Kelly Clarkson Endorses Ron Paul, Gets Twitter Hate Over Racism, Homophobia

The first "American Idol" has announced who she wants to be the next American president. Her choice isn't helping her approval ratings.

"I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last republican nomination and no one gave him a chance," Kelly Clarkson wrote on Twitter and WhoSay on Wednesday. "If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."

Like Paul, Clarkson hails from Texas. And like Paul, Clarkson is a fan of limited government. But given her status as a pop star, she caught a lot of criticism from fans who were enraged over Clarkson's endorsement amidst the ongoing controversy over racist and homophobic newsletters that were sent out under Paul's name in the 80s.

Addressing the criticism, Clarkson later tweeted:

"I am really sorry if I have offended anyone. Obviously that was not my intent. I do not support racism. I support gay rights, straight rights, women's rights, men's rights, white/black/purple/orange rights. I like Ron Paul because he believes in less government and letting the people (all of us) make the decisions and mold our country. That is all. Out of all of the Republican nominees, he's my favorite."

Clarkson later told an angry Twitter follower that "I have never heard that he's a racist? I definitely don't agree with racism, that's ignorant." She told another that, "I love all people and could care less if you like men or women. I have never heard that Ron Paul is a racist or homophobe?"

The pop star continued her defense, saying: "Man my eyes have been opened to so much hate tonight. If y'all ever disagree with something I say please don't feel the need to attack me. I will listen to what you say and any articles or viewpoints you have when you say it with respect. Being hateful is not a healthy way to get people to see or hear you. I was raised to respect people and their decisions and beliefs and I hope you will grant me the same decency. If you don't agree with me simply unfollow me. It's really that easy. I hope you don't because I would love the chance to hear what you have to say but if you're so blinded by hate you can't seek peace and progress then that is your unfortunate prerogative."

Clarkson told a fan that she is a Republican but voted Democrat in 2008. Clarkson performed at a July 4th gala for President Obama and First Lady Michele Obama in 2010.

Here's a sampling of Clarkson's back and forth with angry fans on Twitter:

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Comments

[weibdm]

12:59 PM on 01/19/2012

I totally agree with everything Kelly has said except for her vote for Obama.

[Caris1]

11:05 PM on 01/11/2012

"Man my eyes have been opened to so much hate tonight." Just like individuals who were, and remain, victimized by the distribution of racist publications similar to Ron Paul's Freedom Report, to name one. Ron Paul disavows writing the articles himself, but he knows the individual responsible. And he refuses to reveal the individual (s). In 1996 Paul defended the sexist, xenophobic, racist and antisemitic remarks published under his name. Six years later he has an excuse. '(Llewellyn) Rockwell and the prominent libertarian theorist Murray Rothbard championed an open strategy of exploiting racial and class resentment to build a coalition with populist "paleoconservatives," producing a flurry of articles and manifestos whose racially charged talking points and vocabulary mirrored the controversial Paul newsletters recently unearthed by The New Republic. To this day Rockwell remains a friend and advisor to Paul. (Reason, 2008) Perhaps Ms. Clarkson agrees with Ron Paul and was speaking to like minds. If you believe her political beliefs are abhorrent, support sexism, xenophobia and antisemitism, don't purchase her music or attend her concerts. Ms. Clarkson has the right to her beliefs and to support the candidate of her choice.

[ssullymets]

03:54 AM on 01/11/2012

I love how people call themselves open minded, but soon as your beliefs may differ they flip out.
Kelly can say she likes any politician she wants, every candidate has his own faults. For the comment that was highlighted Mr. O. has created the most poor, food stamp welfare society in history, plus he has been disrespectful & unsupportive of Isreal from day one of his presidency.
I'm sure Mr. O. wants the best for us, so I won't attack his supporters, but I notice the most vicious people are the self proclaimed "open minded".

[CensoredByHuffpost]

01:50 AM on 01/05/2012

Who cares. This is news?

[cdchicago]

08:55 PM on 01/04/2012

I'm sorry. Who is she again? Why is her opinion important? Is she famous or something?

[Bascoda]

09:57 PM on 01/03/2012

She has the right to her own opinion, and shouldn't be vilified for the expression thereof. As for the validity of that opinion - well, that's an entirely different matter.
Still, the personal attacks on her are inexcusable.

[Straight facts in here]

09:42 PM on 01/03/2012

HAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHAH. Israel is our ally? Use your heads people. Israel is paradise right now compared to our own country. They suck everything from us like a leech. We're being used like a prostitute and it won't be long before we'll be left with nothing. While Israel won't help us, their "ally". Y u no use brain america?

[RickW44]

09:52 PM on 01/06/2012

Totally agree! Fanned and Favorite.

[Nerdiac]

05:20 PM on 01/03/2012

She is naive as heck if she really thinks that "all of us" should be allowed to make the decisions. Based on YouTube troll comments alone, the entire country would slide back into the 1800's if "we" were allowed to run things. Women in the kitchen, black people being tortured, abused, and segregated, and everyone else behaving as asinine as possible. Should should know that now, after seeing all the hateful responses she got on Twitter. Those hate-filled followers are the people she wants to dictate things, lol.

[stape45]

02:26 PM on 01/03/2012

Maybe Kelly can afford to have a halfazz president. Average Americans cannot.

[RTFanatic]

09:24 AM on 01/03/2012

She's in over her gorgeous little head.

[Woodweezel]

08:37 AM on 01/03/2012

Good: small goverment with limited, enumerated powers; adherance to the principals the country was founded upon, non-fiat currency and cessation of the wholesale robbery of the American people via systematic currency devaluation of via the Federal Reserve, steadfast support for individual liberty (the smallest and only meaningful minority status), international policy focused on free trade and avoidance of entangling alliances, a cessation of serving in the role of the "world's cop" (the single greatest catastrophic failure mode of empires throughout history), consistent principled integrity (even acknowledged by informed detractors).

"All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident" ~~ Arthur Schopenhauer

Ron Paul - 2012

Evil: Expanding, meddlesome government (nanny-state regulations, more undeclared war, etc.); destruction of monetary base (too big to fail bailouts, corporate cronyism, credit bubble, etc.), extensive wealth redistribution, broken-record blaming of predecessor (despite making debt 50% worse during time in office), serial flip-flopping -- but hey, a "nice" guy... incompetent, but nice.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing" ~~ Edmund Burke (attributed)

[luz2409]

08:05 PM on 01/03/2012

He's a total racist homophobic idiot

[Bascoda]

09:54 PM on 01/03/2012

Which is why we are doing everything we can to combat the triumph of evil. That includes Mr. Paul. If he really wants to take this country back to the 1800s, let him send his family there first.

[James De La Cruz]

03:02 AM on 01/03/2012

I would never vote against the interest of America with Ron Paul, but I'm still a huge fan of Kelly Clarkson's music talent. To each their own.

[horsestoy]

01:07 AM on 01/03/2012

I think a lot of the backlash is also because she admitted she is a Republiican. You know that is taboo in the entertainment world. I think it is in the Hollywood handbook," you must be a Democrat." Come on people live and let live. If the Republicans and Democrats could just get along, I think this country could be much stronger!

[JavaManiac]

05:14 AM on 01/03/2012

Have you seen any Republicans reaching out to make the country better? Didn't think so. With the Republicans it is all about politics and their rich friends.

[APBTLover01]

01:27 PM on 01/03/2012

I think you're right. Politicians can't get along as the same holds true for most individual people. Everyone has their own opinion and to some if you don't think exactly as they do that's when the attitudes start to show. I admire Kelly Clarkson for voicing her opinion.....I'm sure she's a big enough girl to take whatever backlash she receives. At least she has a mind of her own.

[horsestoy]

06:23 PM on 01/03/2012

Amen to that!

[Crystal Zavala]

12:43 AM on 01/03/2012

wow people can't even have opinions anymore

[anthonyNtx]

01:42 AM on 01/03/2012

I love the Internet.

[sabrinalilypup]

11:32 PM on 01/02/2012

My! my! So very disappointed with the 1st American Idol Star. Hey! Kelly, if you 'LOVE" Ron Paul therefore it is safe for me to assume you also "LOVE" his thwarted ideologies. And I thought you are a very level headed young lady. I guess I was wrong. More over, the son Ryan is much more dangerous than the older Paul. They both are the epitome of "doom" to America. I therefore will view you as such,,,,someone to stay away from. More power to your career...because we also can be formidable fans. -Prudence

[RobH413]

03:37 AM on 01/03/2012

What is a thwarted ideology? The son Ryan?

You will view her as doom to America but you can also be a formidable fan?

Think. Then type.

[sabrinalilypup]

07:17 PM on 01/03/2012

Hey ROBH413....did you read and understand my comment or did your head spin and babbled? Read and Comprehend and don't just open your mouth with your foot in it.
LET ME USE YOUR OWN WORDS FOR YOU: "Think. Then type." GOT IT?

[Caris1]

11:37 PM on 01/11/2012

Stopping a vision or idea from taking hold. The son, Randal.

'formidable fans'. Here, the writer expresses support as being directed elsewhere.

Veni, malui, scripsi.

[gena cunningham]

04:02 AM on 01/03/2012

ITA with you, and I don't mean to quibble, but I think Jughead's son's (the one you are referring to anyway) name is Rand.

[RTFanatic]

09:36 AM on 01/03/2012

Wow! He DOES look like Jughead from the Archies! I think Jug was smarter, though. Fanned & Faved!

[sabrinalilypup]

07:11 PM on 01/03/2012

I stand corrected...it is Rand not Ryan. It was too late to correct it because I sent it and not preview my comment. Thanks