UPDATE — Welcome Pajamas Media readers. Please consider visiting (and supporting) the campaign site for the man most likely to unseat Rep. Ron Paul in Texas Congressional District 14, Chris Peden.
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Ron Paul is running a series of ads claiming that he was:
Named one of the “50 Most Effective Members of Congress’ by Congressional Quarterly”
Dr. Paul even has this same claim running on his web site:
Ron Paul's site
Except that’s not what the article from Congressional Quarterly said.
In truth, the October 30, 1999 Congressional Quarterly article that Dr. Paul is citing had nothing at all to do with identifying “outstanding” congressmen, and was simply titled “50 Ways To Do the Job of Congress”.
The editors of CQ even go out of their way to contradict Paul’s claims, prominently highlighting in the middle of one page the following pull-quote:
“There is no attempt here to identify the 50 most effective–or for that matter, the most important or most influential–members of Congress.“
Friendswood Mayor Pro Tem and Republican-challenger Chris Peden had this to say in a press release:
“It’s sad but not surprising that Ron Paul doesn’t want the voters to know how ineffective he’s been in Congress over the past decade.”
Ron Paul not only doesn’t serve the interest of this district, he doesn’t serve the interest of the Republican party, where he has voted with a majority of his Republican colleagues only 75.2% of the time during the current Congress. Which is the lowest percentage of any Republican.
I’m not surprised that Ron Paul is confused about what the article really said.
The guy can’t even remember who actually wrote racially-tinged articles under his own name on his own newsletter several years back.
Ron Paul doesn’t seem to know much about his own newsletters. The libertarian-leaning presidential candidate says he was unaware, in the late 1980s and early 1990s, of the bigoted rhetoric about African Americans and gays that was appearing under his name.
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Hi,
As a member of the GOP and head of the local chair I support Ron Paul 100%.
The argument that Paul doesn’t follow the party is one that is challenge with his support of the law of the land. No one in congress has supported our liberty and freedoms as does Ron Paul.
The answer to our party issues is the Constitution and limited gov. For these reasons it is wise to always oppose leadership until they return to our founders intentions.
[Editor --- Darel, thanks for stopping in. As a Ron Paul supporter and head of the local chair, perhaps you would like to opine about the post, where Rep. Paul has lied about an honor (Top 50 Congressman) he never received? How would you like to spin that? How did you spin the "I don't know who was writing all those racist things under my name" story? How are you going to spin his lose on March 4?
As the head of the local chair for the GOP party, you do understand that you are woefully out of synch with the rest of the party in regards to Rep. Paul, right? You do understand that his support in the GP party hovers somewhere around 4%, right? Perhaps you should consider aligning yourself with the Libertarian party, as Rep. Paul has, instead of the GOP.]
Yeah you’re right. He doesn’t support the war and he doesn’t support looting the american taxpayer. If you are a true Republican neocon warmonger you are a fool to vote for Ron Paul!
[Editor --- if by "warmonger" you mean a US Army veteran who supported killing terrorists when I was active duty, and still supports killing terrorists today? Guilty as charged. If by "warmonger" you mean that I support victory instead of retreat against our terrorist enemies? Then guilty as charged.
And as for "neocon", you do know that the term 'Neoconservative' was originally used as a criticism against liberals that had politically 'moved to the right', right? I assure you, I have never been confused or associated with being a Liberal at any time in my life.]
I don’t understand why any spin is even required here.
The point of the CQ article was to give kudos to those in Congress that are doing their job. It’s a complement. Paul was part of that complement. It seems common sense to me that if one does their job well, they’re effective. Are you splitting hairs here?
As for the pork spending, I gotta side with Darel on this one. You seem bent on bending Paul simply because he doesn’t tow the positions of the Party line. Is this supposed to be detremental? What if the GOP stood for National Health Care…would you dis Paul for not following that position?
And the newsletters…(sigh), let it die already. Paul has taken all the responsibility he can for not minding the shop on this issue. After all, the newsletters in question haven’t had nearly as much influence as they do today. Thats how little of importance they were then. I don’t fault Paul’s overall ability to manage based on an insignificant newsletter issued decades ago.
“How are you going to spin his lose on March 4?”
Good call. Ron Paul won 70.2% to 29.8%. Nice try bending the real world around your hopes.
But you’re right about Paul supporters being out of synch with the GOP. It’s because the GOP is out of synch with the GOP.
Why should I join the Libertarian party? Because the GOP was yanked from under me?
I’d rather purge the fakers from my party. The 4% just means it’s an uphill battle.
I don’t like to retreat either. Good luck with your fight.