The Associated Press reported the strongest opponent of government spending in the Congress, Ron Paul, has been flying first class at the government's expense.
In the latest Rewrite, MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell examines their research and shares the reaction from the congressman's chief of staff. Watch the video for details.
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I am so sick of the lamestream media regarding Ron Paul. Thank you for clarifying and setting the record straight. God Bless You.
Thank you! I get awfully tired of the anti-Paul lies. I do wonder...why are they so very, very, afraid? Is the possibility of liberty and non-interventionism that terrifying?
No, it's the possibility of the loss of control over the people, and the removal of pocket-lining that scare them most.
I don't think it's right for "The Last Word" to place 30 second web commercials every single time between loading your segments. Please reduce these ads show that we can all view more efficiently.
Nice. Some truth for a change. Thank you.
But you know, even if he DID fly 1st class on the taxpayer dime, he returns a portion of his congressional budget to the US Treasury every year and he doesn't participate in the congressional pension.
He truly is incorruptible.
Nice segment O'Donnell, it takes some "class" to stick up for an "opponent" when they are wronged.
Ron Paul isn't an "opponent" of Lawrence O'Donnell's. O'Donnell was doing what a good reporter should be doing and that is getting the FACTS - otherwise known as the TRUTH.
O'Donnell was a congressional aide and knew there was more to the story.
Since his coverage of nationwide police brutality during the Occupy movement, Mr. O'Donnell has drawn me in. He is probably one of the country's last honest journalists and I applaud his resolution to provide the public with the truth.
A gentleman and a scholar indeed.
You just picked up a new listener!!! Thank you for actually speaking the truth! I've never been an MSNBC fan, but if you're respectable and honest, then I'll watch your show so long as it isn't filled with propoganda, like everyone else seems to be... You want your show to grow! Keep talking good about Ron Paul! This is a great oppertunity to pick up a bunch of new listeners with stories like that!
You always get the truth on MSNBC. They check their facts before they put it out there and if they do make a mistake they will tell you and apologize for it. Sorry to say you won't get that from Fox. You may not always like what you hear on MSNBC, but you can count on it being true.
Today's rewrite was refreshingly surprising, and it was particular fair of you run it.....and then you went from the sublime to the (seemingly) ridiculous!
Dear Mr. O’Donnell,
Right when I want to give you credit for being fair in your reporting, you take that opportunity away from me. Today I watched you graciously defend Dr. Ron Paul from inaccurate reporting by the AP regarding Paul’s spending on air flight tickets. You clarified that important information was left out of their report which gave the appearance that Paul improperly spent tax payers’ money on first class tickets. You explained in the end that although you wanted the AP story to be true, you couldn’t find where Paul had mismanaged tax payers’ money. Your admission that you
wanted the story to be true is very revealing about your motives.
But I thought you were fair until you later reported the “Pimpin’
for Paul” story. You told two women prostitutes who supported Paul that he wrote derogatory comments about Martin Luther King and then you asked the women if they still supported him. I call that ambush journalism. You never told the women that Paul allegedly wrote those words. Instead, you stated that he wrote those words without confirming the accuracy of those quotes. Paul has continuously denied writing the
negative newsletters and recently, a genuine reporter investigated the history
of those newsletters and discovered the gentleman who most likely wrote the
negative comments about King. Reading an article that Paul did not write to humiliate him was no different than the unfair reporting by the AP.
You knew what you were doing. You set out to demonize Paul and anyone who
doesn’t subscribe to your socialistic views. I believe this attack came
because many Independents and Democrats support Ron Paul. Why else would you go through such pains to assassinate Paul’s character?
Paul is one of a few true statesmen that we have left in this country. He is trying to educate more people on why liberty is essential to US citizens. All the man has said is that we must learn torespect each other’s views, even if we don’t believe in their views. For this, some call him a racist or an anti-Semite. I don’t agree with the
views of a Klan person or an Atheist but does that mean I have to disrespect
their right to believe as they like? Freedom of speech allows me to debate with them but I can’t force them to think as I do.
I’ve seen you compliment Ron Paul for defending Muslims who were demonized by many neo-conservative Republicans. You know that Paul is not a racist but you
continue to spread this propaganda. I’m getting sick of people being accused of being racist because they have a different view about issues that affect us. Although there are people who hate others for their race or religion, I would still like to think that I can build bridges with people who don’t see things my way. BUT people like you keep
stirring the pot of racism and anti-Semitism. If you call someone a racist, an uninformed fool watching your program believes it.
Your attacks are disgraceful and I will have to stop watching your television show. And
people like you wonder why people like me listen to alternative media networks
on the Internet? We’re sick of your negative reporting. You speak for the 1%
you profess to oppose. You’re intellectually dishonest.
Republicans are great at whining! Reading all these posts and it is all whining! No wonder the Republicans took this country into the toilet. All they do is spend spend spend then whine whine whine.
Demsrock, first, I wouldn't consider myself a Republican. I come from a family of diehard Democrats and/or Libertarians. I am an independent thinker who simply detests how corporate owned media distorts facts and spread dark propaganda. If you were not so loyal to a party, you would understand that what O'Donnell, O'Reilly, Limbaugh and others do is spew misinformation and demonize their political opposition. It's just pure negativity and does nothing to heal this country. O'Donnell is no different than Beck and Hannity. It's not about party; this country is just badly divided. You are a part of the problem if you find what O'Donnell did as acceptable. What he did in that interview with the prostitutes was disgraceful and does nothing to build this country. Why not invite Paul on his show and ask him about what he did or did not do.
He purposely set out to destroy Paul's image. I may be whining but you are conforming to a system that is corrupt and you don't even realize it. O'Donnell doesn't care about you or me. He would just assume that you and I never get along if it meant that we work together and make progress.
I wonder if O'Donnell speaks out about all of those who passed NDAA. I guess that is whining in your eyes as well.
There seems to be some things missing in Ron Paul's account for those newsletters. In other words, he accepted payment for them and accepted the writings with his name but now disavows them? Come on. Why would a person ever allow written material to go out in their name and accept payment for it if they didn't agree with the material being sent out? When you have a reputation to guard, wouldn't you want to make sure you agree with anything that attaches your name? Of course. Dr Paul knew what these writings were about. It is unfortunate that it happened. But when considering whether or not a person is going to support him, I would urge them to look at how he has lived his life since then.
But, you can't deny his name was on those newsletters and he was paid handsomely for them.
Dear Theresa Robinson,
That was one of the finest and most comprehensive and well written messages about L.O. I have ever had the pleasure of reading. The bottom line is L.O. does not have enough class to shine Ron Paul's shoes but he goes a constant attack simply to please the corporate sponcers he has sold his sole to. It is discusting to watch. Lawrance O’Donnell is a clown and everyone knows it except him.
Keep up the great writing Theresa. Enjoyed it.
I was just going to write the same Theresa, you know Ron Paul has argued those words weren't his over and over Lawrence, what you did there was low, wrong and immoral, and you should be ashamed of yourself.
Much like it is wrong and immoral to disrespect, lie about, and demean President Obama which is done every second of every day by Republicans.
Let's get real. A couple years ago our government gave away trillions of dollars without any accountability for it. In one hearing that I listened to, it was admitted that two trillion dollars was missing and nobody knew where it was. And we're worried about a politician maybe flying first class instead of coach? Let's get real.
Yup, Don that is exactly what George Bush did - gave billions to Wall Street without any accountability. And yet you Republicans fight against accountability that this President has put in place, and your so called candidates rail against that accountability demanded for and passed into law by President Obama. Republicans are so blinded by hate and radicalism you have no idea what is going on now, you are just swallowed up by hatred and radicalism. Obviously Republicans represent greed, power, Wall Street, and radicalism and not the people of this country and our best interests.
Anyone who still tows the party line is a fool and a partisan quack.
Both parties supported the bailouts and both parties maintain the federal reserve system. Obama's top contributors were the big banks. I want this whole idea that Obama is somehow 'cleaning up the mess that the Republicans left us' to die. Obama is equally worthless, soulless and corrupt.
Any person who makes statements about African Americans and then say he did not make those statements in a paper with his name in big bold letters I do not believe. Sorry Lawrence, I do not support you in this no rewrite. Do you believe Ron Paul when he said he has nothing to do with racist articles? So in my opinion I do not believe anything he says or supports.
.............Liberterian constitutionalist cant be racist, are you that incompetent in understanding the constitution and civil rights. Actually he talks about how MLK was one of his heros.
The most honest Politician there is.
Ron Paul - 2012
The most racist, the most immoral, the most radical equals Ron Paul. He lies to protect himself, just like all Republicans, and then runs from the truth.
And your evidence for this is...?
Well just wait until Ron Paul starts flying Air Force One - I'm sure they'll complain about that too
Another example of how the Republican party functions in and lives in fairyland. Democrats have proven to be the workers, the truth tellers, and yes, are pulling this country out of the toilet that the Republicans, and yes, your Ron Paul, put tis country into in the first place. Desperate party's like the Republican party right now will always run toward the radical to run from the disaster you put this country into.
How many people know the day before 9/11 Donald Rumsfeld said 2.3 trillion was missing from the Pentagon? And after 9/11 it was never mentioned again. Check it out on youtube.
Lawrence,
As a Ron Paul supporter ( for years, I might add), I am accustomed to having to grit my teeth whenever you talk about Ron Paul, who I believe to be an honorable man. We all know that he didn't write those newsletters, even Jamie Kirchik, he has now admitted, knew who wrote them at the time he published his first hit piece around New Year's 2008. Instead of having substantive discussions over disagreements about his policies, it seems, at least to me, that you and others would rather brand him a racist so as to be able to avoid actually talking about the issues.
That said, I must express my heartfelt gratitude to you for your piece regarding Dr Paul's 'first class' flights. You didn't have to address the AP piece, and it probably would have served your political interests to just let it hang out there. While it may not mean anything to you, you have gained a bit of respect from me for doing this. As a Ron Paul supporter, I thank you.
Dr Paul has only the best of intentions when with regards to the policies he fights for. He is not in this for glory or personal gain. I might remind you that he does not participate in the Congressional pension plan, and never has. That alone should speak volumes as to his integrity, as it would be easy for him to do so, and defend it. Can you really dispute that this country is quickly approaching its day of reckoning?
We may disagree about the course to take, but Dr Paul's views and policy prescriptions are not crazy. They are actually very well thought out and well reasoned. They may seem radical and extreme, but so is our situation. Maight I also remind you that Dr Paul was alone as an elected official in predicting not only the scope, but the scale, of the financial calamity that has been visited on this country in the past five years or so, as well as defining the causes almost a decade ago.
While it may be uncomfortable to confront these issues, don't you think that he ought to be given the benefit of the doubt when laying out his plans. He was right when all of the 'experts' in Washington were dead wrong. The same 'experts' who now tell us what is wrong and how to fix it. You will have to forgive me if I don't give their opinions any weight.
Again, thank you.
C Watson
Excellent post, Boilerman.
After weathering the shock from hearing Lawrence O'Donnell comment on Romney's speaking fees $374,000+ for nine speeches. I started to think very seriously about the worth of a speech. I mean honestly, most bank-robbers don't make that on a heist. I'm sure he is an intelligent man, but a blue-collar union worker would, and I'm sure of this, consider that pretty good pay for a five year period. What intelligent person or group would pay that kind of money for an hour long speech?
The answer; absolutely know no one. It is a chit, legal baksheesh, for future considerations for someone that could have great amount of power in the not-to-distant future. A gentleman's bribe; no written contract, just the familiar handshake with a gracious wink and a nod. All the power-brokers do it, and there is no law against pre-bribery. Another example; buying a piece of property for twice its true value from a sitting congressman. The legal problem there; a legitimate real value exists. Can you imagine what would happen to a politician that received 25 times the real value for his property? The backlash would be legal, ferocious, and immediate! I'll bet one could purchase documents having once belonged to Washington, Jefferson, or Lincoln for less than $374,000. Think about that!
There's three glaringly sad elements to this report that trouble me:
#1 Mr. O'Donnell "intended" to take the AP story at face value and pile on this bogus plane ticket story. It is by slim chance that he didn't like every other news organization and blogger have. While it's appreciated that his staff took an extra step, there's a troubling suspicion that it doesn't happen that often.
#2 What passes as a "crack research staff" in journalism today is someone simply sending an email to get more details. Seriously, that is the very LEAST you could do. It's good that you did, but it is hardly an effort that can be applauded with vigor. Then again, if the AP did this in the first place he probably wouldn't have even run the story. Which brings me to #3.
#3 In this era where real journalism has been co-opted by bloggers posting and reposting the same story over and over, Mr. O'Donnell is sadly a voice in the wilderness. This story with all of it's suppositions and lack of true journalistic follow-up persists on the internet in dozens of variations all of which do not tell the whole story. Many also interject biased opinions the blogger has to reinforce their flawed beliefs. This is a real problem with news today. Someone posts an article with omissions, it gets picked up and reposted over and over and before long it doesn't matter what was omitted. Thank you Mr. O'Donnell for reporting what your staff found, but the impact is greatly diminished due to how lazy everyone has gotten in reporting the news.
Other opinions are good to hear... especially from people with respect for facts. Thanks for your journalism!
This was incredibly refreshing. I had to watch it twice to really appreciate it because the first time around I was expecting some sort of 'triple rewrite' where he attacked inconsistencies in the email from Paul's staff.
Thank you and please continue this brand of fairness so maybe one day I won't be shocked beyond belief to see an objective news story.
Thanks for the comments about the honorable Ron Paul.