Only because the rest of the GOP field of Presidential candidates is so terrible, there is actually a possibility that Ron Paul might win the Iowa Caucuses, as he has concentrated almost all his efforts there. Ron Paul has never mattered, and in all probability, never will. But just in case, it’s important that you understand that Paul is not the person he presents himself to be, as this excellent article by Tim Murphy clearly demonstrates.
…Paul might just win Iowa. As Red State founder Erick Erickson points out [wing-nuts delinked], he’s worked the state harder than almost anyone else and honed his message to appeal to corn belt conservatives (the raw milk line is a winner). But that doesn’t make him a serious contender. As Politico’s Maggie Haberman and others have pointed out, Paul’s candidacy has a clear ceiling. Until his opponents start talking about the following issues, you’ll know Paul isn’t a serious threat:
The newsletters: Since 1978, Paul published and sold a newsletter (known alternatively as Ron Paul’s Political Report, Ron Paul’s Survival Report, and Ron Paul’s Freedom Report) to tens of thousands of libertarians scattered across the country. Especially in the beginning, it played into the concerns of a certain kind of conservative white guy. As the New Republic reported, the newsletters suggest Paul is "not the plain-speaking antiwar activist his supporters believe they are backing—but rather a member in good standing of some of the oldest and ugliest traditions in American politics." Some excerpts:
"[Although] we are constantly told that it is evil to be afraid of black men, it is hardly irrational. Black men commit murders, rapes, robberies, muggings and burglaries all out of proportion to their numbers."
"Given the inefficiencies of what D.C. laughingly calls the ‘criminal justice system,’ I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal."
"[B]lack males age 13 who have been raised on the streets and who have joined criminal gangs are as big, strong, tough, scary, and culpable as any adult and should be treated as such."
Paul defended the newsletters’ racist content when it was first brought up by his opponent in a 1996 congressional race—standing by, for instance, charges that Democratic Rep. Barbara Jordan, the state’s first black congresswoman, was granted favorable treatment because of her race. His statements were "academic, tongue-in-cheek," he said of the newsletters, and were not meant to be taken at face value.
It wasn’t until five years later that Paul offered an alibi, claiming that the newsletters had been ghostwritten. As he told Texas Monthly’s S.C. Gwynne, "They were never my words, but I had some moral responsibility for them…I actually really wanted to try to explain that it doesn’t come from me directly, but they [campaign aides] said that’s too confusing. ‘It appeared in your letter and your name was on that letter and therefore you have to live with it.’"
It’s a confusing alibi, to say the least: Why would Paul’s campaign prefer he take credit for racist comments he didn’t write? Even if he never wrote the newsletters, he had no qualms profiting off of their contents for decades. The fact that none of his presidential opponents since then have raised the newsletters as an issue is a sign they simply don’t take him seriously…
Inserted from <Mother Jones>
Now, this is just the section in Murphy’s article that deals with Paul’s racism. In addition Murphy exposes Paul on civil rights, scorched earth policies, conspiracy theories, and women’s rights. I strongly urge you to click through for the rest of it.
If I had a ghost writer for this blog, and if he wrote overtly racist statements here, I would be screaming about it from day one, disavowing it and firing the ghost writer. It certainly would not take five years! That’s why I do not believe Paul. Furthermore, if I had a ghost writer, I’d say so. I would not deceive people into thinking that they were getting my writing when they were not. What makes this even worse is that my writing is free, but Paul charged for his newsletters and defrauded every customer, if he had a ghost writer. Either way, Paul is a liar.
Far too many people are attracted to Paul because he opposes war and favors decriminalization of drugs. While I tend to agree with him there, whatever positives those policies give him are thoroughly outweighed by the horrors of everything else he represents. Don’t believe Ron Paul!
24 Responses to “Don’t Believe Ron Paul!”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
I’ve seen Paul at the debates but I’ve never really taken him seriously. I always felt he was on Alpha Centaurus! I have one last thing to say: Liar, liar pants on fire! Don’t anybody douse the flames and maybe he’ll go away.
Lynn, I think this is his last gasp.
The only potential good of Ron Paul is if he decided to run as a third-party candidate. He’d bleed enough wacko repubican (is that redundant?) votes to assure an Obama victory.
True Nameless, but he might pull from the left too, there are a lot of people who slam him for his shortcomings, ignore the good things he has done and will use any excuse to oppose him.
Libertarians are noted racists – there is much to be concerned about – Paul is a Buchananite!
Lee, I woulds not say t6hat about all Libertarians, and Paul is a LINO. He was raised a Bircher.
Paul is most definitely not to be trusted! His Koch-like libertarian principles have already proved to be a massive disaster for our economy. The man is simply not all there.
But Jack, he’s only 8 cans short of a 6 pack.
Far too many people are attracted to Paul because he opposes war and favors decriminalization of drugs. While I tend to agree with him there, whatever positives those policies give him are thoroughly outweighed by the horrors of everything else he represents. Don’t believe Ron Paul! ( From this article 😉
Ron Paul , was a crazy young man– now he is an even crazier old man— He is a Koch- loving Libertarian ; Do read the article by Murphy—- very informative— If you like Rand Paul- you will love his Father Ron
They are both abominable!
Tom Cat, you have to give him that. He is one of the few candidates (with Huntsman I think) to consider that waterboarding is torture. Of course, that is not enough of a platform to run for President.
You’re right Zero. Of the top six GOP candidates, he’s the only one.
It’s difficult to choose which TeaPublican candidates are the scariest or the most hilarious. They all seem to bounce from one extreme to another, minute by minute.
Marva, I fully agree.
Off tropic, I am enjoying Missing Assumed Dead.
Paul is only good on two or three issues; on all the others he’s just as bad as the rest of the candidates on the willfully ignorant right. Overall, his ascendance to public office could be seen as a net loss for society.
Thanks Phil. I agree.
Just thought you’d be interested in knowing you got a call-out at DemocraticUnderground. Should note that they’re switching from DU2 to DU3 this evening, so I’m not sure if the Link will work – but what the heck …
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433×829698
Thanks, Nameless. I noticed that this morning. And thank you for the shout out!
Ron Paul and his libertarianism is explained perfectly in this Ayn Rand quote:
“I will not die, it’s the world that will end.”
In other words, screw the future. Take all you can for yourself NOW!
Libertarians are just selfish bastards.
Many are. That quote certainly fits Paul.
Paul is right on monetary policy and he wants to end the wars. That is enough for me to overlook some of his other policies.
Welcome Pres. 🙂
I trust you must be a figment of my imagination, as President Paul is something that has never happened and never will. 😉
Can you really believe anything any of them has to say, except for the racism they all so lovingly espouse?
I’d bet they breathed a collective sigh of relief when Cain bowed out and they didn’t have to share the stage with an African American anymore.
I have no doubt that Cain was the token that never had a chance and would neber have progressed so far if he was capable. They used him to support the lie that the party’s policies are not racist.