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Republican Jews express concern about Paul candidacy

May 13, 2011

WASHINGTON (JTA) -- The Republican Jewish Coalition blasted U.S. Rep. Ron Paul before he announced his third bid for the presidency.

"As Americans who are committed to a strong and vigorous foreign policy, we are deeply concerned about the prospective presidential campaign of Congressman Ron Paul," the RJC's executive director, Matt Brooks, said in a May 12 statement about the Texas lawmaker. "While Rep. Paul plans to run as a Republican, his views and past record place him far outside of the Republican mainstream."

Paul launched his campaign for the Republican nomination on Friday. Like his son, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Paul has advocated cutting $3 billion in annual defense assistance to Israel, as well as to deny funding to its Arab neighbors.

In 2008, Paul mounted an insurgent campaign for the Republican presidential nomination and built a passionate base of support with his libertarian views and denunciations of American foreign policy. He was not a serious contender, however, in the primaries.

Paul had run as the Libertarian Party's presidential candidate in 1988.

"His candidacy, as we've seen in his past presidential campaigns, will appeal to a very narrow constituency in the U.S. electorate," Brooks said. "Throughout his public service, Paul has espoused a dangerous isolationist vision for the U.S. and our role in the world. He has been a virulent and harsh critic of Israel during his tenure in Congress."

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