Well, that didn't take long

[kendothegreenwizard]

Rand Paul son of Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), accepted the resignation of Christopher Hightower, 37, after racist images and comments were discovered on Hightower’s MySpace page. One image showed a lynching, with a friend’s comment, “Happy Ni**** Day!” at the time of Martin Luther King Day. And several posts left by Hightower spoke of the reaction he received from “Afro-Americans” while wearing a KKK hoodie to the local mall. The Paul spokesman also made national headlines recently when he referred to a video comparing opponent Trey Grayson to Hitler, as “Too funny!!”
There is some 'weak sauce' spin, but there are also incontrovertible facts. One fact is that Rand Paul was not smart enough to tell his aides to take down potentially controversial material BEFORE being hired to the campaign. Another is that Hightower at least has racist friends, or at the very least friends who use racist language as if it were a joke (Go ahead and wish a black guy 'Happy Nigger Day' next MLK day, see what happens).

The evidence is stacking up pretty quick here.

incontrovertible facts REALLY!!!!!! You are seriously reaching to some Hieghts with that statement. First off who doesn't have racist friends? My son is Black and even he has some racist friends. Sheesh!!!
You eellude that Rand Pauls judgement should be questioned because an Aide had some offensive materilal that has been overlooked, bro that is really weak to ellude that Rand is culpable in racism because his aide faled to remove a myspace page.
You even admit that the story sounds fishy but don't follow your own instincts.
Here is a C&P from the actual Myspace page

“I’m so “anti trend.” Long hair and wearing black metal band t’shirts is a trend I’m apart of. SHIT. I didn’t want to buy new clothes, so I cut my hair. Now I’m being mistaken for a skinhead and KKK member.. Great I’m in another trend. It never ends.”

Does that sound like a KKK card carrying bigot? Not one single mention of The N-word. In fact he even states clearly that he does not want to be labeled or identified with Racist groups like the KKK or skinheads.
​

“So, I was in Rivergate Mall today in line to get some pizza and I noticed a group of Afro-Americans were looking at me with hate and whispering stuff. I was wondering WTF and procceeded [sic] to sit facing them and give them the “what the fuck are you looking at look”. Anyway after a few snarls they quit looking at me. I was like do these fuckers think I am someone else or what? Anyway I finished my food and went to find some new shoes. About 10 minutes later, another group of Afro-Americans are giving me the same looks, it then dawns on me, there has to be something on this hoodie that is pissing off the Afro-Americans. And sure enough when I get outside the mall I look and bingo. KKK …. LOL!”
​

The mall incident he says Afro --americans, What self respecting racist bigot would call blacks afro Americans? none!!!!
As for the Lynching photo... The page was not his alone, it belonged to a band he was in and the image was not addressed to him specifically and sent by a person addressed as "D" For all we know "D" could have been a friggin troll. I have had some Bullsit pics sent to my pages on Myspace.
The article I pulled this from says that he logged onto the page and deleted the info without a speck of proof that he did.
Hype and spin hype and spin. The left wing media is running with the news that Rand Paul is a racist like a pack of screaming banshees.
If you are going to swallow the spin you better twist your head on tight before it spins your melon right off.





​

 

[doc111]

....................

 

[desertrat]

this is such an open and shut case that i am amazed anyone can fail to condemn rand's position. and he was in no way tricked by the media. there is no doubt about his position - he believes property rights should allow private businesses that are open to the general public to pick and choose which segments of the population they want to serve. this is not the same as the "no shoes, no shirt, no service" kind of restrictions that businesses have legitimate causes to enforce. this is not the same as a private club that can limit it's membership any way it wants, even by race, and be completely legal. imagine the country rand wants you to live in - and the culture that would follow - when disfavored groups ( by race, by sexuality, lets say by smoking habits?) are allowed to be singled out and restricted from the choices other people can make freely. we decided long ago as a country that we didn't want to be that kind of country. rand is looking backward and so is anyone else with the same point of view.

 

[dukeofbaja]

Being stupid and being racist are 2 completely different things to a politician. Nearly all politicians are stupid. We know this, we accept this and life goes on. Nobody (except the KKK and neo-nazis) will tolerate a racist candidate and the media knows this. Stupid? Yes. Racist? Come on!

I never said he was a racist. I said his positions would leave open the door for re-segregation.

 

[dukeofbaja]

this is such an open and shut case that i am amazed anyone can fail to condemn rand's position. and he was in no way tricked by the media. there is no doubt about his position - he believes property rights should allow private businesses that are open to the general public to pick and choose which segments of the population they want to serve. this is not the same as the "no shoes, no shirt, no service" kind of restrictions that businesses have legitimate causes to enforce. this is not the same as a private club that can limit it's membership any way it wants, even by race, and be completely legal. imagine the country rand wants you to live in - and the culture that would follow - when disfavored groups ( by race, by sexuality, lets say by smoking habits?) are allowed to be singled out and restricted from the choices other people can make freely. we decided long ago as a country that we didn't want to be that kind of country. rand is looking backward and so is anyone else with the same point of view.

I bet he still blames it on 'gotcha journalism' and the 'lamestream media'.

Again, everyone. I do not think Rand Paul is a racist. Don't say that I do, please.

 

[dukeofbaja]

incontrovertible facts REALLY!!!!!! You are seriously reaching to some Hieghts with that statement. First off who doesn't have racist friends? My son is Black and even he has some racist friends. Sheesh!!!
You eellude that Rand Pauls judgement should be questioned because an Aide had some offensive materilal that has been overlooked, bro that is really weak to ellude that Rand is culpable in racism because his aide faled to remove a myspace page.
You even admit that the story sounds fishy but don't follow your own instincts.
Here is a C&P from the actual Myspace page

“I’m so “anti trend.” Long hair and wearing black metal band t’shirts is a trend I’m apart of. SHIT. I didn’t want to buy new clothes, so I cut my hair. Now I’m being mistaken for a skinhead and KKK member.. Great I’m in another trend. It never ends.”

Does that sound like a KKK card carrying bigot? Not one single mention of The N-word. In fact he even states clearly that he does not want to be labeled or identified with Racist groups like the KKK or skinheads.
​

“So, I was in Rivergate Mall today in line to get some pizza and I noticed a group of Afro-Americans were looking at me with hate and whispering stuff. I was wondering WTF and procceeded [sic] to sit facing them and give them the “what the fuck are you looking at look”. Anyway after a few snarls they quit looking at me. I was like do these fuckers think I am someone else or what? Anyway I finished my food and went to find some new shoes. About 10 minutes later, another group of Afro-Americans are giving me the same looks, it then dawns on me, there has to be something on this hoodie that is pissing off the Afro-Americans. And sure enough when I get outside the mall I look and bingo. KKK …. LOL!”
​

The mall incident he says Afro --americans, What self respecting racist bigot would call blacks afro Americans? none!!!!
As for the Lynching photo... The page was not his alone, it belonged to a band he was in and the image was not addressed to him specifically and sent by a person addressed as "D" For all we know "D" could have been a friggin troll. I have had some Bullsit pics sent to my pages on Myspace.
The article I pulled this from says that he logged onto the page and deleted the info without a speck of proof that he did.
Hype and spin hype and spin. The left wing media is running with the news that Rand Paul is a racist like a pack of screaming banshees.
If you are going to swallow the spin you better twist your head on tight before it spins your melon right off.





​

Granted, whatever racism was displayed on his page could have been in no way attributable to him or his friends, just a troll. I grant you that....

How awesome is Rand Paul though for hiring him to his team with such controversial statements on his myspace page without first insisting he set it to private or delete it completely? I have mine set to private JUST IN CASE a potential employer wants to check me out.

 

[Gorac]

this is such an open and shut case that i am amazed anyone can fail to condemn rand's position. and he was in no way tricked by the media. there is no doubt about his position - he believes property rights should allow private businesses that are open to the general public to pick and choose which segments of the population they want to serve. this is not the same as the "no shoes, no shirt, no service" kind of restrictions that businesses have legitimate causes to enforce. this is not the same as a private club that can limit it's membership any way it wants, even by race, and be completely legal. imagine the country rand wants you to live in - and the culture that would follow - when disfavored groups ( by race, by sexuality, lets say by smoking habits?) are allowed to be singled out and restricted from the choices other people can make freely. we decided long ago as a country that we didn't want to be that kind of country. rand is looking backward and so is anyone else with the same point of view.

If everyone has the same opportunities how can there be a "disfavored group"?
Do you think that if forced integration was stopped that all places would be segregated?

There are plenty of non-racist people that could just as easily open a restaurant as racist people.

And again , these are private businesses. All public facilities should absolutely remain open to all.

 

[desertrat]

If everyone has the same opportunities how can there be a "disfavored group"?

i reject your premise. not everyone has the same opportunities. that would be utopia, not reality. wake up. last time i checked over here in the real world there are thousands of disfavored groups, the only question is which ones are recognized by the government as belonging to a protected class and which ones have to swim or die on their own.

Do you think that if forced integration was stopped that all places would be segregated?

how is this in the least bit relevant? i think it would be harmful to society, therefore i'd oppose it. again, you really need to wake up. in the not too near future it is you who should be concerned about his progeny being shut out of opportunities because they are minorities. let's see who loves the civil rights laws then.

these are private businesses

.. WHO HOLD THEMSELVES OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. you either don't get it or don't like the answer. We, as a society, have rejected the notion that a private business offering services to the general public can pick and choose it's customers in a discriminatory way. the needs of the society to function smoothly preempt the private property rights of someone who owns a business offering services to the general public. it's a law. people died to get that law. i bled to get that law. if you don't like it, leave.

 

[kendothegreenwizard]

Granted, whatever racism was displayed on his page could have been in no way attributable to him or his friends, just a troll. I grant you that....

How awesome is Rand Paul though for hiring him to his team with such controversial statements on his myspace page without first insisting he set it to private or delete it completely? I have mine set to private JUST IN CASE a potential employer wants to check me out.

Agreed. sometimes stupid shit happens. But the way the media is blowing it to be a racist firestorm is yellow jounalism at its finest.

 

[kendothegreenwizard]

this is such an open and shut case that i am amazed anyone can fail to condemn rand's position. and he was in no way tricked by the media. there is no doubt about his position - he believes property rights should allow private businesses that are open to the general public to pick and choose which segments of the population they want to serve. this is not the same as the "no shoes, no shirt, no service" kind of restrictions that businesses have legitimate causes to enforce. this is not the same as a private club that can limit it's membership any way it wants, even by race, and be completely legal. imagine the country rand wants you to live in - and the culture that would follow - when disfavored groups ( by race, by sexuality, lets say by smoking habits?) are allowed to be singled out and restricted from the choices other people can make freely. we decided long ago as a country that we didn't want to be that kind of country. rand is looking backward and so is anyone else with the same point of view.

If anyone is looking backward it is the ones asking irelavent questions about how he would have voted on 45 year old legislation.
He clearly says that he would have voted Yes on the legislation in another interview with CNN. Rachel Madcow was doing the usual Badger and insinuate tactic used by the yellow journalist media. Just as Hannity, Beck, the crossfire team. They are all a bunch of hacks and bought and payed for pundits.
Paul said he does not believe in goverment meddling in the affairs of Private business. Period. rachel MadCow was the one who chosse to bring up the race card.

 

[desertrat]

Paul said he does not believe in goverment meddling in the affairs of Private business.

luckily the law takes precedent over rand's beliefs. as per my previous post, if you don't like the existing law that puts societal needs above private property rights i invite you to move to a country that lacks such laws. otherwise, your intellectual objections are noted and filed. live with it.

 

[kendothegreenwizard]

luckily the law takes precedent over rand's beliefs. as per my previous post, if you don't like the existing law that puts societal needs above private property rights i invite you to move to a country that lacks such laws. otherwise, your intellectual objections are noted and filed. live with it.

LOL @ U.
I aint moving anywhere and I already stated that I do not agree with the stance. So I invite you to Kiss my grits.

 

[dukeofbaja]

If anyone is looking backward it is the ones asking irelavent questions about how he would have voted on 45 year old legislation.
He clearly says that he would have voted Yes on the legislation in another interview with CNN. Rachel Madcow was doing the usual Badger and insinuate tactic used by the yellow journalist media. Just as Hannity, Beck, the crossfire team. They are all a bunch of hacks and bought and payed for pundits.
Paul said he does not believe in goverment meddling in the affairs of Private business. Period. rachel MadCow was the one who chosse to bring up the race card.

If he said that today on CNN, it is only because he caught so much shit for not saying on Maddow last night. Do you really think the dude's opinion changed overnight? When asked if he would have voted yes on Maddow, he said he would have tried to modify it. Only politicians change like that overnight.

If the media blows this out of proportion and claims he is a racist, so be it. That is their job - hysteria hyperbole bullshit entertainment. But they did a good job at finding a subject that exposed views which DEFINITELY changed my opinion of the guy. In that respect, the media did a good job.

And Maddow's interview was anything but insinuate and badger. She gave Rand Paul MANY chances to give an up or down answer to segregation at lunch counters and he never answered it.

edit - PS I kind of like O'Reilly at times, lay off! jk

 

[dukeofbaja]

His example of bringing a gun into a business isn't very good. The reason is bringing a gun in a business is an action to which you have a choice. Nobody chooses to be a race...

You forget those unfortunate folk who are born with a gun on their hip. Poor souls, all of them....

 

[Patrick Bateman]

luckily the law takes precedent over rand's beliefs. as per my previous post, if you don't like the existing law that puts societal needs above private property rights i invite you to move to a country that lacks such laws. otherwise, your intellectual objections are noted and filed. live with it.

You hit the nail on the head

Equality above property rights

Intellectually I cannot bring myself to value property rights above gender, race, sexual preference equality

I don't think Maddow was necessarily playing the race card

She was using a prominent example in the civil rights movement to bring Paul out of the hypothetical world he was making his points in

 

[Rob Roy]

Society does not have "rights". Only individuals do. The protection of individual rights, life, liberty and property is what government is supposed to do. When every individual has their rights protected, there is no need for special classes to be protected.

Racsim makes no sense to me personally and I don't believe to Rand Paul either for that matter.

When we advocate that another person or persons calling themselves government can decide how an individual will use his own property, his own body or his own possessions be careful...that can lead to rights becoming priveleges that government can decide whether you will possess or not.

Concerning segregation, that's a tough one, while I personally would not a refuse a customer based on race, sexual orientation etc.
I don't feel that an "owner" of a private business can truly own his property if he cannot make the rules pertaining to it.

 

[doc111]

Society does not have "rights". Only individuals do. The protection of individual rights, life, liberty and property is what government is supposed to do. When every individual has their rights protected, there is no need for special classes to be protected.

Racsim makes no sense to me personally and I don't believe to Rand Paul either for that matter.

When we advocate that another person or persons calling themselves government can decide how an individual will use his own property, his own body or his own possessions be careful...that can lead to rights becoming priveleges that government can decide whether you will possess or not.

Concerning segregation, that's a tough one, while I personally would not a refuse a customer based on race, sexual orientation etc.
I don't feel that an "owner" of a private business can truly own his property if he cannot make the rules pertaining to it.

Good post Rob! One thing about this whole incident does bring me great comfort; the fact that we are nearing the end of the race card being played. That's right, I said it! I'm tired of this shit. And what's more, the guy says he's NOT a racist, yet we're still having this discussion. IMO it's a cut and dry matter. The guy doesn't believe the federal govt. should have it's hands in every private citizen's business. I couldn't agree more. One of the things he said was that the states should have the power to deal with these issues. He also noted that businesses who would deny access to any certain race, gender, or religion are stupid and would not be in business for long. No need for the federal govt. to step in at all. Natural selection will take care of 'em. What's wrong with that? Another example he used was the business with 2 floors hires a person in a wheelchair. Why does the govt. have to mandate that the business put in expensive elevators when they could easily accomodate this worker on the first floor? Again, I couldn't agree more. Common sense folks. We're are drowning in a sea of political correctness and it's costing us big time!

As for Mr. Bateman. I find it interesting how you say that Rachel didn't play the race card. That is utterly laughable since this thread is now 4 pages and that's ALL that's been talked about. Nice try.

 

[Hemlock]

For Rand Paul to be exposed.

He is given many chances to clarify his position on Civil Rights, and doesn't.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/vp/37244354#37244354

You can make your own judgments based on what he says.

I would click this link but its msnbc......

 

[Dragline]

I would click this link but its msnbc......

It is actually a very good and fair interview. Rachel Maddow is probably the most Liberal host on TV right now. More Liberal than Olberman, but more respectful. Unlike on Fox with O'Reilly or Hannity, she never tried to talk over him or interrupt him. Rand Paul had all the time in the world to talk.

 

[hanimmal]

I caught part of the interview the other day when it came on so maybe I should watch the entire thing to see what else is in it, but realistically Maddow was just badgering the guy on his views that are complicated. She knew his views on it and was just trying to get him to answer it because it is a very easily spun soundbite that would make him seem very racist. Really it is a shame that he flipped the next day (if that is true, read it on this thread), because it is basically a castration moment for him, he tried to stick to his guns during the interview and did so very well I thought, only to buckle in the morning.

Like RobRoy said, I cannot fault businesses for deciding what who business is going to cater to, but I am not sure it is realistic to think that it can be allowed to happen.
Not that it would happen, but to go to the extreme but it would allow an entire city to open up white only businesses and essentially become a "white only" city.

But really there is so much other crazy shit that the Paul's say that this seems positively sane. As soon as people connect him with Alex Jones crazy ass, he will be toast.