For those of us who see ourselves as the updated version of the Old Right, conservative in terms of the classical (non-Statist) liberal tradition of limited government and non-interventionist/activist foreign policy, it is frustrating seeing our perspectives routinely steamrolled and marginalized. Even in the GOP caucus, we find ourselves attacked with straw man arguments; the Speaker has been a vocal critic of the Tea Party caucus, some prominent Tea Party Republicans like Justin Amash have been purged from favored (e.g., budget) committee memberships, and certain allied groups, like the Chamber, went out to primary around a dozen or so Tea Partiers, including Amash (at least 75% of the targets survived the opposition). Whereas even the conservatives and "conservitarians" see moderate Republicans like Colin Powell and Scott Brown as preferable to "progressive" Dems, the moderates like McCain have personally gone after Rand Paul, Justin Amash and others as "wacko birds". (Whereas I agree that the political opposition to Boehner and others has been just as vigorous, Paul, Amash, and others have focused on policies than personalities.)
The Wikipedia piece on King does a good job summarizing his Tea Party Derangement Syndrome:
King had earlier characterized a potential candidacy as being opposed to potential Tea Party movement candidates such as Rand Paul and Ted Cruz, whom he criticized for their national defense policies, calling them "isolationists who barely mention the threat of Islamic terrorism." He later opposed Republican efforts to tie the repeal of delay of the Affordable Care Act to a continuing resolution before and during the 2013 government shutdown, and accused Tea Party conservatives of trying to "hijack the party."Hence, Congressman King has won my mock 2014 Bad Elephant of the Year award. Why this year? Consider this year's uncivil attack on Rand Paul:
When asked why Paul would intentionally try to create such a hysteria, King responded:In fact, King is so motivated against the Tea Party he's created the American Leadership Now PAC to restore trust in Big Government...
“He’s playing on some sort of scare-mongering isolationism, and rather than using intelligent arguments as people could well do, he’s resorting to fear. He’s appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I find that very offensive.”
The comments came on the back of an appearance by King yesterday on Fox News, during which he labeled charges made against the NSA by Paul as “lies”, adding that Paul “doesn’t deserve to be a U.S. Senator.”
“Rand Paul does not know what he’s talking about,” King said. “And, Rand Paul is really spreading fear among the American people.”
When asked why Paul would intentionally try to create such a hysteria, King responded:
“He’s playing on some sort of scare-mongering isolationism, and rather than using intelligent arguments as people could well do, he’s resorting to fear. He’s appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I find that very offensive.”
- See more at: http://www.teaparty.org/rep-peter-king-rand-paul-hates-america-defending-fourth-amendment-32846/#sthash.Vztj21sY.dpuf
“He’s playing on some sort of scare-mongering isolationism, and rather than using intelligent arguments as people could well do, he’s resorting to fear. He’s appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I find that very offensive.”
- See more at: http://www.teaparty.org/rep-peter-king-rand-paul-hates-america-defending-fourth-amendment-32846/#sthash.Vztj21sY.dpuf
When asked why Paul would intentionally try to create such a hysteria, King responded:
“He’s playing on some sort of scare-mongering isolationism, and rather than using intelligent arguments as people could well do, he’s resorting to fear. He’s appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I find that very offensive.”
- See more at: http://www.teaparty.org/rep-peter-king-rand-paul-hates-america-defending-fourth-amendment-32846/#sthash.Vztj21sY.dpuf
“He’s playing on some sort of scare-mongering isolationism, and rather than using intelligent arguments as people could well do, he’s resorting to fear. He’s appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I find that very offensive.”
- See more at: http://www.teaparty.org/rep-peter-king-rand-paul-hates-america-defending-fourth-amendment-32846/#sthash.Vztj21sY.dpuf
When asked why Paul would intentionally try to create such a hysteria, King responded:
“He’s playing on some sort of scare-mongering isolationism, and rather than using intelligent arguments as people could well do, he’s resorting to fear. He’s appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I find that very offensive.”
- See more at: http://www.teaparty.org/rep-peter-king-rand-paul-hates-america-defending-fourth-amendment-32846/#sthash.Vztj21sY.dpuf
“He’s playing on some sort of scare-mongering isolationism, and rather than using intelligent arguments as people could well do, he’s resorting to fear. He’s appealing to the lowest common denominator, and I find that very offensive.”
- See more at: http://www.teaparty.org/rep-peter-king-rand-paul-hates-america-defending-fourth-amendment-32846/#sthash.Vztj21sY.dpuf
