Ron Paul Statement on MLK Jr.’s Legacy of Freedom
EmailABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf reports: Ron Paul has mounted a PR offensive since a New Republic reporter unearthed newsletters, bearing his name from 1992, that criticized Martin Luther King Jr. as a philanderer and worse, and argued against the designation of a national holiday in his honor.
Paul disavowed the articles immediately upon the posting of The New Republic article earlier this month, and said he had nothing to do with them.
Tomorrow, organizied at www.freeatlast2008.com, Paul supporters will mount their latest money bomb.
And today, Paul released a statement lauding King and arguing that Paul is the presidential candidate to carry on King’s legacy.
Paul’s written statement, below, calls King a "great freedom fighter," and says King would be disappointed with the current president’s approach toward civil rights.
PAUL STATEMENT:
“It is especially fitting that we take the time to reflect on one man’s struggles to defend our constitutional freedoms during this primary election season. Jan. 15 was the birthday of the great freedom fighter, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and on Monday, we honor him nationwide for his sacrifice and love of liberty for all people.
“To me, the timing is more than a coincidence. The American people, regardless of color or creed, have the opportunity to choose a candidate who will uplift the ideals for which Dr. King fought — and died.
“The fight for freedom — the preservation of our civil rights — is the fight of our lives. Sadly, after Dr. King’s passing, we are faced with a violation of our civil rights in the same vein as Jim Crow: The Patriot Act. I have stood against this and all unconstitutional violations of Americans’ civil rights, and will continue Dr. King’s charge, as president.
“Dr. King would be disappointed in our current administration for more than its continued disregard for civil rights, as he stated: ‘a nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift, is approaching spiritual doom.’
We need to change our interventionist foreign policy, and take care of our brothers and sisters at home. Our nation is in a crisis: we are spending billions on war overseas, while those around us are suffering and losing jobs, homes, and hope. It is inexcusable; we must solve the economic crisis at home, and bring hope to America.
“Dr. King’s heroic actions should resonate with us today, as we recognize that our votes strengthen the fight for our civil rights. Liberty is the true antidote to racism, and freedom — limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights — can uplift us all.”
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How is it that RON PAUL is honoring Dr. King but Barack Obama isn’t? Doesn’t that seem a little weird? Where’s Hilliary or Bill for that matter? (You know the “1st Black President”, so he claims; Nevermind… I hear he’s busy slinging mud at Obama and fighting HER battles for her) Where’s Edwards? Don’t worry, I won’t bother mentioning any Republicans.
Posted by: rw3 | January 20, 2008, 7:44 pm 7:44 pm
Paul,is are both terrible. He wants our national security and the war on terror to go on the back burner. Now is the time to step things up. We need to tell terrorists we will NOT tolerate them. We do not need to embolden them by “backing out of iraq” as hillary and obama want to do. If we do this I guarantee Suitcase nukes will be next amd then it will make 9/11 look like nothing in comparison. We need another president like george bush who will keep our national security in check
Posted by: jack | January 20, 2008, 8:31 pm 8:31 pm
Allan,
As I said before, if we pull out the terrorists will become emboldened and attack us on our own soil. As george W said “you can’t negotiate” with terrorists. THe terrorists will stop at nothing than to te the world, and it would be foolish to think otherwise. Case closed.
Posted by: jack | January 20, 2008, 9:18 pm 9:18 pm
What’s more likely to incite violence against America from the middle east? Occupation and indiscriminate killing of civilians, or telling them to work out their differences among themselves and get our men out of the crossfire? If you still can’t understand the insurgency in Iraq, watch “Red Dawn”, that should tell you all you need to know about how pointless this exercise in Iraq, Afghanistan and the coming WAR IN IRAN really is. We embolden them by their killing of americans one by one. Leave and that’s no longer upon us and no longer a victory for them. “We’re not gonna run them back home… They ARE home.” Lt. Gen. Hal Moore to McNamara about Vietnam in 1965. I think he knows what he’s talking about better than the rest of us.
Posted by: rw3 | January 20, 2008, 9:20 pm 9:20 pm
protecting our borders and our safety here in the states is imperative – we are spending money overseas that we need to spend here
GO RON PAUL!!!
Posted by: valerie | January 20, 2008, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
This guy is a nutjob…comparing the Patriot Act to the Jim Crow Laws. It’s unfortunate that the few, amazingly good views he has on some issues are exceedingly overshadowed by his INSANE views on others. In present day America…anyone who can compare the Patriot Act to the Jim Crow Laws are out of their mind. Sorry to say, but I don’t believe him when he says he had nothing to do with those 1992 newsletters. He is an embarassment from Texas and he does not represent even 5% of the folks from our great state!
Posted by: Jase | January 20, 2008, 9:42 pm 9:42 pm
And on another topic concerning Ron Paul…I find it disgusting that he would use the King’s birthday to attack the President about civil rights. What exactly has President Bush done contrary to the civil rights movement besides empower African-Americans by letting them spend more of their own money…provide for more African-Americans in his administration than any other President in history??? It may be politically beneficial to attack President George W. Bush if you are a liberal Democrat like Hillary and Barrack Hussein…but please Ron…change your party affilliation to a diff party that does not believe in respect for our fellow members as well as respect for the President…be it a Democrat or a Republican!
Posted by: Jase | January 20, 2008, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
I guess you don’t mind that the president (perhaps Hilliary) can declare you an “enemy combatant” have you arrested without charges, not allow you to have a lawyer, or contact anybody to know where you are and keep you locked up in solitary confinement and subjected to torture if you don’t agree with Hilliary, Obama, Rudy, McCain, Romney, etc., How will they get it, by tapping your phone, reading your mail and getting info from your neighbors. And if you really think BUSH is the best president ever, you don’t understand economics. A recession, foreclosure, and bankruptcy mean people are suffering and are NOT prosperous. Anybody can figure that out. Bush alone has sent the defict higher than all the previous presidents COMBINED!!! Wake up! He’s NOT a GOD, he can’t even run an economy, let alone a WAR!
Posted by: rw3 | January 20, 2008, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
Can’t wait to see W, Wolfi, Dick Vader, Condi, and Rummi locked away at Gitmo as enemy combatants, rw3. Throw in some good ol’ waterboarding to make time fly when you’re having fun. We won’t even need to charge them with anything, they’ll never face a judge, and they can kiss any legal representation goodbye. Sounds like a plan to me. Maybe we can spruce up their frequent flier accounts with some trips to exotic rendition locales, where the fun continues in earnest. This Patriot Act is the gift that keeps on giving.
Posted by: roger | January 21, 2008, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Ron Paul is right, the Patriot Act is a whole series of violations of our personal freedoms, freedoms which are protected under a little something called the CONSTITUTION!! You people need to wake up and stop buying into the propaganda that GWB and his cohorts have been spewing for 7 long years. We are being lied to on a daily basis, time to wake up and see the reality of the situation that we are in. There was never a valid reason to go into Iraq, they never posed a serious threat to our safety. For those of you who think that our borders and other points of entry are safer now, you are sadly mistaken.
The only thing we have done is to help increase the rise of fundamental Islamists. We’ve essentially ruined the whole region, and for what? So that we can gain a foothold in the middle east.
This moron in office is throwing away hundreds of BILLIONS and meanwhile our system of education is broken, healthcare is broken, and our economy is obviously in shambles.
Stop blindly following, start using critical thinking and look at the FACTS.
“embolden the terrorists”, HAH! Stop buying into the cute little catch-phrases passed on by Faux News, start reading alternative news sources and engaging in discourse with people who don’t have their heads lodged firmly in their butts.
Posted by: mike | January 21, 2008, 11:18 am 11:18 am
Wow, what’s wrong with you sheeple? 9/11 was an inside job. Terrorists will be around ‘forever’ and that’s the administrations scam. They can always blame everything on these invisable terrorists. Meanwhile they take away our freedom (aka liberty) to fight terror. It’s a giant farse and you lose in the end. So go ahead and vote in Hillary, McCain, Romney, Hucklebee, or Obama and see how quickly Amerika goes FLUSH.
Posted by: MJ | January 21, 2008, 11:21 am 11:21 am
Don’t tell me you folks still believe GW Bush?
We are doomed if everyone is as stupid as the media makes you all look.
Do your own homework, RIF people.. Reading is fundamental….
Posted by: Tom Atkins | January 21, 2008, 11:29 am 11:29 am
“As I said before, if we pull out the terrorists will become emboldened and attack us on our own soil. As george W said “you can’t negotiate” with terrorists. THe terrorists will stop at nothing than to te the world, and it would be foolish to think otherwise. Case closed.”
Jesus man, you are listening to way to much Sean Hannity. Let me guess, the next sentence is. They hate us because of our freedoms right?
Posted by: Daniel | January 21, 2008, 11:39 am 11:39 am
If these guys are into National Security why is it that border guards have NO firearms. And are given orders to let go ANYONE they intercept. And yet two Border police are stitting in PRISON for trying to stop a couple of armed “immigrants” who were smuggling drugs across the border. Just ask Duncan Hunter, hell tell you. And as for the guy who want’s to send the Bush Administration to Getmo and give them the “combatant treatment”, guess again. They all were just voted immunity from prosecution for violating civil and human rights, thanks to Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, and all those other corporate “chickenhawks” who support this bogus war on terror! If there’s any hope for change they have to go too! Wake up America, according to them YOU are ALL the terrorist!!! And congress just gave illegials the right to get Social Security benefits. Hope your not planning on retirement anytime SOON… VOTE THE BUMS OUT, NOW!!!
Posted by: rw3 | January 21, 2008, 11:45 am 11:45 am
Jack, the last thing we need is another president like George Bush lying to everyone about why terrorist exist. The leaders/crooks in Washington have been provoking the middle east ever since the end of World War II. It is because of them terrorist want to attack our interests. All because they think they can steal the oil under their sand.
Posted by: David | January 21, 2008, 11:54 am 11:54 am
wake up people, there is no such thing as al qadea! you’re all being scammed by a phantom enemy created by the powers that be.
Posted by: Jeff | January 21, 2008, 12:07 pm 12:07 pm
Re: Ron Paul: At least one Republican hasn’t joined the traitor CORPORATIONS and Internationalists selling out American farm land and jobs, while foreigners purchase utilities and American water companies. Check out Kentucky American Water, owned by the Germans. Check out some of the others NOW OWNED by foreigners. Pretty soon foreigners will say, “sorry you can’t afford your own water” or, oops too bad it’s cold outside, we’re not allowing heat today….. or worse…
(DUH)
Bye Bye Miss American Pie.
Posted by: Michie | January 21, 2008, 12:22 pm 12:22 pm
Ask yourself why the MSM continues to downplay, ridicule, censor and exclude Dr. Paul and his message — He is the only candidate with the unifying message of restoring the Constitution and civil rights that have been dismantled by this corrupt administration. Everyone knows the Democrats are just as bad — they have done nothing to stop this out of control executive power and to end this illegal war.
FEAR is the number one control mechanism for populations and they have created this enemy in the minds of all which allows the weak-minded to sacrifice their liberties for security. Our Forefathers would be ashamed of what has become of this once great Nation — you folks who walk around in fear of the terrorist deserve to live in tyranny. GROW A SPINE!!!
Posted by: Pete | January 21, 2008, 12:59 pm 12:59 pm
Just because Trotsky was right about Stalin didn’t make communism a good idea.
Just because Paul is right about W doesn’t make republicanism a good idea.
On Meet the Press Paul said that private owners of property (like lunch counters and buses) should be able to deny service to anyone.
Dr. Paul believes in the constitution, except for the 14th amendment and seperation of church and state. yeah. And Mr. Small government’s district got $4 Billion in the first 9 months of 2006.
So get to the back of the Bus Dr. Paul.
Posted by: feckless | January 21, 2008, 1:09 pm 1:09 pm
rw3 asked why it is that Barack Obama is not honoring Dr. King?
If only you were in touch with reality … Senator Obama as asked to speak at Ebenezer Baptist Church today, Dr. King’s home church.
Posted by: Reggie | January 21, 2008, 1:34 pm 1:34 pm
All three Democratic candidates are honoring this day with speeches, rw3. And less hypocritical ones, too.
Posted by: Shamshiel | January 21, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Anyone who knows Paul knows that he is not a racist. The real racists are the ones who do things to keep blacks/latinos in project housing and on welfair. Devaluing our money with falsified wars on terror and drugs and poverty. The real terrorists are the ones in the Federal Reserve and the guys lobbying congress. When will America wake up. Hitler told his people we need to attak them before they attack us too.
Posted by: John Smiley | January 21, 2008, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
Let’s see supports the war in Iraq, Afghanistain, and IRAN that is fought mostly by minorities and illegal immigrants in the armed forces check. Supports crackdown on civil liberties like the Patriot Act and the Homegrown Terrorism Act check. Supports national Canadian style health care that will bankrupt what’s left of the country check. Supports social security for illegial immigrants that will bankrupt what’s left of social security check. Supports locking up border guards who try to detain illegial immigrants check. Supports the government DENYING benefits if those on government welfare have a JOB, or husband check. After careful consideration… I can’t see where Obama OR Hilliary are going to make ANYTHING better for minorities after this election. But HEY they PANDERED for votes on a national holiday… I guess THAT wil solve EVERYTHING!!! You can’t clothe OR feed a child with words. They need JOBS and education. NOT money with strings attached. Who’s judging people by the color of their skin, or gender or race… (You remember… think hard… Dr. King’s DREAM!!!) Who are the REAL racists here? Big government EVERY TIME!!! And hypocrites like the Democrats, as long as they get your vote; Will have NO reason to listen to you, or to change. If you do not MAKE them compete for your vote… They could care less what you think… WAKE UP!!!
Posted by: rw3 | January 21, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
What I want to know is, WHERE did all the black owned businesses GO when we had desegregation. Remember Buck O’Neill “We stayed in the best hotels, they just happened to be black owned. We stayed in the best restaraunts, they just happened to be black buisinesses.” What HAPPENED to all the black owned buisiness AFTER desegregation? WHERE did they go? Why are black buisiness not supported anymore. Private ownership is a two way street. If your not willing to support it, you CAN’T cry RACIST or RACISM when they fail. That is NOT racism… it’s called the FREE MARKET. If you don’t want to shop there, you can go somewhere else. That’s what FREEDOM is!!! Unless you want the bus driver to dictate where you can and cannot go. But to a trotskyite I guess that’s preferable! Just don’t expect ME to go along with that kinda stuff in this country! I’ll take FREEDOM every time!
Posted by: xyz | January 21, 2008, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
Mankato, MN had over a dozen people waving signs for Ron Paul for two hours in 10 degree, snowy weather. We were exercising our right to free speech and assembly before it is too late.
“There commes a time when silence is betrayal.” -MLK
Posted by: ryan | January 21, 2008, 4:11 pm 4:11 pm
I love the nay-sayers of Ron Paul. It sounds like they’d prefer another lying, weaseling, useless person in office. Ron Paul has one thing that no other candidate has. A voting that record that shows he’s not up for bs or pork barrel spending. He’s not advocating yanking the troops out the day he’s elected, but something needs to be done and hopefully more of you will see past the std. bs and vote for someone that at least has a track record of honesty. A rarity in today’s politics…
Posted by: Ron | January 21, 2008, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
People just want to their politicans to keep “serving up the steaks”, they refuse to see how they’re “slaughtering the cows”. All of the self-righteous people can pop off all they want. It cost nothing for a person to criticize outside the arena. The day they get out from their desks and actually do something to back up their “false pity”, is a day I may consider their views worthy of consideration. Til that day, they’re just as baseless as those Democrats who claimed the wanted to END the war, but can’t can’t seem to bring themselves off the addiction to the profits it creates. Pious, self-serving arrogance has no validity.
Posted by: rw3 | January 21, 2008, 5:55 pm 5:55 pm
I think what is misleading at times is how strick interpretation of the Constitution entails. Ron Paul would not be for a civil rights bill because it puts a minority in a group to be singled out for special regulations. I believe we needed the civil rights act to awaken us from the segregation we were heeped in. I do not believe Ron Paul to be a racist, I support his economic views and support his candidacy for President. He has always admired those that perform civil disobediance for thier fight for liberty.
Posted by: judarama | January 21, 2008, 6:42 pm 6:42 pm
Paul recently dropped from 10% to 4%.
Texas stll laughs hard at ths bozo the clown.
Posted by: kber | January 21, 2008, 7:53 pm 7:53 pm
Its amazing how close minded the majority of these comments are.
If you want 4 more years of exactly the same policy as were seeing now then go vote for any other candidate. If you want change (and I demand it) vote for Dr. Paul.
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
-Dan
Posted by: Dan | January 21, 2008, 8:04 pm 8:04 pm
rw3, if you think Ron Paul is honest or wholly against pork-barrel spending, I advise you to compare his record and his words more carefully. You might also note that Ron Paul has a far, far more pro-corporate voting record than any other candidate, going so far as sponsoring bills to eliminate nearly every form of “regulation,” like worker safety, the minimum wage, etc. I also ask you to please look at the views and stances of the other candidates, both Democrat and Republican, because you are seriously misrepresenting them.
Thank you.
Posted by: Shamshiel | January 21, 2008, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
That’s funny! Somebody thinks that the Democrats aren’t corporate. Whew! Thanks for the chuckle!
Posted by: thematrixisreal | January 21, 2008, 8:15 pm 8:15 pm
I did not say the Democrats were not corporate. Both they and the Republicans are heavily influenced by corporations, albeit different ones. What I said was that Ron Paul has a much more pro-corporate voting record than any other candidate. Please look at his record, especially the bills that he’s sponsored.
Posted by: Shamshiel | January 21, 2008, 8:44 pm 8:44 pm
You non-Ron Paul supporters need to stop attacking him and realize he is the ONLY candidate to vote for! He has a very honest record with no flip-flopping like EVERY other candidate in history! All this Ron Paul bashing reminds me of how Jesus was persecuted for being the man He was! Can’t we just accept that the other candidates on both sides just want more of the SAME and we CANNOT take anymore! We need Dr. Paul to help us take our country back before we end up with martial law and a police state society! It is a sign of the times people, wake up and get out of your comfort zones! This is the first year I have donated to any political campaign and the first time I am voting Republican. Howevever, this is not about being a Democrat or Republican….it’s about the issues and Ron Paul is the only honest one who can bring REAL CHANGE!!!
Posted by: Dana | January 21, 2008, 9:51 pm 9:51 pm
“First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win.”
– Mahatma Gandhi
Go Dr. Paul!
Posted by: TrueLiberty | January 22, 2008, 12:27 am 12:27 am