Depending on one’s tolerance and affinity for Ron Paul, one question from last night’s CNN/YouTube debate was either brilliant or offensive. A young man in Arlington, Texas, specifically asked the Texas lawmaker to clear something up for him.
“Now, I’ve met a lot of your supporters online, but I’ve noticed that a good number of them seem to buy into this conspiracy theory regarding the Council on Foreign Relations and some plan to make a North American Union by merging the United States with Canada and Mexico. These supporters of yours seem to think that you also believe in this theory.
“So my question to you is, do you really believe in all this, or are people just putting words in your mouth?”
He didn’t come right out and say it, but the questioner seemed to be saying, “You’re not really crazy, are you?”
Paul didn’t disappoint.
“Well, that all depends on what you mean by “all of this.” The CFR exists. The Trilateral Commission exists. And it’s a, quote, “conspiracy of ideas.” This is an ideological battle. Some people believe in globalism. Others of us believe in national sovereignty.
“And there is a move on toward a North American Union, just like early on there was am move on for a European Union, and it eventually ended up — so we had NAFTA and moving toward a NAFTA highway. These are real things. It’s not somebody made these up. It’s not a conspiracy. They don’t talk about it, and they might not admit about it, but there’s been money spent on it. There was legislation passed in the Texas legislature unanimously to put a hold on it. They’re planning on millions of acres taken by eminent domain for an international highway from Mexico to Canada, which is going to make the immigration problem that much worse.
“So it’s not so much a secretive conspiracy…. [I]t’s not so much it’s a sinister conspiracy; it’s just knowledge is out there. If we look for it, you’ll realize that our national sovereignty is under threat.”
In other words, no, Paul supporters aren’t putting words in his mouth.
First, I can’t help but enjoy the fact that, for the first time in presidential campaign history, a candidate talked about the Trilateral Commission on national television.
Second, a more importantly, there’s no such thing as a proposed NAFTA Superhighway. Texas state lawmakers may have passed a bill opposing it, but that just means Texas state lawmakers took a firm stand against an internet-rumor about a highway project that doesn’t exist.
And third, I suppose Paul deserves some credit for consistency. Some candidates say nutty things to supporters, but then put on a more presentable face for national television audiences. Not Paul — he was asked if he sees a sinister force involving the CFR, the Trilateral Commission, and some notion of a North American Union, and he had the courage to say, in effect, “Yep.” That doesn’t make him right, of course, but I can appreciate it when oddballs stick to their principles.
Speaking of Paul, one question came up that I’ve been thinking about for a while now:
Q Mark Strauss, Davenport, Iowa. This question is for Ron Paul. Mr. Paul, I think we both know that the Republican Party’s never going to give you the nomination, but I’m hoping that you’re crazy like a fox like that and you’re using this exposure to propel yourself into an Independent run.
My question is for Ron Paul. Mr. Paul, are you going to let America down by not running as an Independent? Thank you.
REP. PAUL: Now, that’s what I call a tough question because I have no intention of doing this.
Hmm, no “intention” of running as an independent. I’d take that as a “maybe.”