Texas Rep. Ron Paul, a Republican candidate for president in 2008, has had his name linked to a group with rather specific reasons for opposing the Real ID program.
Paul "has appeared on the Endtime radio program," the AP reported in a March 11 article entitled "Biblical prophecy finds way to legislators in battle over ID plan." Endtime Ministries, the AP explained, is an organization " whose magazine, radio show and outreach examine (sp) current events through the prism of Christian apocalypse."
The article's title was referring to state legislators -- some of whom, the AP reported, believe the Real ID program for upgrading driver's licenses "is a beastly plot that will draw the world closer to the apocalypse." The article quoted Missouri state representative Jim Guest: "People are very concerned if the federal government gives you a number, it will be the mark of the beast."
Today, I took out my trusty King James and read Revelation to see what the book actually said about the mark of the beast. From Chapter 13, verse 11: "And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon." Verses 16-17 continue: "And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads; And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."
The public deserves to know about Paul's links to Endtime. An article in Endtime Magazine (May/June 2006 issue, pp. 20-21, "What is the Mark of the Beast?") explains one reason why the group opposes Real ID: "The mark of the beast will be required for a person to buy and sell," Endtime founder Irvin Baxter Jr. wrote. "The national ID, which will be implemented in America between now and 2008, will be required to hold a job or open a bank account ... Will the national ID soon become the mark of the beast?"
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. I know I don't want big brother in yet another aspect of my life. Go Dr. Paul!!!
Derek at 7:21PM on May 6th 2007
17. HERE WE GO AGAIN...A SELF-rightIOUS REPUBLICAN SELLING US A NATIONAL ID...DID WE FORGET THAT WE ALREADY HAVE "SOCIAL SECURITY" CARDS? ISN'T THAT NOT NATIONAL ENOUGH FOR YOU? DUH? GET REAL. JUST FIX THE BORDERS!!! ANOTHER WAY TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAT YOU SELF-rightIOUS CONSERVATIVES ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT WHAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE DOING? DOES THE COUNTRY EVEN HAVE THE FUNDS TO DO THIS? REMEMBER...IF YOU UPDATE ALL THE STATE SYSTEMS FOR A NATIONAL I.D. SOMEONE HAS TO PAY FOR IT. DUH?
AS FOR THAT BEAST IDEA...IT DOES STATE IN THE BIBLE ABOUT SUCH A THING CAN HAPPEN....AND HERE WE HAVE THE "moral, religious, self-RIGHTious" conservatives (REPUBLICAN PARTY) PUSHING SUCH A PROGRAM UNTO TO AMERICA......makes you think that they are teaming up with the devil don't ya? hhmmm?
iamchavira at 11:08PM on May 6th 2007
18. iamchavira, you missed the whole point, which is the fact the Ron Paul is against the ID card. He's the only Republican who's willing to stand up for what's right and break from the neo-con platform, yet he gets the least time on the major networks. It's gonna be grassroots all the way! Ron Paul in '08!
Derek at 12:07AM on May 7th 2007
19. yes derek i do stand corrected... thank you...but like anything else...it is a republican forum using security and fear to push such an agenda. you must wonder why? hmmm?
iamchavira at 12:40AM on May 7th 2007
20. Ron Paul has made the case against the Real ID through numerous media outlets. But that in no way means that he opposes the Real ID Act for the same reasons as any of thouse outlets.
Ron Paul opposes the Real ID for the same reason that he opposes the Patriot Act, federal entitlement programs, and the undeclared Iraq War that we are taxed for - they are all unconstitutional infringements on the liberty of Americans.
The Vich at 5:49PM on May 7th 2007
21. I will be voting for Ron Paul because when he places his hand on the Bible stating that he upholds the Constitution of the United States, he will mean just that. It is so sad that so few have read that great document.
Amy Hodge at 9:31PM on May 8th 2007
22. This article is a ridiculous smear on Ron Paul that uses faulty logic. The article is a “red herring” that assumes guilt by association, because Paul was on their show discussing why he doesn’t support the National ID, the author falsely believes Paul shares the views of Endtime radio. Notice how there is not any quotes from Paul in this article? Why – because the author couldn’t find any Paul quotes which refer to the apocalypse. The quote he does have is from Jim Guest, whose quote has nothing to do with Paul – so, who cares what Guest has to say? The author of this article needs to take a few more college courses in logic and probably writing as well.
Raxor at 5:38PM on May 9th 2007
23. The REAL ID is a dangerous idea; remember what Ben Franklin wrote about security verses freedom. God is indeed watching us, whether you convoluted atheists like it or not. The reason that I only now hear negative statements about Ron Paul is because his campaign has gotten you 'big brother' types running scared; I voted for him in 1988 and have temporarilly changed my registration back to Republican (after being in third parties for almost 20 years,) is so that I can one more time cast a vote for Ron Paul for president.
Andrew Reid at 10:28AM on Jun 6th 2007