Gramm pressures Paul to endorse McCain.
Gramm pressures Paul to endorse McCain.
After former senator Phil Gramm said that America was a “nation of whiners,” the McCain campaign claimed that its top economic adviser would no longer be working with them. However, at a press conference today, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) revealed that Gramm had recently called and pressured him to endorse McCain — an offer that he refused:
According to Paul, Gramm asked him back to McCain, arguing that the Republican was closer to his positions than Obama.
”The idea was that he would do less harm than the other candidate,” Paul said.
But Paul said he made it known that he would not endorse McCain, whom he has disagreed with on a whole host of issues, including the war in Iraq.
Furthermore, Paul said ” I don’t enjoy getting two to three million people angry at me.”
Paul said Gramm ended the conversation with, ”well if you change your mind, call me back.”
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I don’t understand why Phil and Wendy Gramm are not in jail after all their criminal activities.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:06 pmAin’t gonna happen. He just might sit this one out and not endorse anyone.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pmGramm, whadda whiner…bastard.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:07 pmI wish someone in the MSM would connect the dots which show Phil Gramm is directly responsible for:
a) The Enron debacle
b) The oil speculation
c) The mortgage crisis
Why does Phil Gramm, who is the culprit behind our biggest problems today, get a free pass?
September 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pmOMG — what a great shot of Ron Paul! I realize that the shot is merely of him gesturing with his hand, but the angle at which it was shot is brilliant. And totally appropriate for this story.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pm”The idea was that he would do less harm than the other candidate,” Paul said.
Do less harm…?
Wow. That’s kinda like choosing between having your arm cut off or your leg…
September 10th, 2008 at 4:13 pmYeah, misshusseinmolly… looks like he’s thumbing his nose at someone, huh?
September 10th, 2008 at 4:15 pmI still have to wonder if he would endorse Obama. I know they disagree on a lot of issues, but the same could be said about Paul and McCain – and he agrees with Obama’s Iraq policies.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pmPaul said Gramm ended the conversation with, ”well if you change your mind, call me back.”
– - Go ahead and hold your breath, Phil.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pmRon Paul drew more Republicans to his convention in Minneapolis last week than the GOP drew to their convention in St. Paul.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pmGramm reminds one of a crooked used car salesman.
With apologies to both the honest used car salesmen…
September 10th, 2008 at 4:23 pmre: kasinca Says:
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I don’t understand why Phil and Wendy Gramm are not in jail after all their criminal activities.
…
reason #1: he’s a repug from texas…
reason #2: never forget reason #1…
September 10th, 2008 at 4:25 pmUncle Ho Says:
Ain’t gonna happen. He just might sit this one out and not endorse anyone.
Actually, in the same press conference he stated that people should vote 3rd party, any 3rd party and not vote Republican or Democrat.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:31 pmWayne; apparently, you know more than I do. Kudos. :-)
September 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pmMost Republicans claim to be Libertarians these days, since it has become very embarrassing to admit to being a Republican. But, when they pull that curtain closed on Nov. 4, they punch the name with the R next to it.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:36 pmUncle Ho Says:
Wayne; apparently, you know more than I do. Kudos. :-)
Found a link, from CNN, that covered that part too.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/09/10/paul.endorsement/index.html
September 10th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Good man Ron Paul, a few left, men with integrity. Strange that no one remembers who started the housing debacle with bank deregulations. Who is mccain’s advisor that was CEO for Fannie Mae ? Came out last night that at least 50 ex-lobbists are mccain’s advisors. Snakes stick together.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:40 pmChris LeJeune Says
September 10th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
I still have to wonder if he would endorse Obama. I know they disagree on a lot of issues, but the same could be said about Paul and McCain – and he agrees with Obama’s Iraq policies.
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I doubt it. Paul and Obama are on the same page when it comes to Iraq, but it’s unlikely that strongly libertarian Ron Paul will accept Obama’s ideas on domestic programs — particularly on health care, poverty programs, education, or anything else that might cost money. After all, Paul wants to abolish the federal income tax and the IRS.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:41 pmYou know, except pre-emptive war, torture, domestic spying, warrantless wiretaps, the war on drugs, habeas corpus, provoking Russia and Iran, etc. etc. on and on…
September 10th, 2008 at 4:47 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
After all, Paul wants to abolish the federal income tax and the IRS.
And the UN, and Social Security, and welfare, and WIC, etc, etc. =)
Paul’s ideas, frankly would set us back 100 years
September 10th, 2008 at 4:48 pmYou have to love the repubs attitude toward everyone else, people losing jobs, homes, bankrupt from medical bills. They just need to “suck it up.” Maybe the repubs should teach us to eat less and by the way check the prices of healthy food versus junk food. That would give a hint why some poor people are fat.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:50 pmNow what excuse do the excessively fat people have that are going into their Yacht Clubs for dinner calling it a tax write off ?
It’s sad that Paul gives his “seal of approval” to Barr, who voted for the Iraq War and the Patriot Act.
This time, I’ll vote for McKinney.
I’m surprised that Think Progress doesn’t speak about the Green Party since they are “progressive.” I guess they would rather you Think Democrat.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:52 pmThe GOP are now afraid of Ron Paul. Paul was never loved by the media but Paul has the most supporting drive on the You Tube and internet than all of the candidates as a whole. Like Paul or not, he is a rebel without a cause and a great danger to the GOP when they thumb their nose at him. The GOP thought Paul was a space cadet to them, but look who is in the driver’s seat now. I don’t agree with most of Paul’s issues. But Ron Paul is his own person amd he certainly agrees and disagrees with Obama’s policies. But, Paul is certainly is total disagreement with McCain’s stance on the Iraq War which Paul will never cave into McCain. The media is certainly not paying attention to Ron Paul and his supporters. Paul may not have won the alot of votes in his Presidential run but he has a lot of supporters following him. And those Ron Paul voters can be swayed away from McCain to the third party nominees. Media made it too much of two party Presidential race when it is clear that it is not.
And I notice from Paul is that he never went on any attack against Obama during his campaign. In fact, when the media and GOP made a big fuss about Obama flag lapel pin, Paul defended Obama. Now, the GOP need Paul now than ever. And Gramm and others will wait until the cows come home for Paul to endorse McCain. Paul is now talking about talking his Ron Paul revolution to 2009. So, Ron Paul will not go away.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:58 pmRon Paul. Now that’s a real maverick. Disagree on many points but he was much more true to his core beliefs than McCain will ever be.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pm“Paul is now talking about talking his Ron Paul revolution to 2009.”
Correction: Paul is now talking about taking his Ron Paul Paul revolution into 2009.
September 10th, 2008 at 4:59 pmBig Daddy: What’s that smell in this room? Didn’t you notice it, Brick? Didn’t you notice the powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity in this room?
Gramm reeks of the powerful and obnoxious odor of mendacity!
September 10th, 2008 at 5:10 pmAlejandro Says:
This time, I’ll vote for McKinney.
Vote how you wish, but if McCain wins by even 1 vote, this country is toast and guess who you can blame. Can you live with yourself if that happens?
I disagreed with Obama and the FISA vote very strongly, but I am pragmatic.
We cannot afford 4 more years of a Republican in the White House.
I suspect Barr will actually take more votes from the Republicans than McKinney will take from the Democrats though.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:16 pmWayne Says:
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Paul’s ideas, frankly would set us back 100 years
Yes, that is the Libertarian agenda. Actually, the Libertarians want to take us back precisely 119 years to 1889, the year before the Sherman Antitrust Act.
Last year, I had a lot of arguments with fellow progressives who became enamored of Ron Paul with no clue about the Libertarian platform. Most of them refused to believe me when I showed them what he really wants to do.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:23 pmWayne Says:
I suspect Barr will actually take more votes from the Republicans than McKinney will take from the Democrats though.
How to guarantee Barr will do just that.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:25 pmAlejandro Says:
This time, I’ll vote for McKinney.
I’m surprised that Think Progress doesn’t speak about the Green Party since they are “progressive.” I guess they would rather you Think Democrat.
I think it’s more that TP recognizes the situation as it is. The next President will be Obama or McSame. Until we have a political system that can accommodate a third party candidate, that’s the way it will be. Personally I don’t want to see TP or any other progressive/liberal website pushing something that could result in getting McSame elected.
You obviously don’t care what will happen to this country if McSame wins.
Some people recognize the fact that this country can’t survive another 4 years of Republican rule.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:29 pmBarr can’t even carry have of the few in his own new found party just on his history relative to marijuana alone. Maybe the other “we’re too cheap to pay our taxes” part of the libertarian cluster might give him a nod but either way he is farcical at best. Small government/individual freedoms so long as no dope and blowjobs eh jerkweed?
September 10th, 2008 at 5:42 pmI’m an Obama supporter, but I did almost fall for Ron Paul quite a while back… mainly for his stances on the war and for his bravery to speak on 9/11 re asking for an actual investigation like no other candidate was or has since.
My problem with the Libertarian platform is that it seems to rely on everyone living with good intentions to reach a live and let live style utopia. Although I would like to be proven wrong, I’m fairly certain that we’re not there yet… not even close.
The “free market” should not get to decide environmental issues, etc… I’m still a little confused as to how the International Corporations didn’t see him as their wet dream candidate (as far as deregulation, etc.).
I still love the old coot, though.
September 10th, 2008 at 6:03 pmWayne Says:
Uncle Ho Says:
Ain’t gonna happen. He just might sit this one out and not endorse anyone.
Actually, in the same press conference he stated that people should vote 3rd party, any 3rd party and not vote Republican or Democrat.
Actually,
September 10th, 2008 at 7:46 pmLiving in NY, It is certain that NY will go to Obama, so I will vote third party also. We have to start fueling the wish, if we ever expect to get there. If my vote is the one that would have to be the one to put Obama over the tipping point, then obiously, it was not meant to be.
It would be a lot more than two or three million people. Many people from all sides of the political battlefield have a lot of respect for Ron Paul, even if they don’t support all of his ideas. Ron Paul is one of the only honest conservatives out there, a truly endangered species.
September 10th, 2008 at 9:50 pm