leaves, I’m not entirely sure, nor did he bother to explain.”
I think he means that he would take situations individually, that he is neither a default isolationist nor a default interventionist. I’m the same way and don’t have any problem with it.
I won’t smear Rand with Ron’s mud either. Sins of the father?
I haven’t eliminated Rand Paul from my 2016 list, but he’s not doing much to impress me either, beyond finding a way to get on TV every day and generally being skilled in the medium. That’s not snark – those are important skills – but he has a way to go.
It is so early yet.
No HH, it’s not early. Only if you own the media is it early. For us, now is just about the right time.
It would be better to “rip the bandaid off” and get it over with than to try and pretend the inconsistency never occurred. Doing so may make some supporters unhappy but where are they going to go? But then again, at this point, what difference does it make?
Just as well I cannot vote in a U.S. election. Rand Paul leaves me cold.
I like Rand Paul, I voted for him for Senator when I lived in Kentucky. He has done a good job as a Senator but ever since he has decided to be all things to all people, he leaves me thinking – just another politician
Of course he’s just another politician. He’s just a better just-another-politician than most of them.
You do realize that nobody votes for you based on an old statement of policy … it the current statement that counts … nobody cares why it changed if they agree with the new one …
Can’t say I care whether Rand can run or not. We only need one, and we already have the best: Ted Cruz.
Professors and clergy have tried to overbear Americans, then lawyers and now medical doctors. Fortunately, the last professionals — military — in America at least are indisposed to mount such a campaign. Pauls are socialist totalitarians. As dangerous as communists, caliphists and fascists.
The only people who insist that their candidates be as pure as Christ are the people who loved his daddy. So his road will be a hard one, what with rocks bouncing off the back of his head and all that.