Weigel

Ron Paul “Weighing his Options” Over Debate-Blocking Presidential Speech

Something to watch, even though it might come to nothing: The Congressional Option that could scuttle President Obama’s big speech next week. The president has requested a joint session of Congress in order to give a speech about the economy and jobs. Two current presidential candidates, Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul, are in Congress, and scheduled to appear at a debate at the same time Obama’s speaking, on the opposite side of the country.* And a member of Congress can object to the president’s request.

So, will they? Paul’s campaign got back to me first.

“Dr. Paul is weighing his options,” says the congressman’s campaign spokesman, Jesse Benton. “Our campaign, however, thinks it is undignified that the President of the United States would resort to such transparent tactics to step on our Republican debate. The real losers here are the American People who deserve the opportunity to hear from both the President and the GOP contenders.”

*Thaddeus McCotter is a congressman, too, lest you forget. But he didn’t make the debate cut.