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."
Well, I’d like to think that but I doubt it. Perhaps if President Reagan had followed Eisenhowers lead and initiated his own version of Operation Wetback, perhaps California might elect another Reagan-like politician. Not now; the South-American vote is too strong.
Nice to hear your opinion again, EEE.
Hunter is one of the few candidates to call for the deportation of the nearly 10 million illegal immigrants nationwide.
10 million ..... well thats a start ....
Hunter is the only chance the GOP has.
the left knows this and thats why they are pushing rudy and ignoring Hunter.
Yes. I’ve researched this a bit and it appears that he’s also got the endorsement from a couple in TX and one in AL. I believe Duncan’s website should have a list of endorsements.
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I think Hunter was more concerned with helping to revitalize the military as a member of the Armed Services Committee after Clinton eviscerated it.
And whaddyaknow, he became Chairman in 2002.
Tomorrow’s the debate: get ready!
“Dream on. Most everyone educated in the public schools in the past four decades has been so dumbed down they wouldnt know what to do with them.”
Wow..look..I am on THIS ping list as well!
>I just don’t understand why Hunter didn’t run for President in 2000, or run for California Governor in 1998<
Duncan Hunter was busy effectively getting things done where he was in those years, God bless him. Perfect timing is another of his many gifts, for never before have we needed a man with all that he has to offer the country than we do right now. GO DUNCAN HUNTER!
Ping!
Welcome, MOsby! :o)
Think I should ping her again? ;) :)
I have BEEN here Paperdoll~
You gave me a BIG lecture on another thread...don’t you remember ;-)
I lectured back..
Can we be friends now???
BG will vouch for me...but mostly I just vouch for myself and my family.
Read my tag..and know that I am one of the GOOD GUYS (or gals as it were)
Also...I have been educated by the public schools in the last 4 decades but don’t fit your description. (I hope sincerely)
NOPE..I HAVE BEEN PING A LING A DINGED!!!!
;-)(but SandRat still has the record..and NO ONE will come close to him!)
Whoops. NOW what did I myself into the middle of?
Paperdoll....M0sby is one of THE most honest ladies I’ve EVER had the priviledge to meet...whatever she says, is for real!!!!!!!
Um....I’m going to sloooooooowly back out of the room now.
See youse. Ta ta. Buh bye!
:)
(Say hi to Hubba, will ya?) :)
(I've slooooooooowly backed out of the room)
:)
Ping! :)
No backing out...you...or youse:-)
Come back I tell you!!!
BACK BACK BACK!!!
Paperdoll is now trying to figure out WHERE she lectured me!
I HOPE she knows my heart is good!
PAPERDOLL!!!
WHERE ARE YOU???
Come back Groovy Grandma!!!
BWWWWWWWAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!
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