Thu, Sep. 22, 2011 Posted:
03:03 PM EDT
Ron Paul, who commonly goes against the grain
of mainstream Republican ideas, has now peaked
the interest of pundits on both sides after he
said he would consider appointing Rep. Dennis
Kucinich, an Ohio Democrat, to a newly-created
post.
It’s not uncommon for presidents to reach
across the aisle for cabinet members.
President Clinton appointed former Maine
senator William Cohen as defense secretary and
Obama appointed former Utah Governor Jon
Huntsman as ambassador to China. Now Huntsman
is running against his old boss, hoping to
replace him in the White House if Huntsman can
win the GOP primary. Given his recent poll
numbers, that may be a long-shot.
While Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich may seem
like an odd couple, their similarities may
outnumber their differences.
Kucinich ran for president in the Democratic
primary in 2008 and his policies and positions
were considered to the left of Obama and of
former New York Senator Hillary Clinton, who
now serves as Secretary of State in the Obama
administration. Kucinich’s views were also
considered to be outside of many mainstream
Democratic positions.
Paul made his comments while speaking at an
event hosted by The Christian Science Monitor
on Wednesday, saying his libertarian views
allow him to see “eye-to-eye” with liberal
counterparts such as Kucinich. He referenced
creating a “Department of Peace” and mentioned
Kucinich as a possible candidate. Both Paul
and Kucinich are frequent critics of U.S.
military presence overseas.
Additionally, Paul has co-sponsored
legislation with ultra-liberal congressman
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), which would allow
states to legalize marijuana – a position that
will not garner much support with his GOP
colleagues in the House and Senate.
Although Paul is seeking the GOP nomination,
his views tend to be more liberal on many
fiscal and foreign policy issues.
“Being pragmatic is about forming
coalitions,” Paul told the gathering. “I
probably work with coalitions better than
other candidates. I don’t think I’ve said
anything negative here about the president.”
Paul did win a recent straw poll in
California and had a more than respectable
showing in Iowa. However, his poll numbers
among Republican voters nationwide have been
low and he has never achieved the
“frontrunner” status that Rep. Michele
Bachmann (R-Minn.), former Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney or Texas Governor Rick
Perry has achieved.
Paul will have yet another chance to expand
on his policy statements Thursday night, at a
FOXNews/Google GOP presidential debate in
Orlando, Fla.
