Liz Cheney and Rand Paul extend war of words

BALTIMORE — House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney (Wyo.) and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) extended their war of words on Friday, with the Wyoming Republican arguing that Americans are not supportive of Paul’s isolationist views.

“The American people — Republicans, in particular — are not isolationists,” Cheney told reporters during a leadership press conference at the House GOP retreat.

{mosads}She went on to praise President Trump’s support for the military, while noting Paul has broken with the president on some key votes.

“One of the most important things that the president has done since he’s been in office is devoted the resources we need for our military, an effort that Sen. Paul has not supported,” Cheney said.

Paul responded by issuing a statement saying: “Few people have been as wrong on foreign policy over the last few years as the neocons and Liz Cheney. The Twitter exchange represents a real and significant debate on the future of our foreign policy between realists like myself and NeverTrumper neoconservatives like Cheney.”

The exchange of insults began earlier this week and consisted of Paul criticizing Cheney’s father, former Vice President Dick Cheney. He also accused her of “warmongering” and being a “NeverTrump” supporter.

The Wyoming Republican was quick to swipe back, tweeting that Paul puts “Terrorists First, America Second.”

The squabble between the two GOP lawmakers comes as speculation grows over whether Cheney, the No. 3 Republican in the House, will launch a bid to replace retiring GOP Sen. Mike Enzi (Wyo.). If Cheney enters the race, she would be going up against former Rep. Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.), who is supported by Paul, in the primary.

Cheney also told reporters on Friday that she has “enjoyed” the back and forth with Paul.

“You know, here I had been thinking the Senate is dull,” she said.

“It was an enlightening exchange of views,” she added. “I think there are key issues at the heart of that disagreement and those are really important issues for us to be debating, for us to be discussing. They’re issues that surround whether or not you put America first, as President Trump does, or blame America first as Rand Paul does and has for years.”

Updated at 1:06 p.m.