I'm done with any talk about how Ron Paul is a legitimate candidate. He is a Class A certifiable kook -- or the worst kind of sleazy opportunist. According to a thoroughly researched article in The New Republic, he printed some of the worst racist, homophobic and anti-Semitic rants I've seen in my lifetime in his newsletters.
Whether he personally wrote these or profited from them for decades is irrelevant. One or two times might have been a mistake that he didn't pick up on. But this amount of overwhelming material over a stretch of decades is inexcusable.
We give you some of the worst quotes in the video below:
The article itself has many more quotes and personal attacks against specific African-American politicians. And his spokesman's explanation is borderline pathetic. Jesse Benton says the material in the newsletters had "various levels of approval." When confronted with the viciously racist quotes, Benton said, "A lot of [the newsletters] he did not see. Most of the incendiary stuff, no."
Most? So, which part of the incendiary stuff did he see, which did he write? They can't even bring themselves to disown the whole thing. So, was it the part where Ron Paul called New York "Zooville" and "Rapetown" in reference to minorities who lived there or was it was it when he said gay people got AIDS on purpose because they liked the attention and wanted to poison the blood supply of straight people?
Watch More Young Turks Here
Mo Rocca has appeared on a bunch of shows, including 'The Daily Show,' 'I Love the 80s,'...
Mo's Blog Roll
Resources
Ron Paul's Vicious Racism
Posted Jan 9th 2008 1:23PM by Cenk Uygur
Filed under: Young Turks, Video, Race Relations, Ron Paul
Mo's Video
The Sound of a Smoke-Free Barack...Almost two years ago we speculated on how Barack Obama's voice would change if he stopped smoking. ...
Most Popular Stories
- Don't Like Goodbyes...
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Is it Time to get some Cheerleaders?
- How NOT to give an Oscar Acceptance Speech
- Could Jim Belushi Win the Nobel Peace Prize?
- Spring Break Sexy T-Shirt Removal Training!
- Quest for the Crown 5: Plastic Wrap to Make you Less Fat!
- Quest for the Crown 4: Work Those Heels!
Most Commented On
-
Coming Soon
Recent Comments
- GearHedEd on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Richelle on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- not-pboyfloyd on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Saint Brian the Godless on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Richelle on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
- Harvey on Obama and the Reagan Doctrine
Mo's Bio
Mo Rocca appears on a bunch of shows, including CBS News Sunday Morning (with the indescribably wonderful Charles Osgood), The Tonight Show on NBC, and NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! He's a sometime judge on Iron Chef and was featured on Telemundo's Amore Descarado. Last year he starred on Broadway in the 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. His expose "All the President's Pets" was published by Crown in 2004.
Top News Headlines
Political Machine Blog
- Good Parent or Smother Mother? It's a Fine Line
- I'm Team Tsing Loh: Whither Germaine Greer, Indeed?
- Climate-Friendly Cremation? You First...
- In Defense of Desiree Rogers
- Marian Wright Edelman on What's Missing From Health Care Reform
- Burglars Hit Offices of Rod Blagojevich's Defense Lawyers
- Democrat Bill White to Run for Governor of Texas
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 4)
1. The REAL racists is The New Republic and idiots like you who believe anything on that website....neocons all
Freedom at 1:53PM on Jan 9th 2008
2. and you are a nobody blogger. not even a journalist because then you may have looked in to the story. remember that old axiom my friend; you can't believe everything you read. simpleton.
MarkD at 1:54PM on Jan 9th 2008
3. "Whether he personally wrote these or profited from them for decades is irrelevant."
The fact that there is no evidence one way or the other should make you suspicious enough to question the validity of the claims.
These are blatant lies, and I question your sanity in propagating them.
John in FL at 1:59PM on Jan 9th 2008
4. and you're a nobody blogger. not even a journalist because then you may have looked in to the story. remember that old axiom my friend; you can't believe everything you read. simpleton.
MarkD at 2:10PM on Jan 9th 2008
5. You guys should change your name to "The Young Douchebags"
Go do your own research on this then read some fascist article. This story has been refuted HUNDREDS of times!
You should be ashamed of yourself for trying to be a journalist. Where is your research, fairness and integrity?
Dmitriy at 2:52PM on Jan 10th 2008
6. ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – In response to an article published by The New Republic, Ron Paul issued the following statement:
“The quotations in The New Republic article are not mine and do not represent what I believe or have ever believed. I have never uttered such words and denounce such small-minded thoughts.
“In fact, I have always agreed with Martin Luther King, Jr. that we should only be concerned with the content of a person’s character, not the color of their skin. As I stated on the floor of the U.S. House on April 20, 1999: ‘I rise in great respect for the courage and high ideals of Rosa Parks who stood steadfastly for the rights of individuals against unjust laws and oppressive governmental policies.’
“This story is old news and has been rehashed for over a decade. It’s once again being resurrected for obvious political reasons on the day of the New Hampshire primary.
“When I was out of Congress and practicing medicine full-time, a newsletter was published under my name that I did not edit. Several writers contributed to the product. For over a decade, I have publically taken moral responsibility for not paying closer attention to what went out under my name.” http://www.ronpaul2008.com/press-releases/125/ron-paul-statement-on-the-new-republic-article-regarding-old-newsletters
JB at 2:07PM on Jan 9th 2008
7. Oh and one more thing, don't you think that this information would have come to light in any of his past 10 terms re-election contests for his congressional seat in Texas?
Please dude, the guy has the best reputation in all of congress for being an honest politician. What is your motivation in propagating this myth? Yeah you have been added to my long list of kook journalist who are profiting off of lies and parroting the old media rhetoric on MY internet.
I can't wait for the day when all "reporters" like you get "hannitized".
John in FL at 2:08PM on Jan 9th 2008
8. Dear Mr. Uygur"
Since when does Air America approve of "Swiftboat journalism"?
Paul wants to end the war but oh no... 20 year old rehashed newsletters are more important than McCain's "100 years of war"
Please spare me your self righteous indignation. Please post just ONE public statement on the record or in his politics that would give credence to this orchestrated coordinated media attack. The New Republic's article appearing on election day of all days and it's neither unknown nor new (seems only the uniformed are shocked) been rehashed over a decade. Did you even read or bother or even ask "why this is appearing now?". Of course not because you are just another tool.
This newsletter business is a decade plus old, it was investigated by the New York Times last year and all you are doing are demonstrating your politically contrived "holier than thou" polictical correctness. You have no understanding of libertarianism or free speech.
Paul has apologised for these newsletter articles years ago and yesterday having been written under his name of the newsletters. Did you learn nothing from the "Swiftboat" dirty trick affair? But you climb on a soapbox and wished to demonstrate how pure and liberal you doing the neocon hatchet job credence. Give yourself a cookie....good dog.
You are what you are.
Here's John Swintion of which you are a perfect example.
http://www.constitution.org/pub/swinton_press.htm
You are a "Swintionian journalist" of the first order.
Regards.
John Westbrook at 2:39PM on Jan 9th 2008
9. You're a half-assed hack. It was an obvious smear that has been known (and discredited) for a long time.
Paul didn't profit from the newsletters, and wasn't the driving force behind any of the manifestations of them. He allowed someone to edit a newsletter using his name recognition amongst limited government advocates as an aid for wider dissemination.
Sure, he might have been more vigilant. In retrospect, he might not have lent his name and credibility to any newsletter. But it is demonstrably ridiculous to accept that wanna-be journalist's version of the facts when by his own admission he's digging up old dirt AND has an axe to grind. This is just a case of appearances being more important than the truth - and of course we know where the Turks interest lies. Appearances aren't real important to most folks who are staring down the business end of an emerging police state.
Micah at 2:18PM on Jan 9th 2008
10. You people are killing America.
Get real. Dr. Paul isn't a rasist, you're just an idiot.
I'm sick to my stomach with these accusations. How much to you get paid to act like they're real?
How come the world's stuppidest people get to be all our journalists and politicians?
No wonder America is 25% retarded.
Rhys at 2:21PM on Jan 9th 2008
11. "thoroughly researched" and "New Republic" in the same sentence?
Okay, IF Paul said those things, I will be concerned. Unlike The Young Turk guy, maybe I will wait a little longer before I judge. Considering aol bloggers have pulled every trick in the book to discredit Dr. Paul, I have to wonder about this.
Oh and you can be certain of a couple of things, those views on homosexuality are most certainly shared by Huckabee (evangelical) and Romney (Mormon). I would bet $ on that. Probably a couple of others as well.
As a gay man, I should be horribly offended and ready to run tearfully back to Barak or Hillary, like a good (snicker) fag should. I'm sure that's what TYT intends. I've heard the attacks on gays from the Left and they are nastier than from the Right. At least with the right, you know their beliefs.
Davidg at 2:22PM on Jan 9th 2008
12. "Whether he personally wrote these or profited from them for decades is irrelevant."
Of course it is irrelevant, for if we consider these two points, along with the fact that Ron Paul did not edit the newsletters, nor even saw many of them, would demolish your argument.
Therefore you have to set aside those points.
I wonder, if I were to blog under your name for the next couple of years, writing racist pieces all over the internet, would that make you a racist? Apparently so, using New Republic Logic.
Nevertheless, cast your vote for one of the other Republicrats this November to support the Iraqi Meat Grinder. Ron Paul is the ONLY candidate who will immediately withdraw our troops from Iraq, no conditions.
Paul at 2:34PM on Jan 9th 2008
13. PS. You know it's a sad state in this country that if even every word of what The New Republic wrote about Dr. Paul is true, he would still be a better President for all Americans (including blacks and gays) than any of the others.
Davidg at 2:33PM on Jan 9th 2008
14. "It's not those who vote who decide, it's those who counts the votes." - Joseph Stalin
Want proof:
http://thewalk.com/wp/2008/01/09/ron-paul-votes-not-counted-in-new-hampshire-district/
http://www.ronpaulwarroom.com/?p=721
http://www.opednews.com/articles/genera_melinda__080109_99_ways_to_steal_ele.htm
http://generationtwixter.blogspot.com/2008/01/new-hampshire-primaries-voter-fraud.html
Give it up for electronic voting machines, where your votes don't count anymore.
Eric at 2:40PM on Jan 9th 2008
15. I would make a comment, but I couldn't say anything any better than what each poster already stated. I particularly agree with DavidJ. This is crap, but it's also what people say when intimidated by good people like RP.
jude at 2:45PM on Jan 9th 2008