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Despite Controversy, Paul Supporters Have a Dream

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January 17, 2008 1:07 PM

ABC's Z. Byron Wolf Reports: The biggest -- really the only -- major controversy to embroil Ron Paul's spirited, grassroots and libertarian-minded campaign for the Republican presidential nomination arose last week when allegations of bigotry surfaced.

But you would never know it by judging how the Texas Congressman's supporters are plotting their latest fundraising explosion.

As voters in New Hampshire went to the polls and gave Paul 8-percent of their vote January 8th, a reporter for the New Republic reported on old newsletters he had unearthed.

Published with Paul's name on the masthead, unattributed writing in one newsletter spewed some vitriol in the direction of perhaps the most deified American of the last hundred years, civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,  who according to the newsletter, which Paul has now denounced, was a "world-class philanderer who beat up his paramours" and "seduced underage girls and boys."

Paul responded immediately to the New Republic story by distancing himself from passages in the newsletters from 1992 that argued against enshrining Martin Luther King Jr. Day as a national holiday.

"It's in there, it's bad, I recognize that, and I had a moral responsibility. But that doesn't mean you can indirectly charge me as being a racist," Paul told CNN's Wolf Blitzer of the newsletters.

"Everybody knows I'm not involved in that kind of language," he added, before disavowing the writing in the reports, which he says he often did not read.

"That's not my language. That's not my life," he said. "I honor and respect the civil right movement."

Paul compared himself to a publisher of the reports and asked Blitzer if publisher always know every word in their magazines.

But his supporters have gone a step further on a pair of new websites.

"Please join us this January 21st as we honor Dr. Martin Luther King, by acting together to support Dr. Ron Paul, a new hero who fights for the same American principles of liberty and justice for all," reads a banner on the site.

Two previous websites helped raise half of Paul's nearly $20 million net for the last quarter of 2007.

Supporters commemorated November 5th, the so-called "Gunpowder Plot," a failed attempt in the 17th century by Guy Fawkes to blow up Parliament in England, by raising more than $4 million for Paul.

On December 15th, Paul supporters commemorated the Boston Tea Party at with yet another online fundraising drive hauling in more than $6 million.

January 17, 2008 in McCain, John, Thompson, Fred | Permalink | User Comments (55)

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mike and chaos, who are you voting for? obviously you have chosen a candidate that is perfect and has never made a mistake. a candidate that is unknown to the masses perhaps?

Posted by: roland | Jan 18, 2008 11:49:07 AM

Interesting how the Paul supporters are more insidious online than freepers.

Paul's newsletter was so small, and was written by him without doubt. If his tiny newsletters weren't written by him, the former subscribers need to sue him for fraud.

Ron Paul, the man who meets twice a week with Nazi boneheads, denies that he wrote this crap? Ron Paul, the man photographed buttfucking the founders of Stormfront, expects us to believe this crap? Give me a break. How dumb do you Paul supporters think we are?

Posted by: EnderW | Jan 18, 2008 11:51:12 AM

enderw, who are you voting for?

Posted by: roland | Jan 18, 2008 11:59:12 AM

In defense of Ron Paul I don't think
he's a racist.
Paul and his supporters are isolationist like Pat Buchanon!

Posted by: reaganfan | Jan 18, 2008 12:13:55 PM

The media against Ron Paul is so obvious, that it’s almost funny and is too ridiculous to deny it.

The Paul Campaign has been forced to go to extreme measures to reach voters, and thanks to their unpaid volunteer force they are able to canvass, call and attend public venues to get the Ron Paul message out. Ron Paul has spent less in all 4 post primaries than any Candidate running.

Ron Paul is staying steady and is growing his support and donations across the country. No wonder Faux News deleted the segment from the South Carolina Debate when Brit Humes asked the question about Ron Paul's electability, Ron Paul laid into Brit Humes, and rightfully so. Ron Paul informed Brit of the truth regarding the other Republicans, and what the Republican Party has turned themselves into. Ron Paul also stated some very important truths, but you will only see it on YouTube.com. Ron Paul is not your typical politician, in fact I do not think of him as one. Ron Paul is an intelligent true conservative, which follows our Constitution, and laws, period. Ron Paul does not sugar coat anything, and is not pandering to special interest groups for votes, he wants to do what is right for WE THE PEOPLE, and our Constitution. I recently read that Giuliani is having a very difficult time in Florida, and I am not surprised. People can see through his lies and deception, but then again he is Faux News and Murdoch's golden boy.

Ron Paul’s money comes from individual donors (his website updates with donor names in real time). In fact, he has received more monetary support from active and retired members of the military than any other candidate--Republican or Democrat. You might do some investigating to find out who funds the other candidates (www.opensecrets.org). Here's a hint: it's not individual donors.

We haven't even seen Ron Paul spend money yet and just take a look at his following. When all the others are broke; Ron Paul will still be there!

Please answer these questions;
Last week in the South Carolina debate, didn't Ron Paul say something about the US already being in a recession and it was getting worse fast? The other candidates were basically saying, no not true, economy is not great but doing fine. Now this week the economy is so bad we need an emergency stimulus plan?

Why can't Ron Paul's enemies challenge him intellectually? Why do they fight him with this media censorship?

Paulunteer - TN.


Posted by: paulunteer | Jan 18, 2008 12:29:11 PM

U blab about numbers and crap like that...and u vote uncommitted? Man up and take a stand. I am not name calling, simply stating the truth. the media bias is what is driving these numbers, er, sheep to the voting boths. People sit in front of the tele and parrot the media candidate forced upon them. Ur a good boy, Mike. Hey but I am not committed to that statement....

Posted by: Scott | Jan 18, 2008 1:25:07 PM

Dwight

Dont put words in my post. I never said DONT support him, i said he does not have the support needed to win, his website will back that up. The primaries have also backed that up to this point. Again, its not what you or i say, its what the voters say. 4 states down.

Posted by: Mike in Michigan | Jan 18, 2008 1:41:01 PM

Oh, now you commit? Now you support him? Dude...u have issues..

Posted by: Scott | Jan 18, 2008 1:42:59 PM

Mike, be real for about half a minute...here we are going round and round trade ridiculous comments to state our feelings. You know down in your heart of hearts, that is if you are a true American, that liberty, strong money, and non-intervention, is the way to go. BTW: I was in the Navy, and 20lbs of C4 wouldn't do squat to an Aegis class destroyer. They fugured those messages cam freom a radio prank...er, an excuse to go to war with Iran...dude the Stars and Stripes are yours to take back....jump on board and fight for freedom! Vote RON PAUL!!!!!

Posted by: Scott | Jan 18, 2008 1:51:09 PM

Ohh yes, I see real numbers, there are still thousands of delegates to be had....just wait and see, this is far fromover....Romney won mIchigan because the DEMS were told to vote for him, so he could run against Hillary or Barak and get whooped like cream...

Posted by: Scott | Jan 18, 2008 1:55:54 PM

Scott

Using 20lbs because thats all it took to kill more than a few aboard the USS COLE. Granted it was supply ship and not a destroyer, but you get my point. As i havent stated, i DO agree with some of Dr Pauls stands. But again, i dont see widespead support. I see support, but not at the numbers needed to win. At the end , they will count delegates, Ron has 2. You need 1191 to get your parties nomination. A sweep of super tuesday would do it for him. But i dont see that happening.

Posted by: Mike in Michigan | Jan 18, 2008 1:57:57 PM

Mike, lets part to agree to disagree...I extend to you my hand in recognition of civility. Please do not give up, just because you don't see it. Gerald Ford told the Nation that Reagan was a joke an unelectable....We know where that led. 2 terms.

Posted by: Scott | Jan 18, 2008 2:00:12 PM

DOnt get me started on Hillary or Obama, when you start talking spanish to get votes, you should be pulled from this process altogether

Posted by: Mike in Michigan | Jan 18, 2008 2:03:07 PM

HEY WE AGREE ON SOMETHING! KICK EM ALL OUT!!!! I LIVE IN PHOENIX....KICK ALL THE ILLEGAL LEECHES OUT!!!!! HILLARY AND BARAK ARE THE DIFFERENT SIDES TO THE SAME COIN!

Posted by: Scott | Jan 18, 2008 2:04:33 PM

Scott

Agreed, we disagree. I wish you luck and Dr Paul luck.

Posted by: Mike in Michigan | Jan 18, 2008 2:04:52 PM

SAME HERE....no hard feelings, bro....

Posted by: Scott | Jan 18, 2008 2:06:07 PM

GO RON PAUL, YOU ARE THE ONLY CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT WITH THE HONESTY, INTEGRITY AND BACKBONE TO TAKE OUR COUNTRY BACK AND LIVE THE WAY AMERICA WAS FOUNDED UPON!!! YOU HAVE OUR VOTES HERE IN FLORIDA, WOOHOO!!!

Posted by: Dana Dussich | Jan 18, 2008 2:18:10 PM

"...Supporters commemorated November 5th, the so-called "Gunpowder Plot," a failed attempt in the 17th century by Guy Fawkes to blow up Parliament in England, by raising more than $4 million for Paul..."


Correction...on November 5th, supporters commemorated the idea behind the movie "V for Vendetta" which references said "gunpowder plot". There _is_ a difference.

Posted by: Tim | Jan 18, 2008 3:08:30 PM

What would the correct term for what Ron Paul followers are doing ... "whitewash"?

Posted by: DRH | Jan 18, 2008 3:48:32 PM

Ron Paul has an 11 year history as congressman. You can look at his record and get some idea what he thinks; and whether he has followed his conscience in his votes. He has taken the time to study economics and can speak intelligently about our economic problems and their roots (which is more than most of the candidates can do). Hillary will probably look to Summers (previously president of Harvard and Sec. of the Treasury under Bill Clinton) - you know Summers, he is the one that believes that women can't think clearly or do serious math - if elected Hillary would bring Summers back to solve the economic problems. (Summers himself announced that on a televised Charley Rose program). Summers has already admitted on that TV interview with Charley Rose that he had no idea that the globalization free trade Summers championed would cause the destruction of the American middle class. (Summers should have asked some of the middle class - it does NOT (contrary to his opinion) take a Ph. D. in economics to figure it out !! ). On Charley Rose's program, Summers proposed solving it "by more education for the displaced workers". Somebody should write to Summers and patiently explain WHY THAT won't work . Summers proposed the government would pay for the "more education". Charley Rose wisely said "and how would the government pay for that ?" Summers' answer "by collecting the millions and millions of dollars of uncollected taxes " !!! Makes you want to cry, doesn't it ?
I don't believe Ron Paul's record shows that he is a racist; but I do believe he has the record of an earnest thinking man. He is an experienced physician and does understand how the federal government and pharmaceutical companies have worked in concert to virtually destroy what used to be the best medical care in the world. And he just might have some good ideas about how to begin to fix the problems!! (And he doesn't need or get $400 haircuts or live in a 28,000 square foot home - as Edwards ("Mr. Workingman" is reported in the Christian Science Monitor)! Our politicians need to have some daily contact themselves with the problems and issues that real Americans - you know, those who don't net over $50,000 a year - how real working families live today .

Posted by: ATL | Jan 18, 2008 9:08:33 PM

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