How to Handle the "Rascist" issue?

[rdenner]

It isn't like any of us didn't know this was coming. I mean seriously its low hanging fruit for them and I'm surprised it didn't come up sooner.

It's a REAL issue though and one we all will have to deal with very soon. I for one don't want to have my RON PAUL bumper sticker seen as a code word for white supremacists and have to be embarrassed to drive my car to my kid’s soccer game for fear of being labeled a racist.

So we have choices in front of us. Ignore, disavow or embrace. Let’s look at all three choices as I see them.

IGNORE:

It seems that has been Ron Paul's strategy up until now, and I feel it a very dangerous and possibly fatal strategy. As the Huffington post blog stated in some of the responses, they said something to this effect "Ron Paul is acting all surprised that he is getting the white supremacists support, which is so disingenuous of him".

And they are correct. It took me two minutes and an open internet connection to find Stormfront.org and their sticky post of support for Dr Paul; it has about 50,000 reads and almost 2200 posts to it over the past 4 months since it was sticky’d.

So to say that Dr Paul has "no idea" why white supremacists might support him, is at best disingenuous and at worst lying. So he had better come up with a better line than "I don't know why??” Because they have found blood in the water and this will continue to fester and grow exponentially very soon. This leads to the next strategy.

DISAVOW:

This is the tried and true method of dealing with stuff like this. It's worked so well throughout the ages. How many people in places of power have said something stupid or aligned themselves with someone they shouldn't have and in the end, THEY DISAVOWED THEM...

How well did that strategy work?? IT DOESN’T, unless you're willing to walk away from the issues you thought were right and were the reasons you were associating with those people or groups. Basically you get neutered by the press and from then on out, they own you. If Ron Paul comes out and says STORMFRONT.ORG and all they stand for is crap. I want nothing to do with anything THOSE people stand for.... PERIOD...

So if the Stormfront people are in favor of abolishment of the Federal Reserve... Are you in favor of disavowing them for that?? And if you hedge ONE LITTLE bit in your condemnation of group like that, you've lost.

You can't say “I disavow the hatred that Strormfront spouts, BUT they have a point about that whole Federal Reserve thingie".... BANG, the press crucifies you for weeks on end, ala Howard Dean and the scream. They just need one major screw up on your part and they can amplify it loud enough for the whole world to hear... "Ron Paul support white supremacists views on Federal Reserve.” would be the headline they run...

This leads to a very new and potentially dangerous method for dealing with this issue.

EMBRACE:

There was a line in a movie/book called “Clear and Present Danger”. It went something like this. The president was friends with a man who turned out to be an international drug dealer. The president had known him for years and years and it was going to come out that this guy was a big drug dealer.

The people in the room were trying to find the right was to disavow his relationship with the man. The main character in the movie chimes in with this piece of advice.

“Just say he was your best friend”.

This has two great benefits to it; Number one it’s the truth, and number two it gives the press no where to go…

So how does this work for Ron Paul? Embrace the points that those in the fringe agree with him on. MAKE THOSE ISSUES HIS!!

Here is how an interview might go.

Reporter: Dr Paul it’s come out in the past week that you are associated with such hate groups as Stormfront and even the 9/11 conspiracy sites like Alex Jones. In front of this huge audience would you like to take the time NOW to disavow any connection with these groups and everything they stand for?

Dr Ron Paul: I as a candidate cannot pick and choose who supports me. Just like Hillary Clinton, who gets support from Larraza(the Spanish/Mexican supremacists group), we can’t pick who decides to support us.

BUT I can tell you why I think they support me and it’s not nearly as dubious at it would seem at first.

THEN GO ON TO SAY; why you support the elimination of the IRS and the NAU and the Federal Reserve. And WHY 9/11 SHOULD HAVE A NEW INVESTIGATION, not because you think the government did it, but because you can’t believe that not one government employee lost their job over the POOCH SCREW of events that unfolded in the months and years leading up to 9/11.

Take the issue away from them. HIT IT HEAD ON and make it so that THOSE ISSUE ARE YOURS and the white supremacists and the 9/11 truthers are trying to steal your thunder and your issues.


I think the EMRACE method is by far the best way to go..

Robert

[runderwo]

I guess I don't understand the problem.

The campaign said that supremacy has nothing to do with Paul's message of peace, freedom, and prosperity.

Ron Paul has never uttered a racist word recorded anywhere in the media or in his writings.

At the minority conference, he was one of the only candidates who did not resort to race baiting.

Ron Paul's voting record is impeccable, having never voted for affirmative action and always voting against measures that would in the end impoverish and imprison minority citizens.

[theseus51]

Just say he's not a racist, but his positions of being pro-gun, for state's rights, against affirmative action, no foreign aid, not fighting Israel's wars for them, being a devout Christian man married to the same woman for 50 years, etc. happen to appeal to white nationalists.

Heck, if I was a white nationalist, looking at the current crop of candidates, I'd support Ron Paul too. They know Ron Paul isn't a racist, but because he supports so many of the views they do (for albeit very different reasons), they support him.

[Mortikhi]

Do the Black Panthers support Obama?

Is Obama a racist?! 0_o

[angelatc]

The biggest "racist" comments are coming from the progressive socialists, who disagree with him on everything else also. They just use that as a one-word excuse.

[rdenner]

I guess I don't understand the problem.

The campaign said that supremacy has nothing to do with Paul's message of peace, freedom, and prosperity.

Ron Paul has never uttered a racist word recorded anywhere in the media or in his writings.

At the minority conference, he was one of the only candidates who did not resort to race baiting.

Ron Paul's voting record is impeccable, having never voted for affirmative action and always voting against measures that would in the end impoverish and imprison minority citizens.


The problem is that he's saying "he has no idea" why they support him. AND HE DOES, JUST SAY WHY!!! They support him because of the NAU and the Federal Reserve.

The point is to defang this, before it becomes to big. It's not enough to say you don't like people like Stormfront. Because those people have things in common with Ron Paul and that's issues like the border and national sovereignty.

And we as supporters have to be willing to hit this issue head on and quit whinning that we're being handled unfairly.

We are now in the big time and they are going to take the gloves off and start REALLY hitting us. This is the first big punch and it's one that I've seen coming since we started in March.

This issue tells me we have moved into the category of "dangerous" in the minds of the elite. And now they will find a way to PUBLICLY humilate NOT ONLY RON PAUL but by association anyone who supports him so as to make sure this movement dies with the end of Ron Paul's candidacy.

It's not enough to defeat Ron Paul anymore, the ideas he is esposing have to be marginalized.

Robert

[Hope]

This really didn't deserve its own post.

In any event, Ron Paul HQ has already addressed this. If Ron Paul were to denounce them, he should also denounce Alex Jones and every single other group who supports him but whose ideology he doesn't share. What a silly idea. Not to mention that Ron Paul denouncing them gives the media a huge bone to chew on. They don't see it as Ron Paul making a clarification, they'd see it as "proof" that it's a huge problem...when it clearly isn't.

[apropos]

I don't think Americans in general and Ron Paul in particular need to prove they aren't racists. I really don't care for the 'guilty until proven innocent' mentality.

[rdenner]

This really didn't deserve its own post.

In any event, Ron Paul HQ has already addressed this. If Ron Paul were to denounce them, he should also denounce Alex Jones and every single other group who supports him but whose ideology he doesn't share. What a silly idea. Not to mention that Ron Paul denouncing them gives the media a huge bone to chew on. They don't see it as Ron Paul making a clarification, they'd see it as "proof" that it's a huge problem...when it clearly isn't.


If you had read my post, you'd see that I said to NOT disavow them but to embrace THOSE ISSUES that they have in common.

Make the point that he DOES understand why Alex Jones supports him and it has to do with Ron Paul's willingness to do another investigation of 9/11

He does understand why stormfront is supporting him and it has ZERO to do with race relations, but Ron Pauls firm commitment to the border and his willingness to discuss defunding Foreign monetary support of all countries INCLUDING ISRAEL.

Don't run from the issue and for God's sake don't say you "have no idea" why they support you. They will rip him apart on the issue.

Robert

[JPFromTally]

This is so dumb. This is like the press saying, "Hillary is terrorist's favorite candidate."

[JMann]

Say Obama. Not only does he have people that follow him that are racist he follows a racist pastor. Obama is fact, Paul has addressed his issue while Obama goes around praising God with a black supremist.

I would ignore people that play the race card because they are usually small minded people but if they want to play that game tell them to look no farther than the Democrats great hope.

[rdenner]

I don't think Americans in general and Ron Paul in particular need to prove they aren't racists. I really don't care for the 'guilty until proven innocent' mentality.


That's fine and dandy in a perfect world, but this is far from a perfect world.

The press WILL make the point that Ron Paul is guilty by association, unless he defuses the issue first.

I am making an assumption in this post, that this Huffington post piece is a trial balloon to see if they can make this stick on him.

I am also assuming, IT WILL and the press will start hammering him on it soon and hard, just like the Alex Jones and 9/11 stuff.

But this will be much bigger and much harder.

I have confidence that Ron Paul will say the right things, but as supporters we also need to say the right things. Be aware that people will start asking you about the rascist alegation soon, and be ready with the right argument to counter this.

Just be aware that it's coming

Robert

[LizF]

This is so dumb. This is like the press saying, "Hillary is terrorist's favorite candidate."

She may be the favorite of some of them:

"FALN Pardons of 1999

On August 11, 1999, Clinton commuted the sentences of 16 members of FALN, a violent Puerto Rican nationalist group that set off 120 bombs in the United States mostly in New York City and Chicago, convicted for conspiracies to commit robbery, bomb-making, and sedition, as well as for firearms and explosives violations.[3] None of the 16 were convicted of bombings or any crime which injured another person, though they were sentenced with terms ranging from 35 to 105 years in prison for the conviction of conspiracy and sedition. Congress, however, recognizes that the FALN is responsible for "6 deaths and the permanent maiming of dozens of others, including law enforcement officials." All of the 16 had served 19 years or longer in prison, which was a longer sentence than such crimes typically received, according to the White House.[citation needed] Clinton offered clemency, on condition that the prisoners renounce violence, at the appeal of 10 Nobel Peace Prize laureates, President Jimmy Carter, the cardinal of New York, and the archbishop of Puerto Rico. The commutation was opposed by U.S. Attorney's Office, the FBI, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons and criticized by many including former victims of FALN terrorist activities, the Fraternal Order of Police,[4] members of Congress, and Hillary Clinton in her campaign for Senator.[5] Congress condemned the action, with a vote of 95-2 in the Senate and 311-41 in the House.[6][7] The U.S. House Committee on Government Reform held an investigation on the matter, but the Justice Department prevented FBI officials from testifying.[8] President Clinton cited executive privilege for his refusal to turn over some documents to Congress related to his decision to offer clemency to members of the FALN terrorist group."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Clinton_pardons_controversy

[jmdrake]

Ron Paul did an EXCELLENT job of dispelling any notion of being racist at the debate hosted by Tavis Smiley. He was the only candidate to point out the facts of how drug laws unfairly punish minorities. He also pointed out that the death penalty is unfair and that he would do away with it at the federal level. A white racist candidate would NEVER have taken those positions.

Regards,

John M. Drake

[Drknows]

I was looking over this guys videos and lo and behold, race comes up by the lefties. Funny thing is the video isnt even about race its just happens to be a black supporter of Ron Paul talking about how Ron Paul is better than dennis.

http://www.youtube.com/comment_servlet?all_comments&v=k6S03JvPBn0&fromurl=/watch%3Fv%3Dk6S03JvPBn0

I think some of the responses of fellow supporters are good others not so good. I don't know what to say. I'm just disappointed that race is even a issue because its not what Ron Paul is about.

[robatsu]

Ignore, other than pointing out every campaign has something that some band of fruitcakes find appealing, like marxists, slave reparation people, La Raza reconquista racist nutcases, and so forth, that seem to gravitate to dems.

Any political parade is, shall we say, colorful.

[Kregener]

This is disinfo and deflection.

[theseus51]

He's a Republican. If you think about it, practically all Republicans have had the label "racist" thrown at them.

[rdenner]

Bumping it for relevance.

If he had been doing this all along this rascist issue would be dead.


Robert

[OceanMachine7]

How have you guys been handling people insisting that he should have given the $500 back?

[nakor667]

When asked, just say that Ron Paul wants to end the most racist federal policy there is: the War on Drugs!

[Driftar]

Do the Black Panthers support Obama?

Is Obama a racist?! 0_o

Yes- All these groups must go SOMEWHERE in campaigns.

Plus, i've always told people that Ron Paul has served 30 years in public life, has tens of thousands of written pages to his name, has delivered hundreds of speeches, and has nothing remotely racist has ever been said.

It's just the debunkt newsletter, and now these contrived references to stormfront/ and anti-israel cause of his foreign policy beliefs. Just tell people to look at his public record.

[lynnf]

should the U.S. government return the taxes of White Supremacists or other racists? does the collection of taxes from them mean the government is racist?

take that!

lynn

[PatriotOne]

Here's a link and list of advisors for the Jews for Ron Paul website. Many prominent Jews are supporting Ron Paul. Why don't you guys just start posting this in response to the accusations that Ron Paul is a Nazi sympathizer?

Jews for Ron Paul 2008

http://www.jews4ronpaul.org/advisors.html

Board of Advisors


---ADVISORS---

Steven R. Berger
Hingham, Massachusetts
Adamas Partners

Dr. Walter E. Block
New Orleans, Louisiana
Professor of Economics
Loyola University

Burton Blumert
El Granada, California
Center for Libertarian Studies

Professor Richard B. Boddie
Huntington Beach, CA
Professor of Law and Political Science

Coastline Community College

Dr. Paul Cantor
Boston, Massachusetts
Visiting Professor of English
Harvard University

Dr. Michael Edelstein
San Francisco, California
Clinical Psychologist

Rich Goldman
Baltimore, Maryland
Ph.D. Student, University of Maryland
Board of Directors, Free State Project

David Gordon
Auburn, Alabama
The Mises Institute

Professor Paul Gottfried
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Professor of Humanities
Elizabethtown College

Dr. Ronald Hamowy
Alberta, Canada
University of Alberta

Dr. Peter G. Klein
Columbia, Missouri
Professor of Economics
University of Missouri

Heather Levy
Washington, District of Columbia
HL Art Studio

Dr. Murray Sabrin
Sayreville, New Jersey
Ramapo College

[Rex]

Just talk about special interest groups..

[ChristopherBearkat]

It's not an issue.. Just stay on message... Yeah, stuff has been thrown his way, but the news cycle had done flushed it out and moved on.

[lynnf]

Here's a link and list of advisors for the Jews for Ron Paul website. Many prominent Jews are supporting Ron Paul. Why don't you guys just start posting this in response to the accusations that Ron Paul is a Nazi sympathizer?

Jews for Ron Paul 2008

http://www.jews4ronpaul.org/advisors.html

Board of Advisors


---ADVISORS---

Steven R. Berger
Hingham, Massachusetts
Adamas Partners

Dr. Walter E. Block
New Orleans, Louisiana
Professor of Economics
Loyola University

Burton Blumert
El Granada, California
Center for Libertarian Studies

Professor Richard B. Boddie
Huntington Beach, CA
Professor of Law and Political Science

Coastline Community College

Dr. Paul Cantor
Boston, Massachusetts
Visiting Professor of English
Harvard University

Dr. Michael Edelstein
San Francisco, California
Clinical Psychologist

Rich Goldman
Baltimore, Maryland
Ph.D. Student, University of Maryland
Board of Directors, Free State Project

David Gordon
Auburn, Alabama
The Mises Institute

Professor Paul Gottfried
Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania
Professor of Humanities
Elizabethtown College

Dr. Ronald Hamowy
Alberta, Canada
University of Alberta

Dr. Peter G. Klein
Columbia, Missouri
Professor of Economics
University of Missouri

Heather Levy
Washington, District of Columbia
HL Art Studio

Dr. Murray Sabrin
Sayreville, New Jersey
Ramapo College



and, of course, Jewish support doesn't make Ron Paul Jewish, either!

lynn

[VoteRonPaul2008]

I know the perfect way to end this and I've been doing it's been effective

I saw this on a site and I thought this girl responded perfectly

This is what she said, "Paul doesn't agree with their beliefs but he doesn't play a shallow game of gestures where he chooses what individuals can support him."


Then she went on to talk about the other candidates, Huck recieved money from pedaphiles, Giuliani from racists, druggies, whores and other criminals and here's the kicker

turns out obama, not only took donations from anti-gay gospel singers, he had them represent his campaign on his "Embrace the Courage" gospel music tour

none of these candidates ever returned the money

[RoamZero]

This is why I liked the idea of the MLK moneybomb (given that Paul would do good in Iowa and NH).