Not many Republicans like him due to his anti-war stance, but that got some notice from liberals and progressives on the left. I applaud his position on this issue, but the appreciation stops there. As a Republican Congressman from Texas, you gotta think there is going to be some ugliness in the package.
From Orcinus:
Through the 90s, Paul was also a regular on the far-right talk circuit. He spoke to Texas secessionists in 1995 on the "once and future Republic of Texas"; has appeared on a radio program affiliated with the Council of Conservative Citizens; and is a frequent speaker at John Birch Society functions -- the group has given him a perfect 100 in its legislative rankings. These days, those who monitor CCC, David Duke, and Stormfront say they can't get enough of him. They know he's one of their own.
Those of us who are interested in getting to a sane and functional immigration policy should also reflect on the fact that he stands right next to Tom Tancredo on that issue.
Which brings us to the Big Question: How can someone who's been such a darling of the extremist right for over 20 years now become the Next Big Thing on the left as well?
Straight talk is powerful. Americans are addicted to it -- and, too often, addled by it. We've seen this before with Ross Perot and John McCain, two other right-wing candidates who charmed us with their apparent penchant for telling us uncomfortable but necessary truths. (And to give the man his due: pointing out that 9/11 was the inevitable outcome of decades of monstrous US foreign policy was a very necessary truth.)
So before everyone runs out from the moderate left to vote for another McCain (Like many AZ Dems did in McCain's re-election to the Senate in 2004) take a deep breath and look at all of issues that are important to your politics and our country. There is too much racism in our society already and we do not need more of it from a Presidential candidate (not that he would win the nomination anyways of course).
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