It’s not every day that Republican legislators feud on social media, let alone accuse one another of sympathizing with terrorists. But that’s exactly what happened on Thursday afternoon, during a Twitter feud about foreign policy between the libertarian-leaning Rand Paul and the hawkish Liz Cheney.
It all started when Paul, a Kentucky senator, shared a Washington Examiner op-ed that was critical of Cheney’s stance on Afghanistan. He called her a “neocon” who advocates for “endless wars.” Cheney, a Wyoming congresswoman and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, blasted Paul in response, which prompted Paul strategist Doug Stafford to get involved.
I agree! Why do some neocons continue to advocate for endless wars? I stand with @realdonaldtrump on ending wars. Let’s focus on America First, not Afghanistan!https://t.co/fyBUbb8Fgf
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) September 11, 2019
I stand with @realDonaldTrump and our men and women in uniform who will never surrender to terrorists, unlike @RandPaul, who seems to have forgotten that today is 9/11. https://t.co/P0Ok2w48d5
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) September 12, 2019
Actually, @realDonaldTrump loves @RandPaul and I’m pretty sure they both think your family is a bunch of chickenhawk warmongers who personally benefited from the military industrial complex and are responsible for thousands of lost lives and trillions of lost dollars. ??♂️ https://t.co/e0cwHzZ1i6
— Doug Stafford (@dougstafford) September 12, 2019
This entire feud is regrettable. But Cheney’s subsequent escalation is classless and out of bounds. Paul started this with a valid, if antagonistic, critique of her foreign policy. She responded by impugning his motives and suggesting that he’s a terrorist sympathizer.
Hi @RandPaul I know the 2016 race was painful for you since you were such a big loser (then & now) with a dismal 4.5% in Iowa. No surprise since your motto seems to be “Terrorists First, America Second.”
Here’s a TBT courtesy of @realDonaldTrump. No truer words were ever spoken https://t.co/7MIM31ZuKl
— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) September 12, 2019
Set aside the name-calling, and the facts are clearly on Paul’s side.
It is a fact that the interventionist wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, that both Cheneys supported, have cost thousands if not millions of lives, and trillions of dollars. Attacking them along these lines is well within the realm of fair debate.
Cheney’s response is not.
To slime Paul and his supporters as pro-terrorist is baseless and disgusting. Paul subscribes to an America First, anti-interventionist foreign policy because he believes it is what’s best for the American people. If Cheney disagrees, she should engage with him on the merits of his ideas, not slander him as pro-terrorism.
As House Republican Conference chairwoman, Cheney is the third highest-ranking Republican in the House. Her position grants her greater power, and with it comes the expectation that she conduct herself in a professional and respectable manner. In this instance, Cheney has clearly failed to do so. She should apologize and reflect on her conduct going forward.
