It's not THAT hard Ron...

[RickyJ]

If you truly think that the media will stop the smear attack due to that, then I would have to kindly question your sanity. The establishment doesn't care what Paul says regarding this issue, they are simply trying to smear him. They aren't dealing in objective facts, they are dealing in lies and nonsense. It's not much more complicated than that. Any truthful and non-biased person will see this for what it is. The haters will continue to hate.

Right! Some posters in here are thinking the media just wants a good answer, wrong! They don't care what Ron says, they want to smear him with the hint that he might be racist despite any concrete proof to back up their smear. If they didn't have the newsletters they would make something up. When the newsletters don't produce the result they are looking for they will drop it like a hot potato and use a different topic to smear him regardless if their is any truth to it or not. They don't care about the truth, their mission is to smear him, and that is what they intend to do.

 

[abstrusezincate]

If you truly think that the media will stop the smear attack due to that, then I would have to kindly question your sanity. The establishment doesn't care what Paul says regarding this issue, they are simply trying to smear him. They aren't dealing in objective facts, they are dealing in lies and nonsense. It's not much more complicated than that. Any truthful and non-biased person will see this for what it is. The haters will continue to hate.

You're operating from the false assumption that people will take the time to do the research, look up the facts, and come to a sound conclusion. I would question your sanity if you think people are going to do that.

I operate from the assumption the media will continue these attacks, but Ron needs a simple clear answer. The best of all answers would be "IDENTITY wrote this, I wholeheartedly disagree with it, and you would have to ask him what he is thinking."

I don't think it will go away, and I don't think the media will be friendly, but I do think the perception people have of Paul based on how he answers will matter.

And whether true or not, if this is the first impression people get about Paul, it looks very bad. Is it fair? No. Is it true? No. But politics is rarely about those two things.

 

[Danny Molina]

The OP is right. The issue doesn't go away until Paul disavows it AND it is made clear who said it. That person should admit it, say they were wrong, and Ron had nothing to do with it, and draw the attention for their beliefs onto themself. Ron isn't diminished, the question will be resolved, and more important issues can arise.

Then the campaign can move on. Sooner equals better.

I agree with this. The writer needs to be identified or for icing on the cake Ron should be polygraphed to prove his innocence.

 

[abstrusezincate]

I agree with everyone who says the media will keep trolling until they find something that sticks.

But the responsibilty of the campaign is to make sure nothing sticks. Nothing more, nothing less.

And do not make the assumption for one moment that something has to be true to be effective. People here should know better given what we've already seen.

 

[dblee]

You can't give the story any more validity or attention than it deserves by taking a polygraph or outing the writer.

I think the canned response at the top of this thread is more than sufficient, whoever's managing PR for him should brief him and have him repeat it 50 times.

I've personally read the content in those newsletters, and I'd hardly call them racist-- politically incorrect if anything. Offensive perhaps. But not racist.

Either way, it's clearly not Paul, his style, his tone, or his content, but that doesn't matter to the masses, all they'll hear is Ron Paul and Racist in the same sentence and drink the kool-aid as they're told. The campaign needs to have a standard reply that shuts this down immediately without making it seem like Dr. Paul is trying to dodge the issue or make excuses.

 

[Akus]

I just saw the interview by a CNN reporter about the letters and Ron Paul asked to have his mike unhooked and left. You and I know that Ron Paul is anything but racist, but what he did was a poor PR movement. This will be interpreted as he is a closet Klansman who is evasive about telling the truth.

 

[AmericasLastHope]

Do you realize how many times Ron Paul has been asked about these newsletters? For starters, he has been asked a ridiculous number of times about running third-party. Multiply that by 1000 and that's about how many times he's been asked about the newsletters. Just look at google trends on the topic: Ron Paul Newsletters. You will see two huge spikes in 2008 and now...right around the time of the primaries. What good does it do when you're trying to run a real campaign for President and they keep asking you the same old boring ass questions hoping you'll trip up somehow or they can rearrange your words to make it look like you failed. If I had to put up with 1/10th of what Dr. Paul has put up with I would explode. He did what any respectful gentleman should do when pushed beyond the point of no return and politely exit the interview.

 

[TheeJoeGlass]

from the DP:
Dr. Paul,

I have not spent a lot of time, energy, and money for you to get indignant with reporters about one question in your past. You are the FRONTRUNNER. They will ask you questions about this.

I work in PR. I will give you the easy answer:

"This is a very difficult question for me to answer because it assumes something about my character that isn't true but I understand why you ask and the American people deserve an answer. That was the biggest mistake in my political career. I owned a newsletter and had hired several people to ghostwrite in my name. Unfortunately, some very racist, offensive and disparaging remarks were made in it that I do not approve of. I do apologize for my neglect of that newsletter and understand the pain those remarks can inflict on some people. I do want the American people to know that I will not tolerate things like that in my campaign, in my life, or in a Paul presidency. [insert reporter name], you've covered me and your network has covered me for a while now and you know, I have never made comments like that and never will."

THAT is the answer. None of this "it's impossible for me to be racist because I'm libertarian" or "that's old news"... You may not like it Ron, but if you keep running from it, they'll keep asking it.

For goodness sake, please learn from Herman Cain (and only on this because he's an idiot), that blaming the media will get you nowhere.

Done ranting. From a decade long supporter...

Totally agree with your point and the campaign should have been ready for this. Not real impressed with the response to something that Ron gets upset about because people keep asking about it. Just assume they will ask and have your responses prepared.

 

[Muwahid]

Another one of these stupid threads that someone has to make when they think they have had some major epiphany on what Ron should do or say. I am starting to get to the opinion that these types of threads should be bannable. These topic matters are not thread worthy in the GRC.

I kind of agree. Everyone has the sure way to win the campaign. If Ron answered this way, in an interview, he'd be cut off several times I'm sure, still be pressed about it, do you honestly thing these newsletters are being brought up because the American people want to know about it? Or because the special interests want to stop his momentum. He should have his "honeymoon" period with his surge, but, of course not.

 

[Todd38]

Right. Nothing new has surfaced in the last 4 years, when this was discussed at length. You want to pretend that this is new. It isn't.

CNN is owned by Ted Turner (am I right there?) who is a Global Socialist who believes in One World Government.

Ted Turner made a merger with Time Warner in 1995. He is not the owner of CNN.

 

[Johncjackson]

As I've said before, it can't be "Old News" because this is a new campaign that has never reached this level. It's old news to old libertarians and people in his district, but he's running for President now for a major party as a frontrunner. I said the 2007 answer wasn't going to work. He was polling like 2-3% nationally and maybe upper single digits in Iowa at the time. As much as most of us are familiar with Ron Paul, most of the people still didn't know who he was starting THIS election cycle.

Personally, I thought like the answer outlined in the OP at first, but now I'm not so sure. I'm kinda worried about getting bogged down by it and giving the non-issue too much focus and power, a diversion from the real issues. I don't like the answers given, but I also don't want to play into media traps either.

As far as the interview went, I think he said as much as he wanted and she just kept asking the same thing over and over. She wasn't really asking anything new, just trying to trap him IMHO. I think he could've handled the exit a little better, but I don't blame him.

 

[Pete Kay]

What annoys me about the whole newsletter issue is that his detractors try to characterize his entire newsletters as some racist endeavor based on a few quotes taken from them. That's really the issue that needs to be addressed. They aren't talking about pages and pages of offensive stuff but just a few lines taken out of context.

 

[Af-Pak]

What Ron could do is put up a standard explaination about this incident on his website.

 

[LibXist]

All of you complaining need to calm the fuh down. Ron will do what he wants and say what he wants. None of you can change that.

 

[jcarcinogen]

A press conference? (When Cain had one over sexual harassment, the press gave lots of airtime.)

 

[CUnknown]

WRONG APPROACH!

To even attempt to fight these attacks is to be drawn into their trap!

Do not take their bait!!!!!!!!

The way to respond is a two-step...

Step 1. Dismiss them lightly with a wave of the hand: ....."I've gone over this a 100 times. I didnt write the letters and I disavow them."

then.....

Step 2: Immediately switch gears and go on a vicious counter attack: "The Establishment is afraid of my campaign because it threatens their power. They'll invent anything in order to hold on to their power and avoid talking about the economic meltdown...these immoral and costly wars...the trillion dollar bailouts....bailouts of Europe...etc....Why are you wasting your viewers time with this nonsense?"....

Thats how it's done. NEVER allow these bastards to put you on the defenseive!....ALWAYS attack!

Listen to the man. This is the way it's done, right here.

Although walking out, to me, is perfectly fine. Not as good as the way above, but damn if I don't sympathize with the good doctor! F the media. Whatever you do, don't give in.

 

[coffeewithgames]

What Ron could do is put up a standard explaination about this incident on his website.

Yea, if Newt has a website for his graveyard of issues, RP should be able to put this to rest easily...

Also, Ron Paul stating how many newsletters were written could be helpful, though the real issue here is making sure he is 100% aware of everything in them now, and he can cut off any future attack, before it even happens.
When asked about it, refer viewers to a website...even if it's repeatedly, that has two benefits:
Web traffic on the issue, and possibly converting doubters on the issue.

 

[Todd38]

If Ron Paul would just give the name of the person who wrote the newsletters and apologize for it appearing under his name the media would have to drop it. I haven't seen this video but if Ron Paul actually walked out on the interview then to the media that's like admitting guilt.

 

[speciallyblend]

Another one of these stupid threads that someone has to make when they think they have had some major epiphany on what Ron should do or say. I am starting to get to the opinion that these types of threads should be bannable. These topic matters are not thread worthy in the GRC.

you might think this but until he gives an answer. The media will try to kill ron paul on this! go ahead try to ignore it! I hope your right but the media will not let this go until either ron paul loses iowa or until they marginalize him! He has denied it but he has not answered the ? who wrote it? Until he answers that .They are gonna drill it till no tomorrow! If you want to ignore it. Then do so at your own peril! We will see next weeks poll numbers! very good reason to worry!

 

[speciallyblend]

If Ron Paul would just give the name of the person who wrote the newsletters and apologize for it appearing under his name the media would have to drop it. I haven't seen this video but if Ron Paul actually walked out on the interview then to the media that's like admitting guilt.

he ended the interview early so it is not as bad but they will slam him on this. We can only hope it doesn't impact the campaign. If it does then it is on one persons shoulders Ron Paul. It worries me a lil.