Irrational Black People Criticize Ron Paul

I have written a series of short essays addressing some problems I have seen with Ron Paul and the rEVOLution he is leading for a reason: to provide a place where those who might be critical can come and see how issues, apparently not important to the typical Ron Paul supporter are addressed when approached from a perspective not overwhelmingly flattering and subjective in the way of approving of Ron Paul. As most of the information readily available about Ron Paul is produced by supporters who are disproportionately white and male. I didn’t expect to have a rational discussion about race and Ron Paul. I did expect to have the lack of rational discussion be squarely blamed on me as the black male and dissenting, critical opinion.

The disposition towards racial dialog that I have observed amongst Ron Paul supporters is squarely in line with the typical exchange, to speak generally here, that occurs between whites and non-whites. To be a little more particular, that occurs between white males and non-whites. Although the culture of discussion produced by white males often overflows and overlaps into the habits of others, too, as it is hegemonic.

So being blamed for irrationality and for generally being a problem is no surprise in the general population and the Ron Paul following appears to be not much, if at all, different from conversations with Bush or Reagan supporters regarding race.

Please note that I didn’t say Ron Paul has the same line on policy as does Bush or Reagan. He does not. But the kind of conversation from their various supporters is quite similar. And in all cases, their supporters, Bush, Reagan, Paul (and other Repubs) are disproportionately white.

This factor never seems to peg on their intellectual radar as to why the conversations go badly. I believe this is because their is an assumption that exists amongst all these groups on the RIght, whether they identify as Libertarian or Conservative. This assumption is that black people are emotional and irrational about race and therefore need not be seriously listened to or their critiques seriously examined by rational thinkers, who will disproportionately be white. This assumption underlies the thinking and sets the tone for irrational conversations from a group that in their view is commonly irrational, black people.

That is why the statement that was in Ron Paul’s newsletter, “only 5 percent of African-Americans have sensible political opinions” resonated with so many black folks as a believable statement to come from a Ron Paul. We black political types, having encountered this paternal approach so many times, understand that this is something deeply held in the minds of many whites and the tiny smattering of people of color who caucus with the vast majority of whites supporting a candidate like Ron Paul. It was something that was in line with the typical argument that comes from whites when the topic of race and politics is on the table. And being that this is the US, a country founded in the enslavement of black people, when is race not on the table in politics. Never.

A typical comment from a Ron Paul supporter that came in from one of the essays was this from someone calling himself Jack,

After reading your post, all I can say is:

There goes ANY chance of a rational and reasonable discussion. You didn’t intend to have one of those, though did you? You just wanted to call us all racists (without even knowing the color of the people you are talking to.)

Later, fool.

The predictable part is that I took pains to point out that I don’t know if Ron Paul (It’s not even about Jack or whoever ALL means) is racist and that it doesn’t matter whether he personally is or not because the important things, the policies, are racist. I explained this reasoning. But Jack, like most whites discussing from a similar perspective, find it much simpler and quite accepted to label a black person as simply irrational when it comes to race. This characterization of black and irrational is common in their circles and needs scant if any explanation. I asked a question,

If a person or group of people advocate(s) policies that prove consistently to be detrimental to a racial or ethnic group does it matter how that person or group of people personally feel about race if the consequences of his policy actions have race-based consequences?

How irrational of me.

I also pointed out that Ron Paul has significant support amongst white nationalists groups like Don Black’s Stormfront where Paul is criticized as not being the perfect white nationalist candidate but they best that they realistically have right now. This too, I assume is an irrational point for me to mention or as a African in the US, to be concerned with.

I am black and live in Georgia. So, I mention that Ron Paul opposed and continues to oppose the Civil Rights Act. This too, I suppose is an irrational concern. All of these things add up to my irrationality in this discussion.

And this is why I thought it important to touch on the subject of Ron Paul. I know that he isn’t going to win the Republican nomination, no less the presidency. But as an insurgent group of Right Wingers with a lot of slick advertising and marketing, I thought it important to illustrate through interaction with them, how much like the typical Republican or Right Winger, Ron Paul supporters are when it comes to the issue of race in the US. Blaming those victimized by racism (the collectivist line), characterizing criticism of racial comments and policy as irrational, these are the typical tactics utilized by the Right. And the Ron Paul crowd doesn’t break from this tradition and in fact reinforces it by at once claiming to be different but at the same time, demonstrating the limits to Right ideology. Effectively proclaiming that those on the Right can differ about war and peace, the Federal Reserve, to a degree the corporatocracy and religion but when it comes to race, for the most part, they stand united.

Criticism from black people about their positions is summarily dismissed as irrational.

This is not the kind of group that I, as a black person want to caucus with. Hell, I can’t caucus with them. And I would encourage any person that identifies as African or as a person of color, generally to look long and hard at the record of a Ron Paul or similar type candidate and not just at their campaign websites or those of their supporters which, of course, will not be critical in important areas. Our objections, no matter how articulated or explained, are simply dismissed. Or at best, they take a speech from their candidate, in this case Ron Paul, and simply quote him. As if the rhetoric of their politician should be more than enough to allay any fears and concerns around race and racial policy. As if politicians don’t say all manner of things and make all kinds of statements and promises. The striking thing is that this crowd understands that politicians do this and this crowd is typically quite skeptical of simple rhetoric. Quite skeptical about issues that they care about. But because the race issue is something that they either have little concern or have a reactionary position on, simply referring me and other black folks to stump speeches or an “issues” page full of campaign trail rhetoric is enough. It is as if they are collectively saying, ‘Look, he said right here on his website that he’s not racist, SO STOP COMPLAINING!

And I guess maybe it would be enough…if only I were not so irrational.

5 Responses to “Irrational Black People Criticize Ron Paul”

  1. You said,


    I would really like to have a link to this. Could you send it to me at

  2. You’re definitely irrational if you think Ron Paul’s policies are racist. A racist policy would be something like “let’s make black people pay more taxes.” If his policies are detrimental to a group of people, it’s only because that group of people got more than they should. It’s really quite ironic, because what you say is racist, is really just policy designed to clean up racism. It’s just that the racism it’s cleaning up is racism in YOUR favor, such as affirmative action. If you believe his policies are racist, can you please at least list what policies are racist and why?

  3. RP doesn’t want the International Criminal Court to have juridiction over US soldiers, politicians and private contractors who commit war crimes. The victims of these crimes are non-whites almost always. Latin and South America, the continent of Africa, Arab states et al. This policy clearly has racialized implications due to the US’ role in the world as an empire in a highly racialized global order of haves have nots. RP prefers to ignore all that I just mentioned and view this very narrowly as a sovereignty issue. A convenient position not much different from the way southern racists ignored the implications of their actions and just claimed states rights.

    RP supports privatization of the public sector. While this policy affects everyone dependent on the private sector, obvious to anyone paying even passing attention to reality, this quite disproporationately affects non-whites who for various reasons largely associated with white supremacy, are far poorer than white citizens in the US. Of course, RP couches this in terms of liberty and economic freedom of individuals etc. But racial policies are always cast in non-racial terms. Therefore, the rhetoric is to be ignored and the real world implications are the only things that should be examined. In the case of privatization, the racialized nature of the philosophy is impossible to ignore.

    Have you noticed how white supremacists and white nationalists favor RP over and above any other candidate in the field and they have since the beginning. Siince these groups very openly call for racialized politics and white supremacist politics how do you square that with the notion that RP doesn’t offer up what they want? Are they being as irrational in their support of RP as I am in my opposition?

    What gives?

  4. Having a discussion about race defines that it exists as a filter. Recognizing the filter or container and poking at it provides for the circular arguments which will provide no benefit. Libertarians do for themselves. Black people are about as Libertarian as it gets in most scenarios…but it’s too bad that bald crackers that think less of black people support him. But everyone is supreme. How about the rest of white america…the ones with hair. How do they think? They probably don’t like black people to succeed either. You should really think on that one. What is better….people that use secrecy behind your back to destroy entire neighborhoods and communities…or some crackers with guns that would probably treat a black guy better than those having hair and no guns. That is why black people are sad. They would rather have the lie than the truth. I don’t know if I would think of black people any better or worse if my sister wasn’t raped by a black guy, or my brother being robbed at gunpoint by a black guy…I guess it could have been anyone. It just happened to be a black guy. Too bad so sad. That’s life. Taxes are slavery. You are just too dumb to see it with your race scented horseblinders on your head. Enjoy. Either by welfare, taxes, or force…were getting pwned.

  5. Black juvenilles in Iowa make up 40% of the juvenille detention population.
    Black people make up 2.5% of Iowa’s population.

    Facts like this can be pointed out in every state, across the US. Even still, whites like yourself like to say that those who point out what is real, are the ones wearing blinders. While folks like yourself who are beyond race, are the rational actors.

    And the beat goes on….

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