Sunday, August 28, 2011

Ron Paul's Unconstitutional, Unconservative Porkbarreling Record



Story here.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Lake Jackson, the Libertarian-leaning contender for the Republican presidential nomination, long has waged war on the widespread federal spending he views as outside constitutional boundaries.

But the congressman, who often votes against spending bills, including funds for the Iraq war, leads the Houston-area delegation in the number of earmarks, or special funding requests, that he is seeking for his district. He is trying to nab public money for 65 projects, such as marketing wild shrimp and renovating the old movie theater in Edna that closed in 1977 — neither of which is envisioned in the Constitution as an essential government function.

(...)

The way it works in Paul's office is that local groups and officials from his district make pitches to him for federal funding. The congressman passes along those recommendations to the Appropriations Committee as earmark requests. Paul said he tries to treat everyone equally and rejects few requests. He said it would be unfair "for me to close the door and say this is a bunch of junk."

But in the end, Paul said, he would likely vote against the spending bills even if they included earmarks he sought.

Ah.  Caught trying to have it both ways.  How... establishment.  How... status quo.

Sorry, folks.  Ron Paul is no different, really, from the establishment Democrats, RINOs and "neo-cons", in that he says one thing and does the opposite because it's electorally beneficial to do so.

He says all the right things, but his actions speak loudest and clearest.

I have doubts about Ron Paul, and they're strong.  Don't you?  If you don't, then, well, what does that say about how much you're willing to look at cold, hard evidence and use your brain to process and understand its meaning?

Like Obama, Ron Paul is no messiah, no savior.

Obama said all the right things and was elected becasue of it.

But look at what happened.

Let's not go there again.

Ron Paul may very well be just another Obama.

Obama, too, has made a stink about constitutionality, but his actions tell us he really doesn't care.

13 comments:

William Phillips said...

Common Sense Logic. Your Constituent asks for funding. You do your job and send it through but let your Constituent know you will vote against the request. That is what is called "A Representative Republic" Which is what our Founders gave us and NOT a Democracy. Thank GOD!
A Republic is representative government ruled by law (the Constitution). A democracy is direct government ruled by the majority (mob rule).

Anonymous said...

I couldn't agree with this story more. Ron Paul is just another career politician doing what career politicians do best. Lie to people in order to stay in office. It would seem that Canadians are better informed about Ron Paul than his own supporters.

Anonymous said...

This article is a smear. Ron Paul is against earmarks but as long as it's the law, he will take advantage of it. It's also the law to pay income tax. Earmarks are like taking exemptions on your income tax. It's his job as a congressman to earmark all he can for his district or the money goes to the executive branch and will be spent. Much of the money came from his district. Generally, what happens is that Ron Paul fights against spending bills tooth and nail, and when there is no hope...at the last minute he will push for some pork spending in the bill so it will do something for his district. It's a consequence of being a politician. And earmarks are Constitutional. If you want to change the process, pass an amendment.

Anonymous said...

Is this all they could come up with against Ron Paul? Its like bashing someone who is against paying the income tax and who takes advantage of the exemptions while trying to change the law. At least he is not a Marxist like Obama, He hasn't been to the Bilderberg's meetings like Perry, Hasn't worked for the IRS like Bachman, Hasn't served as a chairman of the Federal Reserve like Cain and is not a proven NeoCon like Romney.

Canadian Sentinel said...

No, it's not a "smear". It's the inconvenient truth that proves that RP is a hypocrite.

Nice spin, but RP has been weakened by the article and this blog post.

Repeat: It is NOT a "smear". A "smear" is a lie, and there is no lie here.

Inconvenient truth.

Canadian Sentinel said...

Heh. The Paulista spinners online are beginning to sweat as people vet their false messiah...

jedibaptist said...

Why don't you use your reporting skills and do some reporting that is of some significance. Why not dig up some actual dirt? This is common knowledge, and in my opinion no big deal. So what if he uses the system to get some of the money for his own district while keeping it out of the hands of the executive branch. If this is all the dirt that you can come up with, then it is a good day for Ron Paul.

Canadian Sentinel said...

That a challenge? :D

Canadian Sentinel said...

Your faith is beginning to waver, little jedi.

Are you SURE your false messiah isn't a Dark-Sider? ;)

glacierman said...

CS, I like your diligence in seeking out the issues of the day, but on this series of articles you are barking up a very small twig of a tree.

The founding Fathers of America would be proud to have Ron Paul as a signer of that document, placing the US as a leader in world history.

Paul knows the political game very well, and has been punching the Obama administrating in the mouth each and every day. He has been the one who has kept the spotlight on the Federal Reserve, calling for its audit while it has been heaping the country with debt which it will never get out of.

I challenge you to do a comparison of the candidates and then show their voting records and their words. What the man speaks he lives.

You have made a mountain out of a mole hill, just like jedibaptist has said. Each one in office has made mistakes in their voting, we the people have the responsibility to call them to account for their actions, allowing them to reason and explain themselves.

I want to know what your real beef with Ron Paul is? Obviously you have another candidate whom you desire to take on Obama.

Anonymous said...

I think the, "I stand with Israel", banner at the top right of this page says it all.

Canadian Sentinel said...

I think that what you just said there... says it all about yourself.

Anonymous said...

I'll just let Ron speak for himself:


"I think you’re missing the whole point. I have never voted for an earmark. I voted against all appropriation bills. So, this whole thing about earmarks is totally misunderstood.

Earmarks is the responsibility of the Congress. We should earmark even more. We should earmark every penny. So, that’s the principle that we have to follow and the — and the responsibility of the Congress. The whole idea that you vote against an earmark, you don’t save a penny. That just goes to the administration and they get to allocate the funds."

http://washingtonindependent.com/104609/ron-paul-one-of-only-four-house-republicans-to-request-earmarks-for-2011-budget-updated