Former Paul staffer, Eric Dondero, paints a damning picture of Ron Paul while clearing the air and saying his previous statements have been "have been twisted and used for an agenda from both sides."
First, via RightWing News, we see who Eric Dondero is:
Fmr. Senior Aide, US Cong. Ron Paul, 1997 – 2003
Campaign Coordinator, Ron Paul for Congress, 1995/96
National Organizer, Draft Ron Paul for President, 1991/92
Travel Aide/Personal Asst. Ron Paul, Libertarian for President
1987/88
Dondero denies that Ron Paul is racist but admits that Paul is "clueless" and "out of touch" with both Hispanics and Black culture.
Decades old newsletters with a Ron Paul byline, show differently. (Paul denies writing them as well as denies knowing what was in them even though he made money off of them and allowed his name to headline them.)
He denies that Paul is an anti-Semite but states Paul is "Anti-Israel" and "wishes the Israeli state did not exist at all." Further more Dondero admits Paul "sides with the Palestinians, and supports their calls for the abolishment of the Jewish state, and the return of Israel, all of it, to the Arabs."
Polling shows Paul is severely disconnected from Americans on the issue of Israel where Gallup, this year, has found that the majority of Americans (63%) are more sympathetic toward Israeli's than they are toward Palestinian's (17%).
Dondero says that in answer to the question "Is Ron Paul a homo-phobe?", the answer is yes and no. He claims Paul is not "bigoted towards homosexuals," but is "uncomfortable around homosexuals."
Homophobia: Unreasoning fear of or antipathy toward homosexuals and homosexuality.
Antipathy: A natural, basic, or habitual repugnance; aversion.
Dondero's defense of Ron Paul's personal idiosyncrasies seems to be based on the era Paul was born in and while generally I do not factor in age but rather mental competency, policy stances and previous recorded voting, in deciding who I would and would not vote for, if the "era" or age is the reason a candidate is disconnected and out of touch with American voters and they cannot join the 21st century, then they should not be elected to represent those that are not stuck in a bygone era, nor should they be representing the majority of Americans that do not hold the same beliefs.
I cannot imagine any scenario in which the Republican party as a whole would commit political suicide and hand Barack Obama a second term by nominating Ron Paul as the GOP nominee of choice.
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