An idea to help the "Un-smear Campaign"

[Shavenyak]

I read that Ron Paul voted against the constitution only a couple of time. Once was in 1983 to make Martin Luther King Jr's birthday a national holiday. Ron voting against the constitution would be a big deal for him and I think he might have wanted to speak on the issue. (H.R. 3706)

Does anyone have access to any database where we can find out if he spoke on the issue? Or at least get a copy of the page where he voted FOR it?

If I were on the right coast, I'd go to the library of congress.

It doesn't make any sense that MLK would be a hero of his and then he write that stuff later, so perhaps this is something we could present in future arguments.

[colecrowe]

Man, I can't find the actual voting roll anywhere...

I just found this on Craigslist http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/rnr/535002971.html:


In that same newsletter the author writes about his time running for President in 1988 on the Libertarian Party ticket. Ron Paul ran for President in 1988 on the Libertarian Party ticket. Here it is completely unambiguous that the author is Ron Paul and that he is expressing his own views about Martin Luther King.


The official line among some conservatives and libertarians is that the civil rights movement started out well, but went astray after King's death. In fact, it was bad from the beginning, never seeking the mere removal of Jim Crow laws, which would have been legitimate, but forced integration and wealth redistribution.

In 1988 when I ran for president on the Libertarian Party ticket, I was berated for hours by LP members because I had refused to vote, while in Congress, for a Martin Luther King national holiday.

I didn't know about his plagiarism, but the rest of Kings crimes were clear. J. Edgar Hover called him "the most dangerous man in America." Who could have known the dange would continue after his death and threaten to strangle our culture?

In Feb of 1991 the author writes that he voted against "an expensive federal holiday for this man" referring to King. Of course Ron Paul famously voted against recognizing MLK day as a holiday.http://www.tnr.com/downloads/February1991.pdf

[colecrowe]

could someone please tell us which is true: did he vote for or against the holiday? Thanks.

[brandon13830]

I'm trying hard to find out how he actually voted on this. If he voted for HR 3706 it should do a lot in un-smearing Dr. Paul.

[NYgs23]

One of Kirchick's excerpts from the "Ron Paul Political Report" newsletter bashes the MLK Holiday saying: "Are we supposed to honor this 'Christian minister' and lying socialist satyr with a holiday that puts him on par with George Washington?" See this newsletter excerpt here: http://www.tnr.com/downloads/december1990.pdf

How odd then, that PolitiFact.com chooses to criticize Ron Paul in this manner (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/71/): "An examination of Paul’s record shows that although he usually adheres to his principle, he has sometimes voted for programs that aren’t “expressly authorized” in the Constitution. For example, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he voted to authorize the continuing operation of NASA and to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on the third Monday in January."

It's too bad our mysterious ghostwriter didn't know that Ron Paul had voted for a holiday for the "lying socialist satyr" ostensibly breaking with his own Constitutional principles to do so!!!! Why, oh, why doesn't Ron Paul or someone just OUT this person/these people??? He/she/they aren't worth the loss of the White House for the only decent candidate running!

[Lord Xar]

He probably should name the VP soon in williams and spend about 1million in key states with him addressing civil liberties, the drug war and this newsletter etc... and a very short menton that the elits who create the poverty and 'race' mentaliy are the very same who are trying to smear him.

he will actually gain a ton of voters for his sincerity and his message that lies beneath the commerical..

[brandon13830]

One of Kirchick's excerpts from the "Ron Paul Political Report" newsletter bashes the MLK Holiday saying: "Are we supposed to honor this 'Christian minister' and lying socialist satyr with a holiday that puts him on par with George Washington?" See this newsletter excerpt here: http://www.tnr.com/downloads/december1990.pdf

How odd then, that PolitiFact.com chooses to criticize Ron Paul in this manner: "An examination of Paul’s record shows that although he usually adheres to his principle, he has sometimes voted for programs that aren’t “expressly authorized” in the Constitution. For example, in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he voted to authorize the continuing operation of NASA and to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday on the third Monday in January."

It's too bad our mysterious ghostwriter didn't know that Ron Paul had voted for a holiday for the "lying socialist satyr" ostensibly breaking with his own Constitutional principles to do so!!!! Why, oh, why doesn't Ron Paul or someone just OUT this person/these people??? He/she/they aren't worth the loss of the White House for the only decent candidate running!

As far as I can tell though that's not a vote on making it a holiday, that's just a vote on the scheduling of the holiday.

I did find this (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hr110-61) however, which Paul voted for.

[NYgs23]

Another good catch.

[Truth-Bringer]

Here it is completely unambiguous that the author is Ron Paul and that he is expressing his own views about Martin Luther King.

Actually, I think that's quite ambiguous. I believe these are from the newsletters that Dr. Paul did not write.

I've gotten into a debate about this on another forum.

Looks like he voted against it at one point, as cited on this Republican blog:

Link (http://inkslwc.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/mccain-was-wrong-voting-against-martin-luther-king-holiday-how-other-congressional-members-voted)

"The resolution (H.R. 3706), passed the House on August 2, 1983, 338-90 with 5 not voting and the Senate on October 19, 78-22. "

But then he voted to move the holiday to Monday, as cited by politifact:

Link (http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2007/sep/17/dr-no-sometimes-votes-yes)


Martin Luther King’s holiday moved to Monday: 1979 HR 5461 v. 624

The person I'm debating said that it was an amendment vote and not a true up or down vote for the last one, and I'd have to concede he's probably right about that.

He also said that the amendments were an attempt to "filibuster" or stop the holiday, which I don't agree with. There is no evidence to suggest Paul had a malicious intent in making that vote.

[Truth-Bringer]

I did find this (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=hr110-61) however, which Paul voted for.

Good find. That should put the issue to rest. Paul explained himself well when he voted against the medal for Rosa Parks. And his votes against medals for Ronald Reagan and Mother Theresa prove that it wasn't racist. I would just like to hear a full explanation from him on why he voted against the original MLK holiday. If it was because it wasn't authorized in the Constitution and would be expensive, then as long as he didn't vote for holidays for anyone else, fine. But I'd just like something definitive.

[crazyfingers]

He voted against the MLK holiday because he didn't want to give hundreds of thousands of government employees the day off work. I don't know about anyone else, but I work on MLK day in my private sector job.

[Truth-Bringer]

He voted against the MLK holiday because he didn't want to give hundreds of thousands of government employees the day off work.

This is your claim, but we need to see some evidence to back it up.