Ron Paul campaign packed with (paid) Ron Paul family members

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) is running for his party's presidential nomination. And so, it seems, are a whole bunch of Pauls and other assorted family members.

They're everywhere in the Paul campaign. And all, by the way, getting paid from the $34.5 million donated by the legions of loyal Paul supporters across the country.

The 72-year-old Paul, a onetime ob-gyn, has packed his campaign staff with what seems like a whole lot of the 4,000 babies he's said to have delivered over the years.

Although Paul, who turns out to be a multimillionaire, has... 

... acknowledged that winning the GOP nomination is hopeless, he continues to campaign while simultaneously pushing his new bestselling book, "The Revolution: A Manifesto."

Although Paul has said he believes Sen. Barack Obama will be elected president on Nov. 4, Paul's supporters continue to try to gain control of delegates at the local party levels and plot for a convention speech and possible platform skirmishes against the victorious forces of Sen. John McCain.

The Washington Post checked campaign finance records at the Federal Election Commission and found the 10-term libertarian-like House member, who allegedly doesn't like big government, does indeed like big family involvement in his campaign.

He's paid family members nearly $170,000.

It's not illegal. Unusual, yes, especially to the extent Paul has taken it.

One granddaughter got $17,157 for helping to organize fund-raisers. Another got $2,724 for helping ship Paul merchandise. A grandson gets $3,251 for managing Paul's MySpace profile. A daughter got $2,224 for helping with campaign logistics, according to the Post's story.

Two sons and a daughter have been paid for travel and surrogate speaking appearances. Paul's brother and daughter have been paid $62,740 to handle the bookkeeping on all these numbers and relatives.

"His family is very important to him," says the official Paul campaign spokesman, Jesse Benton.

Benton is, you may have suspected by now, about to become a member of the Paul family as well as of the Paul campaign family. He's engaged to a Paul granddaughter.

For his public relations work, including not returning countless Ticket phone calls over the months, he's received $54,573.

--Andrew Malcolm

Photo Credit: Associated Press

Comments

[Paul n]

As someone who cares very much about this country and is very sad about its downward spiral in my lifetime I often think about where we have gone wrong. I remember when I was growing up that my dad had a good solid job and could buy a nice house, raise 6 kids, help put them all through college with Mom staying at home. My country was respected throughout the world for its economy, freedoms and innovation. There were no renditions, illegal wiretapping, tortures, massive spending, rampant illegal immigration, etc. etc etc.. Why has this happened? I think primarily because of writers like Malcom here and papers like the LA Times. By focusing on nonsense like this and by constantly diverting and misleading the people, we have not focused on the larger, critical issues. Shame on you Malcom. Shame on you LA Times. You and your paper are a disgrace to your profession.

[Cara]

Done with this trash:
I think you are right! Im going to have to block reading Andrew Malcom's sorry excuse for journalism as well. Obviously the wretched MSM dogs have gotten to him, too. At this point I can only assume he gets his paycheck on the premise that he is trying his best to make an honest, decent man look like a greedy crook. I am totally disgusted by the treatment of Ron Paul by the MSM - I can't say I'm surprised, though. Mr Malcom, you wouldn't know the truth or integrity if it bit you in the bum - or you do know it when you see it and you have chosen instead to sell your SOUL for monetary gain? I hope for your sake you wake up and open your eyes - our country needs honesty and we need it NOW. If you think this is a story, make it an honest comparison of the other candidates campaign compensation reports. Thats what a REAL journalist would do. Thanks, but no thanks Mr. Malcom. My days of reading your column are over - unless, of course, you choose to come back to the TRUTH.

[Pauli]

"Dr. Paul has run a very frugal campaign with little waste and is still in the black. Something that can not be said for the others who claim to be conservative."

I don't know how "frugal" it is. He's spent more than Romney did per delegate, I believe.

[Charger]

And your point is...?

Why don't you discuss something of actual importance, you know, like the fact that John McCain is not an actual American born citizen, therefore is not allowed to run for president. Just google it! Sorry, I forgot - you don't do research.

[Scott Harmon]

You lost me on this one, Andrew. And I'm one of the people who does not want to bring out the tar and feathers.

Look, Paul's got some money. He wisely invested in gold while many of us are invested in U.S. corporations--an increasingly bad bet. And, so, he's got family members on the campaign staff? I don't know why that is a negative. It's not like it is that unusual, as you say. We have the Clinton Bozos and the Bush Bozos who have already set the bar very low for a meritocracy. And the money for Paul's campaigning is paltry, compared to the millions raked in by the Clinton Spin Machine. One speech from Clnton to the corporatist-dole crowd nets the amount you cited for Paul's entire campaign expenditure.

You should recognize that there is a difference between a "dynasty" in power and an association of family members who are working for a candidate. Even Bush I, to his credit (and I give him very little credit for anything), is reluctant to campaign for Bush II. Clinton I is another matter--a total embarrassment. There is no parallel between what Paul's family is doing to the conduct of an ex-President (i.e., Clinton), if that is your point.

[Joe]

So the jist of this hit piece is "paul pay's family members to do work"

So MSM scum ...Are you suggesting the family members did not work for there pay? Of course not! They worked for the money they earned.

You media scum will stop at no nothing to disparage the good name of Dr. Paul.

Go to hell

[Jive Dadson]

How utterly un-American! He hires his loyal family members and pays them a pittance? He is supposed to use that money to return political favors. He is supposed to hire media spin doctors and advisers - lots of them - and pay them millions! Everyone knows that. I'll bet his campaign isn't even in debt. Next thing you know he'll be voting against deficit spending bills in congress. Disgusting.

[ellen]

How exciting it would be if the LA Times would seriously discuss the important ideas outlined in Ron Paul's NY Times #1 Bestseller, "The Revolution: A Manifesto." May I challenge you to apply your journalistic skills to initiating that public
discussion?

I always read your blogs, and usually enjoy them and leave comments. Please consider my challenge. Thanks!

[z]

HOPE you're keeping an eye at opensecrets.org Mr. Malcolm and where all the money is coming and going for OBAMA, HILLARY, and MCCAIN. It'd be nice to see an article from you in THAT regard...rather than being a journalistic hack.

[SuperTruth]

At least Dr. Paul has a family who he can rely on to help his campaigns. How many other candidates can claim that?

[Mo]

I spent more on my knee and back surgeries. Considering the the huge public service Paul has provided Americans by re-introducing their long-lost Constitutional heritage, I would venture to say his investment in the services provided by his trusted family is at least ten times that much... in fact, it's priceless.

[Kevin]

Goes to show. Paul knows how to save money. How much would the campaign had to pay for a third party to run these task?

Poor story Andrew just to get hits on your blog.

[MC]

Hahahahaha...it's so funny how the LA Times can make a point like this when most of what they print is terrorism of the first order. Creating an environment of division is what you're paid to do. The type of terrorism that is the most insidious ever conceived. You belong to the largest family of terrorists, terrorists that works from the inside to divide and conquer. You are a threat to national security with your bought and paid for propaganda. You are the ones that shut people up with misinformation, distorting truth, and by simply yelling louder.

The LA Times is like the obnoxious family member that has very little education and strikes out at any opposition to what their masters desire because that is what they are paid to do. I already know who's on my side and I have known for some time you aren't.

You are a divider LA Times, a bought and paid for terrorist, that's all I need to know.

MC

[daniel makin]

i donated 500 and i would be the first one to say if this is a smear it did not work.... i respect him more and i say family first and if it was my family i would have payed them more... i think these numbers are very low for how much his family has done...... good job whora to the paul family

[Sandra]

That's the lowest I've seen a presidential campaign ever pay their staff. I'll bet however, they would just as soon do it for free. Well, I think the campaign deserves to be rewarded! We should have a "Los Angeles Times and Washington Post Has Crappy Articles Slamming Ron Paul Money Bomb"!. If anyone can think of a shorter name, then run with that.

[Paul]

Ron Paul has likely gotten the most for his money with his family as staff. $170,000 is a paltry sum considering what all has gone on, and for how long. Paul has probably spent the least of the campaigns still running, and gotten the biggest bang for it.

If you were trying to actually provide news, which you are not, you would research and write about the colossal sums of money spent by the Romney, McCain, Clinton and Obama campaigns. Those are where you would find some staggering figures, and individuals who were probably paid $170,000 or more each, not in total.

[nate]

who is this "Andrew Malcolm".... sounds like a self loathing nobody. An enemy of freedom.
Oh and the curse guy, I like that.
Ron Paul is the most honest man in Politics, and McCain even said this himself (before running)...Oh then again McCain has a history of saying things and then "adjusting" his stance later.

(Yeh, Malcolm is one of those guys who doesn't have to go to a Ron Paul chatroom to get instructions on where to go online and what to say in the comments section.)

[Kevin]

$170,000 to all of them? So what? That's nothing. My income is twice that and I'm barely getting by.

I agree about the non-family campaign staff thought. Many of them didn't do their jobs.

[Sabrina]

It's articles like these that can jolt a person back to reality!! I just gave Ron another $100.00....Thanks for the reminder, TOT

[badmedia]

Why don't you do a story on all the lobbyists the other candidates have, and the amount of money given to them?

Hmmm, lets see. Would I rather my candidate pay for a bunch of lobbyist and people connected to special interest groups, or his family. Yeah, ya know - I think I'm gonna have to go with the guy paying his family. Who's total among them all btw, is less than what I make in a year.

They weren't even really well paid. No less than a common profession job.

Seriously pathetic reporting. Unless of course you wanna do the right thing, actually do a bit of research rather than repeating talking points and write an article of the other candidates finances. Btw, Rudy Guilliani is a great one to start with.

[Travis]

By far the most pathetic attempt to smear Paul. I am so happy to see all the common sense responses in the comments here. Andrew Malcolm is a complete joke. However, it is just absolutely depressing how the Washington Post, what should be a respectable media outlet was so quick to try and make Paul look bad for this. The Paul campaign is out looking for trust worthy people and they try to make him look bad .. meanwhile all other candidates are giving millions and millions to crooks and liars and not a word .. just silence.

What an absolute shame. The institution that American media has come should be uprooted. It has become a plague on all virtue, common sense and intelligence.

[Matthew Tress]

That's awesome!! Family run businesses are always the best!! I'd rather support a family business anyday than one that hires corporate lobbyists and Washington insiders.

[Paul]

"nearly $170,000."

Nearly $170, 000? LOL!

Romney probably spends that much per month to have his family polished and whitened.

[Wendy]

Well that's a good way to ensure your campaign isn't just like Hillary's/McCain's...oh and who cares about $170,000. I'm sure other politicians would use that to pay ONE political adviser alone.

[Tominellay]

...thinking that any American who ever owned a 'Mom 'n' Pop' business, or who ever had a paper route or a lemonade stand, or mowed lawns, might like the idea of a principled family man running for office with the support of family and friends...Ron Paul is the candidate of American values...