New issue for GOP candidates: Tax cuts or defense spending?

Mark Meckler, one of the original voices of the tea party movement, said he was certain that the sacrosanct status of the defense budget will be vetted thoroughly during the presidential battle. “Seems like lots of folks in the Republican Party are already upset about this,” he said…

Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, however, a tea party favorite, says on her website that as commander-in-chief, “I will devote the resources necessary to maintain our fighting forces as second-to-none, while being judicious in the use of our power. I will ensure our borders are fully secured. And I will not rest until the war on terror is won.” A spokeswoman did not respond when asked if Bachmann is open to cutting defense spending.

Sarah Palin, who hasn’t declared her presidential intentions just yet, has sounded a similar note. “No government agency should be immune from budget scrutiny,” she posted on her Facebook page last year. “We must make sure, however, that we do nothing to undermine the effectiveness of our military. If we lose wars, if we lose the ability to deter adversaries, if we lose the ability to provide security for ourselves and for our allies, we risk losing all that makes America great! That is a price we cannot afford to pay.”