Posted on 05/02/2007 3:50:21 PM PDT by pissant
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) hopes to emerge as the authentic conservative in the GOP presidential field by presenting himself as strong on national security and focusing on two issues his fellow candidates spend little time talking about: cracking down on China for devaluing its currency and building a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico.
"What we're going to do is carry this message: strong national defense, enforceable borders and a two-way street on trade," Hunter said in an interview with The Politico.
The interview was one in a series of sessions with Republican candidates in advance of today's GOP Presidential Candidates Debate. The event is being hosted by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in conjunction with MSNBC and Politico.com.
Ten candidates have accepted invitations to participate in the debate, the first of the cycle for Republican presidential candidates. It will air exclusively on cable's MSNBC, with full coverage on MSNBC.com. The Politico will stream the debate live on Politico.com, providing an exclusive and unprecedented opportunity for viewers to ask and vote on questions via the Internet.
Hunter said his major contrast with the leading GOP candidates is on trade with China. He said most of the Republican front-runners were "captives of their support base" -- multinational corporations. In contrast, he said he would take a much more aggressive posture against China if elected president.
"I will stop China from cheating on trade," said Hunter. "I'm going to enforce trade rules, and devaluing your currency … is cheating on trade. That's a government subsidy by any definition."
Hunter, who served in the Army during the Vietnam War, sharply criticized Democrats for legislation setting benchmarks and a withdrawal date for troops in Iraq. He has called for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to resign from his leadership post after saying the Iraq war was lost.
"We're involved in a test of wills with the terrorists, and the idea that an American leader announces that we've lost in the middle of this shooting war does a real disservice to our people," said Hunter. "It can only be interpreted by the enemy as a very encouraging sign."
He acknowledged, however, that the war was having a "slightly degrading effect" among Republicans and could hurt the party's political prospects in 2008.
"What you have to do is take the positions you think are right, and let's see how the waves of politics ... how they handle that message," said Hunter. "I think you have to accept (that) if it's detrimental to the campaign, then so be it. At least you did the right thing."
When asked about the call of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on "Fox News Sunday" last weekend to close the prison in Guantanamo Bay, Hunter strongly disagreed.
"The idea ... that we move those people to prisons into the United States, where they can impart their bomb-making skills to American criminals, is, I think, one of the most ludicrous suggestions in the last several months," Hunter said.
"The inmates at Guantanamo eat better than any prisoners in the world. There have been no murders in Guantanamo, and there's no member of Congress who can say that about any prison in his district."
Excerpts from Hunter interview On immigration, Hunter is one of the few candidates to call for the deportation of the nearly 10 million illegal immigrants nationwide. Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.), another border security hawk, has suggested that simply cracking down on employer hiring would suffice.
"I don't think there's anything wrong with asking folks who come in illegally ... to go home. We deport thousands of people every month," said Hunter. "I don't see any other way to re-establish the currency of American law than to keep the law."
Hunter believes that, based on strong performances in key straw polls in Arizona and South Carolina, he can become a presidential contender. That is, if he can get his name identification raised.
"If you've noticed, in places where people know me, like the Arizona straw poll, we won without even being in the state," Hunter said. "What that shows is, when I get my message out, we do very well. What I've got to do is get my message out."
That leaves two slots open and the front runner slot.
Hunter and Thompson are my choice to fill those.
Of the big three, only Romney seems palatable to me. But I have not studied him much, other than to note he’s one hell of a flip flopper.
I’m with you. If in 6 months I’m arguing for Hunter against Romney and Fred, I’ll do so with reasonably good cheer.
Do we really want another “flip-flop” Presidential candidate from Massachusetts as one of the final contenders?
We have a winner...Go for it, Hunter!
sw
Well, he has flipped the right way. And though I have deep reservations about him, he does not offend my senses like McCain and Rudy do.
Newt as SecState
Not bad....not bad at all....
How the heck is any kind of decent debate on all of the issues supposed to really happen with 10 GOP Presidential candidates and Chrissy Matthews as the moderator?
Newt in the cabinet would be OK. But I’m hoping to see Bolton as SOS.
I just don’t understand why Hunter didn’t run for President in 2000, or run for California Governor in 1998. Had he done that, even if he would have lost to Bush in 2000, he would have easily been the front-runner by virtue of name recognition. I like Hunter but reality is a mofo though, and if he was smart he’d position himself for VP or Sec of Defense position. He faces Powerball lottery odds of winning.
It’s not. Its a chance for them to give their intro speeches and get some face time
The more we twist their panties...the better. Bolton is superior.
Its early, grasshopper.
Hunter said his major contrast with the leading GOP candidates is on trade with China. He said most of the Republican front-runners were “captives of their support base” — multinational corporations. In contrast, he said he would take a much more aggressive posture against China if elected president.
***Well, whaddaya know. Just in time for a whole bunch of poisoned food coming in from China. Hunter could break out and hit the BIG TIME on this debate.
Feds: Millions have eaten chickens fed tainted pet food
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1827486/posts
true. He was stellar
Hunter declared in October of 2006, he was one of the first ones. If he can't get any traction, who's fault is that?
Look, he had his chance and he let it slip by. He should have ran in 2000 - which would have been a prime opportunity for him. Or he should have ran for CA Governor. The guy's a career Congresscritter. He couldn't win this race even if John Elway was his advisor.
Still, I do hope Hunter somehow wins the nomination, or get picked as VP for Fred Thompson.
Argue against him all you want. He’s in it to win. Just ask him. Ask me. Ask any of his supporters. He announced in January, FWIW.
>Hyde endorsed Hunter?>
Yes, earlier this year. I was thrilled because I’ve always thought very highly of Rep. Henry Hyde.
Aside from one congressman from Arizona, I don’t know that he’s had another major endorsement.<
As stated earlier on Free Republic, General Chuck Yeager has also endorsed Duncan Hunter.
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