NEWS AND OPINION:
“As a doctor, I know that attacking symptoms isn’t the same thing as finding a cure. I’m also mindful of what the Cold War official and nuclear strategist Paul Nitze said: ’One of the most dangerous forms of human error is forgetting what one is trying to achieve.’ If we are to eradicate ISIS once and for all, it’s time to take a hard look at what is fueling its growth: money,” GOP presidential hopeful Sen. Rand Paul says in a forceful new voter outreach.
“ISIS’s reserve of an estimated $2 billion makes it the world’s most well-financed terrorist organization. Airstrikes have impacted ISIS’s oil trade, but there’s one form of funding we can put an immediate stop to: donations from citizens, purported nonprofit groups, and governments or private sources in Gulf nations including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait. Hundreds of millions of dollars worth of military equipment paid for by American taxpayers are in ISIS’s hands,” the lawmaker continues, advising the U.S. to adopt a more prudent, selective approach to military action.
“We already know the risks of sending our sons and daughters to fight in Iraq and Syria. We’ve seen how easily short-term victories on the ground can give way to unintended catastrophes over the long term. It’s time for a smarter strategy — one that requires a bold display of courage not from our soldiers, but from our political leaders,” Mr. Paul concludes.
JUST A FEW FUNDRAISERS FOR THE ROAD
Just in time to beat the Thanksgiving rush: Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton has three campaign fundraisers scheduled for Tuesday. Two are in Colorado, and she will attend both, including one in Boulder with ticket prices ranging from $2,700 to $50,000, the latter for the host who aspires to be named a big league “Hillraiser” donor. A third event will be staged in Fayetteville, Arkansas — hosted by none other than former President Bill Clinton.
And some equal time here: Republican hopeful Jeb Bush also had three campaign fundraisers, all on Monday, all in Florida.
TRUMP ON TRUMP
A moment between Fox News prime time host Bill O’Reilly and GOP presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Monday evening: Is the candidate aware that the liberal media are “trying to paint him as a racist?” Mr. O’Reilly asked.
“I hope people know better than that. I’m probably the least-racist person on earth,” Mr. Trump replied.
TRUMP ON TRUMP, PART 2
“It’s my choice not to be there. I support my husband 100 percent, but we have a 9-year-old son together, Barron, and I’m raising him. This is the age he needs a parent at home.”
— Melania Trump, on why she has not hit the campaign trail with husband Donald Trump; to ABC News.
A VOIGHT MOMENT
He stood before a thousand guests in midtown Manhattan and called for America to both elect a Republican and support Israel: that would be Oscar-winning actor Jon Voight, one of Hollywood’s rare, unapologetic conservatives.
Mr. Voight attended the Zionist Organization of America’s “Superstar Gala” on Sunday night where he also received the “Adelson Defender of Israel Award” from Miriam and Sheldon Adelson, the good-natured mega-philanthropists and Republican donors who have considerable appeal to all GOP presidential hopefuls.
Mr. Voight was introduced to the cheering crowd by former Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican. Also present: Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer; media maven Mort Zuckerman; Harvard University law professor Alan Dershowitz; and Morton A. Klein, president of the host organization.
THE GOP WAR CHEST
The Grand Old Party still has many grass-roots fans. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus says the organization raised a record-breaking $8.7 million in October, bringing its total in the 2016 election cycle to $89.3 million. The average donation was $69, with 99 percent coming in at $200 or less; there’s $20.4 million in cash on hand and $1.8 million in debt
“We’re seeing great enthusiasm for the GOP,” Mr. Priebus said, noting that the party is in the midst of a full-scale effort to build a data and field infrastructure aiming to defeat Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, while recruiting volunteers and voters “in every community and every battleground state.”
Mr. Priebus adds, “The RNC is the only organization on either side of the aisle currently running a full-scale general election field operation.”
POLL DU JOUR
• 72 percent of Americans say the federal government does a good job protecting the nation from terrorism; 60 percent of Republicans and 85 percent of Democrats agree.
• 56 percent say the government does a good job ensuring access to health care; 40 percent of Republicans and 74 percent of Democrats agree.
• 52 percent say the government does a good job managing the nation’s infrastructure; 50 percent of Republicans and 52 percent of Democrats agree.
• 51 percent say the government does a good job strengthening the economy; 34 percent of Republicans and 68 percent of Democrats agree.
• 28 percent say the government does a good job managing the immigration system; 15 percent of Republicans and 40 percent of Democrats agree.
Source: A Pew Research Center poll of 6,004 U.S. adults conducted Aug. 27-Oct. 4 and released Monday.
• Doggerel and caterwaul to jharper@washingtontimes.com.
• Jennifer Harper can be reached at jharper@washingtontimes.com.
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