You sound like a Tory condemning Tom Paine for his radicalism.

Yeah, there were some kooks there. Yes, there were some 9-11 truthers there. Yes, there were some other assorted nuts around. Yes, these people were annoying.

But, there were also a decent number of smart, healthy-minded people there, too, who were just genuinely interested in supporting a small-government, libertarian-oriented Republican candidate.

These people helped Ron Paul raise the millions that he did — and they helped him get that 7 percent or so of the vote that he got in many of the state primaries and caucuses.

For many of these healthy, sane Ron Paul supporters, this was one of the first times they were ever involved in a political campaign.

So, to the folks who made nasty comments above, when you attack all Ron Paul supporters and try to say they are all alike, realize that you may be turning off some people who might otherwise be part of your own natural coalition of future small-government, fiscal conservatives.

John McCain and the Republican Party should try to reach out to the healthy, sane Ron Paul supporters and try to keep them engaged in the process.

Ron Paul and His Courageous Vote Against the Resolution Condemning the Palestinians of Gaza!

David Duke Discusses What Ron Paul Must Do to Win!

Look…when I was in college in North Carolina years ago, I flirted with the Libertarian Party. I’m very libertarian minded on economics so thought it would be a good fit. Attended one meeting and do you know what they spent the whole time debating?….Whether or not the Police Department should be privatized…seriously…

The Libertarian Party and people like Ron Paul are not productive, not champions of freedom and do not advance conservatism…they are kooks that poison the name of conservatism, the cause of limited government and the cause of personal freedom.

Have been and always will be. They need to be rejected and isolated from the mainstream of the party.

I’ll also point out that the biggest backers of Ron Paul were the far-left 9/11 Truthers and the Far-Right White Supremists (check out David Duke’s website and it’s pro-Ron Paul slant).

The media doesn’t need Ron Paul to make conservatives look bad. They’ve had George Bush for the last seven years.

Please name at least one example of what Paul accomplished “to promote the causes we all hold dear” OR what has he done while in office?

On the few issues, that Paul has the right idea (ex. smaller government), he hurts the cause by associating it with a wacko - himself (you can accuse me of name-calling all you want but that is exactly what he comes off as when he keeps talking about the gold standard this and the trilater commission that).

And Yes, perception matters. That is why Reagen succeeded.

You can hear me!?

Honestly did you even read what I wrote? I don’t claim to be the only conservative and Ron Paul’s views certainly don’t represent the one true strain of conservative thought. All I did was state that you are being completely unreasonable in comparing Paul to a racist preacher.

All Paul wanted was an open honest debate about foreign policy. I disagree with him about many of his views on the topic, but that doesn’t mean I have to devolve into cheap rhetoric to oppose him. You sound like you care more about what the liberal MSM thinks about conservatives than what “conservatives” actually do once they are in office. The MSM uses Ron Paul to the GOP look bad? The MSM uses everything to make the GOP look bad, but that doesn’t mean we should suspend serious policy discussions on the future of conservative thought.

Disagree with Paul all you want to, but when you have to try and squelch conservative debate by flinging around empty rhetoric then you look like a beltway hack running scared.