Top GOP senator: Obama's 2012 odds are tied to national security (SUPER-RINOS MCCAIN/GRAHAM ALERT)

The Washington Post ^ | 2010-11-07 | Karen DeYoung

[rabscuttle385]

President Obama stands a good chance of being reelected in 2012 if he makes progress in Afghanistan, he adopts a tougher line against Iran, the economy improves and there are no major terrorist attacks in the United States, a senior Republican said Saturday.

Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.), who has become a leading GOP national security spokesman, said that if Obama is looking for cooperation with Republicans, a continued U.S. military effort in Afghanistan is "one area where Republicans feel comfortable standing by the president" and are likely to give him more support than many in his own party.

Although Graham predicted Republican support for more aggressive U.S. involvement in the world, he acknowledged that some new members of Congress, particularly those elected under the tea party banner, are likely to have different foreign policy views.

"The Republican Party is going to have two wings," he said at a high-level security conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, sponsored by the German Marshall Fund and the Canadian government. "The isolationist wing, and the wing led by [Sen. John] McCain [Ariz.], Graham and [Sen. Jeff] Sessions [Ala.] that says you'd better stay involved in the world because if you do disengage, you'll regret it."

"If you ask Rand Paul about NATO and ask Rob Portman, you'll get two different answers," Graham said. Paul, just elected GOP senator from Kentucky, is a tea party favorite. Portman, a former House member and George W. Bush administration international trade representative, has a record of foreign involvement.

[LibLieSlayer]

With “lightfoot”... nothing ever surprises me.

LLS

[rabscuttle385]

McLame is back.

[donna]

Thank you Sarah.

[MaggieCarta]

I must admit, MiCon, you had me going there until the "as the founders intended" part.

Some days are simply more amusing than others....

[upchuck]

Vichy RINOs

Got the perfect Lady Lindsey ping for that:

Uber RINO Lindsey Ping
"Republican by day, Democrat by night."

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