Ron Paul is in tonight

The following corrects the first two paragraphs of this item as originally posted:

Fox News’ banning of Rep. Ron Paul from last Sunday’s GOP debate in New Hampshire raised considerable uproar over fairness, even beyond Paul’s fervent and vocal supporters who had vowed to boycott the network’s advertisers. Even Jay Leno was outraged and invited Paul back on his late-night program the night before New Hampshire vote.

But Paul is in tonight’s Myrtle Beach. S.C. debate thanks to a tentative invitation issued by Fox before the exclusion dispute and confirmed after his showing in the New Hampshire balloting.

[For whatever reason -- the threat of a boycott of advertisers, the general buzz about unfairness, some threatened FCC complaints, or a sense of fairness --  Fox News -- has caved and will admit Ron Paul to tonight's nationally-televised Republican presidential debate in Myrtle Beach, S.C. based on an invitation issued in late December before the exclusion dispute.

[The reversal in policy was confirmed by the state's Republican Party. Fox's banning of Paul from last Sunday's GOP debate in New Hampshire raised considerable uproar over fairness, even beyond Paul's fervent and vocal supporters. Fox refused to explain its decision and was deluged with thousands of e-mails and phone calls. Even Jay Leno was outraged and invited Paul back on his nationally-televised late-night program the night before the New Hampshire vote.]

Though generally considered a very longshot candidate by independent observers, Paul placed fifth in the Iowa caucus with 10%, ahead of Rudy Giuliani at 4%. Yet Giuliani was invited to the Fox debate and Paul was excluded. In New Hampshire, Paul was polling ahead of Fred Thompson, who was invited though he was not campaigning in that state, but again Paul was excluded.

In the actual voting Paul came in fifth behind John McCain, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Giuliani. In the recent Wyoming caucus Paul finished last behind Romney, Thompson and Duncan Hunter.

Fundraising figures for the fourth quarter of 2007 are not public yet, but the ....

supporters of the onetime Libertarian candidate reported raising nearly $20 million and another $650,000+ this month, which would make him likely the most successful Republican candidate that quarter and the only one to increase donations every quarter last year. With that money he has recently launched an advertising campaign in eight states including California.

Top of the Ticket has been running a reader forum here seeking explanations from readers for the apparent contradiction between Paul's the size and energy of his fundraising prowess and online support and his lack of success in attracting actual votes. Many of his supporters suspect a broad, at best benign or possibly malevolent media conspiracy, to minimize the public's exposure to Paul's strict constitutionalist approach, which would involve bringing home all American troops overseas and dismantling large parts of the federal government.

The positions of Paul, a 72-year-old, 10-term Republican representative from Texas, are explained in detail on his website and he has published a recent book.

Additionally, at least in this blog, dozens of items like this one and this one and this one and this one do not suggest a blackout on Paul news. Nor do the hundreds of reader responses that such items attract.

Additionally, today CNN, following up a story first broken by the New Republic, revealed it had obtained newsletters published under Paul's name in the 1990s. These newsletters contain racist comments. The controversial letters also contain rantings against gays, the Israeli lobby, AIDS victims and Martin Luther King Jr., who is described in one place as a "pro-Communist philanderer."

in another from June 1992 after the Los Angeles riots the letter suggests "order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks."

A Paul spokesman, Jesse Benton, denies that Paul wrote them and says the congressman finds the thoughts "abhorrent." In a written statement Paul said, "I have publicly taken moral responsibility for not paying closer attention to what went out under my name."

An earlier controversy in this campaign involved Paul receiving campaign donations from a white supremacist and declining to return them.

Tonight's debate starts at 6 p.m. Pacific time on the Fox News Channel and at foxnews.com.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Ben]

HERE IS THE BEST PART ABOUT BEING A RON PAUL SUPPORTER; WE DON'T CARE ABOUT ALLEGED "RACIST" COMMENTS IN A LETTER BY DR. PAUL. THE MODERN DAY DEFINITION OF A RACIST IS SOMEONE WHO IS PAINFULLY HONEST ABOUT A PARTICULAR RACE. BOO HOO. ALL THAT RUBBISH IS LIBERAL PROPOGANDA, AND IS THE WORK OF THE A.C.L.U. WHICH HAS IT'S ROOTS IN THE COMMINUST PARTY. THAT IS A FACT! SO ONWARD RON PAUL! IGNORE THE BUFFONS IN THE MEDIA AND WATCH THE SUPPORT GROW!

[Brian]

Paul did a great job denouncing the newsletters. He needs the fire - and I hope he brings it to tonight's debate. He needs to go on the attack because the other candidates are stealing his lines and ideas now.

I'm praying Michigan delivers for Paul, with the Democrats and independents there. Then NV, and then SC - and then the Money Bomb on MLK Jr Day on 01/21.

[Brian]

Good for Ron Paul!

The only three things I see they use against this Paul guy is this new letter from 17 years ago he didn't write, money he accepted from a white supremacist, Which when confronted said he'd rather have the money to do something good with rather than a white supremacist to do bad with, and last he has crazy enthusiastic Paulite supporters. That's all they got? I'm starting to like this guy Ron Paul more and more! He seems like the only candidate talking about what's wrong with this country, the others are to worried about discrediting each other.

Can't wait to see him school everyone again. So nice to see a candidate that doesn't have to read off a piece of paper when he gives speeches! Go Ron Paul.

[Brad]

Let The Message OF Ron Paul Be Heard Far And Wide. The Re-Education Of America Must Proceed If We Are To Survive As A Nation. The Constitution Is Not Out Dated.

Racism is not displayed by Ron Paul's Actions or Deeds. It is incongruent with his character.

I Vote For Virtue; I Vote For Ron Paul !!!

[Daniel Linnen]

Actions speak louder than words!
To all of his would be judges...
look at his actions and forget words that are not his and do not align with his actions. Wake up and see the CANADIAN DOLLAR is worth more than ours... our economy is struggling and money is leaving the country because of taxation and liability. RP may be the last chance we have.

[john]

I believe Ron Paul is correct when he says rights are granted to individuals, not to groups. Therefore I also believe Ron Paul is fair, balanced, and a supporter of civil rights activists such as Rosa Parks and ML King.

[TJF]

You didn't mention that there really wasn't actual voting in Wyoming..their caucus is essentially consists of the state GOP picks the candidate who gets the WY delegates.

A vast majority of the country have no idea what Ron Paul is talking about so they assume he is a wacko instead of assuming they should figure out how the world works.

[Neil McLaughlin]

It's so ironic that all Ron Paul haters can come up with is that he's racist. As if he'll enslave black people if he ever can. PEOPLE WAKE UP! WE WILL ALL BE SLAVES IF RON PAUL IS NOT ELECTED! HE IS DEFENDING EVERYONE'S RIGHTS TO LIBERTY - NOT JUST WHITE RICH PEOPLE (see every other candidate including Obama). This is not white versus black or hispanic, this is A WAR BETWEEN THE ULTRA-WEALTHY AND EVERYONE ELSE. May the best men win! Obama sure looks good if you watch him with MUTE pressed. He has great body language, great posture. The only problem is when you actually listen to his rhetoric "We will come together, and bring great change! We will rise above!". Ok pastor Obama.

[D]

What about the voter fraud, you are missing the greatest story of all time, do some real journalistic work for once, even though this story was pretty good. Here I will give you a lead to follow.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4463776866669054201

Be the first with the breaking story of voter fraud in NH, OH wait you can't, I forgot you are owned by the same ZIONIST pigs that own the rest of the media.
No wonder I cancelled my subscription. Oh well, Zeig Heil.

[Rob]

If you want to rehash a story, then how about VINCE FOSTER remember him
or how Hilary made it BIG in the "Futures" market....I believe that is something a lot more relavent (after all she has more of a chance of winning then he does) which voters should be reminded of. Or "White Water." Shall I go on?

Beside RP naively lending his name to some scum-bags who have long since been dealt with, there is no story here.

We have another money Bomb scheduled for M.L. King birthday, (a holiday RP voted for the establishment of, back in the 80's I might add).

Go RP '08

[Doug D]

The media blackout ended after he raised $5 million in the third quarter, and he actually started to get a fair amount of coverage after the two wildly successful money bombs and the large Philadelphia rally (5,000+).

But the media bias never went away. Even though Ron Paul was raising more money than the other candidates, and attracting bigger crowds, and dominating the Internet, and building an unprecedented volunteer network (in size and scope), nearly every news story continued to call him a "long shot" or "fringe" or just outright say "he's not going to win."

What other candidate leading his party in fundraising and grassroots enthusiasm would be called a long shot and written off repeatedly, before a single vote had been cast? Three months ago, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul were tied in the polls, and Ron Paul had a huge cash lead, but it was Paul who was called the long shot and not Huckabee.

[wallace]

Yeah, yeah. Hear, hear! And when the election is over and Ron Paul doesn't win, things will settle down when all these Ron Paul supporters go pick up their welfare checks! Yeah, right on, woo-woo...

[John B. in Florida]

Here we go again LA times huh.... lol. I was wondering when the attack would begin. We're scaring you aren't we. Getting a little too close to taking a few states. It's funny that CNN whips out these ancient newsletters that for all we know could be written by God Knows Who under Pauls' name... and the attack is on.

Funny thing is, the very person CNN digs up to come out and say... "humm... well these articles really are important and should be taken into consideration... blah blah blah.... " Guess who... yup, you guessed it, our very own David Gergen. Known CFR bagman who got outted by Alex Jones on his trips to the Bohemian Grove and their ritualistic sacrafice of a human being. Gergen got real mad when Alex told him he snuck in and witnessed their sacred ritual, probably because he was afraid his attraction to young men might be outted along with it. David Gergen... this is who you give us CNN to denounce Ron Paul... now it all makes sense.

By the way, LA Times, you might want to call me. I have some newsletters printed under the following names that contain more racist, sexist, and politically incorrect mumbo jumbo than you can imagine... those names are CLINTON, OBAMA, HUCKABEE, MCCAIN, THOMPSON, ROMNEY... AND ESPECIALLY GULIANI. Only one I couldn't findany newsletters on were on John Edwards, but nobody likes him anyway.

It's too late for all you big media corporations... the movement has begun... and whether Dr. Paul wins or does not... we WILL TAKE THIS COUNTRY BACK... and you will be tasting my boot very soon.

Ta ta

[Terjen]

You point out that in the recent Wyoming caucus Paul finished last behind Romney, Thompson and Duncan Hunter. But they were the only candidates to receive any delegates. Paul shared the last/fourth place with McCain, Huckabee, and Giuliani.

[Tony]

There are media blackouts, and there is media bias. Ron Paul is clearly a victim of media bias. Look at the difference in the questions he was asked tonight. He had to ask permission to paritcipate in the important debate topics rather than responding to asinine questions about things who claim to be his supporters do or say.

And look at your own article Andrew. You print this slanderous old stuff about newsletters without anywhere mentioning the clear, truthful, and very believalbe responses Dr. Paul has provided, including in an interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN today. See http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/10/paul.newsletters/index.html#cnnSTCVideo.

Now we'll see if Hannity and Colmes even invite him on the post debate spin show. They are the spin masters of the MSM for sure.

[Mae]

His voting record shows otherwise. I have read a lot of Dr. Pauls writing and those excerpts from the newsletter does not sound anything like him and what he stands for. He is a standup guy and that is why he still has my full support. All the way baby.

[Jenna]

I hate to break it to you guys, but your candidate is boring and has no charisma. I saw him on Leno and thought he was pretty terrible. Add to that, that he wants to cut tons of important government agencies and you have someone who is just too out there to win. There is no way he is going to win. And while the Paulites might disagree with me the reality is that he is still not even close to being a front runner EVEN with tons of money. It's time to pack it in guys.

[Tony]

Another thing, on-line blogs are not the Main Stream Media. So don't take credit for posts on your website as being indicative of fair treatment of Dr. Paul byy the MSM. Clearly a large number of people who have internet access, cell phones with text messaging capability, and who take the time to educate themselves and express their opinions are supporting Dr. Paul. The rest of the nation apparently is not, but that's because they get their news via 60 second sound bites on the nightly news.

Ron Paul is also winning the post-debate text msg poll on Fox as I write this. And of course they're just chuckling about it and I guess will tell us that it's a fluke or spamming or a mysterious paulbot attack of some sort. What hogwash!

And was that so-called Fox forum full of hand-chosen people or what? I think the guy said "we've been waiting for Senator Thompson to have a good night". What kind of a statement is that from a supposedly objective journalist??

(Finally, you admit we're not the msm! About time. Thank you, Tony. As so many commenters have said, the msm is irrelevant and dying. Hope everyone reads this comment of yours.)

[Davo]

Let's just stick to the facts - You Americans (God Bless you) have been so socially engineered (Carnegie / Rockerfella Institutes) you do not know crap from clay,

Ron Paul is FREEDOM dumbos

[Matt]

Well yes there is a media conspiracy, going on for 100 years, enabled
by special interest and the people with the money, like warfare
industry complex, medical industry complex, even educational industry
complex. Ron Paul can and will break that media bias, conspiracy, and
corruptness down over time. Have you watched FOX reports lately?
The reporters look like humanoids with no heart and soul :)!!! The truth
will be known. YOU will KNOW the truth (in your body, not your head)
and that truth will set you free! But initially, dear journalist, it will hurt
as hell!!!

[Doug]

Ron Paul is the real deal. He knows the current fed system is bankrupting our country. The fed allows the printing of trillions of worthless dollars. That is why America is falling faster than Rome. At least the Romans brought treasure back to the coffers to back their currency. The only ones profiting from the plunder today is the multinational corporations and their puppet politicians. It is time to stop plundering other countries and rebuild our own. The true riches of America are the people. We have been ripped off for too long by the foreign bankers that siphon away our riches through the inflation tax and stealing our labor with the income tax. RON PAUL!!!

[Rolland]

The author questions media bias against Paul, shortly after writing: "In the recent Wyoming caucus Paul finished last behind Romney, Thompson and Duncan Hunter."

Let's see, he was also tied with with McCain, Huckabee, and Giuliani in that state's closed caucus. The author's very own spin here is at least some proof of media bias against Paul.

How hypocritical...

[NH_GOP]

Ron was always in for this one.

FOX never 'caved'.

This is SC where he is polling high.,

He was polling 14% of just GOP in NH which is why the vote is suspect!

I wish I had signed up to run, so I could demand a recount.

[Shreyas Sreenath]

Im very sure that Dr. Paul did not write those letters, he is and has been an advocate for civil liberties (heck, his message is about liberty), not to mention that he has won numerous awards on his message of civil rights and liberties. It is obviously apparent how much fox news wants to spin his message of peace and prosperity into something dangerous. Libertarianist constructionism isnt about anarchy, but about peace and prosperity, for all, including minorities. However, Neoconservatism is precisely about expliotation of the American society to fuel the guns and butter and runaway deficit spending economy.
Heed this message well, EMPIRES ALWAYS COLLAPSE, AND REPUBLICS ALWAYS SURVIVE.
RON PAUL '08

[NH_GOP]

Also TNR did NOT 'break' a story about the newsletter.

It is OLD NEWS just being rehashed for an attack in the primary.

The guy who wrote it is a Yalie bonesman...Olin Foundation.

NEED WE SAY MORE?

[Dave]

Andrew,

You recently posted a question on why is it that Ron Paul hasn't done well up to this point in the race? I just want to say you're one of a very few that has given him a fair shake. If you go look at just about every Newspaper and TV segment that has been done on Ron Paul. Almost 90 percent of the time the article will say "long shot" or some other connotation that he cannot win. Look at every TV interview where the interviewer has been so hostile to suggest that "he can't win" or "he won't win" . These attacks by the same special interests you work for are so apparent. They also take there toll. However, we Paulites will continue on like Washington’s Army. No Surrender!

[Bill Johnson]

I have been a HUGE Ron Paul supporter, but I've pretty much given up today, as the Ron Paul Campaign has apparently refused to contest the NH results, when several accounts of VOTE FRAUD have been uncovered.

If the Ron Paul Campaign won't fight these blatant injustices, they have essentially rolled over and will allow it to happen over and over again... Essentially giving the election away.

Ron Paul himself needs to step up and fight the vote count fraud, otherwise we'll have another Neocon War Monger, or a Socailist in the White House, nothing will change, the wars will continue, and our country will sink into a depression, bankruptcy, and worse.

Ron Paul is our only hope, and it looks like the captain has abaondoned the ship before it is fully underwater. Sad, but true.

[Nothing]

this nonsense isn't going to hurt RP. I don't even know why they took to time to dig this stuff up. What's going to hurt him, is that he comes off a nutty old man in debates. He is too wiry and unprepared and too 'real'. He has no clue how to debate. And as a result he gets laughed at and mocked by the others.

The average person watching tonight had no idea what he was talking about even when he was making sense. He looked totally out of place.

He even does worse than Rudy, who is also a horrible speaker and debater who spits and slobbers and stumbles out a few catch phrases, 911, and 'educates' everyone of "the reality of the situation" but yet manages to look better than RP in these debates.

Thompson- who you need a translator to understand what he is mumbling, is calm and looks presidential and the public takes that into account.

Romney- who is a robotic, calculated and refined will always come out looking good in debates in the eyes of the public.

Huckabee who is probably the most ill-informed and less-qualified on the stage is the most charismatic, he a knack to speak to the average person in their language. He has the appeal that none of the others on stage do. That is why he will most likely with the nomination.

John Mccain who gives the impression that he is 'straight shooter' is just as rehearsed and planned as Romney. His applause lines and one-liner jokes are embarrassing. He is probably the most qualified to be president but a great debater he is not.

Style is more important than substance in these debates. If you think otherwise you people are lying to yourselves.

[Rob]

RP voted against the "Marriage Amendment" believing it is the STATE"S place not the Fed Govt to decide such things. (I agree with his logic on State's Rights) This vote has been something that those in the Gay community have praised him on. Again this vote would be inconsistent with what he is accused of writting in those letters.

He has proven in so many ways that he hates no one.

Lastly, when elected, he would seek to pardon all the non-violent Drug offenders, (probably those who are poor and/or of color would benefit most from such pardons). Is this what a racist would do? While so many others seeking office want only to build more prisons.

RP '08

[just wonderin]

Anybody looking into the possible voter fraud in New Hampshire? Apparently the paper ballots and machines don't add up.

[Joseph]

Somehow, perhaps because of Ron Paul's position that we've made israel (and arab countries) an adopted child that can't stand up on its own-or perhaps because of his belief that subsidizing and welfare lead to more subisidizing and welfare and in effect are a kind of soft slavery, dependency, or perhaps because of his belief in states rights...some wackos have been attracted to his cause. The same wackos who are using expressions like "Zionist pig" (read above). This is not helpful but hateful. Apparently some of the people who were writing on the Paul newsletter were the same kind of pricks who are writing "Zionist Pig" up there on the comments section. Well you should stop. You make Paul look bad and you sully him with guilt by association.

It is totally unfair that this has happened to him. he's the only candidate who understands the philosophical roots of racism in collectivist thinking, and the only candidate who stands up for the rights of the many minorities who are just tossed in prison on drug charges (true or false). It is a way for snooty white people to keep the poverty of so many african americans out of their sight. meanwhile their (white) kids get "help groups" and community service.

I cannot believe that Paul wrote these things. its totally at odds with his beliefs. Go to ronpaullibrary.com for example and see what he writes about racism. its totally different content and a totally different style. But I think some people who are maybe poor or marginalized redneck types hear what he has to say about how the civil war wasn't really about slavery (Lincoln had wanted to deport blacks before the war started for example) or the primacy of states rights and think he's "one of them". Perhaps when he wasn't paying attention, some people like this got hired and wrote at his newsletter. I would like to see a full investigation of course but it is simply impossible that he wrote this stuff.

His message is so universal and I hope that african americans who read this comment will be willing to do some investigating before accepting these claims. Even the reporter who dug this up admits he doesn't think Paul wrote stuff about Blacks and Homosexuals. This is a setup. The neo-cons and liberals are afraid of the Ron Paul Revolution (as we call it), not because they think he can win, but because they're afraid his ideas will expose their political and philosophical errors.

[Chad]

Fox News acts as if Ron Paul supporters are all ignorant idiots who have no formal education concerning politics. When a supporter for Ron Paul speaks up, or Ron Paul himself is interviewed, the neo-cons and liberals (one-in-the-same as far as I am concerned) roll their eyes and smirk with a cynical, better-than-you look. Support for Ron Paul is simply evidence that we understand the issues at stake. I am not ready to let Big Government sale our country to the world banking systems or trade commissions or leagues of other nations, nor am I willing to set America sail down the river of no return by allowing illegals to continually pour through our borders, or companies to outsource because of ridiculous work restrictions, taxes, regulations, etc., or welfare recipients to freeload off of hard-working Americans, or preferential treatment to be given to someone else's child so they may go to college for free, because they have more or less pigment in their skin, or for the government to forget their role as a Republic, which is to serve the people, and not to rule and dictate over the people. They have never been given the right to take our rights. They need to stay out of our business and our businesses. Ron Paul knows the Constitution, and he represents true freedom. His voting and speeches over the past 30 years parallels the writings and speeches of our founding fathers. I don't want happy-go-lucky young politicians that look like Ken dolls, nor do I want old fuddy-duddy politicians that say they will do this and do that, but have done the exact opposite while in political offices in the past. I want a leader who not only speaks his mind, and hopefully his heart too, but one who believes in doing something about it, and works to make it happen. This is the type of man Ron Paul seems to be, and he has my vote.

Would I be wasting my vote on him? Is voting to save your nation a waste? So somebody else wins, at least I know in my heart that I voted for the one person who can stop this political jargon nonsense from term to term, and plug the holes in our sinking vessel before she sinks for good. I'd rather die trying to plug the holes in the bottom of the ship than to be standing on top of the deck pretending the ship isn't in trouble.

[libertynow]

ACLU is trying to take over the Libertarian Party. No to Phillies in 08. Pick Paul

[Scott Harmon]

Well, I like that this column presents both sides of the story. We should all question under whose hand the demented racial and homophobic comments came from. I believe that Paul's management style is very decentralized, and this creates problems--things happen. Of course, I don't know the people behind these flyers, and neither does Paul, apparently--who expressed a strong denial of these things. I know that some people, like the Gargoyle, David Gergen (supreme Washington insider and truth manipulator) are quick to indict Paul, but there is something very fishy about this stuff. Maybe the truth will out, and maybe it won't. I will say this. I am really concerned that the Gargoyle comes out and tries to make hay out of this quickly: what is the Royal Gatekeeper concerned about? Are the royal gatekeepers and elites worried that Paul is attracting more than a few voters?

I really get concerned when people start throwing around the race/sexual orientation stuff. It is a sign of desperation. Actually, most of us live in decentralized households; when our kids do things, we usually react and say, where did that crap come from? We have to stop thinking that a political campaign is larger than life. People do things that are not in the best interest of the leaders/campaigners. It happens all the time at the Pentagon, in government, and in the business world.

I believe that Paul should address the questions, and he has done this assertively. Can we believe him? As much as you believe your kid when
he /she tells you something. Life is full of uncertainties, weird facts, and turmoil. Usually, as parents, we say, "that doesn't sound like my child." And in this case, it doesn't sound like Ron Paul.

If the past is prologue, I would be more concerned about the Gargoyle than I would about Ron Paul. Run your search engines and get some background on both individuals.

[Joe Allen]

Dr. Paul has never outshined his message, nor could he. Constitutionally limited government, golden rule foreign policy and respect for the Bill of Rights is a platform that demands high standards of its champion.

Ad Hominum attacks do not harm libertarianism. Dr. Paul knew this would get ugly and he seems to be holding up pretty well. I thought he did pretty well in the SC Fox debate. The message is getting out. Freedom is an attractive idea.

Thank you for your mostly fair coverage on this topic.

[Maggie]

Ron Paul is the best thing that happened to America since Thomas Jefferson and the Anti-Federalists. Please, big mainstream media, stop smearing the good doctor's name all over the place. It's not only we Americans who are watching this saga unfold. The whole world is watching. And they are rooting for Ron Paul!

[Amandan]

RON PAUL WINS FOX NEWS SOUTH CAROLINA DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Does anyone else think this is fascinating considering they couldn't even invite him to their last debate after beating Rudy by a full 6%?????

I can't wait to hear FOX discredit their viewers!!! I'm sure they'll just not report it!!!

[RAM]

Good job, Paulites!

And if David Frum (on the Guiliani campaign) gives you anymore trouble, remind him that he is Canadian, was given his first job by the now convicted Conrad Black, wrote a book labelling Bush, "The Right Man," and previously attended Bilderberg Conferences...

[jack dawsey]

I support Ron Paul. As a former Republican of 42-years, having served as an elected official in county government in NC, I'm appalled at the current crop of Republican candidates for President. Dr. Paul is the only candidate on the GOP (and democrat platform too for that matter) that is willing to speak out and expose the financial scam that both parties are doing on the American taxpayer.
jack

[Torqued]

Ron Paul is not racist. I think Ron Paul has more black supporters than Obama!!

Lies.

Keep 'em coming, it only makes this more interesting!

[Victoria Oldham]

We love Ron Paul's message. Regarding the comment that Ron Paul should divert his forward march to investigate the results of the New Hampshire primary...well, I would recommend a little patience. We're witnessing the beginning of a much bigger movement with steadily growing numbers of disenfranchised citizens who are desperate for positive change or who feel hopeless about the future. Look at what a good guy he is...yet the establishment media digs into a past set of newsletters Paul didn't even write to try to find the least little thing that could discredit him, compared to candidates with huge scandals in the past like Whitewater.

[Todd]

FOX is unbelievable! They ask a very insulting question to Ron Paul to anger him and he again manages to turn it around and shoves their question right up there where the sun don't shine..... Ron Paul is a Pro!
Fox News is just making it worse for themeselves.
I can't stand those FOXholes. (Foxholes lol)
And Ron Paul STILL WINS the debate!
Paul 32%, Fred 22%, Huck 18%, Mitt 13%, McCain 6%, Rudy 5% ---- REVOLUTION BABY!

[RAM]

I heard that Dr. Paul shamed the other GOP candidates on the Fox News debate tonight...

Do you know why? Because the other candidates have the corporate backers, but don't have a clue about things like monetary policy...

Fox News will likely try to censor him in the future by claiming that Dr. Paul is over-qualified for the job of President of the USA...lol

[ashley]

Why isn't it when other candidates are talking about, negative things aren't brought up constantly. As with Huckabee, or any of them. I bet if you pried even half as much as people had to pry to find these newsletter, you could find all sorts of horrible TRUE deeds of the other candidates.. But, noooo.... they are shinning starts on the outside of ceral boxes that say good for kids but are really just a bunch of fluff! Wake up america.

[Sean]

Did anyone else notice that Ron Paul's message, about him being the only strict constructionist when it comes to the Constitution, was cut out from the rerun of the debate on FOX?

He really gave the rest of the candidates a severe beating over the issue and FOX, being part of the Republican establishment, has to cut the segment out. Fair and balanced? I don't think so!

[David]

Whoa, Andrew... are you feeling alright?! You didn't dish up any of your back handed compliments and thinly veiled slurs that I have grown so accustomed to reading in your blog here. Congratulations on joining us at the grown up table. =) Okay, all joshing aside, I'd like to mention the media coverage up of Paul.

Paul has been running nearly as long as the other candidates but the media is just now starting to cover him. He has only been getting air time within the last month or so. If you want to see some blatant ommission of Paul, take a look at this YouTube video of CNN's post debate coverage. They show all of the Democratic contenders, but they only show the top 4 Republican contenders and leave a huge blank space in their pie chart where Ron Paul would be.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgUY6fpV6Nk

There are other equally blatant examples out there like telephone polls that only gave the option of "Giuliani, Romney, Huckabee, McCain or other." Polls like that were being conducted as recently as a month or so ago, long after Paul had broken the one day fund raising record by pulling in over $4 million in a single day.

There are other examples, like during the original Fox News debate where the moderators tried to box Paul in with craftily worded questions that if he had answered in the way they were phrased would have made him look bad. I can't remember the example right off the top of my head since it has been a few months but I do remember him saying something to the effect of, "You're miss quoting me. What I actually said was..."

In the debate tonight, they threw him that 9/11 curveball and he answered that and then had to say, something to the effect of, "May I please now join in the debate and respond to the subject that the other five candidates have been talking about?"

Like it or not, Ron Paul is the only person running for President who is talking about holding the government accountable to the Constitution. Incase you haven't read your history lately, the Constitution was the document given to us by brave men who had just thrown off a tyranical form of government and didn't want to see that kind of government rise up again. Ron Paul is saying, in effect, "Follow the Constitution. Stop using force to manipulate the rest of the world. Stop destroying our monetary system." The fact that he is being marginalized because of his positions hints at something quite wrong with this country. When the guy saying, "Lets return to the ideals that our country was founded on." is a "nut job wacko"... there is something DEEPLY wrong with the system.

You were alive when Eisenhower made his speech warning us about the dangers of the military industrial complex. Maybe you should check it out on YouTube some time, or maybe they even have it there in the archives at the Times building for you.

Here are some words from Eisenhower. Ponder them if you have the time...

"Disarmament, with mutual honor and confidence, is a continuing imperative. Together we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose."

Where is the intellect and decent purpose in our government? It certainly isn't coming from our decider in chief, and it certainly won't come from the fields he has sown with the seeds of destruction, watered with the blood of the people of the world.

Was it decent purpose that armed Saddam with chemical and biological weapons. Was it decent purpose that created al Qaeda and funded a military dictator in Pakistan? Was it decent purpose that over threw the democratically elected government of Iran because they wanted to nationalize oil production? Was it decent purpose that installed the Shah who was so hated by his people and so completely working against what the people of his country wanted that he was overn thrown in a coup less than a decade after being installed?

(Dr. Paul did well tonight. He's not been that assertive before, which you have to be in those groups. As much as you'll hate to admit it, there is in modern American politics a skill to being noticed. And you have to be noticed. It's not always the media's fault or some coverup conspiracy. Notice how Huckabee, a former nobody, gets noticed; he's got one of the best comunications advisors in the business and they plan those colorful phrases and quips. I mentioned in another comment how your campaign put out word of the biggest fundraising day ever--in a news release at midnight one Sunday night. How not to be noticed. Then, of course, the complaint is the media ignored the news. To be honest, they didn't ignore it. You hid it. Do you think it would have been different if, say, you planned a noon news conference Monday to announce the largest one-day fundraiser ever with an immense check for that sum presented to the candidate by some volunteers? Just some late-night food for thought.
Check back here Friday morning for another item.)

[blakmira]

Sometimes Ron Paul fills me with awe and admiration.
Sometimes Ron Paul makes me feel joyful and triumphant.
Sometimes Ron Paul fills me with pride and relief that good, honest people still exist in the world.
Sometimes Ron Paul makes me feel sad for all the people who malign him and laugh at his belief in the Constitution.
Sometimes Ron Paul makes me feel angry and frustrated for the years he's had to struggle while just speaking the truth and trying to bring our country back to us.
Sometimes Ron Paul gives me hope and optimism for how much he could change the world if he was just given a chance.

But above all, Ron Paul never disappoints me.

[Letma Peoplego]

Paul's negligence regarding his newsletter is bad for sure.

But what about McCain at the debate saying he doesn't want to trade for burkas?..or Thompson talking about sending muslims "to meet their virgins?"

I wonder if the Paul letters contained the same type stuff but directed at Muslims or immigrants if we would cringe so deeply?

Does the severity of racism depend on the target? Is there a discrepancy here?

[Jennasdaddy]

Hey Jenna,

So you think Paul is "boring" and has no "charisma". So I guess instead of supporting a candidate who understands foreign policy and economics and supports following the constitution and cutting government waist (the so called important departments like FEMA, ask New Orleans what they think about FEMA) then I guess you want your candidate to juggle and ride on a unicycle. You want a candidate that will keep you entertained because you have a small brain and even smaller attention span. Maybe your candidate can make balloon animals or paint your face because you sound like a child. Ron Paul wants to fix problems and people like you ridicule him because he tells you the truth and doesn't feed you garbage. Do me a favor and grow up before its too late.

[Barry A]

I was going to vote for Huckabee but after what I seen tonight, I am voting for Ron Paul. We really need to reign in our government.