Thomas B. Edsall

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Thomas B. Edsall

The Huffington Post

To His Dismay, Ron Paul Becoming Magnet For White Supremacists

October 15, 2007 09:30 PM


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Through no fault of his own, Rep. Ron Paul's anti-globalist, anti-government campaign for the Republican presidential nomination has become a magnet in neo-Nazi networks, pulling in activists and supporters from the fringe white nationalist community where anti-Semitism, anti-black and anti-immigrant views are commonplace.

In some cases, these internet-based activists acknowledge that even though the Paul campaign does not have a racist or anti-Semitic agenda, it can serve as a vehicle to find sympathizers and to recruit new loyalists drawn to the Republican congressman's opposition to international trade agreements, federal police authority and to the income tax.

Such web-based organizations as Stormfront (motto: "White Pride, World Wide"), Vanguard News Network ("No Jews. Just Right.") and the Nationalist Coalition ("working to create the relationships that will lay the foundation for the White community that is necessary to our survival") have become sources of support for Paul's bid for the Republican nomination, and in some cases have set up separate Ron Paul discussion groups.

The Paul campaign dismissed the pro-Paul activities among these groups. "We don't know who these people are," said Jesse Benton, Paul's communications director. Their support has "nothing to do with Ron Paul, and what he stands for....His message of freedom, peace and prosperity - that's why people support him."

Paul has not made racist or anti-Semitic appeals to the controversial organizations and their members. Instead, their support is based on Paul's libertarian opposition to government generally, including the IRS and the powers granted to the federal government under the Patriot Act - views that are shared by many on the conservative fringe of the spectrum.

In the 2000 campaign, Patrick J. ("Pat") Buchanan appealed to many similar individuals and organizations. Buchanan had a history of expressing views that were often interpreted as anti-Semitic.

Writing on the Vanguard News Network, "White Will" argued that "folks, get involved in the Ron Paul 'revolution' and work with political activists in your communities who are attracted to his anti-globalist message.... Most of you would be surprised at how many good people can be exposed to a, let's say, 'pro-majority' message among the remarkable groundswell of fed up, mostly White Ron Paul supporters -- many, early on, from the 9/11 truth movement. They are finding their backbones as they are exposed to more and more hidden truths, especially about the hidden hand of Jewry behind every foul venture."

Among those backing Paul this year is John J. Ubele, the National Coalition's Operations Manager. In an emailed reply to an inquiry, Ubele said, "I know that Ron Paul is not a white separatist or a white nationalist. However, he is the most honest and responsible of all the presidential candidates and that is why I support his candidacy."

The National Coalition is one of a number of splinter groups that formed after the death of William Luther Pierce, author of The Turner Diaries, and founder of the now fractured National Alliance. The Turner Diaries were considered crucial to the thinking of Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh.

On a Stormfront discussion thread on the Paul Campaign - "The Ron Paul Revolution" -- one contributor wrote in:

"Not standing up for Ron Paul against the un-American Jewish media and neo-cons who will do anything to stop his nomination is like not standing up to the efforts to force integration, to encourage mass non-White immigration, or to the attack on the USS Liberty."

"Ron Paul is NOT a White Nationalist. His Libertarian policies will also conflict with National Socialism, something that a good number of Stormfront members support. However, he is the least toxic candidate by leaps and bounds," wrote a contributor identified as "Concerned Human."

A minority of the contributors to white nationalist web sites insist on rigid adherence to their racial views. "Anything less than ALL is NOTHING. If anythings priority is not 100% the survival of the White Race, than it is a problem and not a solution. Ron Paul's priority is not 100% the survival of the white race, so he is an enemy and a burden just as much as any jew," wrote "comJo, Pan-Aryan Insurgent."

The white nationalist and anti-Semitic support flowing to the Paul campaign reflects one of the difficulties facing candidates who do not fall into the midstream: that often their views on less controversial subjects like trade and the power of the federal government to take property through eminent domain also appeal to extremist groups.

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Am I alone in thinking this isn't a hit-piece on Ron Paul. The author goes to pains to note that it is through no fault of Dr. Paul that some unsavory political groups favor him, and the gist of the piece seems reasonable enough to me...
"The white nationalist and anti-Semitic support flowing to the Paul campaign reflects one of the difficulties facing candidates who do not fall into the midstream: that often their views on less controversial subjects like trade and the power of the federal government to take property through eminent domain also appeal to extremist groups."
Perhaps some will see support by extremist groups as something to hold against Dr. Paul (or other marginal candidates), political discourse being what it is. But such is the fault of the reader and not the messenger, in my view.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:57 PM on 10/17/2007

No, you're not alone. Unfortunately, though, the supporters of the man who opposes federally funded public education have poor reading comprehension skills. Are you surprised by this?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 09:01 AM on 10/18/2007

Youre confusing his support of cutting federally funded public education with the desire to eliminate public schools in general. Education is a state problem, best solved on the state level where the complexities of each individual situation can be sorted without resorting to a monolithic proclaimation from Washington.

Youll notice in my post below I did not refer to this piece as a hit, and i dont think it is. There are quotes from the racists themselves within this article that acknowledge that Ron is not a Racist and does not support them. What is unfortunate is that one of the only pieces on ron paul currently circulating on politico and huffington is a report linking Ron Paul to racism. I would hope that his supporters recognized the difference between the story and the way it is used.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:58 AM on 10/18/2007

Everything is a "state problem"... Except when Paul decides it isn't? What about states which don't have enough funding for their schools. Is "Screw their children" your answer?

The issue of Gay marriage should be left to states (Which it has ALWAYS been), but Paul voted for and wrote an article supporting DOMA!

The abortion issue should be left to the states, but Paul favors FEDERAL legislation declaring that life begins at the moment of conception, which woul, in effect, require that all 50 states, as well as all US possessions and territories, charge those who receive, perform or counsel abortion with either murder or manslaughter

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 12:18 PM on 10/18/2007

Yeah i dont understand his doma stance either. He has on the campaign trail said things contrary to this, ie, that he supports full rights and benefits for homosexuals.

The idea that everything is necessarily a "state problem" with him is not true. There are very clear rules for what the federal gov can and cant do laid out in the consitution.

On your first point, when he talks about ending federal spending on domestic programs, he is very clear that he does not want to come into power and just end all these programs (many of which i think are vital, like the dep of ed, but in the long run could be done more effectively in a decentralized fashion). He repeatedly says "no one should be out on the streets" and that he is the only one with a plan to actually pay for these programs while still reducing the deficit. Also, a scaling back of the scope of federal government means there are more funds availible for taxation on the state and local level. We dont have to agree with his ideas about the free market to work a Ron Paul presidency to our advantage.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 03:44 PM on 10/18/2007

To his dismay, Thomas Edsall's article is viewed favorably by pro-war neocons eager to discredit the only viable anti-war candidate in the race.

Judge the man by his own voting record and his campaign (every bloody appearance seems to be accessible via YouTube). And if you're going to write more hit pieces, at least mention that his primary support has come from his principled and consistent opposition to the presence of American troops in Iraq.

I'm a pro-choice, pro-immigration free market anarchist and I support Dr. Paul. Why don't you write an article about the fact that only 35% of his supporters were Republicans in the last presidential year, and that his 22% Democratic and 22% Independent supporters (the rest Libertarian, Green, etc.) clearly identify a broad-based candidate uniting different people on the critical issue of war?

NOT to his dismay, Ron Paul is clearly a magnet for the broad antiwar movement in this country, which has seen that the Democrats are going to do nothing to stop the war. This coalition of support dwarfs the tiny group of uglies mentioned in Edsall's piece.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:54 PM on 10/17/2007

total BS!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:50 AM on 10/17/2007

Galveston, I dont think you have done Ron Paul a service here. Calling people dembots, and then accusing people of smearing/namecalling, which even though it might be entirely true, doesnt make you look any better.

Anti-Paulers, I consider myself a true leftist in the sense of being staunchly anti-capitalist. There is not one mainstream liberal candidate who has a stated anti-capitalist/globalization agenda. They may produce vaguely socialist programs aimed at eleviating some of the problems, but let us not forget they ultimately bow to coporate masters. This is why Ron Paul is an attractive option. He may be the biggest free marketer out there, but at least he is anti-globalisation, anti-corporatism, and willing to fight the military-industrial complex.

Alot of people have linked his states rights views to racism. I think we forget that many leftist causes have also used states rights to promote their own agendas (im specifically think of the marijuana legalisation and the medical marijuana movement). Federalism is all he asking for, decentralized government. This works to our advantage. He is willingly to break up the corporate monopoly on health care, and while he is doing this to promote free market ideology, under a thouroughly decentralized government we are freer to pursue socialised medicine on the local and state level.

Ron Paul is the only candidate (whose making any money) giving serious consideration to repealing the patriot act, protecting Americans privacy from government intrusion, and defending everyone's civil liberties. His stance on the war on drugs, which unfairly targets minorities, should be clear enough indication that he does not want to pursue policies that promote racial discrimination.

Others bash his religious views and his calls for religions to assume a greater role in the public sphere. Again I think (I am an atheist) the left is forgetting that religion was a driving force behind many left causes up until the abortion movement in the 1970's. The way we deny religion a valuable role in public discourse obscures the central role it had in the civil rights movement.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 11:44 AM on 10/17/2007

Thanks for recognizing Dr. Paul's candidacy. He has now moved past the first stage of the battle in which he was ignored, into the second stage, in which he is being attacked and slandered. According to Ghandi's "stages of a campaign", he is well on his way to the third stage, in which he wins.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:34 AM on 10/17/2007

Edsall missed the point. The reason white supremacists are supporting Ron Paul is because he has three times introduced legislation to invalidate Brown vs. the Board of Education.

Currently, the bill is known as HR 300. Section 7 would overturn all SCOTUS and other federal precedents on state laws about education, religion, marriage, or sexuality.

Section 3 of that same legislation would forbid citizens to ever again sue their state in federal court to obtain relief from unconstitutional racial discrimination in education or from religious discrimination or persecution.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 08:21 PM on 10/16/2007

What a pile of hooey. If these groups, the real members of them, not the FBI, SPLC, ADL, etc., plants, wanted Dr. Paul for president, they would know DAMNED well to stay the hell away and put themselves behind those whom they would NOT want.

My God how dumb is anyone who believes this tripe?

How low can HuffPost go? How low can edsall go?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 07:44 PM on 10/16/2007


FINALLY,

A DEMBOT shows its face....

Whats the difference between a DEMBOT and NEOCON?

Nothing...They all smear and shout until all are silenced and refuse to see truth.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 06:50 PM on 10/16/2007

I'm not a Ron Paul zealot, but it is clear that you love taking any shot you can to tarnish the guy. What I do know is that friends and family all over the country are calling me here in Houston to ask me what I know "about that Ron Paul guy". They are hearing things about him and seeing signs and organizing in their communities -- and all tend toward voting for liberal Democrats, in most cases. Several of us are giving serious consideration to Paul because he speaks the truth about the problems not only in the country, but in BOTH parties. How many lefties are honest about the Democratic party? How many righties are honest about the Republican party? Only Paul is honest about both. I disagree with a lot of his positions, but he is honest. That makes him an Army of One, and I might just join up. God knows I'll vote for him a hundred times before I'll vote for Mrs. Clinton even once. Marrying well is not enough reason for that harpy to get my vote.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:22 PM on 10/16/2007

Ron Paul is against wars for Israel. In other words that make him anti-semitic in the jews world.

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 05:08 PM on 10/16/2007

From your profile: "jew York", "jew Media", "jew Congress", "jew party", "jew agenda", "jew democrat party", "jew devil", "jew lies", "Dan jew Rather" (BTW, Rather's a Baptist), "Wesely Clark is a jew" (Wesely, whoever he may be, might be Jewish, but General Wesley Clark is a member of the Roman Catholic faith), "dirty filthy jews"

Let's ignore your refusal to capitalize the words Jew or Jewish: After all, that would be showing a degree of respect for members of one of the worlld's major faiths

On every thread referring to African-Americans, your hatred for them is obvious, as well

How would it be unfair to call you a bigot?

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:22 AM on 10/17/2007

I'm kinda looking forward to Gal for RuPaul explaining that I'm "falsely accusing" kentj of bigotry... After all, just the other day I was told that "a jew will always jew you out of your possessions" isn't bigotted

Apparently in RuPaul's Gal Pal' view even the most vicious anti-Semitic smear is acceptable


But, again according to him/her/it, it's wrong to say that Paul has bigotted supporters!

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 02:14 PM on 10/17/2007

BTW, you're EXACTLY the sort of supporter that the article is about!

I find it hard to believe that Ron Paul would be proud to call you a supporter

favoriteFavorite Flag as abusive Posted 10:48 AM on 10/17/2007
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About Thomas B. Edsall

Thomas B. Edsall is the political editor of the Huffington Post. He is also Joseph Pulitzer II and Edith Pulitzer Moore Professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. From 1981 to 2006, he was a political reporter at the Washington Post. He is the author of Chain Reaction and Building Red America. Tom can be reached at edsall@huffingtonpost.com.


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Nico Pitney is National Editor at the Huffington Post.
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Thomas B. Edsall is the Political Editor of the Huffington Post. He is also Joseph Pulitzer II and Edith Pulitzer Moore Professor at the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism.
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Sam Stein is a Political Reporter at the Huffington Post, based in Washington, D.C. Previously he has worked for Newsweek Magazine, the New York Daily News and the investigative journalism group Center for Public Integrity.
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Jason Linkins is a Political Reporter at the Huffington Post, covering media and politics. He's based in Washington, DC. Previously, he wrote for HuffPo's Eat The Press, and has also contributed to DCist and Wonkette.
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Marc Cooper is a Special Correspondent for the Huffington Post as well as Editorial Director of OffTheBus.
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Will Thomas is an Associate News Editor and Political Reporter at the Huffington Post.
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