How concerned are you about the allegations of racism?

[AlexK]

Just curious what the general feeling here is.


EDIT: Oops. Misspelled "allegations" in the second option.

 

[DaronWestbrooke]

Now that the story moved beyond an hit piece by TNR to scanned copies of the newsletters with Dr. Paul's signature on a couple, I am far far more concerned with the piss poor way his campaign is handling it. The original TNR story was almost baiting the campaign to issue a press release that could be easily debunked.

They should have expected this. We were played, right now I am having faith we were played by TNR because I don't want to think of the alternative.

 

[Paulfan05]

I think they are false, but It will hurt us a lot

 

[AlienLanes82]

I said I am not a Ron Paul supporter anymore. As of this moment, that is where I stand, and will stay.

What I want from the campaign is:

- Ron Paul to personally say, in a speech, how much he loathes racism and homophobia. The hollow words of that press release are unacceptable.

- The names of those responsible (so we can tell if Ron Paul has disowned them), and a convincing factual explanation for how RP both 1) did not write this, and, 2) did not have awareness that his allies, staff and compatriots were using his name to promote these beliefs.

I am a contributor to the exploratory committee and to the campaign. Right now I am completely humiliated and personally embarrassed for having supported this campaign. I always had a fear that something like this might come up given Ron's associations with Truthers, the John Birch Society, and Alex Jones. But, I thought it might just be because they were the only people to listen to him since he is a strict constitutionalist.

If I don't get the above, I'll be looking at Obama, the Libertarian, or good old None of The Above.

Saddened,

LS,
Ohio

 

[murrayrothbard]

Why the hell does it even matter? I know it does from a PR perspective but even if RP was a closet racist please show me one single racist program that RP has supported in his voting record over the last decades.

Sorry you all but freedom does not require political correctness. I don't believe that RP is a racist because it just really wouldn't make any sense, but even if he was: So what?

 

[AlexK]

I don't believe that RP is a racist because it just really wouldn't make any sense, but even if he was: So what?

I'm not even going to dignify that question with a response.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Concerned. And don't believe Paul is racist, but he allowed some fucked up people to write some fucked up newsletters, repeatedly. But, this "spans 20 years" stuff is bullshit. Many of those newsletter are fringe, but not damning. Some are extremely screwed up. Parse them. How many are racist? When were those written? I'm concerned by the lack of investigation here by everyone. Investigate first. Freak out and light your hair on fire later, if you really need to. But, don't light your hair on fire tonight.

 

[Falcon]

I'm surprised how some people are really spilling their guts out on this.

But anyway doesn't change anything.

It certainly doesn't change his message, isn't that what this is all about? Even if he doesn't win the nomination, isn't the long term-goal the message?

Please see the bigger picture!!!

 

[murrayrothbard]

I'm not even going to dignify that question with a response.

You just responded.

 

[DaronWestbrooke]

Why the hell does it even matter? I know it does from a PR perspective but even if RP was a closet racist please show me one single racist program that RP has supported in his voting record over the last decades.

Sorry you all but freedom does not require political correctness. I don't believe that RP is a racist because it just really wouldn't make any sense, but even if he was: So what?

Thank you, that may be what I needed. Just thinking, but that may be a good way to go with it. What is more important, what the man stands for or personal beliefs. Aren't we all entitled to our beliefs? I bet we all have some beliefs that people could call racist or hateful. So what. Fuck, Mormons don't think black people are people, and look how Ronmey is doing in the polls. I bet McCain has a lot of hate for vietnamese people. John Edwards seems to hate rich people. Who are we to judge someone's personal beliefs. It apparently hasn't changed what he stands for.

Don't use this, i am just brainstorming right now.

 

[Catholicnerd]

Right now I am completely humiliated and personally embarrassed for having supported this campaign. I always had a fear that something like this might come up given Ron's associations with Truthers, the John Birch Society, and Alex Jones. But, I thought it might just be because they were the only people to listen to him since he is a strict constitutionalist.
Ohio

LS, I understand exactly how you feel. I'm thankful that I'm still on vacation at the moment. My neighborhood is full of leftist nuts and minorities. I'll be lucky if my first-floor apartment with the giant Ron Paul sign in its window hasn't been broken into

That said, I'm not giving up on Dr. Paul. As far as I can tell, he does not have a racist voting history and he has said that he denounces racism! Those two facts seem more conclusive than anything that TNR can dig up. This campaign is NOT finished.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

Thank you, that may be what I needed. Just thinking, but that may be a good way to go with it. What is more important, what the man stands for or personal beliefs.

I don't even think it comes to that. I'd be slightly disturbed if so. I keep saying... this deserves more scrutiny than a Fox news or Frank Luntz video. Some of you guys are acting like he typed the newsletter in front of you, signed them, and then yelled racial slurs. If you can't provide the video for that, chill out and let's take a look at everything.

 

[AlienLanes82]

Sorry you all but freedom does not require political correctness. I don't believe that RP is a racist because it just really wouldn't make any sense, but even if he was: So what?

Because racism is one of the most vile and rank prejudices known to man - as is anti-Semitism, and also homophobia. It would be disgusting to elect a President who disagrees with this.

I'm not part of the cult of personality in American politics, but the President is a figurehead and should be seen as a person who does not have racist, prejudicial politics. There is a point at which character counts. If a serial killer had a great political platform, I would not vote for him.

Believing in the equal dignity of all individuals is more important to me than my tax rate, my health care program, or charter schools.

You can call equal dignity "political correctness" if you want, but - well, maybe that explains how ineffective RPs volunteers have been.

 

[DaronWestbrooke]

I don't even think it comes to that. I'd be slightly disturbed if so. I keep saying... this deserves more scrutiny than a Fox news or Frank Luntz video. Some of you guys are acting like he typed the newsletter in front of you, signed them, and then yelled racial slurs. If you can't provide the video for that, chill out and let's take a look at everything.

I'm just brainstorming. Like I said earlier, the way this played out, we were played. Right now I hope we were played by TNR and not the alternative. They held the scanned copies until after the campaign issued the press release. Why didn't the campaign anticipate this?

I am looking for any angle that will work at this point. I just don't want to hear statements like trust me or relax any more. Fight or flight.

 

[murrayrothbard]

I'm not part of the cult of personality in American politics, but the President is a figurehead and should be seen as a person who does not have racist, prejudicial politics.

Right, so please show me one time RP has ever voted for some racist political program. He doesn't support any racist political positions.

 

[Vaughn]

I said I am not a Ron Paul supporter anymore. As of this moment, that is where I stand, and will stay.

What I want from the campaign is:

- Ron Paul to personally say, in a speech, how much he loathes racism and homophobia. The hollow words of that press release are unacceptable.

- The names of those responsible (so we can tell if Ron Paul has disowned them), and a convincing factual explanation for how RP both 1) did not write this, and, 2) did not have awareness that his allies, staff and compatriots were using his name to promote these beliefs.

I am a contributor to the exploratory committee and to the campaign. Right now I am completely humiliated and personally embarrassed for having supported this campaign. I always had a fear that something like this might come up given Ron's associations with Truthers, the John Birch Society, and Alex Jones. But, I thought it might just be because they were the only people to listen to him since he is a strict constitutionalist.

If I don't get the above, I'll be looking at Obama, the Libertarian, or good old None of The Above.

Saddened,

LS,
Ohio

Dido, I too am greatly saddened by the events that have transpired. The campaign has to step up to the plate very soon because many of us our loosing faith, not in the message, but in the man.

 

[murrayrothbard]

I'm not part of the cult of personality in American politics, but the President is a figurehead and should be seen as a person who does not have racist, prejudicial politics.

Right, so please show me one time RP has ever voted for some racist political program. He doesn't support any racist political positions.

If a serial killer had a great political platform, I would not vote for him.

Serial killer = racist????? huh?

 

[AgentSmith]

I want my donation back.

 

[MoneyWhereMyMouthIs2]

I'm just brainstorming. Like I said earlier, the way this played out, we were played. Right now I hope we were played by TNR and not the alternative. They held the scanned copies until after the campaign issued the press release. Why didn't the campaign anticipate this?

I am looking for any angle that will work at this point. I just don't want to hear statements like trust me or relax any more. Fight or flight.

I understand, but that's why it deserves community scrutiny, and not some statement from the campaign.

Maybe the campaign should have anticipated it. Like I said, Paul defended those at Waco and Ruby Ridge. Those things haven't even been brought up yet. They're next. How many newsletters were written? Who were they written by and when? Like I said, this is the biggest attack, and if it's going to work, it better work because it's true. If it works because it's untrue and we don't figure it out for another week, that will be extremely shitty. So, don't let it work until we evaluate it.

 

[Rad]

I'm surprised how some people are really spilling their guts out on this.

But anyway doesn't change anything.

It certainly doesn't change his message, isn't that what this is all about? Even if he doesn't win the nomination, isn't the long term-goal the message?

Please see the bigger picture!!!

You are absolutely correct. Whatever happens the American Revolution II goes on until we take back our country! We need to displace the Republican base and alienate them like the New Left did in the 60's and 70's.