Topic: Ron Paul
CNN Appearance on Bigotry Not Good Enough Hesitant and inconsistent with past statements makes me believe that he still wrote those comments.by Christopher Espinal
(Conservative)
Friday, January 11, 2008
Ron Paul appeared on CNN's the Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer to discuss the allegations of racism. He states that he prided the libertarian principle of individualism ever since his young days. He calls the racist, homophobic, and anti-Semitic slander found in his Ron Paul Political Report against his personal lifestyle and political philosophy.
I completely understand his pain and anger with journalists aiming to destroy the steam in his movement, but I must say that I am still quite skeptical. James Kurchick mentioned that in the late 1990's, when Ron Paul faced this same controversy, he had different replies to similar inquiries made by skeptics. On Tucker Kurchick states that through his research when Paul was questioned back in 1996 he stated that "people took his comments out of context." Now Paul says that he can't even recall the names of individual writers for his political report while on leave for medical practice and giving speeches.
Everyone should be skeptical of the two different explanations for the same problems.
But this isn't over: Ron Paul says that his supporters would be shocked had they ever heard him speak with such an angry tone and disapproval for other people. From my experience and life, people would also be shocked of the racism I once had when I was much younger! These ambiguous explanations just don't cut it. The people who want change in this society will not vote for a person with a sullied past. He should specifically address these claims point by point and not with some ambiguous remarks like Alan Greenspan testifying before Congress.
Despite these holes in his argument I do have to say that Kurchick mentions that the revealed bigoted statements occurred while Paul was on leave from Congress. This may be consistent with part of Paul's rebuttal on CNN.
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2008 Christopher Espinal, all rights reserved.
Published: Friday, January 11, 2008
Last modified: Friday, January 11, 2008
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Your last paragraph unravels your previously stated assessment which seems to assume that Dr. Paul is less than forthcoming about the attempt-to-bury-the-Ron-Paul-campaign-with-dubious-crap issue. So what's your point? Are you suggesting that he should admit to having once been a racist, as you have? Dr. Paul has written volumes, none of which vaguely resemble the ramblings being trotted out in an attempt to smear his good name and impeccable record.
The neo-CON lap dogs don't need your help, Mr. Conservative, they're hell-bent on destroying the revolution.
From what I understand, he wasn't editing the newsletters, and had writers contributing to it. His involvement during that time was minimal. I liken it to the blimp or the moneybombs. Both have his name attached to them, but he's not directly involved with them. I don't beleive that Ron Paul is a racist, and nothing that he says or does convinces me differently. He's accepted moral responsibility for the comments. Some criticize him for not taking outright responsibility, but if he didn't write the words, why should he. I'm still waiting for someone to call McCain on his comments at the debates, calling people of the middle east terrorists, and having nothing to trade except burkkas. That they are only interested in one way tickets. So far, the msm has made no comment, and McCain doesn't look like he's aware of any prejudice on his part. Killing middle easterners seems to be accepted, smearing them all as terrorists seems to be accepted. Wanting peace, prosperity and liberty gets you branded as a kook. Ages old articles not even written by Ron Paul gets him branded as a racist.
Will American's vote for someone with with such a sullied past? Well, it's either that or practice hatred against the people of the Middle East by killing them,inciting yet more hatred.(If bankruptcy doesn't occur first) I don't know about you, but China as loanshark just doesn't seem like a sensible plan. Cheers for at least thinking for yourself on the topic. You've compared Ron Paul's comments to Kurchicks, and have tried to look at the situation from more than one angle. I would have liked Ron Paul to have denounced the letters more strongly, but I'm not sure if that would only serve as a distraction to his main message. The campaign should have seen it coming, and it might be time for Ron Paul to step up to a more professional campaign manager. In the mean time, a vote for Ron Paul is still a vote for peace , individual liberty , and fiscal responsibity.
Posted By: Christopher Espinal
Date: 2008-01-11 20:45:55
It turns out that even Matt Welch of Reason Magazine, a publication favorable to Paul's message, agrees that Paul is racist. This article for the American Thinker sums it up quite well. I would suggest that you guys read this blog post: http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2008/01/ron_pauls_racist_rheoric_uncov.html.
Amazing how much time people spend with this... while most of the other candidates' policies would directly result in the deaths of 100s of thousands of Arabs and Isrealis. But then, I guess people are okay with that... as long as black or gay people aren't being slandered in a 20 year old newsletter.
Honestly think about the platform and position Ron Paul takes on issues. Any Libertarian knows that racism and bigotry do not pay.
Now we hear stories of how Paul speaks in code to give messages...please spare us the vague attacks upon Ron Paul. We recognize that the so-called conservatives are afraid of Paul. They too lose their power under a Paul Presidency.
The funny thing about power is that no one wants to give it up once they have had it.
The only people that have given up power in this country are individuals. And we are going to get our power back one way or another.
Posted By: Christopher Espinal
Date: 2008-01-11 22:47:16
AB:
"Riiight. I did a search for Ron Paul articles on the site, and found 10 negative, and 1 neutral one."
Did you read the article which I posted on my link? I don't think you did. Look at the research that Welch himself has done! Comment afterward. I know you are passionate about Paul but don't let emotions get in the way of facts.
Scott:
It seems that you don't like political correctness. Well it happens to be that a lot of Americans do care and they want a candidate that will make sure everyone gets equal rights in this country. For a person who advocates non-intervention like yourself it is quite contradictory to even mention the strife abroad implicitly stating that we have an obligation to them. Sounds like you and Congressman Paul disagree on issues of foriegn policy!
Mr. Espinal, you may not be convinced but presuming guilt until innocence is proven is a self-destructive way to prove something. Take a look at this picture and tell me how much of a racist Dr. Paul is. The same man who served in an inner-city hospital taking care of all without insurance. The same man who praises Martin Luther King, Jr., who also endured all types of insults and accusations as an anti-white radical and Communist. The Neocons stand to gain the most by this ridiculous guilt by association smear.
Posted By: Christopher Espinal
Date: 2008-01-12 17:06:16
So you're telling me because he's standing next to black people that makes him a non-racist? Seriously, I would suggest that you read some literature to understand racism.
Unfortunately, in the political world one is guilty until proven innocent. There are potential supporters who want to know more about Dr. Paul. He needs to prove himself by addressing his ambiguities. I thought most Paul supporters were against the nonsensical and general ideas spewed in the MSM. Now that Dr. Paul is under skepticism because of horrible explanations for his past, obsessive Paul supporters reject further mention of this controversy. That shows emotions are a powerful part of everyones decision making! Don't worry, I'm guilty of that as well!
Before the days of electronic identity theft, or posing as someone else on a website (I lost count at about 18 or so "Hillary" or "Hillary Clinton" myspace profiles with her photo), people did things like dumpster diving, for correspondence, letter head, or credit cards. People also had to want to pose as someone else in some cases to reap the reward of whatever it is that person had in mind with that information or that "identity". to conceal themselves behind.
Does that include stupid people who write idiotic, racist, things on some else's newsletter template with the words Ron Paul's name printed across the top. Sounds easy, especially if you didn't have the dumpster dive for the letter head.
Also, how many have his name in the byline (not the letterhead) as you review each newsletter?
He says he didn't write them. And as I read these newsletters, it doesn't "sound" like his writing or speaking style. Did you notice that?
Speaking of sound, you can hear him speaking on the floor of the house...wait about a minute or two, and you'll see why he admires Martin Luther King, and Rosa Parks. He has conviction for holding them in high regard. He has a motive for liking them.
So I'm a skeptic for the two reasons, and for the following...
Just for the hell of it, I took time to read some things. Here are dozens of Congressman's Pauls House testimonies that are written down and recorded, which I think qualifies as a real byline don't you think?
http://www.house.gov/paul/legis.shtml
Also, for the hell of it, click on the "sponsored" buttons. These dozens of H.R. bills might be the reason he seems "odd"? to the political environment in the beltway? Seems to be standing up for something doesn't he?
Now, what did he vote against that might seem like a problem and prove he's a racist?
Well, voting against a bill that wanted to award a gold medal to Rosa Parks, of course:
Against Rosa Parks Gold Medal http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec99/cr042099.htm
But then he voted against these other medals too (his reason? Congress shouldn't spend taxpayers money...I don't agree with him...but that his reason in his own words)
Against Ronald Reagan Gold Medal http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2000/cr040300.htm
Against Tony Blair Gold Medal http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr062503.htm The full text is eye opening...do a Control-F for Mr. Paul http://frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=0718227435+32+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve
Against the Dalai Lama Gold Medal (do a Control-F for Mr. Paul) http://frwebgate4.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate.cgi?WAISdocID=0716719158+0+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve
He was against the Pope's Gold Medal too. There's more like these if you have a few hours to kill.
And before you think his reasons for not awarding gold medals was somehow missed, here's the Washington Post putting that Paul mind set in perspective
Actions in almost all cases speak louder than words. Just to bring up a few points....
The HEAD of the NAACP just released a public statement supporting Ron Paul. "Knowing Ron Paul's intent, I think he is trying to improve this country but I think also, when you talk about the Constitution and you constantly criticize the federal government versus state I think a lot of folks are going to misconstrue that....so I think it's very easy for folks who want to to take his position out of context and that's what I'm hearing," said Linder. "Knowing Ron Paul and having talked to him, I think he's a very fair guy I just think that a lot of folks do not understand the Libertarian platform," he added. Asked directly if Ron Paul was a racist, Linder responded "No I don't," adding that he had heard Ron Paul speak out about police repression of black communities and mandatory minimum sentences on many occasions. This man has known Dr. Paul for over 20 years.
Ron Paul is against the War on Drugs and has been from the start of his career. He has consistantly stated for years that the War on Drugs is more a race war and class war that disproportionately effects minorities especial black people. No closet racist would support removing one of our government's most racist policies especially one most of mainstream America still favors. Many people consider speaking out against the war on drugs political suicide for a Republican.
Ron Paul did vote against Rosa Parks getting a medal because it would cost $30,000 dollars of tax payers money he believed neither he nor the government owned but the people....BUT he did offer to pay $100 dollars out of his own pocket and said that if the rest of the 427 memebers of the House of Rep. would that they could raise of $40,000 dollars to pay for the Medal themselves because Rosa Parks was one of his heroes and he personally would love contributing to her recognition. As we know most of politicians don't care to spend their money and he couldn't get anyone else to contribute to help him pay for it.
Not one person can ever recall in Paul's years of public service or in his private life him ever making a bigoted statement.
See the interested fact is that all of this is first circumstantial. Its been in the media before for years and it is now just becoming an issue when he is threatening the current power structure. When most people are deemed a racist is this fashion there is a "soundbyte caught on tape" or video evidence of someone making a comment or statement. All of the evidence is circumstantial at best and completely contradicts Dr. Paul's 30 years of public and civil service record.
Bottomline is your attempt to connect point A to point Z and infer out of all of this that Ron Paul is a racist just doesn't hold water." 30 years of a spotless record as well as continued support from minorities proves you are slandering the only honest politician in the race. If you want a fascist government to keep ruling your life their is a plane to China leaving every 5 minutes, but please don't slander the only candidate that has a chance to get us back to the Constitution.
God bless America and God bless Dr. Paul for fighting the good tough fight for the rest of us.
Posted By: Christopher Espinal
Date: 2008-01-14 15:54:51
The one point that Paul supporters never address is why were there two different explanations for the same problem? Paul never addressed that specific point which makes me very skeptical. I have yet to hear good arguments against the reason why Paul is not a racist! Just because the NAACP President in Austin, Nelson Linder, says that Paul is not racist doesn't mean anything. No racist person, unless open, would say mean spirited things like those comments in his newsletters in Public.
The only convincing evidence to me is that Paul was on the leave during the decade that these bigoted statements popped up. Newsletters often have different people write on topics just like in Corporations, where Vice Presidents could give someone else the responsibility, as my friend at Bear Stearns. But that doesn't cover the reason why Paul said at one point that his comments were taken out "context": a different explanation than the one on the Situation Room. Again, that change in explanations is the one piece of information that makes me believe that he wrote those comments of bigotry.
If you could provide me with real, documented evidence, not "evidence" that would necessitate trust in Paul because of his political records as being the most consistent conservative, that Paul didn't make that statement back in 1996 then I will write an open letter of apology to the Ron Paul community. Otherwise, I have every right to believe that he is racist and he wrote those comments.
As far as you calling what I wrote as slander is simply preposterous. I have a sincere belief that Paul is lying. I was very honest to give you the one point that may seize my criticism of Paul on this topic if proven false. As I have stated before both James Kirchick (of TNR) and Matt Welch (of Reason) found the same information showing that in 1996 he made a different statement on the newsletter comments than on CNN with Blitzer. Please let down the wall of your pervasive emotions and counter my points directly than giving me lame indicators that "show" he isn't racist.
[The latest testimonial on Ron Paul's true social and political sensibilities is perhaps the most authoritative one, and is based on irrefutable empirical evidence. I reproduce below, in its entirety, the story as published by the original source. –DT]
NAACP President: Ron Paul Is Not A Racist Linder says Paul being smeared because he is a threat to the establishment
Paul Joseph Watson Prison Planet Sunday, January 13, 2008
Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder, who has known Ron Paul for 20 years, unequivocally dismissed charges that the Congressman was a racist in light of recent smear attempts, and said the reason for him being attacked was that he was a threat to the establishment.
Linder joined Alex Jones for two segments on his KLBJ Sunday show this evening, during which he commented on the controversy created by media hit pieces that attempted to tarnish Paul as a racist by making him culpable for decades old newsletter articles written by other people.
"Knowing Ron Paul's intent, I think he is trying to improve this country but I think also, when you talk about the Constitution and you constantly criticize the federal government versus state I think a lot of folks are going to misconstrue that....so I think it's very easy for folks who want to to take his position out of context and that's what I'm hearing," said Linder.
"Knowing Ron Paul and having talked to him, I think he's a very fair guy I just think that a lot of folks do not understand the Libertarian platform," he added.
Asked directly if Ron Paul was a racist, Linder responded "No I don't," adding that he had heard Ron Paul speak out about police repression of black communities and mandatory minimum sentences on many occasions.
Dr. Paul has also publicly praised Martin Luther King as his hero on many occasions spanning back 20 years.
"I've read Ron Paul's whole philosophy, I also understand what he's saying from a political standpoint and why people are attacking him," said Linder.
"If you scare the folks that have the money, they're going to attack you and they're going to take it out of context," he added.
"What he's saying is really really threatening the powers that be and that's what they fear," concluded the NAACP President.
[The latest testimonial on Ron Paul's true social and political sensibilities is perhaps the most authoritative one, and is based on irrefutable empirical evidence. I reproduce below, in its entirety, the story as published by the original source. –DT]
NAACP President: Ron Paul Is Not A Racist Linder says Paul being smeared because he is a threat to the establishment
Paul Joseph Watson Prison Planet Sunday, January 13, 2008
Austin NAACP President Nelson Linder, who has known Ron Paul for 20 years, unequivocally dismissed charges that the Congressman was a racist in light of recent smear attempts, and said the reason for him being attacked was that he was a threat to the establishment.
Linder joined Alex Jones for two segments on his KLBJ Sunday show this evening, during which he commented on the controversy created by media hit pieces that attempted to tarnish Paul as a racist by making him culpable for decades old newsletter articles written by other people.
"Knowing Ron Paul's intent, I think he is trying to improve this country but I think also, when you talk about the Constitution and you constantly criticize the federal government versus state I think a lot of folks are going to misconstrue that....so I think it's very easy for folks who want to to take his position out of context and that's what I'm hearing," said Linder.
"Knowing Ron Paul and having talked to him, I think he's a very fair guy I just think that a lot of folks do not understand the Libertarian platform," he added.
Asked directly if Ron Paul was a racist, Linder responded "No I don't," adding that he had heard Ron Paul speak out about police repression of black communities and mandatory minimum sentences on many occasions.
Dr. Paul has also publicly praised Martin Luther King as his hero on many occasions spanning back 20 years.
"I've read Ron Paul's whole philosophy, I also understand what he's saying from a political standpoint and why people are attacking him," said Linder.
"If you scare the folks that have the money, they're going to attack you and they're going to take it out of context," he added.
"What he's saying is really really threatening the powers that be and that's what they fear," concluded the NAACP President.
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