The political fallout of Senator Rand Paul's endorsement of Mitt Romney for President cannot be measured just yet, but the move has deeply unnerved the growing freedom movement and forced it to move on.
It is clear that Sen. Paul is not a national spokesman for the freedom movement. He used his father's fame and his dedicated supporters to advance up the political ladder at any cost, at which point he ditched his followers. Has he no shame? Has he no honour? Has he no conscience?
It must be remembered that Sen. Paul was catapulted into the national spotlight not because of his maverick credentials, but because he tapped into a deep reservoir of political sympathy for the Paul name, which his father had built up over a long and heroic life.
Ron Paul's legacy is not tainted by Sen. Paul's betrayal. Dr. Paul is a modern political hero who has laid the intellectual and moral foundations for the rebirth of freedom in America and the West. Lew Rockwell reminds us that we shouldn't be surprised of Sen. Paul's endorsement of Romney, because he always suggested that he would play the political game, and use his tea party support as a political chip to nudge his way into the good graces of the rotten Republican hierarchy.
Endorsing Romney at this time is like endorsing the Titanic after it hit the iceberg. If the Senator from Kentucky wants to go down with a sinking ship, let him. Why pull out a drowning man out of the waters after he put a hole in his own boat? He would've done better by his supporters if he endorsed Obama. Romney is just as bad, if not worse, than Obama. Obamney is a losing ticket. History will judge both men unfavourably.
It is a big mistake to be concerned with present political moods and trends, and not with the judgment of history. Sen. Paul seems to have lost sight of the fact that any political influence he had was given to him by his supporters, who voted him into office because they wanted to see his father's heroism in him.
Romney gains absolutely nothing from Sen. Paul's endorsement. Sen. Paul lost the right to the "tea party" brand by attaching his name to the ultimate anti-Tea Party candidate. John Aziz of Azizonomics writes, "Rand Paul might have done some good work trying to filibuster the Patriot Act, but endorsing Mitt Romney goes beyond the pale."
Maybe there is a greater strategy behind Sen. Paul's image-destroying move to support a tyrant for President. Maybe Sen. Paul is playing a long political game, and he is biting the bullet on this one. But he has not earned the benefit of the doubt. Sen. Paul's supporters should send the message that they are nobody's submissive sheep, and withdraw their support for him until he regains their trust.
Romney gains absolutely nothing from Sen. Paul's endorsement. Sen. Paul lost the right to the "tea party" brand by attaching his name to the ultimate anti-Tea Party candidate. John Aziz of Azizonomics writes, "Rand Paul might have done some good work trying to filibuster the Patriot Act, but endorsing Mitt Romney goes beyond the pale."
Maybe there is a greater strategy behind Sen. Paul's image-destroying move to support a tyrant for President. Maybe Sen. Paul is playing a long political game, and he is biting the bullet on this one. But he has not earned the benefit of the doubt. Sen. Paul's supporters should send the message that they are nobody's submissive sheep, and withdraw their support for him until he regains their trust.
