Lawrence O'Donnell, Ron Paul Spar On 'The Last Word' (VIDEO)

Lawrence O'Donnell sparred with Ron Paul Monday night on MSNBC's "The Last Word."

When O'Donnell asked Paul about his son, Tea Party GOP candidate for Senate from Kentucky Rand Paul, Paul claimed that it was a violation of his pre-show agreement with O'Donnell's producers.

"One of the agreements we had when I came on your show was we weren't going to talk about other candidates, so I'm not going to talk about other candidates," Paul told O'Donnell.

"Just a second," O'Donnell said. "I wasn't part of any agreement in you coming on the show. If someone made an agreement with you, I don't know about it."

"I think that's impolite then," Paul said.

That set the tone for a contentious interview, during which the pair discussed term limits, Medicare and civil rights, with Paul often accusing O'Donnell of trying to put words in his mouth.

O'Donnell also routinely nailed Paul, whether by asking him whether he'd impose term limits on himself or by forcing him to defend his 2004 comments in which he said that the 1964 Civil Rights Act did not "enhance freedom."

But by the end of the interview, Paul just wanted to come back to the supposed pre-show agreement regarding interview topics.

"Check with your staff, too!" he shouted at O'Donnell. "Check with your staff about your agreements. You just were very discourteous on what you have done, and this is not the debate that you had asked for."

WATCH:

Comments

[Bodega Express]

08:11 PM on 11/11/2010

O'DONNELL PWNED PAUL. HANDS DOWN.

http://bodegaexpress.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/lfo/

[madisonhack]

12:09 AM on 10/26/2010

If Ron Paul had a corn dog stand, he probably would have gotten those 28 votes.

[mikeykeat]

12:47 AM on 10/25/2010

O'Donnell is exemplary of the reasons the Rethugs are even breathing in the polls...STOP THE WAR!!! This O'Donnell guy is a 24 carat A-Hole...

[connoisseurodg]

04:26 PM on 10/22/2010

This is the classic "blindside" tactic used by the media to distort reality and purposely take comments out of context. Fox does it to mainstream Dems and MSNBC does it to Ron Paul Republicans and mainstream Repubs. But when all the chips are on the table, what is the difference between mainstream Repubs and mainstream Dems? Ron Paul is one of the few who predicted the financial collapse decades ago, and has always ALWAYS backed up his words with his actions. What mainstream candidate can you name that matches words with actions (Rep or Dem)? As for the racist accusations, an Austin TX charter of the NAACP already backed his character. Ron Paul is anti-establishment - Corporate media IS the establishment!! Research everything you're 'told' by the media if you want to Know. Research your references.

[1980 2 infinity]

04:41 PM on 10/16/2010

In 2001, as Paul moved to the mainstream and rejoined the Republican party, he disavowed these comments and blamed them on an unnamed ghostwriter. But when Paul ran for Congress in 1996, as a Libertarian, his opponent brought these up to show that Paul had fringe ideas. At that time, Paul told the Houston Chronicle that he opposed racism and his commentaries about blacks came in the context of "current events and statistical reports of the time." In other words, he didn't deny writing the Ron Paul column in the Ron Paul newsletter, profits of which go to Ron Paul, until many years later. Then he claimed that his campaign aides thought it would be "too confusing" to tell the truth, so he had to lie and accept responsibility.

[Krull Star]

09:08 AM on 10/17/2010

While I don't agree with Ron Paul on a number of issues I cannot deny he is probably the most principled person in Washington.

He is a staunch defender of civil liberties, his entire career has been centered on this and how someone can accuse him of racism is beyond me.

Washington has a lot of problems but Ron Paul is not one of them.

[1980 2 infinity]

04:41 PM on 10/17/2010

Why is it that everyone defending Ron Paul never addresses the facts but points to his integrity?

Fact: He published a racist newsletter.

[bullioncube]

11:14 AM on 10/18/2010

First, could you please link to the '96 campaign stories (the actual sources, not a rehashed version)? (I've seen the 2008 repudiations.) Accepting all that you say is true, I'd say the evidence is still not very convincing; you don't support him, so your predisposed to calling him a liar, while others, who support him, believe him and accept his explanation.

But, even IF what you say is true, that doesn't change the veracity/falsity of his arguments re: the interview above. IF he is a terrible racist, you may question his motives, but that doesn't, in any way, dispose of his arguments. His policy arguments should be debated independent of his personality and private feelings.

Finally (and this will sound like apologetics, but please don't take it that way), it could be possible that he is as far from racist as possible, but still personally wrote those comments: perhaps (again, I'm not defending the statements, or Paul, but just giving playing Devil's Angel's Advocate), they were a crude way of being tongue-in-cheek, or sarcastic, saying things that the establishment people would say to rationalize, e.g., the war on drugs.

[1980 2 infinity]

11:47 PM on 10/18/2010

I will give you that, his ideas should be argued based on their merit, independent of him. However, when he is the one delivering a message of states rights and the value of property rights over civil rights the fact that a racist newsletter was published under his name makes me wary.

I have no idea if Ron Paul published the material as a misguided critique of the racist elements in American society but he never said that so I will take the words at face value. Even if he made that argument I would be suspicious.

Ron Paul has some good ideas but I am suspicious about him and his agenda. I also question his circle of supporters and those he supports, Art Robinson? Come on.

[Jeff Ricks]

09:08 AM on 10/16/2010

Ron Paul: anti-war, pro-drug legalization, anti-patriot act, against discrimination against gays, anti-torture, condemns Israel for execution of American teen boy on flotilla, and for its walled ghettos for Palestinians...

Barak Obama: wants to expand war to Pakistan and Iran, anti-drug legalization, expands and strengthens patriot act, fighting to keep gays from marrying, renames torture "enhanced interrogation", no mention of official finding of executions of Americans on flotilla...


Which one of these guys is liberal again? Why do the "progressives" hate Ron Paul so much?

[1980 2 infinity]

02:27 PM on 10/16/2010

Maybe because he wants to allow the states to bar abortion, gay marriage, and civil rights. The old codger wants to build a fence on our border with Mexico too.

Your comments about Obama are BS BTW.

[1980 2 infinity]

03:34 PM on 10/15/2010

The constitution was written for land owning white males by land owning white males so its no surprise Ron Paul is a strict constitutionalist.

[cowpunkrva]

05:24 PM on 10/15/2010

So I suppose it's okay to arrest you for saying that?

[1980 2 infinity]

05:27 PM on 10/15/2010

If I said that when the constitution was written, I would already be in chains but I am sure I would tortured for speaking my mind.

[Steve Barakat]

07:31 AM on 10/15/2010

I'm trying to figure out why some of my posts are being censored. Does the word fascist or fascism trigger the moderator's spam filter?

[Steve Barakat]

07:29 AM on 10/15/2010

What has Obama done for black people?

[1980 2 infinity]

03:15 PM on 10/15/2010

He must be doing something for African Americans, 91% approval rating.

[VitaPerMusic]

07:58 PM on 10/18/2010

Yeah, taking them for a ride.

[East Bay Truther]

04:51 AM on 10/15/2010

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Dr. RimaRima E. Laibow, MD needs our help to fight the government from taking our health freedom and our healthy organic food and supplements.

S. 510, S. 3767 and GMOs to the Senate are so important. Clean Phude? Phude Safety? Give the FDA more power so they can "protect" us?

Use the Action Items Below; Email Everyone You Know Urging Them to Do the Same and Forward to Their Contacts!Stop S.510! Stop S.3767!


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http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/568/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=4376That%27s why our

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[mikeykeat]

12:30 AM on 10/25/2010

fanned and faved....nothing better than bloggers that spread links of enlightening intelligence......1980 2 infiinity....Factsand links please? STOP THE WAR!!!! You want BIG money back in the Civil Liberties? Then STOP SPENDING $1 TRILLION A YEAR ON WAR...

See a real democrat at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TexNkbNToA

This guy is fighting for his political future as we speak because of the administration.

see the first minute of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgps85scy1g for real honest political truth...

See the rest for honest laughs....

[East Bay Truther]

04:36 AM on 10/15/2010

Ron Paul was right!!! He is the only man in DC that actually cares about the American people and not a racist as the establishment media would have you to falsly believe. GET A LIFE MSNBC! Good to see Paul slapping this GOOF!!! Ron Paul Revolution!

[PWM]

01:15 PM on 10/15/2010

Ron Paul is a racism and his own polticial pamplets proves it.

On the LA riots:
"“Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks three days after rioting began,”

‘civil rights,’ quotas, mandated hiring preferences, set-asides for government contracts, gerrymandered voting districts, black bureaucracies, black mayors, black curricula in schools, black tv shows, black tv anchors, hate crime laws, and public humiliation for anyone who dares question the black agenda."

On the intelligence of African Americans
"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."

"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, America’s number one need is an unlimited white checking account for underclass blacks mostly black welfare recipients will feel justified in stealing from mostly white ‘haves."

Add to that Paul's open support for the racist John Birch Society and all we have is a racist hiding behind the name of liberty.

[Marcelo Munoz]

12:06 AM on 10/16/2010

You lie buddy. You know he never said that but continue with your lies.

Here's how he feels about "blacks"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8S8N2OG7sU

[1980 2 infinity]

03:32 PM on 10/15/2010

A racist and homophobe who cares about liberty, get real.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de_CSuJCsfY

[Marcelo Munoz]

12:08 AM on 10/16/2010

You obviously don't know much about Ron Paul - listed to HIM, not what others say about him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8S8N2OG7sU

[Marcelo Munoz]

12:11 AM on 10/16/2010

p.s. Also proves my point as libertarians are incapable of being racists. A libertarian being a homophobe and racist? LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CoQWAXuUyI&feature=related

[Marcelo Munoz]

01:59 AM on 10/15/2010

The political left argues that stringent federal laws are needed to combat racism, even as they advocate incredibly divisive collectivist policies.

Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans strictly as members of groups rather than individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike: as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism. Their obsession with racial group identity is inherently racist.

The true antidote to racism is liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence, not skin color, gender, or ethnicity.

More importantly, in a free society every citizen gains a sense of himself as an individual, rather than developing a group or victim mentality. This leads to a sense of individual responsibility and personal pride, making skin color irrelevant. Rather than looking to government to correct our sins, we should understand that racism will endure until we stop thinking in terms of groups and begin thinking in terms of individual liberty. - Ron Paul

[PWM]

01:19 PM on 10/15/2010

The argument about liberty, a common theme of the KKK, only allowed whites the liberty to oppress blacks.

[Cadeh]

05:11 PM on 10/15/2010

How does liberty allow the KKK to oppress blacks?

[Marcelo Munoz]

12:12 AM on 10/16/2010

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8S8N2OG7sU

[Nagarjuna]

01:51 PM on 10/16/2010

Marcelo, please put down "Atlas Shrugged" once in a while. Right-wing anarchy would encourage racism, not end it. Please reconnect with reality.

[PWM]

04:54 PM on 10/14/2010

"The John Birch Society is a great patriotic organization featuring an educational program solidly based on constitutional principles. I congratulate the Society in this, its 50th year. I wish them continued success and endorse their untiring efforts to foster ‘less government, more responsibility … and with God’s help … a better world.’”

I am delighted to help celebrate this birthday.” “I’m sure there are people in this room who probably helped me in that campaign, because I know that so many of you have over the years.”

continue what you have been doing…..I come with a positive message and congratulations to you for all you have done. Congratulations and thank you very much for having me tonight."

Source: Ron Paul's keynote speech to the John Birch Society on their 50th Anniversary.
-------
Johny Lee Clary, a former Imperial Wizard for the KKK, said this about the John Birch Society.
"The John Birch Society is just a political version of the KKK, without the name of the KKK. They center on the political ideas of the Klan and are not as vocal in public on the ideas of the racial superiority, but they attract the same people and say the same things behind closed doors. A rose by any other name is still a rose…the Klan by any other name is still Klan."

source http://newsone.com/nation/casey-gane-mccalla/opinion-ron-paul-is-a-white-supremacist/

[Marcelo Munoz]

01:04 AM on 10/15/2010

Q: Who do you think are the most hateful, prejudice bigots in the world today? ....Kelly & Jack Bradshaw, Watts, Calif.

Johnny: That's easy! Michael Moore, Hillary Clinton, Jesse Jackson, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Louis Farrakhan, David Duke, Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church who run a website called "godhatesamerica.com", Sean Penn, Rosie O'Donnell, Bob Maher, Linda Ronstadt,and The Dixie Chicks! I can think of many more but these will do now for starters!

[PWM]

01:06 PM on 10/15/2010

I could care less. Ron Paul is a racist and linked to racist groups. Defend him if you want, the bottom line is this freak does not belong on the public payroll.

[Marcelo Munoz]

01:14 AM on 10/15/2010

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6732659166933078950#

[PWM]

04:48 PM on 10/14/2010

"The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave the federal government unprecedented power over the hiring, employee relations, and customer service practices of every business in the country. The result was a massive violation of the rights of private property and contract, which are the bedrocks of free society. The federal government has no legitimate authority to infringe on the rights of private property owners to use their property as they please and to form (or not form) contracts with terms mutually agreeable to all parties. The rights of all private property owners, even those whose actions decent people find abhorrent, must be respected if we are to maintain a free society. " http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul188.html

To Ron Paul civil rights are a bad thing what really matters is the rights of business owners.

[Marcelo Munoz]

01:22 AM on 10/15/2010

You are misinformed.

"In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, while I join the sponsors of H.Res. 676 in promoting racial harmony and individual liberty, the fact is the Civil Rights Act of 1964 did not accomplish these goals. Instead, this law unconstitutionally expanded federal power, thus reducing liberty. Furthermore, by prompting raced-based quotas, this law undermined efforts to achieve a color-blind society and increased racial strife. Therefore, I must oppose H.Res. 676." - Ron Paul

Here's what the NAACP has to say about Ron Paul:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvFLSwDvBUA

[PWM]

01:08 PM on 10/15/2010

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 put an end to the legal discrimination against blacks, and only a disgusting racist would find fault with it.

[Marcelo Munoz]

01:59 AM on 10/15/2010

The political left argues that stringent federal laws are needed to combat racism, even as they advocate incredibly divisive collectivist policies.

Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans strictly as members of groups rather than individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike: as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism. Their obsession with racial group identity is inherently racist.

The true antidote to racism is liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence, not skin color, gender, or ethnicity.

More importantly, in a free society every citizen gains a sense of himself as an individual, rather than developing a group or victim mentality. This leads to a sense of individual responsibility and personal pride, making skin color irrelevant. Rather than looking to government to correct our sins, we should understand that racism will endure until we stop thinking in terms of groups and begin thinking in terms of individual liberty. - Ron Paul

[PWM]

01:08 PM on 10/15/2010

If Ron was not a racist he would keep his distance from racist groups - he doesn't.

[Nagarjuna]

01:53 PM on 10/16/2010

Marcelo, put down "The Fountainhead" and get some air!

[PWM]

04:40 PM on 10/14/2010

Ron Paul's views - the apple does not fall far from the tree.

"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."

[Marcelo Munoz]

01:31 AM on 10/15/2010

You have no proof Paul wrote that. What is your source, I notice you don't provide a credible link. I suspect you already know this but want to confuse the issue.

Here' what Paul said on the matter:

Paul told CNN's "The Situation Room" Thursday that he didn't write any of the offensive articles and has "no idea" who did.

"When you bring this question up, you're really saying, 'You're a racist' or 'Are you a racist?' And the answer is, 'No, I'm not a racist,'" he said.

Paul said he had never even read the articles with the racist comments.

"I do repudiate everything that is written along those lines," he said, adding he wanted to "make sure everybody knew where I stood on this position because it's obviously wrong."

[PWM]

01:21 PM on 10/15/2010

http://articles.cnn.com/2008-01-10/politics/paul.newsletters_1_newsletters-blacks-whites?_s=PM:POLITICS

Paul's entire defense is he didn't do it, it does not explain his endorsement of David Duke or his blind support of the John Birch Society. All this means is Paul is a coward.