Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) Tuesday rejected the assertion by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that calls for cuts in defense spending represent the rise of “protectionism and isolationism” within the Republican party.
At a conference Monday at the Foreign Policy Initiative, a conservative think tank, McCain said that he was worried about divisions within the Republican Party on the issue of defense spending.
“I worry a lot,” McCain said. “Because throughout the history of the Republican Party in modern times, there’s been, obviously, as we know, two wings: The isolationist wing, manifested before World War II and at other times; and the internationalist side. And so I think there are going to be some tensions within our party.”
McCain then singled out Senator-elect Rand Paul (R-KY) as an example of the party’s isolationist wing. While McCain said he “respects” Paul, he criticized him for openly calling for trimming the defense budget. “Already he has talked about withdrawals from, or cuts in defense, et cetera. And a number of others are… So I worry a lot about the rise of protectionism and isolationism in the Republican Party.”
Read more at ForeignPolicy.com
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