The esteemed representative and presidential candidate Ron Paul writes this on his Web site:
But today, too many politicians and lobbyists are spending America into ruin. We are nine trillion dollars in debt as a nation. Our mounting government debt endangers the financial future of our children and grandchildren. If we don't cut spending now, higher taxes and economic disaster will be in their future - and yours.
Hmmm. If that's the case, why is Rep. Paul asking for megabucks in earmarks for his district in Texas?
Read these requests (file in PDF) and note how vague they are and the lack of concrete numbers asked for. There are over a hundred requests for funding of various projects including "marketing wild American shrimp" to "construction" and "engineering services." The requests must be in the high millions or billions of dollars.
Paul seems to have adopted the "do as I say, not as I do" approach to governance so popular with the left. Perhaps Rep. Paul can forgo all earmarks to set a good example for the rest of Congress. He can be the anti-pork leader in the bloated legislature. Come on Rep. Paul, I challenge you to drop every single request for earmark funding and help us lower the debt. That seems to be your goal, but alas, I foresee you continuing your high-spending ways.
Hat tip: Ace, who is not nearly as nice as I've been.
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 5)
16. Vote Yes for Dr. No! This guy that wrote this story is a very deceptive journalist who doesnt like painting the whole picture to his audience..I guess thats what their paid for.
kyle at 5:45AM on Jun 30th 2007
17. Ron Paul has my vote! Feel free to earmark some funding for liberty. Go to https://www.ronpaul2008.com/donate/
"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."
George Orwell
Jonathan at 6:25AM on Jun 30th 2007
18. It is so heartening to see so many positive comments debunking such terrible, and weak, hack pieces. You're all patriots!
Can't wait to see what comes out of Iowa today!
bret at 5:25PM on Jun 30th 2007
19. Besides the outright confiscation of his district's earnings through taxes, there is the confiscation by inflating the currency....another "tax"!!
Why does Ron Paul want to repeal the Federal Reserve Act and abolish the Federal Reserve system?
Watching this film is like taking a College level course in World Economics and American Civics!
The Money Masters
The Money Masters
www.ronpaulaudio.com
goldenequity at 8:34AM on Jun 30th 2007
20. the cnn article i read said only a few of the 535 members of congress even released their requests, so obviously DR. Paul has nothing to hide.
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/06/21/earmarks/index.html
you are not a very good reporter though, some of the requests did list actual amounts, the one for the CHILD system requested 25,000, compare that to my local representatives requests.
http://www.house.gov/cleaver/pdf/earmarks.pdf
also might want to take a look at the bills Dr. Pauls has sponsored- http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery
just because you hate buying gas doesn't mean you can stop driving to work.
chad at 8:28AM on Jun 30th 2007
21. above links:
House Bill to repeal
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h110-2755
Money Masters
http://ronpaulaudio.com/rpaudio/TheMoneyMasters.wvx
Ron Paul Audio
http://www.ronpaulaudio.com
goldenequity at 8:33AM on Jun 30th 2007
22. Here's what the AP reports:
"Tom Lizardo, a Paul aide, said Mr. Paul has always asked for spending for his district in response to local requests.
"He feels the IRS takes the money and so it's [his] job to make sure money comes back in the district," Mr. Lizardo said.
However, Mr. Paul usually votes against final spending bills containing his earmarks when they reach the House floor. So far this year he has voted against funding bills for military construction, veterans and state-foreign operations. He did not cast a vote when the Homeland Security and legislative funding bills were on the floor.
Many lawmakers feel they are better off requesting funding for specific projects in their districts rather than waiting for a bureaucratic agency to decide which project is funded. Mr. Paul agrees, Mr. Lizardo said." source: Tom Lizardo, a Paul aide, said Mr. Paul has always asked for spending for his district in response to local requests.
"He feels the IRS takes the money and so it's [his] job to make sure money comes back in the district," Mr. Lizardo said."
SOURCE: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-ronpaul_27tex.ART.State.Edition1.43bdd5f.html
Ray Harmon at 9:17AM on Jun 30th 2007
23. The internet is free enough that Ron Paul is becoming well known using it. But it is also free enough that the ill-informed can promote their mistaken views using it. Putting up with nonsense like this article is clearly part of the price we pay for free-speech, and we should be happy to pay it. Go Ron Paul. Go Liberty.
John Howard at 10:16AM on Jun 30th 2007
24.
Yes of course - now it's Ron Paul that's the real enemy. Anyone who dare speak the truth beware the vengence of the mighty slime machine. The Ron Pauls and Jeff Flakes who have some principles and attempt to stand up for them will always be fair game for the machine and its disciples. It's ironic that Paul is now being targeted but the likes of Tom DeLay, Don Young, Dennis Hastert, and the rest of the recent "spend and spend" Congress that ran up the NINE TRILLION DOLLARS debt we now are burdened with continue to get a free pass from the so-called "conservative" press.
max at 10:36AM on Jun 30th 2007
25. this is just another hit blog .. doesn't the people in his district have the right to get some of there tax money back? your nothing but a shit reporter looking to smeer and beseach him. nice try but it will not work
Dave at 11:35AM on Jun 30th 2007
26. you Ron Paul supporters need to know what he's up to. Just like the Billery supporters need to know about the 2 million she was caught on tape diverting into her campaign. Felony charges being squashed as we talk. Nad the OHHH Bama supporters need to know about the 750,000 he pocketed from the land deals he's being investigated for. And Guiliani's supporters need to know about the $50,000,000 put in his pocket giving speaches from 911. and the $200,000,000 Rhomney put in his pocket from hosting internet porn sites with his web company. and the Fred Thomson supporters need to know about the $370,000 in left over campaign funds from his senate race that he converted to a leadership pac and paid his son $178,000 to run it. ect. ect. But that would take a little research, much easier to ask the only honest politician for something and then when he gives it to you, use it for a hit piece and still have time to take the weekend off. With pay I'm asuming. The good doctor is much more honest than you could ever be. Ann
Ann K at 4:37AM on Jul 2nd 2007
27. I know you want people to read your headline and feel betrayed.
You, sir, are what is wrong with America.
Will at 2:16PM on Jun 30th 2007
28. Scott, how blatantly ignorant can you get?
Chuck at 6:43PM on Jun 30th 2007
29. I'm a hard-core Ron Paul supporter, but I have to say I'm against what he's done here. The reality is as many of the commenters have mentioned - we're talking about relatively low dollars, and he has already or would vote against all of the bills these earmarks were attached to. The issue I have is that 99% of the media and most voters are not going to take the time to understand what the truth is - Dr. Paul is making it too easy to take easy shots at him that take too long to explain away. This is just the kind of thing that can derail a grassroots effort, and he (or his staff) should have been more on top of this. Appearance = reality unfortunately.
AC Green at 10:17AM on Jul 5th 2007
30. Scotty boy, I was about to reply with a comment about all the information you omitted from this entry and then I noticed about 20 people had already taken you to task. Cruising the web, it becomes blatantly obvious that the more informed an individual is, the more likely they are to support Dr. Paul.
So Scott, which is it? Are you unaware of how earmarks work and how Paul has voted in the past on these bills or are you purposely trying to mislead people? I hope it's the former because even though it would show you need to do a little more research before posting entries to your blog, it wouldn't call into question your honesty and integrity. I'll check back later to see if you've responded to any of the comments/criticism about your post.
Andrew at 3:08PM on Jun 30th 2007