Much to my delight, today on Ron Paul’s own blog he featured me and my Iran program. When the special was first released, I worked pretty hard to bring it to the attention of DC politicians, thinking investing an hour to get a primer on Iranian society would be time well spent—especially considering how little decision-makers in our country actually know about Iran. But until now, no one responded.
Though I don’t support all that he stands for, I guess it shouldn’t surprise me—given his take on militarism, trade policy, and our war on drugs—that our program would resonate with Ron Paul. On his blog today, he wrote, “There’s a quote attributed to Mark Twain that goes like this: ‘Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.’ In this lecture Rick Steves proves that he is more than a travel writer. He has had the courage to vindicate Twain’s statement. He has very much proven himself to be a true patriot and gentleman.”
Thanks Dr. Paul. I can see why you have such an enthusiastic following.
Rick, I’m impressed that Ron Paul used your quote. However, there’s another darker side to his thoughts in the newsletters he published years ago. Don’t be so grateful. F. Keleher
Fran,
In case you were not aware, Paul did not write those things in his newsletters. He doesn’t harbor racist or bigoted thoughts and it’s clear in the way he presents himself. I would invite you to find one clip, soundbyte or blurb, spoken or written by Paul, that would suggest otherwise.
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Mr. Steves,
I just watched your presentation today thanks to one of the frequenters at the DailyPaul.com who posted it, and I must say thank you. It was fun to watch and very informative. I’ll be checking you out in the future.
Hi Rick,
DailyPaul isn’t Ron Paul’s personal blog but a website run by his supporters. However, as Rep. Paul has been the clearest and most consistent anti-war politician for decades and one who supports trade and friendship with all, I have no doubt that he would applaud your peacemaking efforts.
Fran, he’s disavowed those ghostwritten opinions repeatedly. Had American foreign policy followed his voting record, millions of so-called criminals (unjustly and disproportionately minorities) would be with their families and living productive lives and millions in the Middle East would be alive today.
Perhaps because of his advanced age (76) Ron Paul presents his ideas in a way they are appealing, but in most respects he is not only anti establishment, but anti-government and an isolationist. Do we really want a leader who believes in states minting their own money? Who would do away with all foreign aid? And would not intervene anywhere militarily ever? Dismantling federal agencies may sound good but imagine each state setting its own educational standards – that should really help our children compete with China/India. And get of the EPA – have you ever been to really smoggy cities? How ’bout the mercury emitted by coal fired utilities? Get rid of OSHA? Remember Massey Mining in WV and the miners its perennially corrupt safety practices killed. Do we ALL agree on his plan to legalize drugs? To permit abortion? Ron is so anti regulation, he refuses to wear his seat belt. Do away with social security. Do away with medicare and let the elderly fend for themselves. Sure it’s nice for any sales person to have his business endorsed by a celebrity, especially one who has a following. But I see a Rick Steves/Ron Paul mutual admiration society more like two porcupines trying to make love. I know it’s biologically feasible but then I don’t see many porcupines around any more.
If we take Ron Paul’s word for it that those newsletters do not represent his views, then the most charitable view possible is that he displayed a stunning lack of judgment in letting his name be associated with them.
Newsletters are published which *appear* to associate you with racist and anti-semitic views, and you don’t sue the author(s) for defamation if the association is untrue?
Ron Paul’s anti-war stance sounds great, but his domestic policies sure sound like a war on the most vulnerable. If he were to become president he would try to do away with all social safety nets and all civil rights laws (including the American with Disabilities Act and the Civil Rights Act). The elderly and the disabled would be left to fend for themselves (at the mercy of “charities,” a la Dickens-era) and would be plunged into further isolation. It really frightens me that he’s actually gaining some support from liberals. Rick needs to think this one through.
Few know Ron Paul’s views very well. Debates and even his books reveal only the tip of the iceberg. He does seem to be a paranoid conspiracy theorist who advises militia groups how to keep a low profile and who imputes the worst possible motives to the government he aspires to lead. If he progresses further in the run up to the republican nomination, much more that is disturbing might be revealed about his views. He is consistent however.
To Rick and his faithful followers:
I thought the episode about the people of Iran was amazing.
Thanks for going there to show us the real Iran.
Jeff (Rick’s Doppelganger)
Lakeland, Florida
To the person who called RP and isolationist:
He is NOT one.
He is all for travel and commerce with other countries.
Just because RP doesn’t think having a U.S. military presence in 145 of the 200 countries in the world…is conducive to a happy and healthy planet…doesn’t make him an isolationist.
The bleeding hearts, ladies and gentlemen. *queue applause*
If elected, Paul would not throw the old and poor out on the streets immediately. He would continue to honor the commitments made by policy under previous administrations and only immediately give people the the choice to opt out of paying into welfare programs going forward.
Dude, Steves, I thought us liberals were at war with folks like Paul. What happened man?
Ron Paul is proof positive that even broken clocks are correct at least twice a day….
Thank you for your insightful video, Mr. Steves. If you all who have posted negatively about Ron Paul got to know his views and gave him a chance and actually listened to what he said, you may learn a few things about the way the gov’t was intended to function. He is a strict Constitutionalist. Read his articles and watch his videos and you’ll know he is not a racist. He has spoken extensively about how the War on Drugs and the wars overseas have targeted Blacks and Latinos more than anyone. It is unfortunate those newsletters said what they said but, he disavowed them. And just think, if the Republicans hate him and the Democrats hate him, he must be doing something right, no? Do yourself a favor and listen to him speak. You may like a lot more of what he says than you think you will.
I suppose there’s no such thing as bad publicity, especially when it’s free … I just wonder if Rick would be as enthusiastic about Paul’s endorsement if he understood his political and economic views a little better … even the areas of policy agreement between Paul and progressives are happy coincidences that exist despite diametrically opposed values and worldviews. Conversely, I have to wonder what a Paulite (Paulista?) thinks when he or she travels to places like Scandinavia and finds that it’s not the hellhole that libertarian doctrine would predict. I have to say, it would be interesting to see a dialogue between Steves and Paul about travel and politics; probably couldn’t get much further apart in perspective.
Fran, with all due respect, the newsletters that you refer to were not written by Dr. Paul, nor do they represent his veiws. He has taken responsibility in that they were written at a time that he was busy in his medical practice delivering babies and he was not as watchful of what was being written in his name, but if you research the man, you will find NOTHING that he says, does or votes on that remotely would lead one to believe that he feels anything but respect for any individuals right to liberty. In watching the Rick Steves documentary on Iran, the person I thought this would resonate with was Dr. Ron Paul because of his beliefs regarding how the US treats other nations, particularly Iran. Educating yourself will help to clarify many truths that are squewed by the media. Look deeper and the truth will always shine through.