From Facebook, as a response to a friend posting the YouTube video of Keith Olbermann talking about the ground zero “mosque” below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZpT2Muxoo0

Randy Calhoun: I do oppose racism but opposing the defacing of a memorial site is not racism. Blind hatred is wrong!! But would anyone be okay with a Hitler Statue right next door to a Holicaust Memorial? Yes! We wouldn’t think that the Jews were racist against Germans would we? There is a problem because of the circumstances. Radical islamists (and yes they do recruit and meet at mosques) killed AMERICANS (with no regard for race) there in 2001. People are not protesting a mosque for being a mosque the are protesting where they are putting it. Also interesting is how Olbermann is a Liberal (translated “Socialist”) and how the Nazis were “National Socialists”. He is a Facist if you ask me just like Hitler. Maybe he is against the extermination of a people, but he is for limiting of the rights of the INDIVIDUAL which is the only true protection of anyones Rights. (The smallest of all minorites is the individual.)

My response: ‎”He is a Facist if you ask me just like Hitler.” Are you fucking serious? Comparing a journalist to the architect of mass extermination of a people? The ignorance is amazing that you would take the leap from Liberal to “Socialist” to “Fascist” to Hitler. Take a look at so called “Socialist” countries in the free world that are doing just fine: Germany, France, much of Europe. Socialism is not evil. You may not agree with the concept, but it is not a form of government that is inherently evil. It scares you because Fox News tells you it’s bad, and combined with your ignorance of it becomes evil in your mind.

Our country was founded on religious freedom, let’s not take that away from anyone. Once they break the law, however, they will be dealt with. Don’t think for a second they won’t be under heavy scrutiny, maybe even unfairly so.

Like Keith Olbermann says, the Muslim community center (read: not Mosque) will have a culinary school and basketball court. Let them have their terrorist chefs and terrorist point guards.

And while they train these terrorists to make souflees and free throws, think of this: David Koresh and the KKK are to fundamental Christianity as Al Queda and terrorism is to Islam.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=312aBnwondM

Thank you to the folks at RonPaul2008.Com, who published my endorsement of Dr. Paul for President: here.

Also, Dr. Paul had a strong 2nd place showing in Nevada, where he placed ahead of all Republicans except Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney was not heavily contested in Nevada, but hopefully with this second place showing the campaign will receive some more deserved recognition.

Also, the newsletters that carried Dr. Paul’s name haven’t swayed my opinion of him. I haven’t done much research myself, but the sheer complexity of those social networks that has produced something so obscure from Dr. Paul’s past really makes it next to impossible to have all the facts and form a completely objective, facts-based opinion. Lew Rockwell, among others, reportedly wrote the disgusting shit (and I can’t do it justice anymore than simply calling it by that name) in those newsletters. Some have claimed it was just reporting facts, but it clearly supports a viewpoint that is clearly racist.

From the personal endorsements I’ve seen from people of all creed and class, I simply cannot believe Dr. Paul is a racist.

Posted by Andrew76 | January 16, 2008 – here.

Ron Paul has said again and again that he didn’t write these things. Do you believe he’s a liar? After researching his ten term career as a congressman from Texas, and looking at his voting record, listening to hours of his speeches, observing his love of Ghandi, MLK, his tolerance of all relgious people, his support from the NAACP in Texas, his online support from the gay community, from the Jewish community, etc, etc., etc, These allegations are false. Let it go.

Posted by Nathaniel and Josephine Hays | January 13, 2008 – CNN.Com.

I am a Black American Veteran and I do not believe that Ron Paul wrote that statement; the first year that he was my Congressman he made a lasting impression on me because he is a true Patriot. I have talked to him at Town Hall meeting and He called me the night the War started, racist dont. Call black men far their opinion of why we had to go to war, or anything else. I agree with Duke, (Ron Paul issued a statement about this months ago. This is a rehash hit-piece by CNN. No surprise. Your network disgusts me more and more everyday.)
The people that know Ron Paul will tell you, that this report by the New Republic is a none starter with them. I think all black men 70 years old can recognize a racist after talking to them for one second. As a black man, I have been waiting to vote for a true Patriot like Ron Paul all my life.

Not to mention the NAACP President of the Austin, Texas chapter Nelson Linder, who has known Dr. Paul for 20 years, and states Ron Paul simply cannot be a racist:

Citation

“Knowing Ron Paul’s intent, I think he is trying to improve this country but I think also, when you talk about the Constitution and you constantly criticize the federal government versus state I think a lot of folks are going to misconstrue that….so I think it’s very easy for folks who want to to take his position out of context and that’s what I’m hearing,” said Linder.

“Knowing Ron Paul and having talked to him, I think he’s a very fair guy I just think that a lot of folks do not understand the Libertarian platform,” he added.

Asked directly if Ron Paul was a racist, Linder responded “No I don’t,” adding that he had heard Ron Paul speak out about police repression of black communities and mandatory minimum sentences on many occasions.

Dr. Paul has also publicly praised Martin Luther King as his hero on many occasions spanning back 20 years.

“I’ve read Ron Paul’s whole philosophy, I also understand what he’s saying from a political standpoint and why people are attacking him,” said Linder.

“If you scare the folks that have the money, they’re going to attack you and they’re going to take it out of context,” he added.

“What he’s saying is really really threatening the powers that be and that’s what they fear,” concluded the NAACP President.

Another great article: If Ron Paul Hates Blacks and Jews, Count Me In Too.

I can’t watch a major “news” network without hearing something about whether or not Ron Paul is a racist. Interestingly enough, I can’t watch the same networks without constantly hearing about whether “black” voters should support Obama or if “women” voters should support Hillary.

Since these major networks seem to want to group people into categories and pretend that each individual has no choice of his/her own, it really made me stop to think. You see, I was under the assumption that I was supposed to research a candidate’s issues and then cast my support behind the candidate I felt best addressed the issues I held as most important. It seems I was wrong.

I support Dr. Ron Paul because I can read polysyllabic words and because I believe a lifetime of actions far outweighs an editorial oversight from a decade ago caused by his trusting people who took advantage of his good name. I don’t hate Blacks and Jews because Ron Paul does. I don’t believe in anything simply because he does. But I am inspired to learn about issues that don’t make sense to me when he brings them up. And even though I don’t always agree with him, I usually do once I’ve read an article or two on the issues he’s spent a lifetime studying.

Ron Paul may not be perfect since it turns out he doesn’t really hate Blacks and Jews. Neither do I. But if you listen to the media which assumes you can’t read; you would believe he does, and I would believe that I should.

I usually don’t get into politics, but one man has caught my eye this year. These past elections I’ve avoided the polls altogether, as I felt there was a lack of an intelligent, informed candidate for me to cast my vote for. This year is different. Ron Paul is running. I jumped on the bandwagon, yes. But I did so after listening to his speeches and considering his positions on the issues.

So, here is my endorsement for Dr. Ron Paul, also submitted to his official web site at Ron Paul 2008:

“I, Matthew M., do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.”

These words I spoke on a clear morning on June 17th, 1998. One year before I would graduate high school, I took an oath to give back to a country that has given so much to me.

My family and I moved to United States in 1987 following a bloody revolution in our native Romania against a Communist dictator. What we found in this great land was a nation of prosperity and progress.

I grew up admiring men of great honor and conviction; men like my father, who came to this country with nothing but hope and a great respect for the United States. Men who stand up for their ideals, like Dr. Paul.

Under our current leadership, we have lost our way and have become a very good example of what happens when we do not intelligently and carefully choose our President. In a time when people seem to be more interested in the next American Idol or reality show result, I am appalled that some have not even heard the name Ron Paul.

It is unfortunate that the international community has lost respect for the United States, however I am convinced Ron Paul and his policies are the way to regain that respect.

Unfortunately my submission was limited to 1500 characters, but I could have written much more. Right now it’s getting late and I should be asleep.

January 15th, 2008, I’ll be casting my vote for Ron Paul. Hopefully after careful consideration, you will too. If you haven’t considered all of the candidates, and have just been choosing the ones the mass media has shoved down your throat, take a second to listen to Dr. Ron Paul on the issues. Worst case scenario, you’ll have something to think about.