Golden Rule booed in S.C.

By William R. Toler

“[C]an’t believe the golden rule got booed in SC. wow.”

That was the status from a Facebook “friend” during the GOP debate Monday night in the Palmetto State.

The Golden Rule, treat others as you would like to be treated, was uttered by the media and establishment’s least favorite candidate, Texas Congressman Ron Paul. The audience, made up of apparently status quo, warhawk conservatives, promptly booed the libertarian-minded, predidential hopeful.

During a reubuttal to an answer by Rick Santorum, Paul said our nation should follow the Golden Rule in terms of foreign policy.

“If another country does to us as we do to others, we’re not going to like it very much. So I would say, maybe we ought to consider a Golden Rule in foreign policy. [Cue the boos] Don’t do to other nations what we don’t want them to do to us.”

I was a little surprised myself, considering Republicans, especially in the Bible Belt, teach and preach the Golden Rule.
|

Jon Stewart bashes media for snubbing top GOP contender Ron Paul

By Natalina
Extraordinary Intelligence

Jon Stewart took the floor (read: desk) to slam the mainstream media for completely ignoring Ron Paul in the current race for the Republican nomination.

Ron Paul dominates polls, he wins approval from all sides of the political spectrum, he doesn’t waver in his beliefs, and he draws huge applause at every debate he’s in.  So, why the heck does the media routinely ignore his very existence?  Or perhaps put more succinctly by Mr. Stewart, “How did Ron Paul become the 13th floor in a hotel?”

New Hampshire Debate: Results skewed; candidate screwed

By William R. Toler

The winner of Monday night’s GOP debate hosted by CNN is, well, debatable.

CNN proclaimed former Mass. governor Mit Romney the victor. Most “experts” agree or say it was won by Minn. Congresswoman Michele Bachman. Audience applause and online polls suggest otherwise.

Although the Atlanta-based network is promoting Romney, its own online poll shows Rep. Ron Paul leading with 81 percent. Romney, Bachman and businessman Herman Cain are in a 3-way tie with five percent.

Another online poll was shut down after Paul supporters responded overwhelmingly. A poll at the Patriot Action Network website was taken down and the site blamed supporters for their blitz. That page has also been removed.

One columnist also commented that Paul won based on the applause. “I realize Paul’s supporters tend to be louder and more enthusiastic than other candidates’ and the amount of applause is hardly a scientific way to judge a debate. But to not even consider as a potential debate winner the person who was applauded more than twice as much as any other candidate strikes me as strange.”

Republican debate Round 1: And the winner is…

By James White

Last night was the first of many Republican debates, and it was worth mentioning for several reasons.

  Only five candidates showed for the event.  Ron Paul, Tim Pawlenty, Herman Cain, Rick Santorum, and Gary Johnson were the ones that made the trip to Greenville, South Carolina, and most of these contenders aren’t really considered to be the “heavyweights” of the Republican party.  Most notable by their absences were Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, and Michelle Bachman (whose performance I was especially looking forward to!).  Another aspect of the contest was that it was hosted by Fox News, which I’m sure is a surprise to everyone that they hosted the first Republican debate.  The best feature of this debate was that it gave the opportunity for candidates to be heard that would otherwise be drowned out during other debates and news cycles. 

Local GOP stands by embattled Harper

By William R. Toler

When asked if the Craven County Republican Party intends to support Bill Harper, who is facing accusations of voter intimidation, chairman Michael Speciale said, “I intend to stand by him.”

By showing his support, Speciale sent a letter to the Sun Journal and the Independent Register criticizing the actions taken by Sheriff Jerry Monette and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Here is that letter:

Feds called for controversial coffin

By William R. Toler

When Bill Harper arrived to pick up his coffin Saturday morning, he didn’t find it.

Instead, Harper found a representative from the NAACP, according to Michael Speciale, Craven County GOP chairman, who believes the involvement of the civil rights organization may have intimidated Sheriff Jerry Monette to fail to keep his word.

Over the weekend, the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber, state chairman of the NAACP, released a statement calling the coffin “threatening” because it had an anti-Obama bumper sticker on it. Barber added, “There is no telling how many voters it had frightened away.  It appeared to be an obvious threat to Sen. Obama—a warning to him to stay away from North Carolina.”

Speech stifled in Craven County

By William R. Toler

A Craven County man will get his coffin back.

Former county commissioner Bill Harper said deputies removed his coffin, a political tool he’s been using since 1992, from the early voting site at the Number Seven Township Fire Station on Old Cherry Point Road Oct. 31.

Harper had been camped out at the site for the past few days with his coffin dressed with signs relating to Joe the Plumber, being “Taxed to Death” and anti-Obama signs.

The Board of Elections said earlier this week that Harper and his coffin were fine as long as he stayed within the designated cut-off area for political material at the site.