Ron Paul again called Newt Gingrich a “chicken hawk” in Saturday night’s GOP debate, noting Newt’s avoiding service in the Vietnam War and his simultaneous willingness to send young Americans today into war.
“I think people who don’t serve when they could and they get three or four or even five deferments aren’t — they — they have no right to send our kids off to war, and — and not be even against the wars that we have,” Paul said. “I’m trying to stop the wars, but at least, you know, I went when they called me up.”
Gingrich was angered by the comment, calling it a slur, and attacked Paul for having “a long history of saying things that are inaccurate and false.” Apparently, the antiwar message embedded within Paul’s point were lost on him.
“The fact is, I never asked for deferment. I was married with a child. It was never a question. My father was, in fact, serving in Vietnam in the Mekong Delta at the time he’s referring to,” Gingrich said. “I think I have a pretty good idea of what it’s like as a family to worry about your father getting killed. And I personally resent the kind of comments and aspersions he routinely makes without accurate information and then just slurs people with.”
Gingrich claimed that because of his educational and familial circumstances, he wasn’t eligible for the draft. But Paul ended the spat with a final retort: “When I was drafted, I was married and had two kids and I went.”
lol Newt got pwned!
badly!
I thought 'chicken hawk' was slang for paedophile.
It's gay slang for someone who likes teenage boys, but it is also political slang for someone who avoids service in interventionist wars (like Vietnam, Korea or Iraq) when eligible, but supports sending others to fight interventionist wars.
Yes, I thought so. It doesn't really matter; the general public probably have no idea. But I dare say it will lead to some entertaining video mashups.
gingrich, is a racist, an opportunist and a coward…
the only man standing up at the podium at these debates is doctor paul
he has my vote AND my respect
And how many vietnamees Doctor Paul Killed ? one ! twenty ! fifty or none ?
Ron Paul KO'd that chicken hawk POS. Here's the video
No, it’s a pejorative for people who love war and have never fought it in — especially those who actively avoided service when called to duty.
Like Slick Willie Clinton who "abhorred" the military, but had few compunctions about bombing the crap out of Serbia, et cetera et cetera et cetera.
Or our current Commander-in-Chief: the very last place that young man Obama would have ever ended up is as an enlisted man in the Armed Services. He sure loves to push that KILL button nowadays.
Properly, George W Bush is not a chicken hawk, because he joined up.
Pulease…just because Dubya wore a uniform doesn't mean Scheiße. There was no, I mean absolutely no chance that boy was going to end up anywhere there might be any chance he might get injured. His "joined up" was a political maneuver and pulled off by Poppy and his buddies. Hell, he didn't even bother showing up for scheduled contractually obligated meetings when he was in.
Dubya knew, like Gingrich knew, that going to the front and being shot at is only for suckers and poor people.
Of course. My comment was NOT meant as a defense of Hawk-Without-a-Cause Dubya. Some Presidents have been in the military, others not, and it doesn't seem to be a predictor of their "hawk" status.
Joining up and seeing action are as different as night and day.
Bush joined a country club and didn't bother showing up because he was either too drunk or spaced out on drugs.
On the other hand, his Boss, Cheney, was and is a Charter Member of ChickenHawks R Us. Along with that Fathead Limbaugh.
JG Moebus
Master Sergfeant
US Army (Retired)
Paul nailed Newt to the wall. I loved it!
Well, I like Ron Paul and can't stand Newt Gingrich. Nothing personal, it's their stand on war, intervention and the slaughter of thousands of women and children with drones and other chicken hawk weapons. However, in fairness I have to point out that Paul was probably called up by the physicians draft, for which I don't think doctors were eligible for a marital deferment. Didn't know Newt's dad served in Vietnam. He would appear to have some credibility on this particular issue.
As we start to age out those who were of military age while the draft was in place, perhaps the term "chicken hawk" is losing some relevance. My problem with Obomber is not that he evaded the draft; he probably wasn't 18 yet when the draft ended. Herman Goring and Adolph Hitler served honorably in WW I. My problem with Obomber is that he's a war criminal, but he won't be prosecuted unless the US is invaded and defeated or has a regime change.
Gingrich is a quintessential “Chickenhawk” as well as being chicken sh-t. He is not fit to shine Dr. Paul’s shoes.
What I want to know is – Did he receive a draft notice or not? Is there anyway to find out? I read that Newt was telling the truth (because he apparently went to school his first 10 years of marriage) But, then how does one explain how Ron got drafted?
My understanding is that Ron Paul had already graduated medical school and then got his draft notice. He had the choice of going into the Army as a buck private, or volunteer for another branch of the service and go in as a junior officer. He volunteered to go into the Air Force.
I had several friends and family members who had student deferrments from the draft as long as they were receiving passing grades. If they got failing grades, off they went to 'Nam. And many of them who weren't going to college went ahead and volunteered for other branches of the service — Air Force, Navy — rather than wait for their 'Greetings' letter and get forced into the Army.
Gee, my father a draftee and was on a plane to VN, 2 weeks after my birth. If Newt had had any guts he would have joined up. But he is one of those "Let's you and him fight" types.
Funny how Paul, a libertarian in spirit, insists that everybody should go into the armed forces. Conscription seems like government coercion to me–especially when this country is not fighting a war connected with its security.
Troll harder next time.
That's NOT what he said at all.
You don't get it? That he exposes a man of no convictions, no honesty. Absolutely devoid of human solidarity. Except the declamatory one, where he himself stands safely on the grund, and others are killed.
Hellm even in the wars up to 1840 or so, the leaders were also in the front line! Not so anymore. They send a spin-prepared message to the world and lives happily after that in their own sort of asylum for life evaders.
You're not getting his point. Obviously, Paul is against conscription, but the exchange had nothing to do with conscription. His goal was to point out Gingrich's hypocrisy vis-a-vis war. It's an effective point in the context of political debate.
I think he's trying to make the point of the incongruity of a bunch of cowards who are crazy about going to war but never had the guts to serve in one. Surely, they wouldn't send their children either.
He doesn't insist that at all. He's pointing out hte hypocrisy of politicians who are always quick to send other people to bleed and disrupt their families for whatever cause a politician thinks is best yet who when they had their chance choose not to go in the military. Remeber the chickenhawk insult only applies to politicians and journalists who cheerlead for war yet refused to go themselves.
Please provide some evidence for that. I've read his writings for years and have never seen anythng remotely like you claim. Methinks you are trolling.
Does he really? Well, libertarianism isn't always what it seems. I mean, I'm not a USAian, I'm a UKian, and I still remember how libertarian Mr von Hayek brought us the poll tax. "A bold and fascinating experiment," according to the Mises Institute. But, you know, some people will still be making with the 'last, best hope' rhetoric when the Chinese cut their tubes. I'm just hanging around to see which side israel will be on when that day comes.
A despicable opportunist!!!! While he avoids danger at all cost, he feeds on others misery and harm. He is beneath maggots!!!
Sir Newt bravely ran away.
When communism reared it's ugly head
He bravely turned his tail and fled.
At least Romney bravely held off the red hordes in Paris, one of the toughest posts in that war. We lost a lot of good men out there, to wine, and museums and sidewalk cafes.
Newt is named Newt because his parents recognized a lizard when they saw one.
Whether a President’s served in the armed forces is immaterial; the Constitution doesn’t require it. But like Rep. Paul, I should question those that had occasion to serve, didn’t, but don’t hesitate to force troops into where we’re not wanted: Cheney, Wolfowitz, Perle.
Recklessly sending troops into ferrin lands on ideological grounds has little to do w/ the President anyway: this is the domain of advisers, proselytes, & people that stand to gain. They hammer to the Presidents until they buckle to their POV: Bush, Obama are examples.
Rep. Paul needs to get untracked: he’s been suckered into debating the useless & irrelevant matters