Yeah, you're right. I guess Ron Paul is giving the American people too much credit to know what he was talking about.
What he's talking about is fairly clear - elements of his platform are, indeed, shared with some white supremacists. And white supremacists have interpreted his stance as being in agreement with their views.
This doesn't make Paul a racist. This doesn't even mean that the white supremacists' interpretation is correct.
But it still looks remarkably stupid to
point their interpretation out. And that's what I said. This isn't like the original scenario where he's speaking an unpopular 'truth' - this just makes him look like a buffoon.
I mean, him having never espoused any kind of support for a white supremacists doctrine
A questionable assertion at best.
and publicly acknowledge that he is vehemently opposed to white supremacist's beliefs
And this is utterly irrelevant - anyone can say he is opposed to anything. I think John Kerry tried to characterize himself as pro-gun, in fact.
realize he was referring to his belief's on personal liberty, responsibility, and limited government.
You think neo-nazi sympathizers are drawn to Paul's beliefs on "personal liberty" and "limited government"? Cuz I don't remember those really being fascist strong points...
I think neo-nazi sympathizers are drawn to Paul's beliefs because Paul will defend your freedoms even if he disagrees with them. You know, the, "I may not agree with what you're saying, but I'll defend your right to say it," kind of thing. Or should only the people you agree with have rights?
What those beliefs are, or whether one or more parties is incorrect - god only knows.
Not really. It doesn't take a genius to figure it out. That's the great thing about Ron Paul- if you understand the Constitution worth squat, you can determine his position on an issue consistently and accurately. Everyone has rights no matter what they believe, contrary to popular belief. Well, everyone is supposed to under our Constitution, anyway....
Frankly, I find this donation issue to be... well, a non issue. People made a big deal about it (some still do, apparently), but I have to ask: Who is the white supremacist- the one that takes money from a white supremacist to promote the message of freedom, or the one who GIVES money to a white supremacist so he can use it to promote the message of racism?
Hmm... sounds like the people who made this into a big deal are the white supremacists to me.