By Manila Ryce
Published Tuesday, June 5th, 2007, 5:03 am
Filed under: Videos: Political, Videos, US Politics

19 Responses to “The Daily Show - Interview with Ron Paul”

1. 

   It�s crazy how much attention Paul has got, especially from the left. After hearing him in the Republican debate and then watching his interview with Bill Maher, I was almost na�ve enough to think that he and I would agree on most things. While I do applaud him for his honesty, you�re right that he�s totally out of step with progressives on most issues. He�d still be an interesting guy to converse/debate with though.

   At the end of the day, I�m loving the attention Paul�s getting because of the spotlight it puts on the counter-productive �war on terror.� Challenging the factually and historically laughable frame of terrorism that the Bush administration has branded into our minds is so important, and Paul is doing as much as anyone who has a voice in the media to push back. His reading list for Giuliani was excellent (and a clever comeback), and I�m convinced that if just 20% of Congress was familiar with the arguments of Robert Pape, we�d have a different debate in this country about how to �fight� terrorism.

   evmonk
   06/5/07 at 10:52 am
   

2. That Hippy was Dennis Kucinich. I know because as his Iowa camoaign director in 2003 I gave him the line. Keep in touch.

   Dave Rogers, lost in Iowa

   David Rogers
   06/5/07 at 1:36 pm
   

3. Beware of southern men who extol states rights. This guy is a true bigot. He wrote the Ron Paul Political Report from 1985- mid ’90s, which was full of racist, anti-Semitic garbage. See Ron Paul: White Supremacist and this Daily Kos story on Paul, Ron Paul, In His Own Words. Of course, he won’t release copies of his “Report” so that the public could see some of this disgusting stuff.

   JudiPhilly
   06/6/07 at 5:44 pm
   
4. 

   @JudyPhilly

   I had no idea about the extent of Paul’s bigotry. WOW is all I can say after reading some of those quotes from his own newsletter in the 80s and 90s, the “Ron Paul Political Report”. Here’s a gem: “I think we can safely assume that 95% of the black males in [Washington, DC] are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.”

   I had a hunch his relatively informed take on terrorism was rooted in xenophobia and racism, but now it’s confirmed. I take my semi-laudatory comments back, screw this guy!

   evmonk
   06/6/07 at 7:41 pm
   

5. …meanwhile, it is perfectly legitimate to bash and profile Arabs and blow up Iraqi kids in the name of protecting our freedom? Talk about a double standard. The reason I’d take someone who follows the Constitution like Ron Paul over the other candidates is that he doesn’t speak with a forked tongue and isn’t a corporate shill like the others. The net effect on the country would be way more positive with him as President than the others. Seriously, considering the alternatives, Ron Paul is awesome.

   James Morton
   06/10/07 at 12:21 am
   

6. You know a candidate is the real deal when he elicits such vitriol from the left and the right. Challenge the status quo and your a “crackpot”. Go, Ron, Go!

   ander
   06/10/07 at 7:24 pm
   
7. 

   I have to say I disagree with a lot of Mr. Paul’s viewpoints. His libertarian stance on business for example. However, he is a real Constitutionalist, and when it comes to things like the role of government in an individual’s life and in the international theatre, he by far makes the most sense. He’s even reasonable when it comes to issues he doesn’t agree with, which for a politician is a rare thing! He does believe in the Climate Crisis, for example. But he does recognize that we very much need to reduce the levels of pollution that we expound, and he also recognizes that our Energy policy, as well as our foreign policy in the middle east, which are right now inextricably linked, are extremely detrimental to America. And by his logic, if we stop subsidizing Big oil, stop meddling in the oil rich countries, and get moving on viable alternatives to oil, thereby breaking this country’s addiction to it, then we will benefit across the board, including in the realm of cutting CO2 emissions. It’s killing two birds with one stone. Very shrewd, especially for a Republican.

   So yep, I got my eye on him. But it’s also very frustrating because, just like Kucinich, the guys who make the most sense are demonized by the media as well as their own parties. I just wish we had a say in the primaries.

   PapaFigue
   06/12/07 at 8:28 am
   
8. 

   I meant to say, “He doesn’t believe in the Climate Crisis.”
   I really gotta start prove reading this shit!

   PapaFigue
   06/12/07 at 8:29 am
   

9. Actually, I think the comment about Blacks in Washington above is wrong. He said if the justice department is to be believed,I think we can safely assume that 95% of the black males in [Washington, DC] are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.� He was commenting on the stats of the justice department, not what you said.

   Also on the climate change thing, he would remove all subsidies to all companies, ie renewable energies would suddenly look a whole lot better to many people, especially if oil goes sky high in price. So think about him. I don’t agree with all of his opinions but I think he and Kucinich are the most honest so far. Kucinich though is kooky, and perhaps won’t really have a chance.

   Karen
   06/12/07 at 6:40 pm
   
10. 

    @Karen:
    According to the media and the “polls,” they’re both crackjobs, despite the fact they make the most sense when they speak on the issues. I don’t know about honest, but at this point I’ll take reasonable and rational. Afterall, Bush is honest, (honestly stupid, but honest nonetheless.) It’s Not that he hasn’t lied, he has, but I think he really, truly believes in the shit he’s says. Therefore, it is possible to perpetuate a lie despite being as honest as one can be.
    I digress. The point is, I want reason, I want logic, and Kucinich and Paul seem to have the most. Too bad the idocracy has no place for either…

    PapaFigue
    06/12/07 at 6:56 pm
    

11. “Kucinich though is kooky, and perhaps won�t really have a chance.”

    Ha! I mean, I like the guy but it’s just funny to suggest he /does/ have a chance by adding the ‘perhaps’. It’s a two-party race to $$$.

    matt
    06/19/07 at 8:27 am
    

12. Health insurance for everyone is a noble idea (I’m a Constitutionalist, but believe health care is a moral obligation of society). However, remember that health insurance is ultimately paid by the people. It doesn’t matter if you hide it by saying the employer pays or government pays. Ultimately it’s the people that pay. People are the ONLY source of labor and productivity.

    The problem with running all money through the government is it becomes a monopoly. It is ripe for corruption as the Fed’s skim off the top and hand out contracts. If you’re liberal and believe in this cause, how about another solution besides running all money through DC?

    Andrew
    07/3/07 at 11:23 pm
    
13. 

    @Andrew
    The government is not designed to function like a business. It is a potentially democratic institution run by the people, making it more representative than any capitalist-controlled healthcare system. You can change the government. You can’t change Kaiser. These corporations are legally held to the bottom line, meaning that the right to universal healthcare can not be achieved within our current system. Corruption in government comes from the influence of business, not from the government itself. Favoring business over government obviously hasn’t worked out that well for us.

    Manila Ryce
    07/4/07 at 12:01 am
    

14. Why does everyone keep digging up the Ron Paul race smear (the comments were NOT his) when it has been dealt with numerous times?

    Paul has answered questions regarding this, including the following response:

    “In 1992, I was back in medicine full time, but lent my name to a foundation that published large volumes of material. A staffer wrote some things under my name that I did not approve. I have taken responsibility for these comments and apologized. If you look at my 30-year record and my numerous writings on the subject of race, I think anyone will clearly see that those comments do not reflect my beliefs.”

    http://www.muckrakerreport.com/id447.html

    If you want to know Ron Paul’s views on race, try reading something that he actually DID write:

    Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans strictly as members of groups rather than individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike: as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups.

    Garry
    07/11/07 at 8:58 am
    

15. Many of the bigotry allegations are falsities. Don’t believe the hype.

    Denver
    11/3/07 at 11:18 am
    

16. [quote]Beware of southern men who extol states rights. This guy is a true bigot. He wrote the Ron Paul Political Report from 1985- mid ’90s, which was full of racist, anti-Semitic garbage. See Ron Paul: White Supremacist and this Daily Kos story on Paul, Ron Paul, In His Own Words. Of course, he won’t release copies of his “Report” so that the public could see some of this disgusting stuff.[/quote]

    Just a note: This ‘Ron Paul’ report has since been proven to have been produced by an independent group (and not Ron Paul), and not only have news stations admitted this, they apologized for airing the news without proper research. Ron had zero to do with that report, but such is the power of muckraking and rumor!

    Also, I’m not really sure what’s so controversial about his message that puts some people off. Are you afraid that you won’t know what to do if/when Big Brother stops holding your hand? I’m not stating this to be insulting, I’m just curious. Ron Paul advocates small government by cutting redundant programs that should be (and were prior to 1913) handled by states and the free market. I’m consistently baffled with people who watch and really listen and research what this man is saying (particularly his economic concerns and cures) and decide that he’s some maverick or looney. His economic concepts are, quite honestly, economically sound; the fear comes from change and accepting that things must change for America to avoid the NAU/National ID/bankruptcy scam that’s being forced upon us. Even if you’re on the fence and you’re saying ‘but what about health care?’, not one candidate aside from Ron Paul is opposed to turning this country into a throughfare between Mexico and Canada and diminishing our sovereignty. Think about that. Also, think about the fact that both Hillary Clinton and John McCain are on the committee overseeing the whole NAU/National ID fiasco.

    BillBellamy
    02/13/08 at 9:12 pm
    

17. […] I couldn’t resist. Here is Ron Paul on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report because, well…those shows rock. And so does Ron […]

    John McCain: Yes I Can Too « Hopping Into Puddles
    03/1/08 at 1:15 am
    

18. I truly don’t understand how Socialists/Liberal/Progressives did not get firmly behind Dennis Kucinich. I get it that he isn’t very Presidential looking but who cares. His ideas seem to be the most consistant.

    I supported Bill Clinton during his first election based on one issue alone, healthcare. Living in Northern Michigan which has one of the worst economies in the nation healthcare was of paramount importance. Mainly I felt it was an economic calamity forcing individuals and businesses to pay the rediculous premiums. Busnesses simply couldn’t afford it and were laying people off left and right. I was layed off from two high paying jobs with healthcare. One was a hospital that closed and the other a hardboard factory. Both went under due to the cost of healthcare.

    The current proposals by Hillary and Obama are a disaster in the making. Further mandating insurance will only allow the insurance companies to take advantage. This will destroy more and more businesses as well as the wealth of individuals and the state. many people who have enough money for the usuall doctor visits and occasional emergencies will be forced to either spend money they don’t have for increasingly high premiums or sign up for state healthcare further eroding the states ability to finance education and other programs such as WIC and Food Stamps. I do not want any type of aid from the state as I get by fine without it. However, I would be left with little choice.

    Although there is no obvious solution it is apparent that either the Government needs to get out of healthcare all together or take it over and get the insurance companies out. A true Socialised health care system would completely illiminate Insurance. This would have the advantage of saving billions that are wasted on the middle man. However, knowing how poorly the government is at doing anything I don’t think it’s the best way to go (but it would be better than being pinched by both sides).

    The Ron Paul sollution is to get the Government out leave people with the choice of buying insurance. encourage compatition and provide tax credits that would offset the cost of insurance for those who can’t afford it. Again this would be a better solution that the disaster of forced insurance that would bankrupt both the people and the State while linning the coffers of the insurance industry who would then have a mandated monopoly.

    Hillary and Obama are completely off track and it would be the worst of both worlds. You will be left being pinched from both sides the government on one side and the Insurance industry on the other. Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich both offer viable solutions either of which is far superior to simply telling people they must get insurance. Either the insurance companies or the government must go. We can’t afford to have both.

    Brad Smith
    03/1/08 at 5:02 pm
    

19. Sorry for the typos I never could get by without spellcheck.

    Brad Smith
    03/1/08 at 5:18 pm
    

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