Syria’s al-Assad Must Quit, Says Possible 2012 Candidate Daniels
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, a potential 2012 Republican U.S. presidential candidate, today called on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to resign.
“I am really proud of my grandparents, my dad, and the Syrian heritage I have, but I am not the least bit proud of the government Syria’s had during most of my lifetime,” said Daniels, who is of Syrian ancestry, on Bloomberg Television’s “Political Capital with Al Hunt,” airing this weekend.
Syria has sent troops to suppress nationwide demonstrations, inspired by popular revolts in Egypt and Tunisia, that pose a serious challenge to Al-Assad’s 11-year rule. More than 500 protesters have been killed in the crackdown, with 1,000 arrests in the last two days alone.
Daniels, 62, said he was “inspired” by the protesters who are taking “life-or-death risks to ask for some greater freedom.”
On domestic issues, the two-term governor and former budget director for President George W. Bush said he opposed raising tax rates as part of a vote to increase the country’s debt ceiling.
“Tax rate increases, I think, are a mistaken idea,” he said. Still, he said, “We ought to have more tax revenues and the way economists, really, of both sides seem to agree is, fewer preferences, lower and flatter rates.”
Many Democrats, including House and Senate party leaders, are demanding that increasing revenue be a part of an agreement to curb the debt. Any agreement, said Daniels, should focus on eliminating tax breaks while lowering overall corporate and individual rates.
‘New Red Menace’
The debate over the $14.3 trillion national debt, which Daniels has called the “new red menace,” has raised his political profile and increased questions about whether he will seek his party’s presidential nomination.
Daniels offered few clues in remarks earlier today in Washington, noting that there’s still time for candidates to join the race.
“I really thought it might become too late somewhere along the line,” Daniels said in a policy address at the American Enterprise Institute, a group that favors smaller government, “but for whatever reason it appears not to be, and I think it’s a happy surprise.”
Daniels praised the slow pace of the Republican nomination contest. “It’s a darn good thing that we’ll have nomination campaign measured in months not years,” he said.
Education Plan
His luncheon speech largely focused on education policy, giving a preview of the type of kindergarten through 12th grade plan he would support as a candidate.
Daniels promoted new laws passed by his state legislature last week that limit collective bargaining for teachers, expand the state’s school voucher program, make it easier to open new charter schools, and permit the state to take over and privatize management of public schools.
As he left the speech, Daniels said he would decide whether to run for president within weeks. “It won’t take long,” he said.
National polls of Republican-leaning voters have shown Daniels barely registering as a presidential candidate, typically receiving 3 or fewer percentage points of support.
None of the potential Republican candidates break the 20- percent mark, according to a new poll released today by Quinnipiac University.
Pawlenty, Romney, Santorum
Two former Republican governors, Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota and Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, and former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, have filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to raise money for potential runs. Texas Congressman Ron Paul, in his third potential White House bid, has also announced an exploratory committee.
Former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, who stepped down as U.S. ambassador to China at the end of April, moved toward entering the race yesterday when he formed a political action committee.
Other potential candidates include former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich of Georgia.
The lack of a clear Republican frontrunner has encouraged others, including Representative Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, a Tea Party favorite, and real estate developer Donald Trump to position themselves for potential runs.
As the Republican race gears up, Obama has opened a 2012 re-election campaign headquarters in Chicago and raised millions of dollars last month at events in Illinois, California and New York.
To contact the reporter on this story: Lisa Lerer in Washington at llerer@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Mark Silva in Washington at msilva34@bloomberg.net.
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