Duncan Hunter for President in '08
Posted on 01/25/2007 9:23:29 AM PST by NormsRevenge
Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, best known for his advocacy on behalf of the military, launched a longshot bid for the presidency Thursday in this early voting state.
Frequently citing Ronald Reagan, Hunter told supporters he wants to pick up on the former president's legacy.
"I want to lead that policy of peace through strength," said Hunter, a strong supporter of the Iraq war.
The 14-term conservative from California, who has made no secret of his White House aspirations, set up a presidential exploratory committee earlier this month.
He initially announced his intentions in October, becoming the first GOP candidate to declare, and then began making stops in early primary and caucus states, including Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.
He joins an increasingly crowded GOP field of declared and likely candidates, including Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.
Hunter has been a familiar face on Capitol Hill and at the Pentagon. Until Democrats took control of Congress this month, he was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, the powerful panel that oversees military policy.
However, Hunter is little known outside of Congress and his San Diego district. He is a strong opponent of illegal immigration who wants fences extended along the U.S.-Mexico border and supports the prosecution of smugglers bringing illegal immigrants across the border.
Last week, Hunter filed a bill calling for a congressional pardon of two U.S. Border Patrol agents who are both serving more than a decade in prison for shooting a Mexican drug dealer as he fled, then covering up the crime.
In remarks before his speech, Hunter emphasized the importance of South Carolina in winning the GOP nomination.
"Nobody wins the presidency without winning South Carolina," Hunter said.
Hunter already has some deep-pocket allies in the state, including textile magnate Roger Milliken, who supports Hunter's promise to protect U.S. manufacturers threatened by cheap, overseas labor.
"I'm thrilled that he's running," said Milliken, who hasn't yet endorsed a presidential candidate. "This point of view he represents must be heard."
Hunter, 58, was born in Riverside, Calif., and was an Army Ranger in Vietnam. He worked his way through law school with farming and construction jobs.
Hunter won his U.S. House seat in 1980 and has been an ardent military supporter. His son has spent a pair of seven-month tours in Iraq.
Antoninus - could you post his webpage? Some freepers on this thread are looking for it. Thanks.
Hunter for VP or Secretary of Defense!
Hildy, Thanks for the positive energy and call for unity behind a good man when we need another one more than ever in our nation's history.
So does seeing the future come naturally to you or are you paid for your visions and insight? ;-)
Good to see this....we need to get this guy some publicity, any ideas??
Duncan Hunter for President in '08.
We need to pray for this man, just as we pray for our current leadership. We are faced with many enemies both at home and abroad. Reagan came at a time when the country was desperate for renewed patriotism and strong leadership. Duncan Hunter emerges at a very similar period in our history.
Peace through Strength Avocates:
"An American Military equipped and sized to defeat any adversary.
U.S. missile defenses that can intercept and destroy incoming ballistic missiles.
Enforceable U.S. borders, including a 700-mile double fence across the smugglers routes in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.
Reversing the one-way street trade policies that are moving the U.S. industrial bases and jobs to China and giving them U.S. dollars to buy military equipment from Russia.
Energy Independence for the U.S. that would stop a reliance of overseas petroleum products.
Cut off the flow of military technology to our potential adversaries."
How can anyone argue against these policies?
I'm making some yard signs. That will get people talking and his name out.
We must start now....
His dad was a Marine who served in the Pacific in WW2 and he's still alive. Hunter's the man to lead us in these times.
In any event, running for Pres will get him name recognition. Should he be unsuccesful this time, perhaps he could un-seat Boxer or Feinstein in the Senate.
Nice and big. They won't miss that now! Thanks.
Please see post 30 for the webpage.
I hope he can make it. Even VP.
He has jumped ahead of some important steps to the white house.
But being in California it was unlikely he could get elected to the Senate or Governorship. So I don't blame him I guess. So a powerful political aura and presence is going to have to compensate for that. We shall see. It is up to him. All the grass roots in the world though important, cannot leap frog a candidate past the usual stepping stones.
Right now, this is the most conservative guy yet.
http://www.gohunter08.com
He is going to have to add more issues to his page and portfolio than just three. The "on the issues" link people keep posting is 4 years old.
His biggest hurdle will be name recognition and face time with the media of which he really has neither. Without Free Republic I would have never of known who he is.
I look forward to seeing him appear at the Nascar
Auto Club 500 at the California Speedway in a couple months. (hint hint, Hunter handlers.) ;-)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.