Ron Paul: Lack of Oversight on Newsletters Was ‘Human Flaw’
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GOP presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, admitted that his lack of oversight over controversial newsletters published under his name called into question his management style, but he said it was a “human flaw” and that the newsletters did not reflect his views on race relations.
As his Iowa poll position has strengthened, Paul has faced fresh scrutiny from fellow candidates for his foreign policy positions, as well as controversy over the newsletters published in the 1980′s and 1990′s that contained bigoted statements against minorities. Paul has disavowed the newsletters, saying that he did not read or write the controversial statements.
“I don’t think anybody in the world has been perfect on management, everybody that’s ever worked for them,” Paul told me this morning on “This Week. “So, yes… it’s a flaw. But I think it’s a human flaw… I admit that I’m an imperfect person and didn’t monitor that as well.”
“I was not the editor. I was the publisher. And there were some very bad sentences put in,” Paul added. “I did not write those. I did not review them… And that is an error on my part.”
But Paul said he has addressed the issue of race relations more than any other candidate, and that his stances against bias in drug arrests and the death penalty reflect his views more than the newsletters.
“You and others should look at all my other statements and my defense of civil liberties and race relations,” Paul said. “I’m very comfortable with my viewpoints, believing very sincerely — those people who know me know exactly where the defect is in race relations today. It’s in the judicial system, where minorities are mistreated more so than anybody else.”
With two days to go before the Iowa caucuses, Paul remains at the top of the field in the state, with 22 percent support in the latest Des Moines Register poll released Saturday – just two points behind front-runner Mitt Romney.
But while Paul is near the top of the field for the caucuses, 29 percent of Iowa voters also said in the Register poll that they believed Paul would be the least electable candidate in the general election against President Barack Obama – the highest total of the GOP field.
Paul dismissed that notion, saying that “if I’m leading in the polls, that means I’m electable” and that “the American people are with me more now than ever before.”
“We’re doing well in the polls. Our crowds are getting bigger,” Paul said. “And the people who are complaining are the ones who are way down in the polls, so they don’t have a whole lot of credibility about my electability.”
“Nobody can prove anything until we have a real election,” Paul added. “Our campaign feels pretty good about how things are going… It’s a mistake if people want to write me off.”
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Good article except one thing. Until you can define in certain terms, what you mean when you refer to Dr. Paul as “unelectable”, STOP PUTTING IT IN ARTICLES!
It’s like if I said you are unjournalistic. Ok….why? I would need to explain and at the very least form an opinion based on some fact and logic. If I don’t, my opinion is about as valid when my wife tries to argue that the water from the bathroom spout is different than the kitchen.
There’s nothing you are getting compensated for now that is worth your integrity.
Posted by: We_the_people | January 1, 2012, 11:16 am 11:16 am
Jake Tapper knows
Independent Voters
Indies will decide the primaries, and,
indies will decide the general election
Posted by: nader paul kucinich gravel mckinney baldwin ventura sheehan perot carter | January 1, 2012, 11:37 am 11:37 am
I love you Dr. Ron Paul; you got this and you have our support all the way. Ron Paul 2012!
Posted by: Ghassan Gammoh | January 1, 2012, 11:42 am 11:42 am
He and She who say “They hate us because of our freedoms” are the real racists as they collectively condemn all people of a color or religious belief. Paul stands alone in defending the rights of every individual.
Posted by: Java McPhearson | January 1, 2012, 11:42 am 11:42 am
Yep, don’t we wish all writers and publishers could admit such a flaw, right Jake?
How many media personnel have passed on some false information and then never admitted doing it?
That is one of the things I really like about Ron Paul, he can admit he screwed up and actually learn a lesson. Now if only this example would be understood and passed around.
So many leaders today make very poor choices and would never admit screwing the pooch and then media comes along and exemplifies them as good decision makers. I would like to see a few in media outlets admit to that. But those authorities you work for are insistent on the wrong thing aren’t they?
Ron Paul, an example of Integrity, something long lost in American that needs a great example to show such an importance.
Posted by: william | January 1, 2012, 12:26 pm 12:26 pm
I truly hope Ron Paul wins Tuesday. Why? He has had a free pass from the media. If he wins Tuesday, then his anti-American, pro-Islamic agenda comes to light. His past conspiracy theorist positions such as the “Skulls and Bones” run America and that President Bush the elder was part of the “NWO” come to light. So please win Ron Paul! I can’t wait so that the media can take him down. Let’s not forget he has dabbled with 9/11 conspiracies and that he himself stated the reason he doesn’t talk about it is “because of the controversy”. Let’s not forget his anti-Semiticism and all his other anti-American positions, messages, and agenda. Simply put: Ron Paul is the ultimate moral coward.
Posted by: Sassan | January 1, 2012, 12:51 pm 12:51 pm
Sure, Sassan, he’s a moral coward. A coward who called out his own party for abandoning the principle of limited government and fiscal restraint. A coward who, in the face of ridicule, warned repeatedly that American foreign policy was stirring up hostility in the Middle East and making us vulnerable to terrorism in the years before 9/11. A coward who, on the floor of the House, condemned the invasion of Iraq as unjustified and counterproductive even as his party was clamoring for it. A coward who condemns sending our citizens out to kill and die for people who aren’t Americans and don’t like us, even when it means other legislators and talking heads call him anti-American, pro-terrorist, dangerous, isolationist, and whatever else they can come up with.
We could use some more cowards like that.
Posted by: JD | January 1, 2012, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
For a candidate to be able to admit being “human” and “flawed” is admirable to me. The words of a leader.
Posted by: david a dudenhoefer | January 1, 2012, 3:11 pm 3:11 pm
Wow, another opportunity squandered to talk about the real issues. The same questions, the same answers. If ABC News’s intent is to bore me into submission, they are succeeding. Not one question asked about the economy, the biggest threat facing Americans today? Can we please step things up a notch?
Posted by: Dan W | January 1, 2012, 3:14 pm 3:14 pm
The death of the USA can only be attributed to utter ignorance and stupidity. I think largely in part to mass immigration of peoples that have no clue of our foundations and principles, vocal religious nuts and other assorted freaks that have been given high esteem in society, and overpopulation which has turned every aspect of society into a mass-production machine with little humanity and quality human interaction. Every piece of journalism is written out of a complete lack of understanding of the issues, with the only intention to inflame with petty attacks of no consequence.
Posted by: Chad | January 1, 2012, 4:05 pm 4:05 pm
Nobody seems to have the courage to repeat the ‘bigoted’ statements. What exactly went out under Paul’s name?
Posted by: John | January 1, 2012, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
Thank you for the fair and balanced article. I have to agree with Dr. Paul on the electability issue. Someone cannot simultaneously be “unelectable” or “unacceptable” and yet continue to poll so highly with voters. That doesn’t make any sense. People wouldn’t be supporting him or planning to vote for him if they thought he was an unacceptable candidate, and he would not be polling in the top tier if he were really unelectable. You must consider the source and point of view of the people making this claim. Is Ron Paul “unelectable” in the eyes of the party establishment who are looking for any excuse to strike Iran? Is he “unelectable” in the eyes of media pundits who support the party establishment on this preemptive foreign policy? Yes, absolutely. But that doesn’t necessarily make him unelectable or unacceptable to the mainstream American public.
Posted by: Ann | January 1, 2012, 4:24 pm 4:24 pm
Dr. Paul is a good man. It is more logical that he loves and see people the same. He is a good character. The people with good characters are not superficial thinkers because they look at other peoples’ heart not at peoples’ appearance. We need more people with good character, so we forget the appearance of people. We should judge people based on their characters and personality with its behavior. He is honest about views and principles. We do not need people, who they tell us popular policies and views to satisfy the status quo in order to win an election like Mr. Obama and Mitt Romney, we need an honest and real president like Ron Paul. God bless you Dr Paul. I disagree with Dr Paul on some issues, but I strongly believe that he is a good man and president for a better world and America.
Posted by: rafy | January 1, 2012, 4:25 pm 4:25 pm
I don’t agree with a lot of stuff that Ron Paul says…. but I am sad that the press is treating him this way. I’ve never seen anything like it. I was scandalized by the way that press treated the Obama birth certificate issue or the way they carried the Swift Boats stories against Kerry… basically treating smears as legit. The way the press is handling Ron Paul isn’t much different…. though the degree seems a bit greater.
Posted by: blip | January 1, 2012, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
Ron Paul survives another vicious smear attack. Has he answered the news letter questions enough Lets talk about policy. Ron Paul has twice the support the media will let the people know he has. We all agree our political washinton based system is corrupt, and broken. Why wouldn’t the election be as well. How are they going to justify Ron Paul losing. Santorum. I urge all that vote for Paul to hold onto there reciept, and carefully monitor the amont of people that actually vote. I’m sorry but I have lost my faith in the political process. This is what happens when we become a world of corporation, rather than a world of nations, with sovreingty. The revolution however will happen as it is globally. Dr. Paul is only bringing it to the forefront.
Posted by: kyle | January 1, 2012, 6:07 pm 6:07 pm
It’s good that Congressman Paul’s record matches his words, and that we have the internet to look things up for ourselves so that we can vote armed with knowledge we did not acquire from the media.
Posted by: PattyFromTexas | January 1, 2012, 7:40 pm 7:40 pm
Go Ron Paul 2012!!!
do we want to concentrate on “fluff” and recycled discredited 20-30 year old information, or on SUBSTANCE???
Let’s talk about some substance here:
FACT: abortion affects minority populations disproportionately more than others; Ron Paul’s CONSISTENT position against abortion is clear and unwavering throughout his career both when the position has been and has not been fashionable – his beliefs are principle-based and do not fluctuate with the wind
FACT: the drug war affects minority populations disproportionately more than other; Ron Paul’s solid opposition to the so-called War on Drugs along with corresponding police-state type of abuses and loss of freedoms/privacy is LEGENDARY
FACT: on average, social security options systematically place minorities at an actuarial disadvantage in comparison to others; Ron Paul’s liberal stance on enabling CHOICE would allow minorities to pick options mathematically/statistically more to their advantage!
FACT: racial profiling affects minorities much more than others; Ron Pauls consistent stance AGAINST racial profiling policies is legendary
FACT: poorly performing schools systematically affect minorities. Voucher programs have been PROVEN to dramatically improve performance for minority children trapped in union-dominated low-performing school districts; Ron Paul’s education policy (including home-schooling tax credit initiatives) would burst open doors of choice to millions of minority children enabling them to select educational solutions more advatageous to them.
FACT: it is a well-established statistic that inflation affects minorities disproportionately more than others; Ron Paul’s sound-money and inflation containing policies will immensely BENEFIT minorities (at the expense of large banking interests)
This man is no racist – he is a man of principle – and his beliefs are grounded in respecting INDIVIDUAL rights not any “group” rights… his personal life is a textbook case of human decency, compassion and integrity… does the man have flaws?? of course!! has he made mistakes?? of course!! but this latest “smear campaign” against one of the most influential and honest statesman our generation has ever seen, is not going to work, because truth will win out this time…
RON PAUL 2012!!!
(from a Black Ron Paul supporter)
Posted by: Auden | January 1, 2012, 8:50 pm 8:50 pm
Imagine how the Republican right would be reacting if racist comments had been put out under an Obama newsletter . . .
Posted by: Janie | January 1, 2012, 9:58 pm 9:58 pm
This man is full of it. What would he also not read as president before he signs it? If you buy his story you should put down the liquor bottle and lay off the painkillers. Clearly your thinking and his judgement is impaired. NOT presidentiaL
Posted by: TV | January 1, 2012, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
“Unelectable” is a keyword for spin, especially when a person described this way is about to emerge victorious from contests of the sort in which people cast votes. The reality is that independents determine the outcomes of our elections. The base within each party never converts and basically cancels the other party’s base out. Small “l” libertarians have always consisted of 10-14% of American voters. These are people who believe that the government should simultaneously refrain from running the economic aspects of your life and the personal aspects of your life. They are usually ignored and general elections are between candidates who each support eliminating liberty in one aspect of your life or another. Ron Paul captures the attention and support of liberty-minded independents. Many of those who would vote for Paul in the general 2012 election are those who thought Obama would get the federal government out of the personal aspects of your life, which did not happen. Obama’s economic failures are more spectacular, but his failures on personal freedoms, even the race relations failure in the continued disproportionate enforcement of the war on drugs, is not going unnoticed by the independent voters who matter – the ones who can cross party lines or would otherwise stay home.
Posted by: Mark in Florida | January 2, 2012, 12:58 am 12:58 am
Non-issue.
This ranks even with the Barry not showing his grades stuff.
Posted by: Noz | January 2, 2012, 8:29 am 8:29 am
Dr. Ron Paul isn’t Just a Presidential Candidate. He is a Movement of the People Towards True Freedom and Peace for Every Individual be they Black White Brown Or Yellow or Red! He is for All of the People. Do not let the media sway you away from Individual Liberty. Did You Know He was the ONLY GOP Candidate who voted Against the Abomination called NDAA? Google it. Did You Know He will end this War on Drugs which has the most adverse affect on minorities and the poor even though in all actuality more whites than minorities use Cannabis? Is that what you call racist? Google it. Did You Know that Dr. Paul has the most Individual Donations from our troops on the ground than All of the Other GOP Candidates Combined? and of course more than Obama. Google it. Wanna support our troops? Vote Dr. Ron Paul for GOP Nominee and Then for PRESIDENT.
Posted by: betsy wood | January 2, 2012, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
Only if people have read Mien Kampf would they have known what has coming. We need to take people’s writings serious and call them on it, and look for other patterns that could identify future problems with that person.
Posted by: Steve | January 2, 2012, 9:02 pm 9:02 pm