Republican candidates for president are all chiming in with their outrage over Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s visit to the United States, which included stops at Columbia University and the United Nations. Ahmadinejad is in the U.S. for a summit at the U.N.

They are all using the same messaging. Sounds like a GOP PR firm made a ton of money in consulting fees this week.

Duncan Hunter:

But Hunter went a step further by pledging that if the speech goes forth he will introduce legislation in Congress to cut off federal assistance from the University. All federal assistance. This would presumably include research and scientific grants for the sciences and medical school.

“If the left-wingers of academia will not support our troops, they, in the very least, should not support our adversaries,” Hunter said in a statement accompanying a warning letter he wrote to Lee Bollinger, the president of Columbia.

Fred Thompson:

Republican candidate Fred Thompson maintains that, if he were running the country, he would deny Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad entry into the United States.

According to UN Headquarters Agreement of 1947, the US “shall not impose any impediments to transit,” obligating the US to allow representatives of UN members, or those invited on “official business,” to visit the UN. However, the government may bar entry based on national security grounds, but would have to provide specific allegations for banning Ahmadinejad.

“There are exceptions to every rule. This is our home soil,” Thompson asserted on Bill Bennett’s “Morning in America” talk radio show Monday morning, adding, “I wouldn’t mind a little controversy at the United Nations.” [...]

“It’s supposed to be a place of diversity and controversy and things of that nature … but they’re giving rank hypocrisy a bad name,” Thompson said.

Tom Tancredo:

“Ahmadinejad is an international criminal and a leading sponsor of terrorism,” said Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado in a statement. “This is a man who has contributed directly to the deaths of American soldiers. For Columbia University’s President to host Ahmadinejad on campus under the guise of free-speech while simultaneously barring the ROTC smacks of hypocrisy.”

John McCain:

“There’s rank hypocrisy here,” McCain said, describing Columbia’s decision to allow Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak, but not to allow the Reserve Officers Training Corps, or ROTC, to talk to students on campus. [...]

“To not allow the ROTC … to try to recruit or discuss issues with young men and women on their campus is just disgraceful,” McCain said.

Mitt Romney:

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney unveiled a new radio ad Monday, continuing his call for the United Nations and Columbia University to withdraw their respective invitations to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The ad, which begins airing today in Iowa and later this week in New Hampshire and Florida, touts Romney’s refusal as Governor to provide a police escort to former Iranian President Mohammad Khatami when he spoke at Harvard University, saying “Romney called the invitation a ‘disgrace.’”

Romney runs ads on everything. Time for Jonathan Singer to piece together another post about Romney’s spending habits.

Posted by Matt Ortega
Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at 7:17 pm

2 Responses to “GOP Candidates United on Ahmadinejad’s Status as Red Meat for Base”

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