Slog
News & ArtsThursday, September 29, 2011
2012 / Celeb Barry Manilow Did Not Endorse Ron Paul
Posted by Paul Constant on Thu, Sep 29, 2011 at 10:09 AM
“Although I agree with some of what Ron Paul says, I am not actually endorsing him in the 2012 presidential race, nor have I ever told anyone that I was.” Seems that while Manilow made an eye-catching $2,300 contribution to the Texas congressman’s 2008 campaign, he also — like many showbiz colleagues — sprinkled cash equally on Obama, Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton during the primary, plus $28,500 to the Obama Victory Fund. And he plans to vote for Obama next year. “He loves his president,” a rep said.
Although giving Ron Paul $2,300 is not a good idea at all, it is at least understandable that Barry Manilow likes some of what Ron Paul is saying. As I wrote last week, some of what Paul says makes liberals stop and ponder for a second or two...before they listen to everything else he says.
2
I can sort of half forgive him only because he was trying to be nice after testifying before a Congressional committee that included Paul. But still, y'old closet case...
3
If I had Manilowian amounts of wealth and income, I could see throwing a tiny fraction ($2,300) of it towards helping Ron Paul get his message out. Further, I don't think it's bad for his philosophy to be 1/435 of the House, although, as you said with listening to him, much more than that and it's bad for everyone.
4
I don't intend to vote for Ron Paul and feel that many of his views prevent me from doing so. However, the same can easily be said about Obama. Acting as if Ron Paul is a nut just reinforces the poisonous message that only the positions of the Democratic party are legitimate discourse, no matter how horrifying. Yeah, Ron Paul believes a lot of things I feel are repellent. But he'd be against Guantanamo, against a new prison at Bagram, against the ever-growing surveillance state, against yet another incursion into yet another Middle Eastern nation, against the endless extension of government money to banks, and against imprisoning people like Bradley Manning. Ron Paul's not the solution, but I won't be voting for Obama's center-right policy positions either. So please stop acting like Ron Paul is the crazy, when we are the ones who voted into office someone who we thought would be a liberal lion... and instead managed only to make every horror from the Bush years bipartisan consensus. Holding your nose in 2012 and voting Democratic only ensures the Democratic Party's further scorning of its liberal base. So you won't see me pulling the lever for Ron Paul, but the thought of voting for Barack Obama again is even more repugnant.
5
It's kind of like how I enjoy Reason magazine for their exceptional coverage of the drug war and the surveillance state, but how I don't have any use for their overall political philosophy. I generally embrace J.S. Mill's principle of the greatest good for the greater number of people, and libertarianism would never/could never/will never bring that about.
6
Just another case of the lame-brain-drain-stream media browbeating someone who dares deviate from the Hollywood LIE-beral party line (SIG HEIL STALINMEISTER!) back into obedience. It's okay, Dr. Ron Paul! I still believe in you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
7
@4 Really?
I have trouble buying your theory that Obama is some sort of Center-Right Superhero. I don't see much justification for any narrative other than he may have made some tactical mistakes and misreads, but ultimately tried to pass the most progressive reforms possible given the Congress he was given by voters, including you.
I have trouble buying your theory that Obama is some sort of Center-Right Superhero. I don't see much justification for any narrative other than he may have made some tactical mistakes and misreads, but ultimately tried to pass the most progressive reforms possible given the Congress he was given by voters, including you.
8
See, you MSM types just plain hate the fact that most people love Ron Paul.
To the point where you pretend he isn't winning.
And not in a Charlie Sheen kind of way.
More like a Barry Goldwater I'll-sink-the-ship-before-I-let-you-Mormons-run-it-into-the-drain kind of way.
To the point where you pretend he isn't winning.
And not in a Charlie Sheen kind of way.
More like a Barry Goldwater I'll-sink-the-ship-before-I-let-you-Mormons-run-it-into-the-drain kind of way.
9
@5 did you notice the new iPad "Detective" app that lets cops use their iPad2 to take your pic, xref it with the consumer databases, follow your 2nd-cousin who once shared a house with you, and do all this without a warrant?
isn't it keen living in a Police State?
I think so!
(mind you, I have Privacy Rights since I'm also a Canadian citizen)
isn't it keen living in a Police State?
I think so!
(mind you, I have Privacy Rights since I'm also a Canadian citizen)
10
...some of what Paul says makes liberals stop and ponder for a second or two...before they listen to everything else he says.
How is this not true for Obama, as well? Some of what he says, about healthcare, for instance, makes liberals stop and ponder. But what else does he say?
- He says that he can target U.S. citizens for assassination.
- He says that he can imprison anyone indefinitely anywhere he wants.
- He says that even though he smoked lots of pot, people should not be allowed to do it. He even says that sick and dying people who use it as medicine shouldn't be allowed to.
- He says that people who created torture programs shouldn't be investigated for their crimes.
- He says that whistleblowers who expose corruption and waste in the government should be prosecuted at unprecedented rates (after, of course, he promised to protect whistleblowers).
- He says that in order for the U.S. to be secure, we have to occupy Afghanistan and retain a military presence in Iraq.
- He says he has the right to maintain military operations in direct defiance of the War Powers Act.
- He says that in order for the U.S. to be secure, we have use drones to drop bombs and violently kill hundreds of civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.
- He says that homosexuals shouldn't get married.
I'm no Ron Paul supporter, but none of that is less crazy or less contemptible than what Ron Paul says.
How is this not true for Obama, as well? Some of what he says, about healthcare, for instance, makes liberals stop and ponder. But what else does he say?
- He says that he can target U.S. citizens for assassination.
- He says that he can imprison anyone indefinitely anywhere he wants.
- He says that even though he smoked lots of pot, people should not be allowed to do it. He even says that sick and dying people who use it as medicine shouldn't be allowed to.
- He says that people who created torture programs shouldn't be investigated for their crimes.
- He says that whistleblowers who expose corruption and waste in the government should be prosecuted at unprecedented rates (after, of course, he promised to protect whistleblowers).
- He says that in order for the U.S. to be secure, we have to occupy Afghanistan and retain a military presence in Iraq.
- He says he has the right to maintain military operations in direct defiance of the War Powers Act.
- He says that in order for the U.S. to be secure, we have use drones to drop bombs and violently kill hundreds of civilians in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, and Somalia.
- He says that homosexuals shouldn't get married.
I'm no Ron Paul supporter, but none of that is less crazy or less contemptible than what Ron Paul says.
11
@6 - I think it might be about time to start adding "Reverend" to that. After all, all that's technically required is that somebody revere him. "Esquire" is a similarly meaningless title, if you feel like adding something to the end.
12
I wish I had enough money that I could give $2,300 to a candidate that I heard say a few good things without thinking it through.
Not that I would, I just wish I had that kind of money.
And not that I begrudge Barry Mannilow for having that much money. He fucking wrote the songs, man.
Not that I would, I just wish I had that kind of money.
And not that I begrudge Barry Mannilow for having that much money. He fucking wrote the songs, man.
13
Phwew, thank you @10 for saving me the trouble of replying to @6 in depth. I was rooting for Obama too. And of course I voted for him. But to keep pretending that his hands are tied is simply not true. Bush managed to push through totally crazy stuff with a supposedly liberal Democratic congress. Obama has not made tactical errors, he's made active decisions that should be anathema to any liberal. He has failed this country in a major way, and it's about time we stop making excuses for him.
14
I understand why corporations donate to all the candidates in a race -- they're covering their bets, making sure that no matter who's elected, they'll be amenable to that corporations legislative priorities. But why would Manilow do this? Is there some Barry Manilow-specific legislation coming down the pike?
What's your angle, Manilow?
What's your angle, Manilow?
15
@10,@13 Some of that list is gross simplifications of nuanced positions, other parts of it are positions he took prior to his election, and the rest is pretty disappointing.
Still, anyone who expected Obama to be a "liberal lion" either wasn't paying attention or was projecting.
In 2012, this country will elect Obama, or someone much further right than him. Those are the choices. Cry liberalism, purity or sending a message all you want, but not choosing Obama is the radically regressive position.
You needed to be selecting a more progressive candidate and building the majority to actually get that person in office for the 2008 election and we can be doing that now for 2016. Getting all snippy now because the electorate and the current office holder are to your right is counter-productive and crazy.
Still, anyone who expected Obama to be a "liberal lion" either wasn't paying attention or was projecting.
In 2012, this country will elect Obama, or someone much further right than him. Those are the choices. Cry liberalism, purity or sending a message all you want, but not choosing Obama is the radically regressive position.
You needed to be selecting a more progressive candidate and building the majority to actually get that person in office for the 2008 election and we can be doing that now for 2016. Getting all snippy now because the electorate and the current office holder are to your right is counter-productive and crazy.
16
@15, okay, what parts are "gross simplifications of nuanced positions?"
And I never expected Obama to be liberal, I just didn't expect him to be worse than Bush on civil liberties.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/comm…
My position isn't about "left" or "right." It's about decency and honesty. The leadership of the Democratic Party hasn't had any of that in forever.
The "lesser of two evils" approach is what has allowed the Democratic party to continue to be evil. They know they can act exactly like Republicans and still count on the support of loyalists who will choose the lesser of two evils. That's what counter-productive is.
And I never expected Obama to be liberal, I just didn't expect him to be worse than Bush on civil liberties.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/comm…
My position isn't about "left" or "right." It's about decency and honesty. The leadership of the Democratic Party hasn't had any of that in forever.
The "lesser of two evils" approach is what has allowed the Democratic party to continue to be evil. They know they can act exactly like Republicans and still count on the support of loyalists who will choose the lesser of two evils. That's what counter-productive is.
17
I think it's Barry's loss, not Ron Paul's. Paul has Jon Stewart. If you like RP music videos, I made 2 at www.youtube.com/misstammychannel
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
Hating People Doesn't Make Them Thinner by Jen Graves
-
Los Angeles Gay Bar Bans Bachelorette Parties Until Marriage Equality Is Attained by David Schmader
-
Fill in the Blank by Grant Brissey
-
This Reminds Me of the Great Calculator Scare of the Late '70s/Early '80s by David Schmader
-
Idiot Tries to Defend Bigoted Anti-Gay-Marriage Preacher on Anderson Cooper by Paul Constant
-
Six Moms with Too Much Time on Their Hands and a Shitty Website Decide to Fight Gay Superheroes by Paul Constant
-
What the Hell Is Wrong With Seattle's Pride Parade? by Dominic Holden
-
The Saturday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
-
Why Mayor McGinn's Wife Canceled Her Family's Seattle Times Subscription by Eli Sanders
-
The Sunday Morning News by Unpaid Intern
RSS
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (17) RSS