Thomas,
I apologize that you took this a little too personally. The second part of that quote is directed to competing institutions and publications rather than an individual activist or blogger like yourself. You are however, part of the pile on suggesting its Rockwell and have set the stage either for distancing oneself (like Balko and now perhaps Steve Gordon) or just an ignominious 'shiner'.
Eric,
I don't take it especially personally. I'm just trying to explain why I'm addressing it, and wanted to correct the "hope" bit.
FYI, I don't recall that I've necessarily said that it was Rockwell himself who wrote the stuff. I consider it more likely that it was one of the writers associated with Rockwell. A number of them have been so associated since the beginning of LRC, so it's not unreasonable to believe that they may have been so associated before then, during the newsletter era.
I also don't think you'll find me issuing demands that Rockwell identify the author(s), or deny authorship, or whatever. What I'd prefer to see is Paul taking real responsibility instead of a Clintonesque version -- just noting that the stuff isn't that far out given the era it was from, and saying his views have changed, rather than playing rope-a-dope and hoping the punches will get lighter and then cease.
Regards,
Tom
Ron Paul's Chief of Staff from the early to mid 80s:
http://godshammer.wordpress.com/...o-lew-rockwell/
Tom, Ron Paul's list from this campaign will be worth a lot of money to whomever ( or should that be whoever) receives it. They in turn wish that this entire episode would die down and be forgotten, otherwise the list will be less valuable.
What will Ron Paul do with it? Start another organization? Build a foundation? I have no idea, but they raised a hell of a lot a money and that means power to a number of people. It ain't gonna be the Libertarian Party. Though some in the party hope otherwise.
MHW
It's pretty clear where the list will go, based on past performance: the Mises Institute and Randolph Bourne Institute
Open Letter To Lew Rockwell - January 12, 2008
Dear Lew,
You have now had three opportunities –1996, 2001, and 2008 — to prove that you are a friend of Ron Paul and freedom, and you have failed to do so each time.
This week, for the third time, the puerile, racist, and completely un-Pauline comments that all informed people say you have caused to appear in Ron’s newsletters over the course of several years have become an issue in his campaign. This time the stakes are even higher than before. He is seeking nationwide office, the Republican nomination for President, and his campaign is attracting millions of supporters, not tens of thousands.
Three times you have failed to come forward and admit responsibility for and complicity in the scandals. You have allowed Ron to twist slowly in the wind. Because of your silence, Ron has been forced to issue repeated statements of denial, to answer repeated questions in multiple interviews, and to be embarrassed on national television. Your callous disregard for both Ron and his millions of supporters is unconscionable.
If you were Dr. Paul’s friend, or a friend of freedom, as you pretend to be, by now you would have stepped forward, assumed responsibility for those asinine and harmful comments, resigned from any connection to Ron or his campaign, and relieved Ron of the burden of having to repeatedly deny the charges of racism. But you have not done so, and so the scandal continues to detract from Ron’s message.
You know as well as I do that Ron does not have a racist bone in his body, yet those racist remarks went out under his name, not yours. Pretty clever. But now it’s time to man up, Lew. Admit your role, and exonerate Ron. You should have done it years ago.
John Robbins, Ph.D.
Chief of Staff
Dr. Ron Paul, 1981-1985
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