<!–

–>

September 22, 2023

One of Brett Baier’s questions during the Fox News presidential debate of second-stringers on August 23 evoked a memorable moment — and also ignited a RINO-versus-Vivek firestorm among the contestants involved.

‘); googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1609268089992-0’); }); document.write(”); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().addEventListener(‘slotRenderEnded’, function(event) { if (event.slot.getSlotElementId() == “div-hre-Americanthinker—New-3028”) { googletag.display(“div-hre-Americanthinker—New-3028”); } }); }); }

“The U.S. has committed nearly $77 billion in aid to the Ukraine war,” Baier said.  “The administration is now asking Congress for $24 billion more.  Regardless of the specific — specifics of that plan, is there anyone on stage who would not support the increase of more funding to Ukraine?”

The question evoked memories of Dwight Eisenhower, not only perhaps the greatest military leader in American history besides George Washington himself, but who also served as our 34th president.

On January 17, 1961, just three days before John Kennedy’s inauguration, Ike gave one of the best known farewell addresses in presidential history.  After eight years of unmatched American prosperity, with America the world’s sole superpower, Ike could have patted himself on the back for a job well done.

‘); googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1609270365559-0’); }); document.write(”); googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.pubads().addEventListener(‘slotRenderEnded’, function(event) { if (event.slot.getSlotElementId() == “div-hre-Americanthinker—New-3035”) { googletag.display(“div-hre-Americanthinker—New-3035”); } }); }); }

Instead, he famously warned Americans against the “military-industrial complex,” stating, “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.  The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”  Ike added, “The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.”

Military leaders who have been in the midst of war, who know the stench of battle and the smell of gunpowder and who saw bleeding comrades dying on the ground, are the most sober about advocating against military action without just cause and deliberate reasoning.

Now back to Baier’s question about the Ukraine War and the candidates’ responses.

First, we have Vivek Ramaswamy, who, like a kid excited about his first toy under the Christmas tree, immediately shot his hand up to the “who would oppose more funding” question, promising to end military aid to Ukraine, without hesitation, and with unfettered decisiveness.  No question where Vivek stood.

Then came Ron DeSantis, now competing with Vivek for second place, way behind Trump in the polls, who tried a one-foot-in, one-foot-out-of-the-pool approach.

Looking around to see how other candidates would respond, DeSantis literally raised his hand halfway up and, without committing fully one way or the other, half-heartedly declared that “Europe needs to step up. … I would have Europe step up and do their job” — as if he had power over Europe, and as if Ukraine were a member of NATO, which it is not.