Newsday - Op-ed: Paul's smear of Huckabee a low blow

[Ron Paul News]

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Newsday Excerpt:
"Is Mike Huckabee a fascist? That's the insinuation from Ron Paul, one of Huckabee's rivals for the Republican presidential nomination.And it's a cheap shot. One needn't agree with, or even like, Huckabee to know that throwing around the f-word "fascism" is a low blow.

This story is important, because it speaks to the larger question of whether Christians can fully participate in politics without being slurred. Here's the context:"
Link (2nd click): http://ronpaulnewsblg.blogspot.com/2007/12/newsday-op-ed-pauls-smear-of-huckabee.html

[FrankRep]

http://www.newsday.com/news/columnists/ny-oppink5508038dec20,0,7299879.column

[RonPaulalways]

dp

[RonPaulalways]

As long as these charlatans play politics rather than deal with the issues facing America, like the bullshit peddled by Israel's lobby trying to sell a war against Iran (they are now lobbying to have the NIE intelligence findings on Iran overturned so that US can again ratchet up the threats against their regional rival), then they deserve to be called fascists and stooges of fascists.

[ConstitutionGal]

Well, if it walks like duck and quacks like a duck, not calling it a duck doesn't make it something else. This is why we love Dr. Paul - he call's 'em like he see 'em. Maybe if these idiots don't want to be called out - they should try reading the Constitution and actually adhereing to it for a change.

[Paulinista4TW]

Hucksterism is not fascism and even though it was very slick messaging by team Huckabee Ron overreacted in making the allusion. Ron should stick to his principles but avoid shrillness.

[dspectre]

Hucksterism is not fascism and even though it was very slick messaging by team Huckabee Ron overreacted in making the allusion. Ron should stick to his principles but avoid shrillness.

He never said he was a fascist. He was making a point of exploiting Christianity for political purposes. If the media can't see the facts and always thinks in innuendo, that is their problem.

[Adamsa]

The comment is being misunderstood, Ron is saying how candidates should not be saying "Hey! I'm the most Christian! Vote for me!", it isn't to do with wishing people a happy holiday.

[Fyretrohl]

Funny that Fascist is now a dirty word, when almost every other candidate uses it regularly.

[expatinireland]

I am sure Ron Paul would have used different words if he wasn't short on sleep.

He might think twice the next time he is receives an invitation from FOX

The author by the way is a part time commentator for FOX.

The author is well educated and knows very well that the shelving intentionally
was designed to look like a cross - given its bright lighting and slight hallo glow.

Huckabee might not be a fascist but someone in his organisation is very knowledgeable in the tricks of visual political communication theory as first pioneered by the propaganda machine in Nazi Germany.

[last4ever]

Hucksterism is not fascism and even though it was very slick messaging by team Huckabee Ron overreacted in making the allusion. Ron should stick to his principles but avoid shrillness.

He quoted Sinclair Lewis, Nobel Prize in Literature 1930. How many other candidates do you think even heard of Lewis?

Ron is so much more intelligent then any of the other candidates in both parties, and it's not even close.

[Knightskye]

"Well, *ahem* I haven't thought about it completely, but it reminds me of what Sinclair... uh... Lewis once said, that when fascism *laugh* comes to this country, it'll be wrapped in the flag, carrying a cross. And I don't know whether that's a fair assessment or not, but you wonder about using a cross like he is the only Christian, or implying that subtly."

But this was in the editorial section, right? Not the actual magazine?

[angelatc]

Well, if it walks like duck and quacks like a duck, not calling it a duck doesn't make it something else.

Duckabee!

[filmmaker58]

It needed to be said. all of the others, and especially Huck, are pandering to the religious right. Paul just reigned them back a bit with this comment. I know of at least 3 people who are going to support him now because of that comment. All this religious talk was starting to scare them. they think that religion will influence their choices as President, and that is always a scary thought. Look at what we have now.

[hcbrand]

Just a thought on how to spin the Huckabee and White supremacist donation issue:


Christianity and Fascism in Nazi Germany
The Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity, 1919-1945, by Richard Steigmann-Gall.

Was the Nazi government of Germany anti-Christian or pro-Christian? This is a debate which has taken up considerable time by theologians and historians - but one of the problems may be in trying to frame the question as a simplistic either/or condition. Yes, there were aspects of the Nazi government that were anti-Christian, but there were undeniable pro-Christian aspects as well. Many of the elite believed that Nazi ideology and Christian doctrine were quite compatible - even complimentary. Richard Steigmann-Gall examines why they believed this and just what sort of relationship the Nazi Party really had with German Christians.

[hcbrand]

Can't be any worse than asking if Jesus and Satan were pals...

[Goldwater Conservative]

Myself - Op-ed: Newsday's smear of Paul a low blow

"Apparently, knowing how to read and listen to what someone is actually saying is no longer a requirement for journalists.

"Anyone with more intelligence than the hosts "interviewing" Dr. Paul in that Fox piece would realize that Paul was criticizing the politicization and consequent debasement of religion, an emotionally manipulative strategy that goes on regularly in politics and has seen a frightening increase in recent years.

"This story is important, because it speaks to the larger question of whether Christians like Dr. Paul can effectively participate in politics without having to invoke their faith for votes.

"I remember the Lord Jesus Christ being the victim of state and religion mixing together, and I thought the same practice is part of our problem with the Middle East today.

"At least this tells me that Newsday is very sensitive to any potential smears, so I'll be on the lookout for them to defend Dr. Paul against the relentless and unfair attacks on his character and the irresponsible distortion of his views that is a regular practice in "mainstream" media."

[rice_classic]

Can't be any worse than asking if Jesus and Satan were pals...

They weren't pals.. They were brothers. At least, that is what is taught.

<--- 15 year Mormon, 12 year athiest.

Also, They believe that Heaven has 3 kingdoms and if you live well enough you will be ushered into the 1st and highest kingdom known as the Celestial Kingdom. Here is where Jesus and God reside and by being here you also become your own God. How's that for a prize at the finish line?

[DrRich]

I am sure Ron Paul would have used different words if he wasn't short on sleep.
.

that doesnt make any sense since RP was ONLY quoting...

when you quote somebody, you have to use all the words they say.

[MarcS]

Anyone who knows what the definition of fascism is knows that all the neocons are fascists. Can't fault Ron for stating yet another unpopular truth

[jgmaynard]

He never said he was a fascist. He was making a point of exploiting Christianity for political purposes.

"God wants peace, God wants war,
God wants famine, God wants chain stores...
What God wants, God gets - God help us all."

- Roger Waters

JM

[smtwngrl]

I am sure Ron Paul would have used different words if he wasn't short on sleep.


I thought the same thing. RP had 5 interviews that day. The FOX one was at 7:15 a.m.. I was shocked to hear Ron Paul say that. He is usually so diplomatic.

That said, though--when other individuals use the term fascism, they are usually using it as emotion laid rhetoric, and sometimes even to refer to individuals that are the opposite of fascist. To Dr. Paul, who has studied history, fascism is merely a form of government, as are other forms of government. His use of the term is descriptive, rather than name-calling.

I think we have to look at the direction our government is evolving, and to ask "To what form of government are we evolving into?" Well, let's see, remember the Eisenhower quote that "Pre-emptive war was the invention of Hitler." We now engage in pre-emptive war. Warrantless searches? What form of government engages in those? What about endorsement of torture, and abuse of habeas corpus? What about concentration of power in the executive department? I don't know all the details of different forms of governments and which type uses what. But I have heard people who previously lived in Germany at the time of Hitler say that they saw the same thing starting to happen here.

If all the other Republicans except Dr. Paul are willing to continue the things our current president has started, then they are endorsing these policies, whether they know what they are endorsing or not.

The first half of the Sinclair Lewis quote said it would come "wrapped in a flag". And isn't that so? If you don't endorse pre-emptive war, you aren't "patriotic" right? Remember the "Patriot Act"? Remember how anyone who disagrees with the policies of the Executive Department are "aiding the terrorists"?

And carrying a cross? Well, that also can be used as a tool to get people to accept things they might otherwise not accept.

But, yeah. This was just a Christmas ad. I can see the point being made that Huck shouldn't be using that type of symbolism to promote himself. But it doesn't need to be overblown.

[Recovering Socialist]

America is getting closer every day to becoming a facist police state. And if facism is corporate control of politics, then we are already there.

Leaders over using patriotism and religion do help propel us towards facism. Ron Paul is correct, anyone who can't see that needs to man up.

We cannot be like democrats shrinking from every controversial statement made.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE USA IS VERY CONTROVERSIAL, HOW CAN THAT BE DISCUSSED WITHOUT MAKING CONTROVERSIAL STATEMENTS?


MAN UP! (not directed at any particular poster :) )

[Recovering Socialist]

...Ron Paul has to assemble another reading list.

:D

[ndnspongebob]

if huckabee becomes president, that would be a low bow to the country