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 3 of 5)
31. Being that this is obviously a hit-piece against Ron Paul, my confidence in him is increased greatly. If this lame attempt using half-truths is the only mud you can find on him then we indeed have a genuine statesman worthy of our respect. Nice try, but the blowback is in Paul's favor. Keep up the great work.
Jason Wharton at 5:08PM on Jun 30th 2007
32. "Nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation".
Congressman Paul is dealing with an unconstitutional income tax and the best thing he can do in response is to attempt to provide "just compensation" to his constituents that keep being robbed by the tax collector.
Of course you come off as having an IQ of about 40, so I feel that this would be too high level of a concept for you to grasp.
Nate at 6:10PM on Jun 30th 2007
33. whoever wrote this article is an idiot!!
Dr. Paul is all about handling things on the local level.
When it comes to wasteful federally subsidized programs he is against it.
Frank at 10:44PM on Jun 30th 2007
34. Let's summarize, shall we? I quoted Ron Pauls website and highlighted his words. He doesn't abide by what he wrote. The idiot Paulites attack the messenger with names like idiot, etc, but never rebut the facts.
My favorite is the fact that you all are saying he votes against the bills. If that's the case, why is he asking for over 100 earmarks? Is he selling a bill of goods to his constituents. I particularly like braindeads saying he's just bringing home tax dollars to his district. Why doesn't he fight to reduce spending for his and all districts and save the entire nation money.
By the way morons, your candidate did not even receive 1% in the last poll conducted. That Ron Paul juggernaut is really catching on...or not.
Scott at 7:40PM on Jun 30th 2007
35. I think Dr. Paul is pretty much safe from any accusations of inconsistency or hypocrisy. That said, I will at least condescend to dignify this argument with a response. His congressional voting record is the most consistent of any member of Congress. I mean no offense, but this is the type of thing we must look out for; as Dr. Paul's campaign grows and he becomes too big to ignore, libelous attacks such as this will become commonplace. I must say, however, that I was expecting something more along the lines of "he's racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic." This is a complete surprise. There is not one person of any significance in our government who could accuse Ron Paul of hypocrisy. Not even McCain or Giuliani would stoop so low.
Andrew at 8:18PM on Jun 30th 2007
36. Scott,
The idiot Paulites attack the messenger with names like idiot, etc, but never rebut the facts.
They are attacking the messenger because of a misleading article. They did rebut your "facts". Ron Paul dutifully submits his earmarks and then often votes against them. Submitting requests from his district is not a "Yes" vote on the bill.
My favorite is the fact that you all are saying he votes against the bills. If that's the case, why is he asking for over 100 earmarks?
Because his constituents ask for them. Again, submitting them and voting for them are not the same thing. And yes, he has said he doesn't mind seeing his district get back some tax money. He's just looking at the bright side.
Why doesn't he fight to reduce spending for his and all districts and save the entire nation money.
He does. he votes NO and he submits bills to further cut spending and curb federal overreach. Perhaps that's a better question for most of the other congressmen who routinely on the "YES" side of all the spending and the "NO" side of his bills.
By the way morons, your candidate did not even receive 1% in the last poll conducted. That Ron Paul juggernaut is really catching on...or not.
So are you bothering to go out of your way and write about him with a disingenuous article that misleads with the intent of bad-mouthing him?
John at 9:40AM on Jul 1st 2007
37. The great Ron Paul--keeper of constitutional values--is using a method of helping his constituents that is barely constitutional.
Note that Reason http://www.reason.com/news/show/117409.html --the bible for you Paul supporters and other libertarians--argues that earmarks are not exactly constitutional.
That ain't Fox News saying that.
Here's more thoughts from a man who is a libertarian and can't quite square the entire earmarks=constitutional thing:
http://economicsandliberty.blogspot.com/2006/01/corruption_25.html
It's a scam that Paul is perpetrating and you Paulites are defending the indefensible. It kills you that the "defender of the Constitution" is actually violating it and going against the words of our founding fathers.
It's sad watching you defend it, but about what I expected.
Scott at 9:19PM on Jun 30th 2007
38. @ Scott at 9:19PM on Jun 30th 2007
Wrong:
"In the United States legislative appropriations process, Congress has, within the powers granted under Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution, the power to direct the appropriations of money drawn from the treasury. This includes the power to earmark funds it appropriates (in other words, "to designate revenue") to be spent on specific named projects. The earmarking process is a regular part of the process of allocating funds within the federal government. Each of the appropriations subcommittees have their own practices for determining whether and what kind of projects they are willing to earmark, and each sets rules for how earmark requests are to be received from members, including setting deadlines and required format for submissions."
Ray Harmon at 9:40PM on Jun 30th 2007
39. Scott why do you feel the need to write statements that are written to make Ron Paul look bad? Is he posing a threat to you or one of your elites? Do you think that people will just take your word for things and not look into it? Ron Paul For Prez - 2008!! No one else comes close!
Connie at 9:44PM on Jun 30th 2007
40. Did this blogger just refer to Ron Paul as the "left"? LOL. I think Hillary would disagree. By doing that, the blogger has revealed himself as a neoCON. The only people who call Ron Paul "left" are the war mongers. Oh, and speaking of warmongers, here's what people are dying for:
http://iraqforsale.org/
Elect Ron Paul and STOP THE CRIME SYNDICATE running this country.
susano at 12:32AM on Jul 1st 2007
41.
So everyone who disagrees with the all knowing and almighty Scott is an "idiot" or a "moron". Get the message everybody? Ol' Scott was just fine when the likes of DeLay, Hastert, Cunningham, and the rest spent us into NINE TRILLION DOLLARS worth of debt. But now Scott is awake and has decided that the real problem is RON PAUL. Sure Scott - only if you say so. The only thing worse than a slimer is a delusional slimer - that's you Scott.
max at 1:12AM on Jul 1st 2007
42. Its not overspending thats the problem, its a stagnant economy. If Ron Paul were pro growth, he would be working for macro-economic reforms and ideas, rather than playing games with pork barrel politics.
Steve Bonomo at 1:38AM on Jul 1st 2007
43.
We have a stagnant economy ? Maybe someone hasn't been listening or reading the administrations press releases. This is a great economy - just ask them. And everything is going very well in Iraq too.
So Ron Paul is the one that's been playing games and making a mess of things ? Maybe he's just following someones lead.
max at 1:51AM on Jul 1st 2007
44. He is just trying to bring his constituent's money home that was commandeered by federal taxes.
This is a nuanced issue. And yes, he does end up "Dr. No'ing" the final spending bills most of the time.
To the author:
Ron Paul is the only candidate to come close to the awareness & passion needed to change the system. Instead of trying to tinker with the current earmarking system, here we have a candidate who offers a real solution - Leave the money @ home where it belongs, feds butt out! Your knit-picking Mr. Paul on this issue is pretty sorry, & it's not going to help the earmarking problem.
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Every dollar spent @ the state level is worth two dollars spent at the federal level.
JB at 1:07PM on Jul 1st 2007
45. So I read all the earmarks. They are basically honest earmarks - for medical research, help for children who can't afford medical care, shoreline engineering in the bayous and parks, conversion of an old clipper ship into a historical exhibit. So what?
You want him to ask for money to make a documentary on himself, like our esteemed senator from Alaska?
Sierra at 2:31PM on Jul 1st 2007