THE REAL RON PAUL – AT 8:45 A.M. ET:  Ron Paul, the wacko "Republican" congressman from Texas, is apparently running for president.   But the real Ron Paul isn't exactly the "libertarian" he claims to be, but a vitriolic clown with decided sympathies for some of America's enemies.  In fact, some of his views are usually found on the far left.  From The Politico:

Ron Paul on Monday night dismissed Sean Hannity’s fear that Sharia law is coming to the United States.

In a somewhat contentious interview with the Fox News host, Paul asserted that Hannity’s perspective on American relations with the Muslim world is far from reality. Discussing the run-up to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Paul told a perturbed Hannity that “the 9/11 Commission recognized there was a blow back phenomenon from the fact we were over there and had a base in Saudi Arabia.”

Hannity then shot back with the concern — often floated by conservative talkers like Glenn Beck — that Islamic leaders are seeing to created a new, worldwide caliphate.

It goes well beyond the controversial Beck.  Many of the most thoughtful conservatives are concerned.  But the writer of this piece is sympathetic to Paul's position, which, as noted, reflects a leftist, not a rightist, point of view.

“If they were at war with us for a decade, do you not agree there is a desire among Islamic extremists to have an Islamic caliphate, Sharia law?” an incensed Hannity asked.

“I think because we are over there, their numbers grow,” Paul responded. “You have radicals in all religions, if there is some way to incite them, their numbers will grow.”

The two revisited their fight over Sharia when Hannity needled Paul for defending the Imam who wanted to set up a near Ground Zero in New York.

Ron Paul is an extremist who has long sympathized with radical Islam.  There are several like him on the far right.  His son, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, is somewhat better, but not by much.  Ron Paul attracts a fringe following that often packs Republican meetings where straw polls are taken, making him look much stronger than he actually is. 

April 26, 2011