Posted by
Cary Wesberry on Wednesday, May 09, 2007 4:10:59 PM
Why would you take credit for something you voted against? Well, if you are Congressman Ron Paul (R-Tx) you would do it to acquire more votes as an election draws near (yet again- note the dates); then of course vote against it to satisfy your most loyal supporters… who just happen to be Libertarian leftovers and militant anti-tax whackos. Oh yes, and let’s not forget the marijuana advocates, the so-called "Constitutionalists", and any stray isolationists that might be roaming the countryside. Good grief. This Republican aberration has managed to gather a following from just about every freako-retard fringe group in the country!
Dr. Ron Paul, how can you look your constituents in the face after taking credit for a bill that gives hurricane relief, which you voted against? Leave my party. You do not belong in the GOP if you are going to behave in this way. It takes a singular meanness to talk to the Young Jewish Republicans the way you did, but to try and gain political capital by hoodwinking hurricane victims is just sick. Here's the full article from the Baytown Sun with both sides of the story:
Baytown Sun
Published June 25, 2006
Shane Sklar, a Democrat running against Republican Congressman Ron Paul, accused Paul of hypocritically touting Texas hurricane relief funding in a bill, which he actually voted against. Paul, a former Libertarian Party presidential candidate, represents Texas District 14, which includes Chambers County. A Sklar release stated that Paul "triumphantly announced that Congress had passed hurricane relief funding and that (Paul) had worked to have 90 percent reimbursement for Texas communities affected by Hurricane Rita" included in the bill, called The Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery. Among the provisions of the bill, HR 4939, cited in the press release as "important for Texas’ Gulf Coast families" are: $26 million for rural development; $235 million in additional assistance for displaced elementary and secondary school students for the 2005-2006 school year; and $6 billion for the federal Disaster Relief Fund.
But while Paul took credit in a press release for the Texas funding in the bill, "the release fails to mention, however, that Paul voted against the bill." "We get zero leadership out of Congressman Ron Paul on hurricane relief," Sklar stated. "It’s hypocritical and dishonest for Ron Paul to vote against this important hurricane relief effort and claim credit for it’s passing," he said. "Ron Paul has been in Washington too long. Only in Washington D.C. would it make sense to take credit for something you voted against."
But Jeff Deist, a spokesman for Paul, said hurricane relief was only a small portion of the bill, an emergency supplemental bill which is not considered part of the federal budget or the deficit because of a "procedural trick." "Congressman Paul always makes sure, in any of the appropriations bills, whether they’re a supplemental, a regular bill, or a hurricane bill, he always takes whatever steps he can to make sure that some of the spending in that bill goes to the district. That’s part of his job," Deist said. But, Deist said, Paul has a longstanding objection to increased federal spending that increases the deficit. "He runs on that promise. He wants Congress to spend less, and he wont’ vote for bills that do the opposite, that raise the amount of spending. He’s committed to doing that, he’s done that throughout his career here," he said. Deist said since Texas gets only about 80 cents for every dollar in federal taxes, "it would be strange to argue that Congressman Paul or any other Texas representative shouldn't do everything they can to recoup those taxes."
That's hardly the argument Jeff. The problem is that he took credit for hurricane relief when he voted against the bill which held the very relief he was touting. As usual, Ron Paul wants to have it both ways. If this man had an ounce of character left; he would join the Democrats or the Libertarians. He doesn't; which is why he's a RINO.
Thanks to reader Troy for passing this article along.