Racists Rally Behind Ron Paul

He's not 'happy' about it, but won't disavow support
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 26, 2011 7:58 AM CST
Racists Rally Behind Ron Paul
Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas speaks during a campaign stop in Fort Madison, Iowa, Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2011.   (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Ron Paul has long been a fringe candidate, and he has gathered some unpleasantly fringe supporters—namely, racists. The American Free Press, which publishes books like March of the Titans: A History of the White Race, is blanketing New Hampshire with a collection of Paul’s speeches, and the neo-Nazi site Stormfront is brimming with Paul fans, the New York Times reports. “We understand that Paul is not a white nationalist,” one Stormfront member explains, “but most of our people support him because of his stand on issues,” particularly his tough stances on immigration and the Federal Reserve—as another member puts it, “his monetary policy would hurt Jews.”

Asked how he’d feel about racist volunteers, Paul says, “I wouldn’t be happy with that.” But he also declined to disavow their support. “They’re endorsing what I do or say,” not vice versa, he explained. But Paul may have subtly courted such voters. In addition to his now-infamous newsletters, Paul has repeatedly said he wouldn’t support the Civil Rights Act, because it tells business owners what to do. According to the founder of the libertarian Cato Institute, Paul once said he had success mailing solicitations to subscribers of a publication founded by a Holocaust denier. Paul doesn’t recall that early '80s conversation, but says he wouldn’t hesitate to use such a list. “I’ll go to anybody I can convert ... to look at liberty the way I do.” (More Ron Paul stories.)

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