Ron Paul

Katha Pollitt kpollitt at thenation.com
Sat Nov 20 13:58:13 PST 1999



>Doug Henwood wrote:
> >
> > From Brian Doherty's profile of Texas libertarian Rep. Ron Paul in
> > the November issue of The American Spectator:
> >
> > >Paul taps into a streak of Texas populism, which can manifest itself
> > >in an LBJ-like "make government do for the little guy" attitude, or
> > >a more Lone Rangeresque respect for the rugged individualist. Nation
> > >columnist Alexander Cockburn is an unlikely Paul booster for his
> > >stances on issues like privacy and Waco. Cockburn says he's "always
> > >had a soft spot for Texas populists." When asked what he didn't like
> > >about Paul, Cockburn could only say, "his reverence for gold is a
> > >little excessive."
>

For more of Ron Paul's views and activities, I recommend a visit to his website. A sample: He boasts of his "pro-life" and "pro-family" stands, has sponsored bills for the abolition of the income tax and the minimum wage, is a sponsor of the flag burning amendment to the Constitution (this from a guy who goes on and on about the sacredness of the constitution and first amendment), of a bill to declare the Panama Canal and Zone US sovereign territory, and a bill to give parents tax credits for private and parochial school tuition, etc etc etc. Paul's a hard right Republican with a few positions -- like opposing the wars in Iraq and kosovo and favoring lifting the embargo on trade with the Cuba -- that coincide with left positions. And of course he's a big fan of guns.

Interesting that even when asked to cite his differences with Paul, Alex didn't think Paul's anti-choice views worth mentioning in view of Paul's championing of "privacy". And I suspect if a Democratic politician favored the flag burning amendment we'd hear all about it.

Katha



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