“Imagine a candidate who, more than 15 years ago, fundraised and attempted to garner financial and political support from a group of people based on a letter taking a political position offensive to many U.S. voters. That letter was sent from “Friends of” the candidate, contained the candidate’s name and signature, and misstated a position that offends many U.S. voters today, 15 years later. Over a decade later, that formerly obscure candidate starts to matter in politics. And in an attempt to deflect attention from that letter, the candidate’s communications director suggests that the document from the 1990s was a fake, “filled out by someone else,” not the candidate. Ron Paul? Hardly. The candidate from 15 years ago is now President Barack Obama. Specifically, the letter, dated Feb. 15, 1996, addressed by “Friends of Barack Obama,” signed by “Barack Obama, Candidate for State Senate, 13th District,” supported equal marriage rights for lesbian and gay couples. But as recently as June 17, 2011, President Obama’s communications director, Dan Pfeiffer, stated, “If you actually go back and look, that questionnaire was actually filled out by someone else, not the president.” Regarding Rep. Paul, a number of people are implying that Ron Paul may be racist for what was written years ago under Paul’s name. Yet history shows that in 1979, Rep. Paul was the only Texas House Republican to vote in favor of making Rev. Martin Luther King Day a national holiday — hardly a racist use of political power. Compared Rep. Paul’s vote with that of the most recent GOP presidential nominee, Sen. John McCain. Despite no racist newsletters appearing under his name, John McCain voted against recognizing a national holiday for Rev. King. Which matters more: newsletters or votes that carry the force of law for millions of people? And what’s written under Ron Paul’s name relative to queer people should disgust any reasonable person. But as President Obama demonstrated, what’s written under a candidate’s name simply doesn’t equate to that candidate’s ultimate use of power: how the candidate votes.”
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David Groshoff: Ron Paul: Secret Homophobe or Misunderstood Ally?

The point is well-taken.  Actions do speak louder than words.  But words still speak.  And when they’re vile, they ought to be explained better than they have been here. (via jeffmiller)

This argument has merit but it’s porous (in reasoning and research) and works both ways. If anything, the debate surrounding the newsletters has revealed that Congressmen Paul is more of a politician than his supporters are willing to admit. The extent of that claim is currently being put to tests of strength in Iowa. In addition, arguing about “which matters more: newsletters or votes that carry the force of law for millions of people?” is problematic. They both matter. As James Kirchick states in a recent Salon piece (link below), “I do think it’s possible that he views gays personally with disgust while maintaining a belief that the government should not regulate their lives.” While this may be many grades above Rick Santorum, you have to question how comfortable you are as a gay activist with a candidate that believes a “new definition of marriage on the people is an act of social engineering profoundly hostile to liberty.” Contrary to the opinions of Michael Savage (at the link below), I believe gay activists should be concerned and as Jeff Miller points out above, we’re still waiting on those answers Mr. Paul.

Link: Why Ron Paul’s anti-gay newsletters don’t bother liberal gays (Salon)

(via againstpower)

Dec. 28 2011
Via The Huffington Post
13 notes

Notes

  1. mrsrobinsonsghost reblogged this from jeffmiller
  2. thenoobyorker reblogged this from againstpower
  3. squashed said: I also think suspicion that Obama might actually support gay marriage would be reasonable under the circumstances. If that stance upset somebody, they’d be reasonable to question his position.
  4. jgreendc said: If Paul was to disavow the words, would that be adequate recompense? As someone who would never vote for him, I enjoy getting to play Devil’s advocate.
  5. againstpower reblogged this from jeffmiller
  6. jeffmiller posted this