Barbara Lee joins up with Ron Paul

[Enrique]

uh oh, I think I've seen some people say supportive things about Barbara Lee.

By the prevailing logic, that means these people have "converted" to Ron Paul. See proof below that Barbara Lee has not sufficiently shunned Ron Paul.

http://lee.house.gov/press-releases/representative-barbara-lee-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-that-would-swiftly-end-us-war-in-afghanistan/

Representative Lee made the following remarks on a press conference call with Representatives Ron Paul and Walter Jones to introduce this legislation earlier today. Below are her remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Thank you all for joining. I especially want to say thanks to Representatives Ron Paul and Walter Jones for joining on the call today as well as for their support of my legislation.

“I think it sends a strong message that we have come together today to speak with one voice on this issue. We represent a growing number of people all over the country who believe that we are long past the time to end a policy of open-ended war in Afghanistan.

[FarLeftFist]

1. Good for them. A noble cause.

[sharp_stick]

2. Ron Paul doesn't need shunning

that little garden gnome needs the bright light of day shined on everything he does.

[madrchsod]

3. yup...throw her under the bus!

actually that is the way it`s supposed to work.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

6. Why would she be thrown under the bus? She has made it clear that Ron Paul

supports *this particular piece of* legislation. Doesn't mean that she's endorsing him for president. I support her legislation, too, and respect Ron Paul for supporting. Doesn't change the fact that he's a racist, bigoted asshole.

There are many people who are smarter than your snarky post.

EPIC FAIL!!

[cpwm17]

27. There are some here on DU that are attacking straw-men

Accusing them of being Ron Paul supporters.

When many here appreciate that there is at least one candidate that expresses an antiwar position, these zealots accuse them of being Ron Paul supporters. That's a good way to avoid discussing real issues. It's not our fault that most Democratic politicians are so bad on some very important issues. These authoritarian zealots can't stand that someone other than a Democrat gets any positive attention for being right on any issue.

Ron Paul being a racist doesn't make his anti-war position wrong. That's like saying you can't support any pro-war Democrat on any issue because they support war. And as anyone should know: there is nothing more racist than a war monger - nothing.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

29. Excuse me, but where did I write or imply that Ron Paul is wrong on the war issue

just because he is a racist? I made no such claim. You speak of straw men, but what you accuse others of is exactly what you just did to me.

Please re-read what I wrote. Indeed, I praised him for his stance on Barbara Lee's bill. My response was directed at the poster who claimed that she would be "thrown under the bus," a phrase that desperately needs retiring. My point has been and still is that just because Ron Paul is right on a few liberal positions doesn't mean that folks should just ignore the issues where he is dead wrong. It also doesn't mean that those who applaud his stance on this and other issues are short-sighted.

Reading comprehension is key.

[cpwm17]

40. I read what you wrote, including "respect Ron Paul for supporting" her anti-war legislation

I did start my response in the third person, trying not to be confrontational by accuse you of being necessarily guilty of the over the top Ron Paul accusations.

Madrchsod was being sarcastic. I see where madrchsod is coming from. Ron Paul's bigotry has nothing to do with anyone supporting his anti-war stance. You're the one that brought it up.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

42. I did not assert, write or imply that his bigotry has any relationship to his stance

on the war. Indeed, there are two separate issues.

What I did state is that just because he's anti-war doesn't excuse the bigotry.

Again, your straw man argument failed as did Madrchsod's "sarcasm."

If you can't write cogently or understand what is being argued, then please leave the exchange between myself and Madrchsod.

[madrchsod]

60. i was being sarcastic....

i still have`t found the sarcastic emoticon on the new du.

[JoePhilly]

4. Sounds like they joined her ... and she welcomes them doing so.

She thanks Paul and Jones for ... their support of my legislation.

Which is different.

[Enrique]

7. do you support Barbara Lee?

i.e. are you a Ron Paul fanatic?

[FarLeftFist]

13. Maybe Ron Paul fans are secretly Barbra Lee fanatics.

[JoePhilly]

20. I hope you limbered up before making that stretch ...

you might hurt yourself.

A democratic congress member just thanked two REPUBLICAN congress members for supporting her legislation (with the OBVIOUS intent of claiming it is BIPARTISAN). She is smart in doing so.

But moreover ... she clearly did not endorse anything else that either of these 2 Repubs have ever said. Again ... you are REACHING!!!

... and you are also FAILING at the same time.

But please ... PLEASE stick with it ... its hilarious!!!

[elleng]

5. That is not at all what 'the prevailing logic says.'

'Sufficient shunning' required?

LOGIC says if one agrees with another's point of view AS TO A PARTICULAR ISSUE, one says, "I support him as to this particular issue." Logic does NOT say 'I have converted to him,' whatever that might mean.

Logic must be logical.

[Enrique]

11. i agree with your logic

there is the other logic out there however, which I am spoofing. Flawed logic which normally would be rejected here but it's being used in the service of protecting Obama so it's being embraced by a number of people.

[FarLeftFist]

15. So basically you're intent is to just call out DU'ers who support our President?

[lunatica]

8. Barbara Lee speaks for me.

I'm anti war too.

[SunsetDreams]

9. She's thanking him for supporting her legislation NOT

touting his policies or platform. It's one piece of legislation.

Big difference

[arcane1]

10. Your subject line is dishonest

From the article:

"Thank you all for joining. I especially want to say thanks to Representatives Ron Paul and Walter Jones for joining on the call today as well as for their support of my legislation."

If Paul supports her legislation, then he's the one joining up with her, exactly as she describes it.

[Enrique]

16. "we have come together to speak with one voice"

that's Barbara Lee's words. "we have come together today to speak with one voice on this issue."

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

31. The key words being "on this issue." It implies that there is one issue on which people

have united, regardless of party.

I believe that DU is smart enough to know that it doesn't mean that now Barbara Lee supports Ron Paul on *every* issue.

That is illogical and silly. It needs to be called out where it exists.

[redqueen]

49. Well put. (nt)

[JoePhilly]

23. +1

[abelenkpe]

12. This is great!

More proof that democrats do not support open ended war and we don't need to follow Ron Paul and all his other loony positions to also support ending the war in Afghanistan.

[FarLeftFist]

14. Exactly, there are PLENTY on the Left touting the antiwar stance, no need to jump on Ron's bandwagon

How about we put all this effort into electing more LIBS/PROGRESSIVES.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

32. There you go! NOW we're talking sense!! +1,000,000,000!!!!

[abelenkpe]

48. for sure

honestly that's what I hope we turn our focus on: electing more liberals and progressives to congress and at the local level.

[Spazito]

46. Exactly!

You nailed it!

[FrenchieCat]

17. Ron Paul and many others should JOIN Barbara Lee in support for HER Legislation.....

She's a very smart cookie, and my Congresswoman!

She's good at converting others....
not so much them converting her!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

47. Re-read the posts in this thread. Most of us DO support Barbara Lee regardless of

Last edited Mon Jan 9, 2012, 08:24 PM - Edit history (1)

Ron Paul's support. It has nothing and should have nothing to do with him. The OP has created this silly discussion to create dissent where none exists.

[JackRiddler]

18. Oops. We must ask Winston Smith to revise the

thread in praise of Barbara Lee.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002102660

[ProSense]

21. Yeah,

from the link: "Now, can anyone explain why a racist who voted for the Afghanistan war, supports armies of private mercenaries and compares Social Security and Medicare to slavery needs to be held up as an example for progressives?"

Care to answer?

[JackRiddler]

44. Please answer the question about your stance on the NDAA.

My answer to your silly question is that I do not and would not hold the target of your long list of pejoratives (Ron Paul) up as an example for progressives. This is a product of your imagination.

I do consider it a life-or-death priority for all people - whatever their label - to withdraw the destructive, destabilizing, wasteful US military empire from its hundreds of bases and occupations around the globe. Reps. Lee and Paul happen to agree with me about that.

NDAA?

[ProSense]

19. Sheila Jackson Lee calls on Ron Paul to apologize or leave presidential race

Sheila Jackson Lee calls on Ron Paul to apologize or leave presidential race
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002105852


You do realize that the release in the OP is from February?

[JoePhilly]

22. You get the last nail in the coffin of this silly thread!!!!

[Enrique]

24. wrong Lee

my OP was about Barbara Lee of California, not Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas.

[Luminous Animal]

25. Well, they are both black women...

I understand the confusion...


Hahaha!!

[ProSense]

28. Well,

Well, they are both black women...

I understand the confusion...

Hahaha!!

...so am I, and I can even tell them apart. What's questionable is using a nearly one-year-old release by a black member of Congress to defend someone against charges of racism.

Like Paul claiming MLK is his hero.

[Luminous Animal]

30. Enrique is not defending Paul against charges of racism.

[SunsetDreams]

33. What is Enrique defending Paul from?

and why would anyone here defend him?

"Enrique is not defending Paul against charges of racism."

[Luminous Animal]

34. He's not defending Paul, at all.

[SunsetDreams]

37. What's the point of the OP?

It can't be because Paul joined a Bill that Barbara Lee created, in which she thanked him for.

Barbara Lee did not join Ron Paul

[ProSense]

36. I know

"Enrique is not defending Paul against charges of racism."

...the OP is supposed to show that Lee thanks Paul for joining with her to support a piece of legislation. It has nothing to do with the current criticism of Paul's racist and lunatic views.

Understood.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

43. ProSense, I didn't realize you are a sister! Go 'head, girl! :)

[Number23]

55. One of the 6734 reasons I help watch ProSense's back

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

58. I have her back, too, and she's a pretty tough cookie and holds it down on this forum! n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

38. Yeah, we Knee-Grows all look alike, don't we!?!? LOL!!!

[ProSense]

26. Really?

"my OP was about Barbara Lee of California, not Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas."

Which release is more current and related to the Ron Paul's controversial views?

Do you think Barbara Lee is content with Paul's view of Jordan?

Did you mean to give the impression that Barbara Lee is out hyping Ron Paul given the current controversy?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

35. Nicely done!!! :)

[Tarheel_Dem]

39. Smack! Down!

[slay]

41. Walter Jones is the extremely rare relatively good republican, and Ron Paul

can be good at times - like when he stands up to the bullshit wars - as well. doesn't mean i would vote for them but anyone who is for ending this horrible pointless war I applaud - regardless of which side of the isle they are on.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

45. This is quite a logical, rational post. I'm sure that most of us agree with you here!

However, some of us are baffled with liberal Ron Paul supporters who embrace him simply because he's *supposedly* anti-war (which he himself has denied) and supports the legalization of drugs. We don't understand why they get behind Ron Paul when there are staunch progressives right here in the Democratic party--Barbara Lee and Sheila Jackson Lee, to name only two of many--who not only subscribe to the same views on war and drugs as Ron Paul, but who are incredibly progressive and liberal on nearly every issue that we liberals hold near and dear. And far, far more liberal than Ron Paul.

I still can't understand why they make such a giant leap, especially as long as Ron Paul remains in the Republican party. For me, he will NEVER have any credibility so long as he remains wedded to that party.

And, for me personally, I could never support Ron Paul due to his unmitigated bigotry and his stance on states rights.

[ProSense]

51. Seriously

this is from Paul's book

White people who organize and expect the same attention as other groups are quickly and viciously condemned as dangerous bigots. Hispanic, black, and Jewish caucuses can exist in the U.S. Congress, but not a white caucus, demonstrating the absurdity of this approach for achieving rights for everyone.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002143364

It's no wonder he panders to white supremists.

[ProSense]

50. Congresswoman Barbara Lee: It's Finally Over!

It's Finally Over!

by Congresswoman Barbara Lee

This holiday season, our nation can relish the return of our brave men and women in uniform from Iraq. One-hundred five months after the infamously non-existent weapons of mass destruction issue was used by President George W. Bush to justify an invasion of Iraq, we are marking the end of a massively costly endeavor that should have never happened in the first place.

Some have called the war in Iraq a “mistake,” but that label does not do justice to the sacrifices our nation’s warriors have made over the past eight years. Far from a mistake or an accident, the Bush administration deliberately manipulated the media, Congress, and the American public into entering a war with a country that posed no immediate threat to our own. This decision so far has cost over $800 billion and the lives of 4,483 service men and women.

Congress has had countless opportunities to end this war and save the lives of many thousands of Americans and Iraqis. When on October 10, 2002 the House considered a measure to authorize the war in Iraq, I offered an amendment to the bill that would have allowed the United Nations to resolve the claim that Iraq was developing weapons of mass destruction. Unfortunately, under the threat of a non-existent smoking gun and an evoked mushroom cloud, the Bush administration convinced enough of my colleagues in Congress to vote down the amendment, choosing military invasion over diplomacy.

<...>

It was not always popular to speak out against the war. We saw the tide shift decidedly in favor of ending the war and this shift culminated in Barack Obama’s election, based in no small part on his promise to end the war in Iraq. Yet even as late as this fall, the true end of the Iraq war was in doubt. We pushed to ensure that the White House lived up to its commitment to end the war and it was a victory for the movement that President Obama fulfilled his campaign promise.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/12/15/1045615/-Its-Finally-Over!

[DevonRex]

52. A year old article where she thanks him

for something he did as a congressman?

You do know that congress people work together and occasionally thank each other in the process of performing their duties, right?

This has NOTHING to do with RP's Character or world view or his candidacy.

[AtomicKitten]

53. Yep. That just about covers it.

[DevonRex]

54. Thanks!

I'm really beginning to wonder about all the RP support here. It's way OTT.

[Rex]

56. I believe the OP is satire

at the expense of another.

[DevonRex]

57. Is it really?

Of whom I wonder.

[loyalsister]

59. Shirley Chisholm visited George Wallace in the hospital

They did have some things in common. She also survived assassination attempts, and they worked together on legislation.
"Chisholm worked on a bill to give domestic workers the right to a minimum wage, Wallace helped gain votes of enough Southern congressmen to push the legislation through the House"

Reasonable people can disagree and find common ground. Or at least they should be able to.