Is Ron Paul a Racist?
Sunday January 13, 2008
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It seems that Ron Paul's newsletter, published off and on since 1976, is full of the same sort of rhetoric that one might find in these white nationalist groups. Yes, I was familiar with the scattered racially inflammatory remarks published in one 1996 newsletter that had been attributed to Paul, but he denied knowing about them--and, given that we were talking about a few quotes in one newsletter issue, I took his explanation at face value at the time. You might have noticed, by this point in the newsletter, that I've had a conspicuous habit of taking Ron Paul's explanations at face value.
But now I've run out of patience, and I'm tired of pretending that there isn't a serious problem with Ron Paul's history on race issues. In a new article (titled "Angry White Man"), The New Republic's James Kirchick digs deeper and finds an even uglier history of racist rhetoric in Paul's newsletter. The rhetoric was so frequent, and so over-the-top, that it strains credulity to believe that Rep. Paul did not know and approve of the fact that it was being printed under his name.
A few examples:
- The February 1990 issue of Paul's newsletter warned of "the coming race war."
- The June 1991 issue described a minor DC race riot with the headline "Animals Take Over the D.C. Zoo," and described it as "only the first skirmish in the race war of the 1990s."
- The June 1992 issue of the Ron Paul Political Report was designated a "Special Issue on Racial Terrorism." "Order was only restored in L.A.," one article argued, "when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks..." Rather than blaming the riots on the acquittal of Rodney King's assailants, the author attacks civil rights laws, reapportionment, and the increasing number of African Americans in traditionally white professions.
- A later issue described the end of apartheid in South Africa as "tragic" and a "destruction of civilization."
- The newsletter condemned Ronald Reagan for establishing Martin Luther King Day, and accused King (baselessly) of domestic violence and pedophilia. The newsletter particularly attacked King for bringing about what it called "the evil of forced integration."
- The newsletter suggested that appropriate names for a city renamed by black civil rights activists might include "Welfaria," "Zooville," "Rapetown," "Dirtburg," and "Lazyopolis."
Ron Paul is a compelling candidate in some respects--most notably, he wants to end the federal war on drugs--but it is no longer possible to dismiss his ties to the rhetoric of the white nationalist right. And his position on civil rights, which I initially viewed as a consistent (if naive) application of state's rights doctrine, can no longer be assessed independently from the horrible rhetoric contained in the newsletters that bear his name.
There are two possible explanations for this rhetoric: Either Ron Paul wrote or approved of vicious hate speech on a regular basis, to the extent that he was comfortable publishing it under his own name, or he published a newsletter under his own name for decades without bothering to read it. Believing the first explanation means believing that Ron Paul is a raving bigot; believing the second means believing that he is so sloppy with his own reputation that he's willing to put his name on anything, sight unseen. Either scenario disqualifies him from serving as President of the United States.
I will be endorsing a different Republican candidate on my civil liberties site for the 2008 primary, and I would urge his supporters to rally around the Libertarian Party, which could certainly benefit from their funds and support--and appears to be much more deserving of it. Rep. Paul had some interesting and provocative ideas--but his presidential candidacy is effectively over now. And it should be.
See also:
Comments
Sorry buddy, you dont get to just declare a candidacy over. The stakes are alot higher than old newsletters or blogs. Canceling the war on drugs will do more for civil liberty and freedom than any ambivelent phrases uttered for show!!!
War on Drugs, Billion$ frm China given to Pakistan while we wage democracy in Iraq!!!! Get some perspective.
Choose old newsletters or more of the same BS War on Drugs, war on Terror war on US!!!
Dont cheat yourself into voting for someone who promises the status quo and Hope and Change!!! Motivational speakers are all you got left.
Restore the Republic!!! Vote for Dr Ron Paul!!! Join US on MLK Day to celebrate Dr Paul the Civil Rights Leader of the 21st century!
Sorry Tom but I’m not buyin your line
nor The New Republic’s. You folks like
these stories that the RNC dug up to
try to slow the Paul movement but you
won’t dig deep enough to find that he
did not author them. Some folks are
fooled easier than others–grow up and
get some maturity!
Hey Tom, it’s apparent that you’re judging from a very narrow perspective!Even if your mistaken accessment was valid,this does not put you in a position to disqualify anyone. Your view is only an opinion,and you know that everyone has one! Have you seen the Wolf Blitzer interview about articles in the newsletters? I would hope that someone in a position such as you, would know that a racist or others hate filled persons can be known by their life. It is easy to tell that Ron is a man of truth,integrity,honor,and has a true respect of all peoples individual rights! I think that if you do a little more research you’ll find the truth.
Take care!
Hi Tom, sorry to hear that you have easily given up on the fight to restore constitutional values due to a story coincidentally timed to break on the day of the New Hampshire Caucus. Sorry to hear that you would accept such a story at “face value” rather than take a moment to consider how this story was designed to affect the judgement of minorities across the country. They hoped it would not only dissuade the sensitive minded from supporting Dr. Paul but to also undermine and confuse said voter into supporting a lesser candidate, thus braking down the fabric of the revolutionary movement made up of true american idealists like yourself. I hope you’ll reconsider your decision, your vote is valuable. Don’t waver… stand true.
It’s such a shame that this ever happened to what is obviously one of the finest men around. I think if you are going to form an opinion on someone and share it with the world you should really dig a little deeper. He offers so much that if he did make the mistake of trusting some people years ago who were writing these newsletters, only to find out they had been taking gross advantage of him. You can clearly tell when you see his sincerity that it wasn’t his writing, and he is the only candidate that will produce any change, unlike some of the ones who as time passes begin to make more and more statements that sound like Dr. Paul, because they pay lip service and like most all candidates will promise anything, say anything, just to get the vote. Then they get into office and do the opposite. No integrity. Dr. Paul will do it.
I believe that you really need to look into the guy that wrote the article that dug *deeper* and see who he is working with. Eric, guy who doesn’t think we should pull out of Iraq, who worked for Dr. Paul and did some editing on those letters, was fired by Dr. Paul (maybe for that reason), and has challenged him for his seat in Texas. Oh, and did I forget they call the person who really did wrote those letters the “ghostwriter”. Well, Mr. Eric has atleast 5 different names that I have found so far. That seems a little fishy to me. Oh, don’t forget that some indications are that Eric is a rasist.
If you want to walk away, then by all means do, but I can not believe that someone who really believes in Ron Paul
would just walk away without trying to get to the bottom of things. Just because the media hasn’t said “oh, we dug deep and found that “soandso” actually wrote those things. If we are expecting that then we are crazy.
ron paul a racist ?? not on your life. he points to the problem and the cause. if youre an upstanding individula who takes defending our nation and its laws then ron paul is going to be your best friend. plain and simple. political correctness and political smear campaigns are nothing more than yellow dog juournalism. look into ron pauls writing for yourself and NEVER trust the “news media” his integrity is higher, far higher, than any other candidate running in this election. look at his record. its that simple
A pretty pathetic attempt at playing the race card. Hah.
What’s The National Council of La Raza?
Tom is secretary of Mississippi NOW, public and community outreach chair for Jackson Area NOW, director of communications for Unity Mississippi, and an active volunteer in the Mississippi ACLU, which in June 2006 awarded him a Certificate of Appreciation for his work. He also holds membership in Amnesty International, Mississippi ACORN, the Mississippi Hispanic Association, the Mississippi NAACP, the Mississippi Immigrants’ Rights Alliance (MIRA), and the National Council of La Raza.
This is old news that Ron Paul has already addressed. Ron already took responsibility because the blog had his name on it but he didn’t monitor the thing and it was taken over by knuckleheads. If this is all it takes to change your mind on a good man then I have to question your sincerity as a supporter of Ron Paul.
After seeing the above from Mr. Garcia and doing a quick check myself, the answer is obvious. You are a fraud Tom Head. How dare you lie about being a supporter of Ron Paul for the purpose of attacking him this way. By the way mr Head, La Raza of which you are on the council, means “The Race” does it not? I’m sure that does not imply a foot race. Sounds like perhaps YOU are the real supporter of racism. Thank you Mr. Garcia for bringing out the truth.
An important character witness has come forward. You’ve already judged Ron Paul guilty without a trial. If you have any decency, you will read this:
http://stewart-rhodes.blogspot.com/2…d-for-ron.html
I am Black and LOVE Dr. Paul! Sorry son, you’ll have to come up with something a WHOLE lot better than this. Actions speak much louder than alleged words. I don’t believe those newsletters reflect Dr. Paul’s views. He’s been too consistent over the past 30+ years in his words and actions regarding race. His philosophy is Constitution-based, which means a level playing field for everyone. I LIKE THAT! Dr. Paul’s Presidency would be a great thing for all people, especially minorities. There’s something wrong with you though . . .
Who do you think you are? For you to judge Ron Paul because of some stupid letter shows just how easy it is for Americans to be influenced and corralled like sheep. Common sense dictates that Ron Paul didn’t write those letters. So his organization didn’t catch them, so what? You’re never made a mistake? Ron Paul is a defender of the constitution. What other candidate has the courage to go against the grain and reverse the horrible effects our previous administrations have had on our wonderful country. Ron Paul is no more a racist then you are journalist (which you obviously are NOT)! www.RonPaul2008.com
Tom, Very, very sorry to hear you’ve come to feel as you do. I adamantly oppose all forms of racism and I would like to think that I would be prepared to forfeit my life to defend the rights, liberties and freedoms for all minorities or ethnicities.
There is no way that Ron Paul could have written those newsletters or condoned them. There are too many endorsements from minority individuals who have known him and benefited personally from his kind and ethical behavior. He is the strictest constitutional libertarian I have every known of in DC and completely inflexible on that. We all know his voting record – the record of his public speaking verifies his steadfast ethic. It is completely oxymoronic to consider this strict libertarian a racist?
Kirchick when asked, said that he did not know of any example of Ron Paul ever making any racist remarks or engaging in racist dialogue. Kirchick explains this inconsistency to his allegations by suggesting that RP talks “in code” and functions as a ”transmitter” to racist audiences who “know the code” and understand his racist rhetoric?
I am a professional researcher and Kirchick’s sources don’t pass critique. Ron Paul had apologized for his serious lack of monitoring of the publication years ago and Kirchick knew it. A true objective researcher, wanting to clarify alleged inconsistencies in a candidate would have not continued to sit in his easy chair cutting and pasting –but instead laid out an introduction for his readers of the historical actuals…then supplied the reader with the grave potentials…then he would had gotten his lazy rear-end out of his office and had went down to Ron Paul’s district and researched and interviewed to prove or disprove his hypothesis. In anthropology we disdainfully call his kind – an “arm chair anthropologists”. He is much worst because his actions are calculated maliciousness to achieve a political end – pure Machiavellian.
Your questions are valid – any ethical person should ask the same, but I am not willing to cave into what is obviously a poorly researched, cut and pasted political smear and give up on the only presidential candidate in my entire plus 50 years that is dedicated to restoring this Republic. Regrettably, your reaction to TNR’s hit piece is the optimal response hoped for with a timed, calculated character assassination and political smear.
I will stand with Ron Paul…of course saddened that this incident has injured the movement (your reaction and others)…but actually - I am now more dedicated toward the objectives knowing that we are truly becoming a threat to the status quo for them to desperately work such a disturbing angle.
Tom, good luck and the best to you. We will see you when this struggle is over.
Gee Tom, you couldn’t get a more EVIL picture of Ron Paul? Used Photoshop to darken the picture. Is it GUILTY until proven INNOCENT? That’s where our country is going? I’m a minority, not that that should matter, but you should know that NOT all minorities think that every white person is a racist and that we are going to FALL for crap like this…some of us are very secure…we know how to sniff out a BIGOT when we see one.
This is a weak attempt to smear Dr. Ron Paul. It’s just hilarious when white people call another white man a racist. You think I’m going to buy that? I know a racist by his actions and his character.
Ron Paul stands for the freedom, justice and equality, of all human beings - Black, White, male, female, and all in between.
Sounds like you like the establishment. Sounds like you prefer giving up your freedoms, your power to chooose how you live. Sounds like you want to slave for corporations. Maybe it’s just the war machine you like?
Either way, you’re taking cheap shots at a man who loves the Constitution, the United States of America, and … Civil Liberties! Too bad you don’t know what liberty means.
I grew up on Long Island in NY in te ’60s. Prejudice was a part of everyday life. In 1976, I picked up two hitchhikers in the middle of Pennsylvania; they didn’t have very good English. I was 19. For some reason, I thought that they were Puero Rican, and thought them stupid. After a while, I found out that they were German, and suddenly my perceptions shifted: they became interesting.
The point I want to make is that back then, I was ignorant & prejudiced. But I realized, right then and there, that I had this bias. I’ve fought the internal demons, and while it is a lifelong journey, I’ve grown tremendously.
I would not like to be judged today on how I felt back then. Dr. Paul is waaaaay ahead of everyone else running on issues of “race” (um, human, right?). We don’t get our rights as part of a group, he says, we have them as individuals.
We’ve all grown, I hope, in the past few decades.
Wait a second - _Dondero_ edited that newsletter? But he’s a vrtueless schmuck! This is the first time I’ve seen that that a-hole is the one who did this. He’s a pro-war neocon, and has been out there sabotaging Dr. Paul right & left. If he was the editor, it makes perfect sense. Dr. Paul trusted him, back then
So Dr Paul has not explained away EACH embarrassing remark; he still comes across as very sincere, consistent, and his record speaks volumes. We know that the entire populace has not shed its racism (NH vote on Obama reveals that), but if you’re talking civil rights, consider that the anti-gun lobby has its biggest negative impact on black neighborhoods, which are widely underserved by police presence, sometimes bordering on cowardice, and because drug dealers are heavily armed, the good people often live in fear. Arm the good people, and they may well do in the evil influences on their streets. We know that in some states (FL), when the self-armament is allowed to flourish, rape and breakin stats drop. Wouldn’t you like to grant that change to the nation’s black neighborhoods? Make the people helpless and crime stats rise and police forces (numbers and cost) grow and crime prevention is gone. NO police are required by law to PREVENT crime, but an armed citizenry accomplishes that. To H with all the liberal promises and cultivated black dependency. The libs also confuse the poorly educated blacks with their rhetoric that priveleges promised are “rights”, making it more difficult to sell a reasoned campaign. Another antidote to liberal rhetoric is home-schooling, a way of instilling morals while strengthening family bonds, and stifling youthful rebellion. Notice that most liberals are against that! A libertarian like Dr Paul would recognize this is the kind of civil right that helps everyone, especially the now-undereducated minorities. Don’t let condescension get sold as charity. Charity cannot come from such a chaotic mob as government. Charity is an individual trait; dependency is no favor. Vote down nanny government; Ron Paul in 08.
Sounds like more outrageous anti-Paul BS. Clearly, a sign that the “powers-that-be” are AFRAID of the first viable presidential candidate for whom I will have the pleasure of voting.
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.
Click here to listen to the MP3 interview.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2008/011308_not_racist.htm
Don’t believe anything the “new republic” says, they have interests in seeing big business run this country (status quo) and Ron Paul will end that.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2008/011308_not_racist.htm
Isn’t it sad when Alex Jones is the only news organization to run Ron Paul’s Vindication by the NAACP President?
Open your eyes, stop believing the lies. Ron Paul is this country’s last hope.
You are one scary guy and should never have been allowed to post anything on the web. You spread lies and hate. Too bad you have no clue and most people will see your writing for what it is, pure stupidity.
NAACP President: Ron Paul Is Not A Racist
Linder says Paul being smeared because he is a threat to the establishment
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
Dig deeper tham this article for the truth - here’s something of interest in response to Kirchick’s rant:
http://gays-for-ron.blogspot.com/2008/01/jamie-kirchick-i-dont-think-ron-paul-is.html
From www.ronpaul2008.com Ron Paul on racism. It’s amazing to me that none of his actual writings on the topic ever make it into an article or blog. www.ronpaullibrary.com
A nation that once prided itself on a sense of rugged individualism has become uncomfortably obsessed with racial group identities.
The collectivist mindset is at the heart of racism.
Government as an institution is particularly ill-suited to combat bigotry. Bigotry at its essence is a problem of the heart, and we cannot change people’s hearts by passing more laws and regulations.
It is the federal government that most divides us by race, class, religion, and gender. Through its taxes, restrictive regulations, corporate subsidies, racial set-asides, and welfare programs, government plays far too large a role in determining who succeeds and who fails. Government “benevolence” crowds out genuine goodwill by institutionalizing group thinking, thus making each group suspicious that others are receiving more of the government loot. This leads to resentment and hostility among us.
Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans strictly as members of groups rather than as individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike: as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called “diversity” actually perpetuate racism.
The true antidote to racism is liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence - not skin color, gender, or ethnicity.
In a free society, every citizen gains a sense of himself as an individual, rather than developing a group or victim mentality. This leads to a sense of individual responsibility and personal pride, making skin color irrelevant. Racism will endure until we stop thinking in terms of groups and begin thinking in terms of individual liberty.
You’re either really weak and easily dislodged from what you say you value. Or your simply disingenuous from the get go. Or you just want to get a lot of hits on your website and a big email list for spamming with.
OMG …. Tom Head is now part of the Great Conspiracy to Destroy Ron Paul Just When He Was Succeeding an Getting 90% of the Black Vote.
Hi Tom,
Nice try to bring this story up again. If I take your analysis seriously, it just shows me that you need to go back to school to do some more learning! Enjoy your moment of smear. In the long-run you are the one going to be affected by the racial rhetoric you are spewing.
I’m black and I’m proud and I support Ron Paul to the fullest.
Cheap shot
A member of LA RAZA making claims about racism, now I’ve heard everything.
For your information, LA RAZA IS a racist hate group whose mottos is: “For the race everything, outside the race nothing”
I don’t think anybody really believes Ron Paul is a racist. Was it a mistake? Of course… was it enough to cause a great man with great ideas to bow out of a race? No way.
Ron Paul is still the best Republican candidate for civil liberties. Heck, he’s the best candidate period with the exception of maybe Dennis Kucinich. His voting record testifies to this. Time and again, he has been one of the few members of Congress to stand up for the rights of the American people.
Furthermore, Ron Paul scored a 67% from the ACLU last year for his voting record. I’d like to see what other Republican candidate comes close to that mark.
No bigots at The New Republic or anything… like the owner/editor, and the author, who is a Giuliani sycophant.
Some people need to Look Deeper, especially those that claim to have a voice. Everyone has an agenda, son.
Anyone that bashes a candidate for espousing more civil liberties, than any other candidate, is the REAL racist.
Yes, I mean the author of this drivel.
You are VERY wrong.
http://www.usadaily.com/article.cfm?articleID=227844
Austin NAACP President Defends Ron Paul
Is there some sort of mass, nationwide lapse in basic journalistic research going on here?
The NAACP’s president has just recently come out in Paul’s defense saying that he has known Dr. Paul for over 20 years and confirms that he is absolutely not a racist.
Ron Paul has voiced interest in having Walter Williams as a running mate.
Are these facts somehow irrelevant to the subject at hand? Or are you and other “journalists” simply leaving them out for your own reasons?
While we’re on that…why haven’t you and others been demanding answers from “frontrunner” Hillary Clinton for throwing Senator Robert Byrd (former Grand Cyclops of the KKK) a birthday party in the historic home of Frederick Douglass in 2005?
Hey Tom
The president of the ACLU just endorsed Ron and has been a personal friend for 20 yearsAren’t you a volunteer for the ACLU?…..maybe you should check things before you write..you may get fired…
Arguably the most famous living black economist, Walter Williams of George Mason University endorses Ron Paul for president. Even before all this race controversy erupted, Dr. Paul had alluded to possibly choosing Dr. Williams for a running partner. Yep, that is enought proof that Dr. Paul is a member of a white supremacist organization. Yeah Right!
Walter Williams
I used to support Ron Paul, but in light of these new reports from his newsletters I just can’t in good conscience anymore support him.
This is the new campaign to discredit Ron Paul, columnist coming forward with their soul-searching story to get the sheep to follow. Take your little bo-peep ploy down the road to the cliffs and jump off into the next great depression. Ron Paul is the only common-sense choice for people who are paying attention.
Wow. A lot of responses here! Going point by point:
- I don’t have trouble believing that the newsletter was written by someone other than Ron Paul. What I do have trouble believing is that Dr. Paul financed a newsletter with his name on it that was essentially ghostwritten by someone else, saying “I” this and “I” that, without having any idea what was in it.
- The problematic content dates to at least 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1994, and 1996. This was not a brief period in Dr. Paul’s career.
- If Dr. Paul discovered the content in the newsletter was offensive, he should not have not only fired the author, but explained the situation and offered up a public apology at the time for not being more vigilant. That’s what I would have done in his shoes, and it would have made this a non-issue. Above all he shouldn’t have simply ignored this and hoped that nobody would notice. Did he have no black readers at all? Was he unconcerned that he might have lost friends if a newsletter bearing his name called Dr. King a violent pedophile, referred to black folks as “animals,” as the end of apartheid as “tragic,” and so forth? Did he really not care if his own newsletter made him sound like he was some nut stockpiling ammunition in preparation for a race war?
- My statement about his campaign being over has more to do with his fifth-place showing in the New Hampshire primary than the race controversy, something I probably should have made more clear.
As far as the ACLU goes: As a 501(c)(4), the ACLU is prohibited from endorsing candidates. If it were to endorse a candidate, it would probably have to be Dennis Kucinich, who scored the highest ACLU rating (89%) of any candidate. If Ms. Strossen endorsed Ron Paul, that is certainly a significant endorsement and speaks well of him, but it carries no official weight with the ACLU. Nor would it matter to me if it did–I’m proud to work with my ACLU chapter, but I don’t agree with every single thing the national organization does and I don’t think anybody within the organization expects me to.
This is the most compelling part of you argument, and few if any have addressed it: “… or he published a newsletter under his own name for decades without bothering to read it. … he is so sloppy with his own reputation that he’s willing to put his name on anything, sight unseen. Either scenario disqualifies him from serving as President of the United States.”
Noting that Ron Paul has apologized for it does not refute this point.
Noting that the write of the TNR article is a sleaze bag does not refute this point.
In any case, the best way to establish a hopefully sustainable political demand for candidates that represent true liberty is to vote for Ron Paul, regardless of what his personal qualifications for actually being president may be.
For this reason alone, you should not change your endorsement from Ron Paul to anyone else. Endorsing anyone else is creating more demand for anti-liberty politics.
Ron Paul has always treated black people with great dignity and respect. Sometimes things can happen that you don’t know about. Ron has apologized for this newsletter numerous times. Anyone that thinks that issue is more important than the others is really shallow, in my view.
89-92, that was after he ran for president. i guess he wasn’t delivering babies in that time either. What are the exact comments from those years? Are you conflating things regarding these “conspiracies” and criticism of Israel and AIPAC with the racist stuff?
Well, I don’t think those semi-racist rants are that relevant as of today. Who knows what kind of ideas all the other candidates have had throughout the years! And look at the ideas they’ve got today — is fear mongering and war mongering OK and politically correct?
Ron Paul believes that your rights come from your being, not your inclusion in a race or class. It’s the farthest thing from racism there is.
Sad that this is where journalism has finally ended up…
Ask the black people if they think hes racist…i think youll get a very different opinion…also this stuff has long ago been adresses..
and spokesman for the NAACP siad in no way is this true…plus many many others…
Hey everyone,
I found definitive proof that Ron Paul is a racist. Click on the link below:
http://www.dynw.com/ronpaulisracist/
Tom, thank you for being the champion of racism. I can’t wait until your expose’ on homosexuality.
Looks like you published this one day too early. The President of the NAACP has now defended Ron Paul saying he is not a racist and Paul is being smeared because he is a threat to the establishment. I’m glad that true Ron Paul supporters are not as easily manipulated by the media as you.
Read the news, NAACP President: Ron Paul is NOT a Racist. I look forward to your retraction of these statements.
Tom, geez, they did it, they played another media person for a sucker — the neocon plan is working to perfection & you’ll just help it along. Way to go.
Go ahead and endorse another Republican candidate if you’d like.
But if you’re actually a proponent for civil liberties, you may want to take a 2nd look at the other potential nominees.
A GOOD, HARD look.
And if you honestly, after doing your research, think that one of them really has the best interests of us…the American citizens..at heart, and will truly work towards those interests as president, then you’ve seen something I haven’t.
For myself, I HAVE researched, and so I’m still voting for Ron Paul in the primary.
My vote may not make a dent in the grand scheme of things, but at least I know what I’m voting FOR.
And it’s not racism.
You’re sick in the head. If you don’t look at Obama’s black separatist church and Hillary’s anti-semitic comments and LARAZA staffers then you are really ignoring the heart of racism and something very dangerous to our country.
RPs campaign is just picking up steam and you’re not going to stop it. He’s our hero.
He’s never uttered a bad word against anyone.
Hillary and Obama, just fine with the communist party of USA….any comment on that?
I didn’t think so…
FOOL.
Eric Dondero is the racist who wrote that crap and TOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We now find out YOU YOURSELF are a huge racist and actually belong to a group called ‘THE RACE’.
OMG folks this is big….some racist idiot is writing for ABOUT? Get him fired immediately.
YOU’VE BEEN OUTED TOM!
http://civilliberty.about.com/od/raceequalopportunity/p/nclr.htm
TOM’S BEEN OUTED ALRIGHT! READ THIS!
“The organization uses the money to support projects like a Southern California elementary school with a curriculum that specializes in bashing America and promoting the Chicano movement. The school’s founder and principal, a Calexico-educated activist named Marcos Aguilar, opposes racial integration and says Mexicans in the U.S. don’t want to go to white schools or drink from white water fountains.”
Hey Tom,
At least try something different. There seems to be one thing you media mouthpieces all do to stop Ron Paul: LIE. Well, OK, there’s also vast ignorance and a blundering failure to reason. Plus he must really be threatening some special privileges of yours. Let’s see you publish a picture, at the same angle and lighting, of each of the others. But here’s what I would do to smash any of the other candidates, excepting Alan Keyes, who, tho differing with Paul on one issue, is also an intelligent man who gets it: I would simply tell the truth. For instance all of these other candidates are big government socialists. They should move to North Korea. Rudy is some great example of Marital Fidelity, and strangely the Repub leaders and media mouthpieces are not bothered in the slightest by it, tho that is allegedly one of their big issue, because the truth is that their real agenda is control, and Rudy is a control freak. Romney, child of privilege, pseudo leader, offers us HillaryCare-Mitt, socialized healthcare, never mind the fact that the current mess was caused by previous doses of big govt (the unconstitutional FDA, insurance regs and Medicare, etc, etc). Huckabee is a lefty. Thompson voted for censorship (do I need to point out what part of the Constitution that violates?) and McCain WROTE the censorship law.
All of the other Repub candidates have records that prove that nothing is sacred to them other than their own power, and they have no respect nor even an understanding of the Constitution (Rudy thinks the 2nd Amendment is a “state’s rights” issue!) These guys all have a long record of being power hungry bullies with all the integrity of a weather vane. Any lie will do. I really love it when Rudy or Mike or Mitt tell us, very “manfully”, (really just bellicose) that they would stop illegal immigration. What lying hypocrites!!
Ron Paul has a decades long and consistent record of upholding and defending the Constitution, on EVERY issue, not to mention that he has again and again shown his racial color-blindness.
But don’t let that bother you. You’re on a mission: to destroy America by rotting it from within by Big Government. And that justifies all your bizarre lies.
Why, yes, I’m a proud supporter of the National Council of La Raza. Be sure to TiVo the ALMA Awards when they air live June 5th on ABC-TV, 9:00 Eastern/8:00 Central.
NCLR is not a racist organization. You can read more about it here:
http://www.nclr.org/content/viewpoints/detail/42500/
The worst you can say about NCLR is that a tiny amount of the money they put into social services programs ended up in the hands of bigots. The worst you can say about Ron Paul is that his own newsletter, paid for by him, was a white supremacist tract.
Ron Paul has some ’splaining to do, and hasn’t done it. NCLR, in sharp contrast, has been completely transparent about where its money goes and what its money does. That’s why NCLR enjoys–and will continue to enjoy–the degree of mainstream acceptance that it does.
John, if Ron Paul is the “true” anti-racist candidate, then why are all major white nationalist groups–including Stormfront.org–endorsing his presidential candidacy? Shouldn’t they be scared of him?
I’ve known about Ron Paul since 1984. On the other hand, I know nothing about you, except that you seem to be willing to condemn the best candidate available based on hearsay.
I do not believe Ron Paul is racist for a moment.
You, on the other hand, now that I see you are a member of La Raza (The Race), I think you are a racist. And so your opinion is worthless to me.
Ron Paul has been upholding and defending the Constitution for over two decades. What have YOU done for me lately?
Uh lessee here. Which is a more important eclection issue: old sophmiric name calling in print OR war, erosion of civil liberties, and the impending collapse of our entire economy when the baby boomers retire?
This is a red herring.
“Either scenario disqualifies him from serving as President of the United States.”
And you turn a blind eye to the other candidates who have done much worse things or how they plan to continue the destruction of our country!? The quotes in the New Republic piece are taken out of context. Ron Paul has fought long and hard for minorities. The blatently racist comments during a small period in the early 90s were 100% not written by ron paul. He left congress and was fully devoted to his medical practice, which gives merit to believe he didn’t even read it or know comments like that were being written. Ron Paul considers MLK a hero. Ron Paul has apologized many times for not monitoring what went out under his name.
Eric, I don’t believe for a moment that Ron Paul actually wrote the offensive content–but it was written over a period of seven years. Seven years! The race war stuff started cranking up in 1989; the stuff about 95% of African-American men being criminals was in 1996; and there was plenty of problematic rhetoric in between.
Meanwhile, this is a candidate who opposes the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, supports a narrow interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment, and is described by the white nationalist movement as the best candidate they’ve seen in many years.
Ron Paul’s response, in the interests of full disclosure, can be found here:
http://www.ronpaul2008.com/press-releases/125/ron-paul-statement-on-the-new-republic-article-regarding-old-newsletters
Full text:
January 8, 2008 5:28 am EST
ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – In response to an article published by The New Republic, Ron Paul issued the following statement:
“The quotations in The New Republic article are not mine and do not represent what I believe or have ever believed. I have never uttered such words and denounce such small-minded thoughts.
“In fact, I have always agreed with Martin Luther King, Jr. that we should only be concerned with the content of a person’s character, not the color of their skin. As I stated on the floor of the U.S. House on April 20, 1999: ‘I rise in great respect for the courage and high ideals of Rosa Parks who stood steadfastly for the rights of individuals against unjust laws and oppressive governmental policies.’
“This story is old news and has been rehashed for over a decade. It’s once again being resurrected for obvious political reasons on the day of the New Hampshire primary.
“When I was out of Congress and practicing medicine full-time, a newsletter was published under my name that I did not edit. Several writers contributed to the product. For over a decade, I have publicly taken moral responsibility for not paying closer attention to what went out under my name.”
By the way, I defended Ron Paul when it was just the 1996 stuff we were talking about. But 1989 through 1996? How could he have not known about this? And if he stood so clearly for freedom and decency, why didn’t any of his readers complain to him about the content of those newsletters, letting him know (in the process) what was being published under his name?
Tom/ civilliberty,
I don’t know what to say. It is so early in the year and you might be the biggest hole of 2008.
Do you lie so easily to those you know?
The Neocon Republic is yellow dog trash journalism. I’m still not supporting their “preferred” candidate, Rudy Giuliani. Before they told us Ross Perot was Hitler. Noone died from the pie charts. Noone will die from any newsletter’s insensitive comments. I know we are supposed to judge a true patriot’s entire life on this. Another primary is coming up. ATTACK NOW. It is time to attack the only Constitutional Repubican in the race. QUICK. Your boomerang journalism does not change the fact that Dr. Ron Paul saves people from miserable lives by defending the Constitution. He always has. All Presidents are supposed to swear to uphold the Constitution, remember? Memo to the Neocons. Ron Paul is a faithful husband of 50 years. He delivered 4,000 babies, was a Vietnam veteran flight surgeon and has been a tireless civil servant. Still is. The Austin NAACP President believes he is a fair guy when he defends the civil liberties and Constitutional rights of those in his community. Time to exit the glass house and put the stones down.
Nice. Did you know that thousands of Jewish, Gay and African American people (the NAACP no less!!) have now come to Ron Paul’s defense in this issue? This is what you really need to research.
Did you also know that Jamie Kirchick was outed on a “Gays For Ron Paul,” blog as having INVENTED THE BIG SCOOP? He admittedly fabricated much of his original story, “just to get a rise out of Ron Paul supporters. I don’t really hate Ron Paul.”
So, first of all you’re referring to information that’s already been discredited BY THE AUTHOR HIMSELF. And, your furthering the lie that Ron Paul authored these articles. He did not. The truth will prevail here, whether you choose to play fair or not.
It’s so inspiring to read such a highly-principled white man stand up for the blacks. Who are you going to vote for now, Tom? Giuliani?
You just lost your own credibility on civil rights. That’s a shame, too, since it seems to be your specialty.
I am gay, and am confident that my rights are safer with Ron Paul than with any politician I have ever heard of. All one needs to do is listen to him.
Tom,
Maybe we should consider calling Homeland Security. Paul and his supporters are thinking of planting a money bomb on MLK. All of the gory details are below:
http://www.ronpaulmoneybomb.com/
Hey Fellow Revolutionaries, I noticed that MSN wesite has better search results for Ron Paul than both Google and Yahoo. Im bummed cause I got the RP yahoo toolbar but yahoo/google are only returning neagtive stories. Also take note that the medias latest tack is to dismiss Ron Paul’s and Our Campaign as over and done with. The fact is there would be no way in hell that the media would spend time on the topic if Ron Paul was not having an impact. In fact the system is getting scared and scrambling to stop US!!!! I am getting more mobilized by their BS and Now Im gonna Fight the Power with all I got and then some.
RON PAUL 2008!!! I LOVE YOU ALL AND I LOVE DR. PAUL!!!
Hey, I noticed this comment posted by “civil liberty”:
Ron Paul has some ’splaining to do, and hasn’t done it. NCLR, in sharp contrast, has been completely transparent about where its money goes and what its money does. That’s why NCLR enjoys–and will continue to enjoy–the degree of mainstream acceptance that it does.
This just proves that Tom did not listen to Ron Paul when he explained the letters to Wolf Blizter, his reponse to the letters on the campaign website, the response by the NAACP that Ron Paul was not a racist, Ron Paul’s entire record showing not one ounce of racism, and the enormous support of Dr. Paul by people of all races.
Tom, your evidence does not hold up. Please do more researching before accusing anyone of any racism in a direct or indirect manner. No one has any ’spaining to do. I looked up David Duke’s website and he has distanced himself from Ron Paul because of Dr. Paul’s support of people of all races. You should think about posting a retraction because it appears that you, in fact, are the one promoting racism.
If you read any of Dr. Paul’s writings or hear any of his speeches, you would know with out a doubt that he did not write these things. If any thing he should be accused of being too trusting with the usage of his name and he has taken full moral responsibility for these things which were wrote. The one thing that leads me to believe these are not his thoughts is this, he, as we all know, is the one consistent candidate. Consistent in his voting record, his views, and his speech. The only stance he has change in the past 20 years is that on the death penalty, which he change because the overwhelming statistics that blacks are put to death more often then whites. He is now against it.
Ron Paul is not a raciest.
Lets get back to the real issues and leave this trash to the smut magazines in the grocery store line.
RonPaul2008 dot com
Tom, I’m disappointed by the conclusions in your article. First of all, white supremacists groups are not endorsing Ron Paul en masse as you suggest. Congressman Paul’s libertarian beliefs would never support one people group over another. Receiving $500 from a KKK loser is not an endorsement of that hateful establishment. I think you jumped to a conclusion that the facts do not support.
As a Hispanic, I’m concerned about the language in the newsletter. But the facts still show that Ron Paul has apologized over the last ten years for lack of oversight in articles he clearly did not write. There has never been any indiciation or quote by Paul in his ten terms of congress to even remotely resemble the ignorant garbage of the newsletters. That was then this is now.
The War on Drugs is ripping our inner-cities apart and disproportionately putting more black and Hispanic makes in jail that whites. Do you think the white supremacists want this stopped? As a Hispanic, I find it reprehensible that our laws punish non-violent drug crimes and that half of our law-enforcement budgets go to stopping recreational drug use. That’s insane. I have no problem with drunk driving laws, as people who put others in danger should be stopped.
Ron Paul opposes our foreign adventures overseas and will bring all of our troops home, especially blacks and hispanics who joined the military for a better career and to serve their country. I kindly ask you to reassess your opinion of Dr. Paul. Read his statements on his campaign site regarding this controversy. Grant him an About.com intervirew to discuss this matter. I fully support Ron Paul as the best candidate in either party for civil liberties.
Qualifications of President do not include proper oversight of a local newsletter which you have little to no hands-on control over. Following the Constitution, protecting our freedoms and returning our country to a sane monetary policy sounds more like the qualifications that we need in the Oval Office. Ron Paul has accepted moral responsibility over the incident and will not let it happen again. He has moved on. So should we.
If Ron Paul was racist in any way shape and/or form he wouldn’t have people he’s known for years coming out and speaking the truth, NAACP President…..
http://www.nolanchart.com/article1134.html
la raza. hmmmmm. ron paul is the MOST outspoken candidate on the issue of illegal immigration. can’t see your photo very well, but you look hispanic. hmmmmm. wonder what your real aganda is. NOT!! i’m originally from mississippi and, when i left, the hispanics were just starting to show up. haven’t been back, so i guess y’all are taking over there like you have here in texas. why don’t you spend some time on your knees thanking God that you’re here in america and not searching for your next meal in mexico instead of defaming an honorable man who is fighting for the american way?
on the subject of racism, blacks have had 40 years to catch up. unfortunately, a good many of them haven’t bothered to take the opportunities they’ve been offered and do something positive with them. when i taught school in ms., i tried to get the students to see that there were many opportunities for them if they’d just apply thimeselves. one girl told me she didn’t need to do her homework or study because she’d just have babies and live on welfare. i asked what she’d do if she couldn’t have babies. she said she’d be a prostitute. her word was ho. i asked what she’d do if she got aids. she said she’d sell drugs. all the black students were cheering her on.
so, at what point do we say enough or, for your better understanding, la basta? when do my white sons get to be on an even playing field?
For any of you who believe that this material was not written by Ron Paul:
Look at this signed letter of solicitation in which Dr. Paul (page six, paragraph six) boasts that he has “laid bare the race war in America’s cities.”
Doesn’t this bother you at all?
Thank goodness I read the letters from your readers to set me straight. Their thoughts & ideas trump your narrow-minded, opinionated, ugly view. BE A MORE RESPONSIBLE writer
>Look at this signed letter of solicitation in which Dr. Paul (page six, paragraph six) boasts that he has “laid bare the race war in America’s cities.”
>Doesn’t this bother you at all?
Not in the context of the newsletter. It speaks of the potential meltdown of the economy, due primarily to the actions of the fed, which would indeed lead to a number of Bad Things, of which “race riots” are a likely component. Is it evil to speak of such things, or merely politically incorrect?
Justin Raimondo gives a thorough debunking of the TNR smear piece here:
http://www.takimag.com/site/article/why_the_beltway_libertarians_are_trying_to_smear_ron_paul/
regards, Jim
Oh my, new evidence. Looks like one Don White (The white supremacist) was the one feeding Jamie Kirchick the false info because he was upset that Ron Paul dressed him down on screen. He admits to it and alos states that Ron Paul is not a racist.
Why do you guys not do your homework prior to writing this stuff? You’re free to write what you would like but it severly damages ones credibilty when simple sources are not verified.
Thanks for the heads up in this article! It’s important that you introduced this information to give everyone a better view of Ron and his vague ties to white supremacists. Who cares is blacks and gays support him, that doesn’t mean the man isn’t racist. Thanks for bringing up this information, new information about a political candidate who could potentially lead our country is always important. And yes, I’m white.