Palin Can't Keep Her Pauls Straight

CQ Politics notes that Sarah Palin confused U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Rand Paul with his father, career politician Ron Paul:

Sarah Palin of Alaska provided a less than vigorous defense of her endorsement of Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul’s campaign on Sunday, vaguely referencing his “domestic” agenda while mixing him up with his father, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.

“I don’t agree with Ron Paul on everything,” Palin told “Fox News Sunday” host Chris Wallace. “His domestic policies I do agree with for the most part.”

Palin's confusion is understandable, given that she endorsed Rand Paul without ever meeting him or speaking to him, and given that Rand Paul has said that he and his father agree on nearly all the issues.

The Grayson campaign was quick to exploit Palin's mistake, and issued the following release:

“No wonder she mixed them up. Ron and Rand’s positions on closing Guantanamo Bay, leaving Iraq and Afghanistan, the attacks on September 11^th , and drug enforcement are identical, and dangerous,” said Grayson campaign manager Nate Hodson.

Rand Paul has said repeatedly that he does not disagree with his dad except on minor issues:

Rand Paul Agrees That He Is Just A Chip Off The Old Block. Alex Jones: “You're basically what I would call a chip off the old block, your policies are basically identical to your father's, correct?” Rand Paul: “I'd say we'd be very, very similar.” (Rand Paul on the Alex Jones Show, 5/21/2009)

Rand Paul Said He Disagrees With His Dad Only in Minor Issues. Washington Wire: Are there any areas where you disagree with your father’s views on issues? Paul: There are some minor areas where we disagree. (Peter Wallsten, “Q&A with Rand Paul: Shaking Up the Kentucky Senate Race,” The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire Blog, 11/12/09)

When Asked On What Rand Paul Disagrees With Ron Paul, His Response Was About Taking Money From Medicare And Medicaid, Not Policy Issues. “I couldn’t resist this: is there any issue on which the younger Paul disagrees with his father? ‘Yes,’ he said with a laugh, recalling how his father would do medical work free of charge rather than take payments from the Medicare and Medicaid programs. ‘I do participate in both programs. With my particular practice as an opthamologist, I have to or I couldn’t keep my practice going.’” (John Gizzi, “A ‘Dr. Paul’ In The Senate, Too?” Human Events, 8/15/09)

Rand Paul Said We Should Send the Terrorists at Guantanamo Back to Their Home Countries. “I think they should mostly be sent back to their country of origin or to tell you the truth I’d drop them back off into battle … if you’re unclear, drop ‘em off back into Afghanistan. It’d take them a while to get back over here.” (YouTube video of Rand Paul speaking in Paducah, KY, 5/8/09)

Rand Paul is Unsure of the Mission in Afghanistan. “After eight years in Afghanistan, several questions arise: 1. Is our National Security still threatened by terrorist training camps?; 2. Why haven't Afghanis begun to provide their own security?; 3. Are we there because of a threat to our security or to build a nation?” (Rand Paul Statement on Afghanistan, 12/1/09)

Rand Paul Does Not Support the Troops in Iraq. “Yeah I say not out of Iraq now, I say out of Iraq two or three years ago and or never go in, even better. But I think that when you get out the only thing that you need to propose and that people will accept is that you do it in an orderly fashion.” (AntiWar.com’s “Antiwar Radio With Scott Horton,” www.youtube.com, May 15, 2009)

Rand Paul Refused to Answer if He Thinks the United States Caused 9/11. “I think that’s a complicated situation, that there is truth on both sides,” David Adams, Rand Paul’s campaign manager, said. (Joe Gerth, “Paul Spokesman Quits Over Web Remarks,” The Courier-Journal, 12/17/09)

Rand Paul Wants to Eliminate Federal Drug Laws. “It’s a state issue. All issues of crime are better addressed at the state level.” (Peter Walsten, “Q&A with Rand Paul,” Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire Blog, 11/12/2009)