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Paul Rejects Gramm's Pro-McCain Pitch
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ShareSeptember 10, 2008 3:14 PM
ABC News' Hope Ditto and Teddy Davis report: Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said Wednesday that former Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, called him on Tuesday urging him to endorse Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., sparking charges from Democrats that the former McCain adviser is still active on behalf of the Republican presidential nominee.
"I got a phone call yesterday and it was a bit of a surprise to me because their request was that I endorse John McCain. The argument was, 'he would do a little less harm than the other candidate,'" said Paul.
Despite Gramm's effort to convince the Texas congressman that McCain would keep taxes lower than Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., Paul turned down the offer to get on board.
"How could I support a candidate that doesn't support the positions that I've supported for 30 years?" asked Paul. "I would have to reject everything I believed in and worked for and voted for, and I said, 'it might diminish my credibility.'"
Jesse Benton, a Paul spokesman, elaborated on the decision not to endorse, telling ABC News, "It's all well and good to cut taxes and to keep taxes low. But if you don't address the spending -- and that includes the overseas spending on troops in 130 countries -- the tax issue is almost irrelevant."
Though Paul's refusal to endorse McCain is nothing new, the Democratic National Committee pounced on his remarks, which they saw as a sign that Gramm is continuing to help McCain after publicly disassociating himself.
Gramm, who advised McCain on economic issues, left the campaign on July 18 after telling The Washington Times that the United States had "become a nation of whiners." Democrats used the Gramm interview, in which he pointed out that the United States was not technically in a recession, to portray McCain as out of touch with economic anxiety.
"Who did John McCain task with securing Ron Paul's endorsement?" asked the DNC's Damien LaVera in a Wednesday e-mail to reporters. "Phil 'Nation of Whiners' Gramm."
Asked why Gramm called Paul if he is no longer supposed to be playing a role in the McCain campaign, Benton said, "Ron and Sen. Gramm have known each other for 20 years. He said, 'Ron, this is Phil. I'd like you to consider endorsing McCain. Here's why ... '
"It was Phil Gramm calling on behalf of Phil Gramm. He was not making an official call on behalf of McCain," said Benton in an explanation that is not likely to satisfy Democrats intent on reviving stories about the McCain-Gramm connection.
Beyond discussing the pro-McCain pitch he received from Gramm, Paul told reporters at the National Press Club on Wednesday that Americans should consider supporting a third-party candidate in the 2008 campaign. He did not, however, endorse a particular candidate.
Paul also said that he is not considering a presidential bid as the candidate of the Reform Party. Though the Reform Party selected Paul as their candidate in Virginia, Paul said he is taking steps to remove his name from the ballot.
The Reform Party is planning to make a national presidential endorsement on Oct. 11 when it holds its national convention in New York, N.Y.
September 10, 2008 in McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Paul, Ron | Permalink | User Comments (74)
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so what
Posted by: dadminnesota | Sep 10, 2008 3:26:21 PM
rove also doesnt work for the mccain camp at all... zero zilch nada..... nada!!!!
Posted by: Bhrandon | Sep 10, 2008 3:28:39 PM
September 8. 2008
Illinois Sen. Barack Obama was served with papers yesterday connected with the lawsuit filed more than two weeks ago in federal court in Philadelphia questioning his constitutional eligibility for the American presidency. Service was made at his Washington, D.C. Senate office at approximately 1:00 p.m.
From a press release provided by filing attorney Philip Berg and available on his Web site:
Philip J. Berg, Esquire, the Attorney who filed suit against Barack H. Obama challenging Senator Obama’s eligibility to serve as President of the United States, has received confirmation from his Process Service Company that the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Senator Barack Obama were served today, September 4, 2008, with the legal documents pertaining to Berg vs. Obama, Civil Action No. 08-cv-4083.
The DNC was served at 12:00 p.m. and Senator Obama was served at 1:00 p.m. The U.S. Attorney’s Office accepted service on behalf of the Federal Elections Committee (FEC) on or about August 22, 2008...
..."The silence is proving me right," he said, wondering why no doctor or nurse has come forward to claim the inevitable publicity which would accompany an admission that they were in attendance for the Illinois senator's birth. "I think it's an insult to the American public and even more so to his campaign supporters who have worked so hard and donated so much money...
Posted by: any day now | Sep 10, 2008 3:30:11 PM
Obama campaign grasping at anything they can to show the world he really is the Messiah.
Posted by: Kitty | Sep 10, 2008 3:30:40 PM
More of ABC's tabloid journalism!
Posted by: Martin Slueg | Sep 10, 2008 3:30:54 PM
more games from 2000 and 2004 from the same team.
too bad the American people lose when they are distracted to play
all the while McCain and Palin are telling the middle class the same thing that was told them from 2000, 2004, 2005,2006, 2007, 2008...
"they'll screw you on taxes...now stay down...keep bending over and keep your pants down around your ankles ... while we protect you from their taxes"
Posted by: dl | Sep 10, 2008 3:31:56 PM
Congratulations Phil for the good work for your friend Mccain, thank you Ron for rejection the dirty offer. McCain=Phil and
Phil=McCain
and McCain+Palin=WBush+ Cheney. * years of faillure is enough. God save America from McPalin.
Posted by: BKMC | Sep 10, 2008 3:32:16 PM
You put up a good fight Ron Paul, but this country can not be saved from the unconstitutional Federal Government. You can't put the genie back in the bottle. Someday the States will stand up again and take back there rightful power.
Posted by: Tomjoad1776 | Sep 10, 2008 3:32:20 PM
After it was all analyzed, there was a vote about the bridge to nowhere. The vote was: All in favor of the bridge respond by saying yes.
Obama: yes
Biden: yes
McCain: no
Palin: no
The choice is clear!
Posted by: dl | Sep 10, 2008 3:33:05 PM
Gramm
the author of the enron loophole and the champion of bank and mortgage deregulation escorting it and fighting for it through congress...
oh and now the guy who literally wrote John Mccain's economic platform...photocopying Bush's and then tweaking all the teaks he didn't get the first time he helped formulate it...
Posted by: dl | Sep 10, 2008 3:34:51 PM
McCain was born in Panama, exactely in the Panama Canal, nobody was there to witness his date of birth and time of birth. He is a real Panamian. god save America from a Russian (Palin) and a Panamian (McCain).
Posted by: BKMC | Sep 10, 2008 3:35:03 PM
fake dl once again lies about the bridge...
palin said no to the bridge because the earmark that she wanted wasn't big enough to pay for it all.
and that is the truth
Posted by: dl | Sep 10, 2008 3:35:48 PM
Ron is a consitant politician, thank you for your input in the process and for your big NO to McSame
Posted by: BKMC | Sep 10, 2008 3:37:38 PM
BKMC -
Sorry dude, US military bases are considered US land under the constitution. Fact check that!
Posted by: any day now | Sep 10, 2008 3:40:50 PM
--any-day-now. Thank God, some rational American came forward to try to stop this madman and liar from getting into the White House. If one really does a lot of background research, one will find his history and resume is more fiction than fact.
Posted by: Mary | Sep 10, 2008 3:41:57 PM
Gram: Ron Paul is a winer. He is having a mental recession.
Posted by: Omentum | Sep 10, 2008 3:43:24 PM
rove also doesnt work for the mccain camp at all... zero zilch nada..... nada!!!!
Liar
Mehlman, Rove boost McCain Campaign.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0308/8911.html
Posted by: Rednecks for Obama | Sep 10, 2008 3:46:03 PM
dl
nice try.
hahahahahahahahaha
you dope.
Posted by: Omentum | Sep 10, 2008 3:46:53 PM
Here's the way I see it:
1. I can't stand how people use charges of 'racism' or 'sexism' to support their argument. Democrats love doing that and, now, apparently so does the GOP.
2. I can't stand the governement spending my taxes on stupid projects. Democrats love doing that and, now, apparently so does the GOP.
3. I can't stand blatant hypocrisy (they're all hypocrites, but at least don't insult my intelligence).
4. I can't stand clueless and unprepared candidates who are all talk. Democrats are usually the standard bearers here, but suddenly the GOP has caught up quickly.
So, I think Ron Paul has got the right idea. When you find yourself, all of sudden surrounded by morons, you've gotta ask yourself - am I a moron or not? What you do is stay true to your beliefs. It does not help the GOP one bit to 'win' an election if their candidate is not conservative.
So blather all you want about the economy - SPENDING (and particularly wasteful spending) is the problem. Earmarks are an insignificant portion of the federal budget. If you actually care, ask the candidates how they will fix (or eliminate) Medicare and Social Security.
Posted by: 1percenter | Sep 10, 2008 3:48:42 PM
I am glad to see Paul didn't choose party over principles. If more politicians were like him, we wouldn't be in the mess we are currently in. You know the entitlement nightmare championed primarily by the democrats, and the bullish and costly foreign policy of the republicans. I wish Ron Paul and the 3rd party candidates good luck.
Posted by: Ben Straub | Sep 10, 2008 3:50:29 PM
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