Not A Racist

[batskeets]

I've seen enough mentions of the racist allegations against Ron Paul that I feel compelled to repost this. The media has been trying hard to smear him with the Racist label--see also: the media flapdoodle about receiving a donation from a white supremacist, who is on record saying that he doesn't even believe that RP is racist--and frankly, I'm finding it pretty ridiculous.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/press-releases/125/ron-paul-statement-on-the-new-republic-article-regarding-old-newsletters

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 publically taken moral responsibility for not paying closer attention to what went out under my name."

Maybe I'm making with the rose-colored glasses here, but I have a hard time believing that someone who preaches the values he does could be racist. He's shown himself to be quite honest and outspoken about his values, so even if white nationalism was at the core of his beliefs, I doubt he'd go to the trouble of hiding it.

Comments

[lurker.livejournal.com]

I want to like Ron Paul, but seriously, come on... That newsletter was published IN HIS NAME for how many YEARS? And he never noticed that stuff or had it brought to his attention?


Mona Charen speaks for me (http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=MmU0ZDFhYjIxM2VlMTEzMjkyY2ZiNDA3Y2RiZmU1YTc=) in regards to Ron Paul. I'm highly troubled by his tendency to associate with the conspiracy theorists and his blatant refusal to denounce some of these kooks.

If Ron Paul will go on record as denouncing the idiocy of the "9/11 truth" movement, and return the money given to him by Stormfront, then maybe I'll reconsider him as a serious candidate. Until then, he'll remain a conspiracy nut, a charismatic one, but still a conspiracy nut.

[phasmaphobic.livejournal.com]

"If Ron Paul will go on record as denouncing the idiocy of the "9/11 truth" movement"

He has already done this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Ron_Paul#Rejection_of_conspiracy_theory

Pretty good articles linked there.

[skeets.livejournal.com]

I don't really see his refusal to denounce the wingnuts as an inconsistency; it is, ultimately, their right to believe what they want. A policy of freedom for the individual would dictate that, as long as said wingnuts' beliefs don't translate into behaviors that actively threaten the rights and freedoms of others, then they can keep on believing it.

It doesn't make those extremist beliefs right, of course... far from it! But it also doesn't mean that RP is giving their arguments credence by not publicly stating that they're wrong. It's live and let live.

[phasmaphobic.livejournal.com]

There's a big talk on this in DP. A ot of psychos jumping on the hate bandwagon without actually knowing anything. Yay for internet politicos.

I started a thread there that states my opinions. I must thank you, my friend Xander, and that vitriolic post for actually turning me into a RP supporter =)

[skeets.livejournal.com]

Aaaawww, you called me level-headed! :D But seriously, I'm usually hesitant about discussing political matters, because I worry that I'm still not very informed yet, so it's really cool to have been a factor in your support of RP.

If'n you have the time and inclination, you should get on with the local Ron Paul Meetup group, too! :)

[ghost-girl.livejournal.com]

Fortunately, I didn't hear any of that in the media circles I travel, so hopefully it's not hitting everywhere. :)
My favorite media slander of all time has to be the CNN clip talking about how it was questionable whether Fred Thompson was a racist, because HE PLAYED ONE ON TV ONCE.

>.

[skeets.livejournal.com]

My favorite media slander of all time has to be the CNN clip talking about how it was questionable whether Fred Thompson was a racist, because HE PLAYED ONE ON TV ONCE.

OMG, seriously?! Sure, Fred Thompson is a waste of political space as a candidate, but come ON. XD