Some Ron Paul supporters act as if the newsletter controversy is the only real obstacle to him being taken seriously as a Republican contender. A few have even argued, in the comment section here and other places, that the content in the newsletters doesn’t match anything Paul has otherwise ever said or done.
On the last argument, these supporters have a point. The worst of the bigotry in the newsletters – i.e., mocking black people as lazy criminals and defending Holocaust deniers – goes well beyond anything Paul has said publicly, at least that we are aware of.
But keep in mind that the most inflammatory comments were written during a rare lull in Paul’s political career when he wasn’t in or running for public office, between 1990 and 1994. He had renounced his affiliation with the Republican Party, and beyond an advisory role for the controversial Pat Buchanan’s campaign, he wasn’t under the glare of the public spotlight. He was moving in circles that often engaged in bordlerline-racist rhetoric. And there are few speeches or outside columns that Paul wrote during this time period with which to compare his newsletter.
Even if you ignore the newsletters, it’s difficult to deny that Paul is a conspiracy theorist and an extremist who indulges bigots, crackpots and anti-Semites, based on statements he’s made much more recently. Many of his positions also put him at odds with the Republican electorate. Politico outlines just six of his stances that will haunt him this election cycle, if the newsletter controversy ever dies down:
The “disaster” of Ronald Reagan’s conservative agenda
“I think we can further thank Ronald Reagan for doing a good job [on furthering the Libertarian Party]. He certainly did a good job in 1980 pointing out the fallacies of the Democratic liberal agenda and he certainly did a good job on following up to show the disaster of the conservative agenda as well.” …
Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are unconstitutional
Fox News’s Chris Wallace: You talk a lot about the Constitution. You say Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid are all unconstitutional.
Ron Paul: Technically, they are. … There’s no authority [in the Constitution]. Article I, Section 8 doesn’t say I can set up an insurance program for people. What part of the Constitution are you getting it from? The liberals are the ones who use this General Welfare Clause….
American drug laws are designed to fund rogue governments, CIA programs
“I think that might be the No. 1 reason for the drug laws … to raise the funds necessary for government to do illegal things, whether it’s some terrorist government someplace or whether it’s our own CIA to fund programs that they can’t get Congress to fund. I think it’s tragic and the sooner we get rid of the drug laws, the sooner this will end.” …
U.S. foreign policy “significantly contributed” to 9/11 attacks
“The flawed foreign policy of interventionism that we have followed for decades significantly contributed to the attacks. Warnings had been sounded by the more astute that our meddling in the affairs of others would come to no good.” …
Returning white supremacist donation is “pandering”
“I think it is pandering. I think it is playing the political correctness.” …
The Civil Rights Act “violated the Constitution”
“The Civil Rights Act of 1964 not only violated the Constitution and reduced individual liberty, it also failed to achieve its stated goals of promoting racial harmony and a color-blind society.”
This list doesn’t even include his vehemently anti-Israel comments, his opposition to the raid that killed Osama bin Laden, his close relationship with unhinged conspiracy-monger Alex Jones, and his wild claims that there’s a conspiracy to overthrow the U.S. government and institute a “New World Order.”
So Paul’s supporters are right, to an extent – other than the newsletters, there is no evidence that he’s ever praised David Duke or decried the “evil of forced integration.” But there is plenty of evidence that for years Paul has aligned himself with – and benefited greatly from – the same movement that has spawned much of the racism and anti-Semitism on the right. Looking at his record and hearing his recent controversial comments, the content in the newsletters isn’t as “out of character” as some have tried to argue.
The complete answer here is that Dr. Paul, alone among the candidates, won't kowtow to Israel and the Zionists. Most people are sick of the "You're an antisemite, you're a racist" ploy. n nYou can tell a real racist easily enough. They're open about it. You don't have to try to tease it out of some 20-year old smeary newsletter. n nDr. Paul is not in the pocket of the banks, the DC Establishment, the punditocracy. He doesn't want to "Bomb, bomb Iran." No wonder you can't stand him. No wonder Jamie Kirchick tried to smear him. All to his credit.
Don't anti-Semites (yeah yeah, you guys just hate Israel, think "Zionists" is a curse-word, and feel free to mouth off about both despite knowing exactly butkes worth about either–other than that, the greatest respect) have something better to do than hassle poor Yidden here? Soo much time on your hands and you guys have to troll over here to give the rasberry after articles that whiz by over your head written by people who are incomprehensible to you and you despise? n nWhat, no hobbies? After you riffle through the selected works of Ron Paul on ZOG and the advertisements for his gold investment partners there's no stamps, or coins, or things to do around the house? n nNo, here you are, as predictable as mildew. n nDo we pop over where you and your political buddies go to relax and tip over the canes of the blind one-legged hookers?
Poor Yidden? Is this an oxymoron, jajajaja.
Aaaaah, a breeze of fresh air in a contaminated site/world. n nThanks Grump. I guess we're under siege here like the Wall Street Jewish banksters jajajaja.
Go back to your hole.
What honestly makes anyone think that the Cold War ever really ended? n nThere still is a battle between the individual and the collective, it started with the German National Socialists, progressed to the Russian Soviets, and now is with the Islamic Theologians. n nIsrael is a Western Country. It is Jewish, Japan is Buddhist — whatever — these are outposts of democracy and individual freedoms in a part of the world where that sort of thing is not popular. (Japan is only 200 miles or so from North Korea…) These two countries are outposts, our forts on the fronteer protecting us from indian attack, so to speak. And one thing that people forget about Israel is that tools & parts that fit American-made planes, maintence folk trained to repair American-made planes could — in an emergency and if wanting to — could repair USAF & USN planes. n nThink just National Defense and nothing else. We need Israel to defend this country from people who want to destroy THIS country. Who openly say they want to — "Big Satan and Little Satan" and all the rest. Forget everything else, American national interest is having a strong and secure Israel.
The stuff about the newsletters is strong. I am a Ron Paul supporter and their existence is the bane of MY existence. I don't think even white supremists would have enjoyed that thing, it's terrible. n nI think he is building a nice bridge for what's his name, the other libertarian guy, to get a real third party, the likes of which we haven't seen before.
This 'Grumpy_Old_Man' is nothing more than an anti-Semitic racist. He explains that "a real racist is easy to detect'. Well, I didn't need any instruction from him for that.
Hey Grump: "There they go again with the "'A.S.' word"'' Hey, in most cases the Palestinians are 'more' semitic than many of these mostly Ashkanazi zealots – so why are these 'cabrones' practicing 'anti-semitism' while pointing fingers at others? (((Yawn)))
Why is this illiterate anti-Semitic idiot posted here? Save this space for the non-N-zis.
The Ashkenaziis are "semites" and "anti-Semitic" doesn't mean against "Semites" anyways but was a term made up by Germans to claim pride as Jew haters who lick the schmutz from between their own toes. You are a Jew hater–then again you also have prehensile toes which is helpful because you are a baboon.
I like libertarian concepts relating to the size and purpose of the federal government. These ideas have become a part of conservative and Republican thinking in the proposal of solutions — although social conservatives especially find libertarian social concepts distasteful. I personally don't like social engineering by the government (or anyone, especially de Tocqueville's "tyranny of the majority") and so do not find myself upset over libertarian social ideas. All that said, and acknowledging that libertarian thinking is working it's way more and more into even discussions among moderates, Ron Paul is by himself destroying the entire movement, turning it into another OWS, just a bunch of crackpots. And that's too bad for all the good ideas being thrown out with the bath water!
Ron Paul gets no pass from me on the trash in those newsletters. Before I'd let ANYthing with my name attached go pubic, I'd scrutinize it from top to bottom. Since Paul obviously wasn't bright enough to figure that out, he's just not smart enough to be prez.
My real beef is with those who preach the criminal folly of war with Iran for the sake of Israel. Otherwise I’d be indifferent to the tribal concerns expressed here.
The agitation for war with Iran must be fought everywhere, however.
You fear the Jews so you refuse to admit Iran is a danger to anyone else. The Saudis begged America to go after Tehran. They are not Israel or Jewish. You make up your own Jew-centric reality.That said, what you don't get is that Israel is not likely to put taking out Tehran on the front burner for a variety of reasons–and neither is the US. So you can go on and live your life. Israel and the United States will likely shift to "conflict management" both with Palestine and Tehran. You are being exploited by Ron Paul who finds haters of all varieties a breeding ground for shekels. Buy the newsletter, invest in the gelt.
Hey Pilgrim, Iran hasn't attacked anyone in 200 years. Can your 1/2 acre of Zioist hell say that? (You don't have to answer that one – not until I see your GED certificate anywho, I like communicating in two or more syllable 'civilized' words – or more. (You speak Yiddish?). BTW: What Yeshiva did you flunk out of Besh? n nRon Paul is a great humanitarian and would make an excellent president. But, you're right, Israel would have to apply to the Holocaust 'rag doll,' Angela Merkel for food stamps if Pauly ever get elected (And without AIPAC bribes too!). * G-d bless him!
Are enough people noticing that much of what Ron Paul says is very similar to what a lot of today's "Leftists" say?? Didn't Tom Friedman say some things recently that sounded a lot like Ron Paul and the ZOG garbage??
Certainly Ron Paul has much less to repent for than, let's say, the 'blood up to their kesiter' baby killers of the Gavati 'death squads' of the IDF or the Natanyahoo Likudnik 'mafia' , dah comrades? Ronnie sez 'no more 'warfare' to the Jews – 'Audit the US Jewish operated 'Fed' – and "I believe any nation surrounded by madmen bearing nukes has every right to have some of their own' – Bless him, (You're right commentary, the man's too honest to qualify for AIPAC bribe money and be a politician). n nGlad to be back (: Despite some of the resident zealots objections who say I increase their distolic blood pressure
– Gee, thanks Commentary censors, mi amigos! n nTheAZCowBoy nTombstone, AZ. n nPssst, glad you missed me fella's! nWord-to-the-wise: Hey Abraham, 'ZOG garbage?' (With all that education you stoop to this poor use of the kings English, Kimosabe?
Why is this illiterate anti-Semitic idiot posted here? Save this space for the non-N-zis non-Bast-rds.
How can you tell when AZCB goes off the meds the child psychologist prescribed? n nHere he is. Ron Paul's target audience: ADDS kids who hate Jews and suffer from schizotypical disorder. Not that Paul will admit it. Hey cowpoke, buy two newsletters and get one free! Get the audio recordings! Buy the gold!
AZ's dad doesn't mind that TImmy hates Jews–he sort of did too before he decamped to Debuque with a travel agent. It was those games of "CSI" Timmy played with the neighbor's cats and dogs.
I suppose you have never told a fib, huh Pilgrim? Like "G-d gave me all this land and I have an expired 3,000 year old lease in my back pocket that proves it! LOL! (Lot's of lies).
So when your grandmother goes down on you do you whimper, cry out ecstatically, or just say faster faster?
Psssst, be careful what you say Besh. My grandmother is Jewish! nBTW: Now that you have me thinking (((deep))) and at your level You got any sista's? n nHey minders, this guy speaks kinda 'potty mouth.' Has he got his GED yet? His vocab seems limited.
Let's face it Senor ODDS – 'If Ron Paul supported pariah Israel 200% and all the murder and mayhem it visits on a people with no military to defend them and even if he had sex with his sister – You and AIPAC would be delivering suit cases full of shekel's to the guy.
Ahhhh, I got me one! I got me one! Now what do I so with the Zio/Pihrana? I lost mi vice-grips, so how do I pull his razor sharp teeth? Hey Gasbag… sorry, I mean Vandag, take your prozac and I'll deal with you in the morning when your IDF alter ego has left, Pfttttt!,
What's the difference between the AZCowboy and pond scum? The pond.
So the AZCowboy and a skunk go into a privy. After a minute the skunk flees. After two minutes, the privy runs away.
What's the difference between the AZCowBoy and a real CowBoy? A real CowBoy has a stetson to urinate in. AZCB uses his brain.
Minders are you gonna let this (sounds like steep) talk to the AZCowBoy like this?
Wait wait I gone one too! What's the difference between the AZCowboy and cowflop at the bottom of a boot? The boot!
How do you know AZCB isn't a real cowboy? He's three years old. And his horse rides him. n
The simple fact is that much of the 1964 Civil Rights Act quite likely was unConstitutional, as was Lincoln's suspension of the writ of habeus corpus in Maryland during the Civil War. Both needed doing at the time — and it is the Civil Rights Act that bothers me relative to NoBama NoCare as much of the civil rights stuff was done under the Commerce Clause. _Katchenbac v. McClung_, the "Ollie's Diner" case, was decided on the grounds that ketchup traveled in interstate commerce — because of that, Congress could regulate the diner. n nWhich is similar to what we are hearing about Obamacare. n nIt is the same thing with Obama's birth certificate and how I quietly tell people that if we believe in Federalism, we have to accept Hawii's decision that he was born there. Federal authority is limited and I really do think Congress overstepped its authority with the civil rights act. n nI think the civil rights act was a good thing — just that Congress overstepped its authority in passing it.
How do you know AZB never actually flew planes? n nYou can't be a pilot if you have to use a kiddie chair on top of a phonebook to see over the steering controls.
Look up Moshe Ahrens (Israeli ambassador to the US in the 1970's) he was there when I was in Israel in 1978. Yup, flew from A3D Skyhawks to Mirages and on to F4 Phantoms – I flew them all – and a couple of Jewish 'Mamacitas' too, jajaja..
O, where have all the Paulbots gone? Hiding under blankies, everyone? n nNot only here, but elsewhere on blogs and forums, the moderate, reasonable libertarians have nothing left to say and are giving up even half-hearted attempts to defend Paul. Who can really blame them? As the "willing suspension of disbelief" evaporates, the gag reflexes finally kick in over Ron Paul's run-of-the-mill bigotry and hilariously stupid excuses. n nTo be associated with a "charismatic" leader who at the peak of his political career turns out to be such a flop, a repulsive crackpot and an obnoxious cretin, cannot be good for one's self-respect. And as the polite shuffle towards the exits turns into an elbow-butting, door-jamming exodus, Ronnie will be left with his loyal core of "besieged" loonie-fringe ideologues and the repulsive toe-jam of American society who will, by sheer default, become his new "intellectuals" …such as the great catches like Grumpy Old Man and The AZ Cowboy. It's an end Ronnie well deservers.