Rand Paul breaks with other 2016 GOP contenders to back Obama's opening to Cuba

[Omaha Steve]

Source: CS Monitor

Doug Mataconis

Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky is breaking with many members of his own party and other potential Republican candidates for president in 2016 in offering at least some support for the president’s opening to Cuba, highlighting yet another area where he seems likely to offer a contrast but which is also likely to become an area of attack against him in a primary race:

Sen. Rand Paul broke with other likely Republican presidential contenders on Thursday by saying that opening up more trade with Cuba “is probably a good idea” and declaring that the US embargo on the country “just hasn’t worked.”

The Kentucky senator’s comments to the West Virginia radio station News Talk 800 WVHU came a day after the White House announced it would normalize relations with the communist island.

The other likely GOP 2016 contenders who have weighed in so far on the plans have expressed fierce opposition. But Paul has taken a number of positions on foreign policy that have been at odds with many in his party.

FULL story at link.



Sen. Rand Paul (R) of Kentucky arrives for votes on the Senate floor at the US Capitol on Dec. 12, 2014. On Thursday, he told a West Virgina radio station that opening up trade with Cuba 'is probably a good idea.'
Jonathan Ernst/Reuters

Read more: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Voices/2014/1218/Rand-Paul-breaks-with-other-2016-GOP-contenders-to-back-Obama-s-opening-to-Cuba

[eridani]

1. The 1% probably won't let him be nominated

And a good thing--all we need is someone running to the left of Clinton on foreign policy to attract young people.

[Fred Sanders]

2. Who gives a shit, he is just kissing the ass of the COC, his limited budget needs some juice.

[Comrade Grumpy]

3. The GOP primaries are going to be a hoot. I'm counting on Rand Paul...

...to really fuck things up among the Republicans.

[NBachers]

4. No problem- The others will claim they invented the Cuba policy when it becomes successful.

They'll bask in the glow of their own creation.

[baldguy]

5. This must be said: Fuck Rand Paul!

[davidpdx]

6. Note the weasel words

He's left himself open so he can go back (as he always done) and say he never said that. It will be interesting to see if he pulls that this time.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. And now he's going straight for Rubio:

Rand Paul tears into ‘isolationist’ Marco Rubio over Cuba

Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, the lone Republican 2016 prospect to back the White House’s plans to restore relations with its neighbor 90 miles to the south, picked a high-profile fight with Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the move’s leading national critic, in a series of tweets. The exchange marked a new level of combativeness among the potential presidential field as GOP primary season approaches.

Hey @marcorubio if the embargo doesn’t hurt Cuba, why do you want to keep it?
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 19, 2014

Senator @marcorubio is acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat. I reject this isolationism.
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 19, 2014

The United States trades and engages with other communist nations, such as China and Vietnam. So @marcorubio why not Cuba?
— Senator Rand Paul (@SenRandPaul) December 19, 2014
...
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/rand-paul-tears-isolationist-marco-rubio-over-cuba

Fight! Fight!