(CNN) – Texas Rep. Ron Paul said real estate mogul Donald Trump could hurt the Republican Party with his most recent foray into presidential politics.
During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union with Candy Crowley,” Paul said he was surprised at Trump’s current role in the race, including a scheduled debate that Trump will moderate a week before the January 3 Iowa caucuses..
“I don’t understand the marching to his office,” the congressman said. “I didn’t know that he had the ability to lay on hands and anoint people.”
In the latest volley of an ongoing feud between Paul and Trump, the congressman making his third bid for the GOP presidential nomination said his differences with Trump may be philosophical, but Trump started it.
At a speech to the Conservative Political Action Conference in February 2011, Trump said the twelve-term congressman had “no chance” at winning the Republican nomination for president or at beating President Barack Obama.
Paul said the differences between the two men were “philosophic” and added that Trump’s “personality doesn’t like to be challenged.”
In addition, Paul said, the Republican Party could hurt itself by allowing Trump to moderate what will be the final debate before the Iowa caucuses.
Trump cancelled his keynote address at an event held by the Iowa Republican Party earlier this year after announcing he would not seek the GOP presidential nomination. The event, a large fundraiser for the party, was subsequently cancelled.
“I’ve gotten a lot of good, favorable responses from the people of Iowa, even the people in the party…because they were very unhappy with the way he treated them,” Paul said.
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I think Gingrich is going to meet Trump so they can compare tips on adultery and egotism.
This year GOP primary become joke except debates now Trump will moderate the debate then GOP primary total joke
I am wondering will Trump request original Birth certificate from each candidates before the debate
It's hard to imagine the Republican party becoming any more debased and ridiculous as a result of The Donald. He could be the front-runner instantly if he just went back to blathering about Obama being an illegal alien. This is where the Republicans are, and The Donald is right there with them.
Hey Ron! As a fellow Republican, I urge you to focus your attention more on Obama and Liberal Democrats rather than attacking GOP supporters like The Donald.
For the record, YOU are doing more harm than good. You are the Congressional Bureaucrat with the longest tenure and might want to lighten up on the divisive rhetoric a little,
Say Ollie, what's all this stuff about amounting someone ?
.
It's ANOINTING someone, Stanley – IT MEANS THAT YOU LAY YOUR HANDS ON THEM AND SAY THAT THEY ARE THE ONE.
.
Does this mean that they TALK TO GOD ?
..
..OH NO STAN, ONLY DUBYA TALKED TO GOD....................and LOOK WHAT WE RECEIVED FROM HIM !
..
Trump is soooooo full of himself. What makes him think he represents anyone but Trump? He's just a joke, and a bad one at that.
Keith in Austin: Donald a conservative? Anyone who can donate $50,000 to Rahm Emanule – Mr. I support the draft – doesn't illicit the most favorable responses from conservatives or Americans in general. The whole birth certificate fiasco, which Trump railed on, was for his own benefit. He doesn’t care about Obama or Republicans, he only cares about himself.
Donald Trump, gee he is know for a TV show, business that went bankrupt and dying his hair. Also, know for the furiously law suits against the town of palm beach, like wanting the flight plans change as they go over one of his properties.
Mr. Paul: Trump lives in his own little golden, tasteless plastic world, where he can anoint anybody to anything, and
nobody ever gives a hoot. It is classic, embarrassing GOP stuff, and you are in the wrong party. Indeed. you could be
quite succesful in the DNC.
The Donald is up to bat! Pay off the National Debt, deport all democrats! No wait, Occupy a brain and self educate! Put more people on food stamps! The sky is falling! Man the life boats!
Lese-majesty Celebrity
Emperors scrapped the Republican trappings of their predecessors and began to identify the state with their person
Deified Emperors thus enjoyed the legal protection provided for the divinities of the state cult
Donald Trump / Newt Gingrich
2012
Trump’s “personality doesn’t like to be challenged.”
Finally, Paul says something I agree with, the Donald does whine like a little girl when his ego is bruised.
Ron Paul backers are bunker dwelling cultists. This professional politician can only destroy the US.
T-Rump will not only moderate the debate, he will declare himself the winner.
Unfortunately the whole GOP field this cycle is more screwed up than anything. How on earth anyone can take Trump as a serious moderator? Wish you all luck!
I am all for a moderator who is coming from a different direction than most of the media would be.
Last night's debate on Fox, with the questions coming from conservative state attorney generals, was also good, because it allowed the people to see how the candidates might work with the states.
I think the debate between huntsman and Gingrich, will also be informative.
I applaud the different formats of debates, where the candidates are less predictable, the questions are less predictable, and the answers more enlightening.
Nothing good is going to come out of this debate. It's only going to p.o. Iowa Republicans. Romney, who is severely challenged in Iowa poliing, would do well to bow out.
►Rep. Paul on Trump: I didn’t know he could anoint people◄
So I guess he won't be coming my way or down my steeple
►“I don’t understand the marching to his office,”◄
Maybe he's "the one" – for the dumb – and you MUST be on "HIS LIST!"
In reality, it does not matter – President Obama will win in 2012!!!
Trump is making a further mockery out of the debates. He needs to keep his nose out of this.
Didn't all these guys vote for Obama last election?
Ron Paul is the smartest of the bunch, and has the best economic and foreign policy. We all know how Trump is. We have seen his show and his personality. He will end up making one of the candidates look really really bad. He will place them in an uncomfortable position, challenge them childishly and make the Republican debate look like a reality show where he can shout: "you are fired". Paul avoids the whole charade by declining to participate. Making Iowan republicans happy along the way.
The once-grand (Grand Old Party) Republican Party has devolved into this: Trump and Palin. Need anyone say more?
Maybe it's going to be another 'Comedy Central Roast'!!
GOP went from having wacko candidates to now having a wacko moderator...The GOP circus continues......
I'm not a supporter of Dr. Paul's......but I simply LOVE his comments on the Donald. Well done, Dr.Paul – you just earned my respect.