Ron Paul!

A Ron Paul supporter is initially disturbed by the newsletters but then regains re-loses his composure and starts recommending that everyone just claim the signatures at the end of each newsletter are faked, as are the newsletters themselves. (Earlier posts by him noted that each newsletter is available in a historical document archive, so he seems to know he's simply lying for the sake of "The Revolution.")

I like this line:

All we got now is the signatures [that is, the claim that the signatures were "faked"], but the point is to repeat it over and over. we can make that thought reality

Who's Big Brother now, buddy?

The Economist, meanwhile, isn't impressed by The Lew Rockwell Stole My Homework/Newsletters defense.

According to Wirkman Virkkala, formerly the managing editor of the libertarian monthly Liberty, the racist and survivalist elements that appeared in the newsletter were part of a deliberate "paleolibertarian" strategy, "a last gasp effort to try class hatred after the miserable showing of Ron Paul’s 1988 presidential effort." It is impossible now to prove individual authorship of any particular item in the newsletter, but it is equally impossible to believe that Mr Rockwell did not know of and approve what was going into the newsletter.

This matters because, while Mr Paul may disavow the sentiments that were expressed under his name over the years, he has scarcely disavowed Mr Rockwell, who remains a friend and adviser. Mr Rockwell is one of the congressman's most vigorous online boosters, accompanied him to an appearance on The Tonight Show, and often publishes Mr Paul's writings on his Web site. Mr Paul now says the identity of his ghostwriter is of no importance. But if the person responsible for spreading venom under his name for many years remains a close associate, it suggests that Mr Paul is at least prepared to countenance pandering to racists, however respectable his own views. The candidate owes his supporters a far more complete explanation than he has thus far provided.

Thanks to CJ.

posted by Ace at 04:00 PM

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