(08-21-2013, 02:45 PM)kandrathe Wrote: We can agree on that too. His guilt is evident in his attempts to go back and expunge what he felt were shameful op-eds. I view him much like a college student activist who gets involved in the communist / world socialists -- protests, gets arrested fighting what they see as injustice. It is just that in this case, the world view is southern secession from the union, white dominance and once again flying the confederate flag. Once you espouse that type of viewpoint, it is hard to distance yourself from it without repudiating your former associates severely. I hope he does that.
Doesn't seem likely. What with him saying in 2011 that he was "still the southern avenger" and that it'll "always be okay to use that [to refer to him]." Again, this is not a youthful indiscretion. This is his current and constant ideology.
What responsibility does Rand Paul have? He certainly hasn't "severely repudiated" Hunter. He stood by him, then made mealymouthed "oh, I didn't really know" explanations, then finally switched to "can we change the question already, I don't want to look backwards".
Not exactly what you'd call a sharp denunciation. This sounds remarkably like his father's half-hearted responses to his own racist associations. I don't think that's a coincidence on either count. It's what happens when you actually rely on such allies for much of your support. There are racists, both self-aware and not, who are clamouring for a political voice and a champion. If you let yourself be that voice, you win a loyal, easily-organized following. But you also lose my support, probably forever.
-Jester