MMM

Libertarians are distancing themselves from Ron Paul, post the New Republic exposé on the unbelievably bigoted points of view in Paul's past newsletters. Paul claims ignorance, that he didn't write them, but it is hard to defend that he would be unaware of so many crazy-ass racist, homophobic, and xenophobic viewpoints in his own newsletters.

Here's a selection, written after the L.A. Riots:

"Order was only restored in L.A. when it came time for the blacks to pick up their welfare checks three days after rioting began. ... What if the checks had never arrived? No doubt the blacks would have fully privatized the welfare state through continued looting. But they were paid off and the violence subsided."

Yikes! Backpedal libertarians, backpedal! It is smart that many of them are admitting their shame at supporting Paul previously. I, for one, feel kind of stupid for getting seduced by some of Paul's supporter's enthusiasm. I never supported him for president, nor believed he had a shred of a chance, but it was nice to see issues like the futility of the drug war take center stage at the Republican (!) debates. Libertarians need to cut their losses and publicly withdraw support. The eminently reasonable folks at Reason are starting to do so, but the, sadly immense, nut job core of Ron Paul supporters will likely hold firm.