There's an interesting bit of blogosphere fuss about RedState's policy of preventing new commenters from voicing their support for Ron Paul. RedState says that they're basically crazy people, and that they add nothing to the debate. Let me say this: I am the farthest thing from a Ron Paul supporter than you can possibly be. As a pro-war, center-Left liberal Democrat, I'm as far from Paul's constituency as Tokyo is from Texarkana, but I reject the idea of excluding certain groups of commenters without sufficient cause. I'm feeling a bit lazy now, so I'll let my comment over at Michael van der Galien's place speak instead:
Well, I’m coming at this from the perspective of a pro-war liberal Democrat, but let me add a couple of things. In my view, Ron Paul is something of a crazy person, embodying the worst of 1930’s isolationism, and Lew Rockwell-style hardcore libertarianism. His supporters are almost cult-like in their zeal. The way I see it, no self-respecting liberal would support him.
That being said, Paul’s candidacy is a legit phenomenon, and ought not be ignored. It’s bad form to exclude certain groups from the discussion out of hand. RedState can do what they want, but it’s bad form if you ask me. Meaningless cheerleader posts should be met with equal mental energy, which is to say, not much. Thoughtful and substantive posts should be encouraged. As I’ve said, throwing the whole bunch out is bad form, and I’ll leave it at that.
I'm not sure how likely this is, but if Ron Paul supporters happen to show up here, the door is open. I welcome open and honest debate, even from those with whom I vehemently disagree. Including those who support a bats**t crazy person who wants to basically hollow out the government, and thinks the Civil War was an unnecessary war. If you do show up though, prepare to have your arguments challenged openly, and as I see it, torn to pieces.
Also, I think Simon over at SF has a point about Andrew Sullivan extending a welcome hand to Paul supporters. Sully really does have to open up his blog to comments, if he's going to make statements like that.
HT: Stubborn Facts
8 comments:
All this nonsense with RedState is nothing more than a clever publicity stunt. And both the RP campaign and RedState are using it to their advantage. This is horse smells funny, lets stop beating it.
I'm not sure about a publicity stunt, but you could be right about both sides benefiting, Cedric. Certainly the RP crew could benefit from the blog press.
FWIW, I'm already done with this.
What Cedric said. Much ado about nothing.
For a bunch of guys (who doth protest overmuch) that don't want anything to do with Ron Paul, they sure can't seem to stop writing about him.
GO RON PAUL! GO RON PAUL! GOD BLESS RON PAUL!
RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2008!
Ron Paul is a Constitutionalist.
Ron has never voted to raise taxes.
Ron has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
Ron has never voted for the Iraq War.
Ron has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
Ron has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
Ron has never voted to raise congressional pay.
Ron has never taken a government-paid junket.
Ron voted against the Patriot Act.
Ron votes against regulating the Internet.
Ron voted against NAFTA and CAFTA.
Ron votes against the United Nations.
Ron votes against the welfare state.
Ron votes against reinstating a military draft.
Ron votes to preserve the constitution.
Ron votes to cut government spending.
Ron votes to lower healthcare costs.
Ron votes to end the war on drugs.
Ron votes to protect civil liberties.
Ron votes to secure our borders with real immigration reform
I don’t agree with almost anything Ron Paul says or stands for, but I wouldn’t ban them from my site either. It does get a bit silly the way his supporters mess up any online poll that is being conducted on a website that includes his name in it. It has gotten to be such a joke at places like LGF, that they simply include his name in completely unrelated polls, and he always wins!
Anon, you missed one:
Ron Paul refused to acknowledge the reality of the World we live in today.
That's somewhat of a minor detail to you, apparently, but a real show-stopper for the sane.
See, the Ron Paul fans can show up on the site! Can you at least give us your name, though?
How is Ron Paul out of touch with reality. What Anon Anon said was only based on fact whereas what you said was purely opinion. Can you back your claims up Anonymous Equally Anonymous? I can. Ron Paul is the only candidate who is pro constitution. He is the only candidate who thinks that you should be allowed to whatever you want, as long as it doesn't harm anyone else. He wants to get rid of the unconstitutional federal income tax. How could you not support someone who wants to rid us of income tax? I know what you're thinking, "How can the country function without these much needed funds?" The answer is simple, the same way it did before 1913, by "relying on tariffs on imported goods to provide sufficient funds for running the government." (Infoplease) What have you to say?
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