Ron Paul on stage... and under scrutiny

The Associated Press

GOP presidential hopeful Ron Paul talks to reporters in New Hampshire.

Featured Topic | Posted 34 weeks 3 days ago

Ron Paul on stage... and under scrutiny

When Republicans take the stage for their debate in Myrtle Beach tonight, there will be six -- not five -- candidates. But Ron Paul, who was excluded from the Fox News debate in New Hampshire on Sunday, could face questions about his newsletters, which have been described by the liberal New Republic as "bigoted" and filled with "fringe" conspiracy theories. Paul has taken "moral responsibility" for the newsletters, but denies writing them.

Does Ron Paul deserve to share the limelight with the other GOP contenders? Or has his time passed?

Ben likes: More trouble for Ron Paul

David Bernstein/The Volokh Conspiracy

Ron Paul could also do liberty-lovers a big favor if he would come out with a very strong statement that he's made some errors in his past associations, but wants to make it clear now that he neither solicits nor welcomes support from racists, neo-Confederates, conspiracy-mongers, anti-Semites, and so forth. But I'm not completely convinced that Paul finds support from at least some of these groups entirely unwelcome.

Joel likes: Ron Paul's roots

Christopher Hayes/The Nation

There is a paradox at the heart of the Paul campaign: he's the candidate least likely to hedge or obfuscate, the most apt to spell out in sharp detail his underlying principles--and yet he's also something of an ideological cipher, attracting the support of everyone from hipstertarian kids on Northeast college campuses to John Birchers in Texas.