When asked in 2007 about the Birch Society, Paul stated:
“Oh, my goodness, the John Birch Society!” he said in mock horror. “Is that bad? I have a lot of friends in the John Birch Society. They’re generally well educated, and they understand the Constitution. I don’t know how many positions they would have that I don’t agree with. Because they’re real strict constitutionalists, they don’t like the war, they’re hard-money people. . . . ”
As someone who is personally more liberal but is interested in libertarian principles since that is the political party of my upbringing, I'd question if Paul believes some of the positions now, as opposed to some stated in the past, as an example, I don't believe:
Liberals are secret communist traitors who provide the cover for the gradual process of collectivism, with the ultimate goal of replacing the nations of western civilization with one-world socialist government.
Sad to say, though I do know people who do feel that way, and I don't think all of them are John Birch Society Members.
I ventured over to the John Birch Society website expecting to see a bunch of extreme positions. None that I noticed, in fact it was much more laid back than some of the "Focus on Family" type material that I've seen out there. I really don't think speaking with people who are members of this group is anything "bad" and if we are going to follow the whole "if it's wrong, it's wrong" theory, then if people are not supposed to worry about some of the closer relationships our current President had? Ron Paul's Birch connection is not one to worry about...
3 comments:
Lisa Renee's comment is common among people who are ill-informed about the Birch Society. The problem with Lisa's analysis is that it cherry-picks and limits data to what she found on the JBS website -- without understanding the fundamental underlying premises from which the JBS operates.
In 2002, the JBS published a new edition of JBS founder Robert Welch's book-length "private letter" entitled "The Politician".
On the back cover, it was described as "perhaps the most devestating expose of the last century" which "tells the bitter, but little known, truth" about several matters.
Among the "truths" which the JBS wants everyone to accept is that President Eisenhower and most other prominent American politicians during the past 6 decades have been traitors.
And to bring this message into contemporary history, the back cover states: "But most importantly The Politician exposes that 'conspiracy of gangsters' which even now is setting America's foreign and domestic policy."
So -- what Lisa (and others) have to understand is that the JBS thinks traitors and a "conspiracy of gangsters" are routinely elected and re-elected by our stupid, weak-minded electorate. And, then, Lisa has to answer the $64,000 question, namely, WHOM specifically does the JBS believe is part of the "conspiracy" and what, specifically, does the JBS propose be done with those "traitors" and "conspirators"?
Lastly, FYI, J. Edgar Hoover and senior officials of the FBI investigated many of the assertions made by the JBS. The JBS is routinely described in FBI internal memos as: "extremist", "irresponsible", "irrational" "lunatic fringe" and "fanatics".
Until Lisa can explain why Hoover's FBI came to that conclusion, she can't really speak intelligently about the JBS.
For a 65-page report based, primarily, upon first-time-released FBI files and documents, see:
http://ernie1241.googlepages.com/jbs-1
More info: ernie1241@aol.com
Lisa based her thoughts on the media and their double standard when it came to relationships.
Lisa believes Ron Paul has never stated he was a member of the Birch Society and it's not a big deal for Ron Paul to have friends who are a member of that organization, if it's not a big deal for our President to have relationships with people of questionable histories.
Lisa is well aware of the initial history of the Birch Society and Hoover, which she briefly mentioned as not agreeing with if jbs-1 actually read the post in the context in which it was shared.
It was not a review of the Birch Society, it was a commentary on how selective the usage of groups are in trying to demean/besmirch/discredit people.
Lisa is always amused when people assume things...
WASN'T HOOVER A COMMUNIST CROSS DRESSER???? OR WAS THAT ANOTHER PREZ NAMED HOOVER????
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