Ron Paul and Racism - CNN/YouTube Republican Debate Question

http://zennie2005.blogspot.com - This question for the CNN/YouTube Republican Debates is based on an article I found in the Houston Chronicle and dated May 23, 1996. In the article, which I present in the blog post this description has a link to above, and is here:

9:16 PM 5/22/1996
Newsletter excerpts offer ammunition to Paul's opponent
GOP hopeful quoted on race, crime
By ALAN BERNSTEIN
Copyright 1996 Houston Chronicle Political Writer
Texas congressional candidate Ron Paul's 1992 political newsletter highlighted portrayals of blacks as inclined toward crime and lacking sense about top political issues.

Under the headline of "Terrorist Update," for instance, Paul reported on gang crime in Los Angeles and commented, "If you have ever been robbed by a black teen-aged male, you know how unbelievably fleet-footed they can be."

Paul, a Republican obstetrician from Surfside, said Wednesday he opposes racism and that his written commentaries about blacks came in the context of "current events and statistical reports of the time."

Selected writings by Paul were distributed Wednesday by the campaign of his Democratic opponent, Austin lawyer Charles "Lefty" Morris.

Morris said many of Paul's views are "out there on the fringe" and that his commentaries will be judged by voters in the November general elections.

Paul said allegations about his writings amounted to name-calling by the Democrats and that his opponents should focus instead on how to shrink government spending and reform welfare.

Morris and Paul are seeking the 14th Congressional District seat held by Greg Laughlin of West Columbia. Laughlin lost the Republican primary to Paul, a former congressman and the Libertarian Party's 1988 presidential candidate.

Paul, writing in his independent political newsletter in 1992, reported about unspecified surveys of blacks.

"Opinion polls consistently show that only about 5 percent of blacks have sensible political opinions, i.e. support the free market, individual liberty and the end of welfare and affirmative action," Paul wrote.

Paul continued that politically sensible blacks are outnumbered "as decent people." Citing reports that 85 percent of all black men in the District of Columbia are arrested, Paul wrote:

"Given the inefficiencies of what D.C. laughingly calls the `criminal justice system,' I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal," Paul said.

Paul also wrote that although "we are constantly told that it is evil to be afraid of black men, it is hardly irrational. Black men commit murders, rapes, robberies, muggings and burglaries all out of proportion to their numbers."

A campaign spokesman for Paul said statements about the fear of black males mirror pronouncements by black leaders such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson, who has decried the spread of urban crime.

Paul continues to write the newsletter for an undisclosed number of subscribers, the spokesman said.

Writing in the same 1992 edition, Paul expressed the popular idea that government should lower the age at which accused juvenile criminals can be prosecuted as adults.

He added, "We don't think a child of 13 should be held responsible as a man of 23. That's true for most people, but black males age 13 who have been raised on the streets and who have joined criminal gangs are as big, strong, tough, scary and culpable as any adult and should be treated as such."

Paul also asserted that "complex embezzling" is conducted exclusively by non-blacks.

"What else do we need to know about the political establishment than that it refuses to discuss the crimes that terrify Americans on grounds that doing so is racist? Why isn't that true of complex embezzling, which is 100 percent white and Asian?" he wrote.

In later newsletters, Paul aimed criticism at the Israeli government's U.S. lobbying efforts and reported allegations that President Clinton used cocaine and fathered illegitimate children.

Stating that lobbying groups who seek special favors and handouts are evil, Paul wrote, "By far the most powerful lobby in Washington of the bad sort is the Israeli government" and that the goal of the Zionist movement is to stifle criticism.

Relaying a rumor that Clinton was a longtime cocaine user, Paul wrote in 1994 that the speculation "would explain certain mysteries" about the president's scratchy voice and insomnia.

"None of this is conclusive, of course, but it sure is interesting," he said.

------------------------

Someone wrote that his statements were "true." Well, that's not so at all. The studies Paul reffers to are unidentified and anyone believing this is looking for some "emprirical" reason to hold a racist viewpoint. Racism is a mental illness that must be treated and eliminated. Congressman Paul must deal with this question of racism because it's based on material produced by him and his campaign.

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[aaronwhiston]

Come on man. Are we now pretending there is no biological difference in the various human races? Are we going to deny the fact that most sports, for example, are dominated by players of African heritage, probably due to the biological superiority in many areas of the muscular system? We (the various sub-races) ARE a bit different in some ways, and this is just another wonderful fact of nature. I refuse to honor the "PC" pretense that all humans are exactly alike, but I'm definitely not a racist!

[LilRedRasta]

he had a ghost writer back then that wasn't him. How do i know for certain he isn't racist? go look at his track record and things he voted for like ending the war on drugs getting rid of taxes. keeping jobs at home are consistent and does nothing but help black people. If he felt the oppisite he wouldn't have voted that way. he is also a libertarian go look it up. you can't be a libertarian and be racist. and lastly go look at his speeches from the 80s, you can clearly see he's not racist.

[underlabstudios]

@aaronwhiston I disagree and agree with you at the same time. On the topic of Black Men in sports in this country during the slave era blacks were bred to be bigger and stronger to serve the white man. For the MOST part we are all IDENTICAL, having the same skeletal, muscular, nervous structure and intelligence. If for any reason there are differences in people of different color it is mostly due to Environmental, Cultural and differences as opposed to Anatomical and minor genetic differences.

[guywhosfly]

@wmarcus1203 It's good that all the slaves will be idiots who don't contribute to society in any positive way.

[guywhosfly]

@rocpet3 Here's my advice for you - take a spelling/grammar class.

[sky4you2b]

do you think affirmative action is racist ?

[dolittleskippy]

@wmarcus1203 I think that he already is. Good little sheep likes to get sheared. Baaaahhh. Stupid steer herded into the slaughterhouse. He will just keep chewing his GMO corn and holding up for his masters until they use him up.

[ocruadlaoic]

@aaronwhiston been there done that argument. The stance you are defending is actually called "Racialism" and even though its been proven by science it is rejected by mainstream Sociologists because it offends people which is fighting ignorance with ignorance. You are not a Racist but support Racialism and I will bet you you will be painted as such.

[rocpet3]

bin ladin created al qaeda not the CIA when I hear the word blind you sir are the blind one ron paul is not the guy he tries to claim he is. anyone who follows ron paul well I got a word for you Paulbot, yep this is what you are officially called you really know absolutly nothing about the way the government works and you have no idea whatsoever what the effects ron paul would have on the country my advice take an economics class.

[rocpet3]

if you want to vote for someone who will destroy america that is none of my business but lets look at the serious contenders, anyone who seriously supports ron paul is clearly brainwashed to think iran is not a threat that is outrageous. you people have probably never been to the middle east nor do you understand that Islam intends to destroy the west and it has nothing to do with us attacking them, it has to do with religion. a nuclear threat is humongous and should never be ignored.

[rocpet3]

whatever Ron paul has 0% chance at beating obama, want to know why? because he wrote a series of racist articles which whatever way you argue were of his design and responibility he owned the newsletter nothing got published that he didnt read he hired the guy who wrote them or he wrote them himself if you want to vote for the nut fine but he is a racist and a lier. he did not support Reagon he actually blasted reagon most of the time, ron paul encourages conspiracies just to get support.

[wmarcus1203]

@rocpet3 The CIA did create al qeada that is a fact man. You are so ignorant and blind. You will be a slave to the new world order