NYT: Ron Paul for President... of the 'Wackos'? [Birchers, Israel-Haters, etc.]

Editor and Publisher.com ^ | 07/20/07 | E&P Staff

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

NEW YORK A feature piece in this coming Sunday's New York Times Magazine on Republican candidate for president, Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, portrays his followers as including a wild mix of "wackos" on both ends of the political spectrum. Paul, a libertarian, has been gaining media and public attention of late.

The cover line reads: "A Genuine Radical for President." The headline inside: "The Antiwar, Anti-Abortion, Anti-Drug-Enforcement-Administration, Anti-medicare Candidacy of Dr. Ron Paul."

The article closes with the author, Christopher Caldwell, attending a Ron Paul Meetup in Pasadena. The co-host, Connie Ruffley of United Republicans of California, admits she once was a member of the radical right John Birch Society and when she asks for a show of hands "quite a few" attendees reveal that they were or are members, too. She refers to Sen. Dianne Feinstein as "Fine-Swine" and attacks Israel, pleasing some while others "walked out."

Caldwell notes that the head of the Pasadena Meetup Group, Bill Dumas, sent a desperate letter to Paul headquarters: "We're in a difficult position of working on a campaign that draws supporters from laterally opposing points of view, and we have the added bonus of attracting every wacko fringe group in the country....We absolutely must focus on Ron's message only and put aside all other agendas, which anyone can save for the next 'Star Trek' convention or whatever."

Asked about the John Birch Society Society by the author, Paul responds, "Is that BAD? I have a lot of friends in the John Birch Society. They're generally well-educated and they understand the Constitution. I don't know how many positions they would have that I don't agree with."

The writer concludes that the "antigovernment activists of the right and the antiwar activists of the left" may have "irreconciable" differences. But "their numbers -- and anger -- are of considerable magnitude. Ron Paul will not be the next president of the United States. But his candidacy gives us a good hint about the country the next president is going to have to knit back together."

Among many other things, we learn from the article that Paul had never heard of "The Daily Show" until he was a guest and referred to the magazine GQ as "GTU." It also notes that he was the only congress member to vote against the Financial Antiterrorism Act and a medal to honor Rosa Parks, among many others tallies, based on principle, not politics. He also is praised by liberal Rep. Barney Frank as "one of the easiest" members to work with because "he bases his positions on the merits of issues."

[operation clinton cleanup]

I’m always seeing ‘the Birchers’ catching flak, why? What is it with the Birch Society that has everyone up in arms? I’ve seen this so many times but never asked.

I'm with you. What little I know is that they were opposed to 1960's civil rights legislation that got them branded as racists.

[Petronski]

They’re all equal. Only the flavor changes.

[RegulatorCountry]

don’t think he is an anti-Semite but he isn’t pro-Israel or a friend to the Jewish community in the least.

Are you sure you're not confusing Ron Paul with James Baker?

[Slings and Arrows]

The more the Slimes concentrates on RuPaul, the less resources they’ll have to after viable conseratives. Let him be a lightning rod if wishes.

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I'm glad it's not just me. :)

Do you know if Birch articles are allowed on FR? Just for S&G I'd like to post some, watch panties get twisted. lol

[attiladhun2]

Birchers are the proto-typical conspiracy theorists. Although they were ardent anti-Communists, they tended to believe in things like The Protocals and to sympathize with fascism. A Bircher might tell you, "Well, maybe Hitler wasn't so bad, afterall?" Also, they were radical isolationists, thus, the pro-Axis Charles Lindberg is a Birchite icon.

[jdm]

LOL! They still can't afford Kool-aid yet, can they? :O)

[Petronski]

Budgets are tight.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"The John Birch Society believes that cabals and conspiracies throughout the world have significantly shaped history, and it seeks to expose and eliminate their claimed control in government in the modern era."

[Kellis91789]

I resent the implied insult to Star Trek fans.

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I better start going to their site then. Do you have a link.

[West Coast Conservative]

No. I’m talking about Ron Paul.

He was the only Republican to vote against supporting Israel last summer and voted alongside Kucinich in not condemning Iran’s president for Holocaust denial.

[operation clinton cleanup]

I almost never see JBS stuff posted, so not sure if they are frowned upon. Like I said, I know little about the whole JBS thing, except that my Mom was a one time member back before I was born. She was also a hard core feminist/ERA supporter in the 1970’s. She is easily swayed by pop culture.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Google is your friend. ;) http://www.jbs.org/

[nvcdl]

Hmmm...I’m not a member and never have been but although JBS is big on conspiracy theories regarding the CFR/ World Government/NWO, all its literature is clearly anti-Hilter/anti-facist.

I think JBS got a bad rep long ago when it’s founder wrote a book that seemed to allege that Eisenhower was a commie agent.

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sympathize with fascism. A Bircher might tell you, "Well, maybe Hitler wasn't so bad, afterall?"

I don't go there.

pro-Axis Charles Lindberg is a Birchite icon.

Don't go there either.

The Protocals

Don't go there either.

Damn, I like the government conspiracy part though. Anyone who trust their government 100% is in for a surprise, imho.

[EdArt]

how were you able to post the picture? - I have tried but no success—help- simple approach

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I haven’t seen any posted here that I can remember. I don’t know much about it either. I might check it out to see what the hullabaloo’s all about.

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Thank you. I click it and bookmark it for later reading.

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I click it...oops, I’ll click it.