United Liberty

As has been noted since last week, Ron Paul supporters are furious over Sen. Rand Paul’s endorsement of Mitt Romney. They’re calling him a everything but a child of God, which is truly sad. But late yesterday, Sen. Paul explained the strategy behind the endorsement on Peter Schiff’s radio show.

During the interview, Sen. Paul explains that the endorsement was political. In order for him to get support during his Senate bid in 2010, Paul had to convince his potential backers that he was a Republican and would back the GOP presidential nominee, which his father did not do in 2008. Paul also notes, though not in these words, that it’s a little absurd to cast him aside as a traitor when he is part of the liberty movement and push our issues in the Senate.

Paul points out that his father supports his endorsement of Romney. He also weighs in on whether or not the elder Paul will follow suit. Unfortunately, Sen. Paul explains that some of the reaction to the endorsement has been, well, violent.

Here’s the interview. It’s 18+ minutes, but well worth a listen:

Editor’s note: Tom Woods has apparently made the video private, but I found it on another YouTube channel.

With the backlash against Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) still strong after his endorsement of Mitt Romney and some of his supporters taking legal action against the Republican Party, Tom Woods put together a message for Ron Paul urging him to resist pressure from GOP acolytes to toe the party line in the presidential race this fall.

In the video, Woods notes that Paul’s tendency to speak his mind, noting the first GOP debate back in 2007 where the Texan noted the problems with our foreign policy, and his ability to inspire supporters are unique qualities that set him apart from others in today’s political world. Woods also points out that an endorsement from the elder Paul probably wouldn’t help his son. He briefly takes a jab at Campaign for Liberty, Paul’s advocacy organization, for it’s failure to take on foreign policy.

In closing Woods says, “Dr. Paul, you changed the world in 2007. Don’t change it back. Just be Ron Paul and millions of us will support you”:

If you’ve been following the reaction to Sen. Rand Paul’s endorsement of Mitt Romney, you know there are a lot of people disappointed. Our own Brian Lehman noted on Friday that Sen. Paul didn’t have much of a choice other than to endorse Romney if he wanted to have any future or influence inside the Republican Party.

In a new video, Jack Hunter (also known as the “Southern Avenger”) explained that Sen. Paul had always said that he would endorse the Republican nominee, regardless of whom it may be, against President Barack Obama. He also explains that Sen. Paul only made the endorsement after his father, Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), conceded that he didn’t have the delegates to secure the GOP nomination:

Seeking to remain relevant in Republican politics, Herman Cain endorsed Newt Gingrich, in what couldn’t have been a more predictable move:

The move by the former GOP candidate and tea-party favorite comes three days before the Florida primary, at a moment when Gingrich is badly in need of something to rekindle the momentum he gained in the wake of his South Carolina primary victory.
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“I had it in my heart and mind a long time,” Cain said of his endorsement, appearing with Gingrich at a Republican fundraiser. “Speaker Gingrich is a patriot. Speaker Gingrich is not afraid of bold ideas.”

Gingrich joked, “I had no idea it would be this interesting an evening.”

Cain is the latest in a series of popular conservative figures to back the former House speaker, while much of the GOP establishment is marshaling against him. Among Gingrich’s other recent supporters are former Alaska governor Sarah Palin; his onetime presidential rival, Texas Gov. Rick Perry; and former senator Fred Thompson (Tenn.).

Cain backed Romney in 2008, but both he and Gingrich are from Georgia and it was obvious during the debates that they had had an affection for each other. And while the endorsement will be played up by anti-Romney conservatives, Gingrich’s actions as Speaker of the House, such as trying to diminish the influence of fiscal conservatives, are continuing to come under fire.

In recent days, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), an outspoken fiscal conservative, has defended Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX), noting that Republicans should embrace some libertarian ideas. DeMint also sees the risk many Republican take in their public criticism of Paul, who has an incredibly dedicated group of followers, many of whom are young.

This led to rumors of an endorsement yesterday on Twitter and Facebook before the all important South Carolina primary. But DeMint, keeping with a statement he made a couple of months ago, has said he will not endorse:

One of the most sought-after South Carolina politicians said Monday he would not endorse a candidate ahead of the Palmetto State’s primary.

Sen. Jim DeMint, who has offered praise to all of the candidates in the field, said in a statement, “I do not have a favorite in this race and I will not endorse a candidate.”

DeMint said his stance reflected the view of many voters in South Carolina.

“I’ve gotten to know each of the candidates over the past year and they are all far superior to Obama,” DeMint said. “My view reflects what I’ve heard from Republican voters across South Carolina who remain divided in this race.”

DeMint would have been a big get for any candidate in the GOP field, given his high regard among conservative voters. Many of the contenders have met with the senator in person, looking to gain his backing.

Herman Cain, who exited the race for the GOP nomination early last month, announced last week that he would launch a bus tour in support of his gimmicky “9-9-9” plan, which was panned by several prominent conservatives, hoping that the push will lead to support in Congress:

The one-time Republican front-runner announced his “Cain’s Solutions Revolution” during a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity on Wednesday night.

“I started a new movement. The biggest comment I got when I ended my candidacy was to keep 9-9-9 alive. That’s what this is about, and I’m going to keep it alive with what I’m calling Cain’s Solutions Revolution,” Cain said.

“You have a bus,” Hannity interjected.

“Yes, sir. I have a bus with my picture on it,” Cain said, smiling, as Hannity displayed a photo of a vehicle that looked similar to the campaign bus he used on the trail until the day he pulled up in it at the early December rally in Atlanta when he ended his campaign.

The Atlanta businessman said he plans to “get commitments from members of Congress in 2012 before Election Day” and that the legislation is currently being drafted.

Cain also announced that he’ll be making an endorsement in the race on Thursday, January 19th — just before the primary in South Carolina. Given that he is from Georgia and is close to Newt Gingrich, you can probably guess who he’ll wind up backing.

You may have seen a report yesterday from Roll Call noting that Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), who is a voice for the tea party movement in Congress, was about to endorse Mitt Romney in the race for the GOP presidential nomination. It’s apparently not true:

“That story is a fabrication made up of anonymous sources that obviously have no clue what Senator DeMint is thinking,” spokesman Wesley Denton said. “He has said over and over again that he is not leaning toward any candidate yet and may end up not endorsing in the presidential race.”

Matt Hoskins, who runs DeMint’s Senate Conservatives Fund, said DeMint is “looking to see who wins over the grassroots, and so far Governor Romney has not done that.”

“These operatives don’t know what they’re talking about. Senator DeMint is not leaning toward anyone at this point,” Hoskins said of the story this morning.

The idea isn’t too far fetched. DeMint did endorse Romney than the rest of the candidates combined, back in 2008. However, DeMint made it clear earlier this year that he wouldn’t endorse Romney, who has received more endorsements from members of Congress, this time around without a repudiation of RomneyCare, which served as the blueprint for ObamaCare.

It’s probably wise for DeMint and other members of Congress to steer clear of endorsements. You don’t want take an early shot in the dark on a candidate and then come up empty; only to find yourself on a new president’s bad side.

If you’ve been around for awhile, you know that I’m a big fan of Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), who is running for U.S. Senate in 2012. He has been solid on fiscal issues and free trade and voted to repeal the military’s outdated “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and until his recent vote to reauthorize the PATRIOT Act, he’d been very good on privacy issues.

Unfortunately, Flake’s endorsement of Mitt Romney in the Republican presidential nomination is a big let down. Here is his brief statement on the endorsement:

“Mitt Romney has the experience and vision to get our country on the right path again. Whether it was his time as governor or as a successful businessman, Mitt Romney has shown that he has the economic knowledge to create the environment for businesses to start hiring again.”

The problems with Romney begin with health care, which may be a big issue during the 2012 election. Nominating Romney, due to the job-killing health care plan he pushed in Massachusetts, effectively takes that issue off the table.

Romney also seems to have no core or real principles. He’ll say whatever he thinks voters want to hear. Yeah, he does the best against Barack Obama in general election matchups, but does Jeff Flake really know what he’s getting with Romney?

With the Ames Straw Poll fast approaching, every candidate is looking to gain ground in any way possible. Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) managed to pick up the endorsement of Cory Adams, chairman of the Story County Republican Party:

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has fresh bragging rights after picking up what is surely a coveted endorsement on Monday.

Cory Adams - the Republican chairman of Story County in Iowa – endorsed the Texas congressman’s presidential bid at a campaign event in Ames, Iowa.

That’s significant for a few reasons. Ames is the largest city in Story County, home to over 50,000 residents. And it is in this city that a widely-watched showdown between the GOP presidential candidates will play out on August 13. The Ames Straw Poll will test the candidates’ popularity and could be a sign of their electability.
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Adams explained to CNN the rationale behind his endorsement of Paul.

“I try to go for the candidates that line up mostly with the values, the principles of the [nation’s] founders,” Adams said. “Out of all the candidates in this cycle, I found Ron Paul to be the one with the longest, most consistent voting record to back up those principles and concepts.”

How might Adams’ endorsement help Paul with voters?

Adams explained: “Back in 2008 there were a lot of people within the Republican Party that kind of disregarded Congressman Paul. And basically didn’t just count him in and/or wouldn’t even mention him. So when you can have a county chair who is part of the Republican Party, part of the establishment and support him, it gives him more credibility within the party and brings him back from the fringe.”