Last night’s Republican debate in South Carolina featured Rick Perry’s declaration that foreign policy to all countries must start at zero, we just can’t afford it, though yes we can give them money after review if they merit it.
A viewer wrote in, Do you include Israel? and the moderators asked the candidate that question. Perry said, Yes Israel too. And Romney seconded that.
Here is Ben Smith’s summary. Note the shift in position by Romney after the debate.
The leading Republican candidates said Saturday night that they’d begin their foreign aid budget as zero, and declined to commit to continuing the United States’ massive funding for Israel — not to mention Egypt and other countries.
“Every country would start at zero,” said Perry, who introduced the crowd-pleasing proposal in response to an unrelated question, and fielded a follow-up from Twitter. “Obviously, Israel is a special ally, and my bet is that we would be funding them.”
“I agree with Governor Perry. Start everything at zero,” Romney chimed in, in response to a question about Pakistan. [“Governor Romney was talking about Pakistan when he said the foreign aid each year should start at zero,” Romney spokesman Ryan Williams tells me, adding that Romney does not think aid to Israel should start at zero.]
And here is Josh Block, the liberal Democrat formerly at AIPAC, trashing Perry:
@JoshBlockDC Josh Block …. Israel’s aid so vital to US interests, #Israel such an asset, 2 Q it is #oops
It’s hard to think of many issues where even raising a question is considered a gaffe.
” @-JoshBlockDC Josh Block …. Israel’s aid so vital to US interests, #Israel such an asset, 2 Q it is #oops”
Is there anywhere for old foggies to go to get a translation of this telegram? I get the “2 Q it”, but the “#” and “@-” ?? Or is it like “@-#$%^&*!”, just qwerty swearing?
referencing israel like any other country has become a gaffe in american discourse.
Here is the Ynet report concerning Perry’s remarks (nothing whatever in Haaretz):
“Another Saturday debate raised the issue of foreign aid. Republican candidates said that US foreign aid must be reexamined in light of the financial crisis.
Chairman of the National Democratic Party, Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz fiercely criticized such proposals accusing the candidates of lack of responsibility which could endanger Israel.
“Tea Party” members called to revoke all foreign aid over the financial crisis. Nevertheless, there were no reports of concrete plans by the administration or leading presidential candidates (other than Ron Paul) to compromise aid to Israel.”
Not a peep about “zeroing-out” Israel. Did the press self-censor or did the military censor have a hand?
I wonder how many calls Neyanyahoo has made to his Republican buddies?
Who does trust the liers?
Those people proven themselves not to be trustworthy, hypocritial, manipulating right and left.
But general public will fall for it, like it did so many other times.
Well,one could say that Dr.Pauls attitudes towards foreign aid are becoming more mainstream.Funny the influence of an alleged crackpot,ignored by the PTB but noticed by his opponents who must be reading the polls that show majority support for said crackpot policy.