In an earlier post, I explored the challenge facing Jeb Bush’s presidential candidacy as he tries to exploit the advantages of his family connections while attempting to forge his own path. But it’s important to remember that Jeb isn’t the only Republican candidate with daddy issues.
Ron Paul, appearing on the Scott Horton radio show recently, offered some characteristically looney theories about American foreign policy.
“Ya know, they knew where Bin Laden was. I don’t think they really wanted to catch him because he was used as the excuse for us, you know, invading various countries and building up the military,” Paul said, as flagged by Buzzfeed’s Andrew Kaczynski and Megan Apper.
Now that he isn’t an officeholder or running for anything, Paul has even less reason to temper his pronouncements, which is going to put Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. in a tough spot.
If Rand is too aggressive in distancing himself from Ron’s ongoing commentary over the course of the campaign, it risks alienating core supporters who will be providing the energy and funding for his campaign. If Rand isn’t aggressive enough, his views will be lumped together with the noxious views of his father, which are overwhelmingly opposed by a GOP electorate that has already rejected them in two presidential campaigns.
Potentially worse news for Rand is that Ron also revealed in the interview that he was working on a new book about his views on war, which is sure to be like candy for opposing researchers of other Republican campaigns if it’s released during the 2016 campaign.
