The  Beat

Palin on Ron Paul "Right On!" Campaign

posted by John Nichols on 09/01/2008 @ 01:37am

In a February interview with MTV, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin lavished praise on maverick Republican presidential contender Ron Paul.

She had a few nice things to say about another GOP candidate, Mitt Romney.

But Palin made no mention of John McCain.

Now that McCain is the presumptive Republican presidential candidate, he has selected Palin as his prospective running-mate for vice president.

McCain calls Palin his political "soul-mate."

But, in February, at a point when McCain was closing in on the Republican nomination, it sure sounded like she was sweet on Paul.

The governor, who sported a Pat Buchanan pin at a 1999 rally for the renegade Republican presidential candidate (Pat says: "She's a great choice for the base ... She's a Buchananite"), described the anti-war, libertarian-leaning congressman from Texas as "cool."

"He's a good guy," she said of Paul. "He's so independent. He's independent of the party machine. I'm like, ‘Right on, so am I.'"

Paul supporters were delighted. In fact, they even began promoting Palin as a possible veep choice for the Texas congressman.

As it happens, Paul won't be picking a running-mate in St. Paul.

But the congressman will be in the Twin Cities.

Conveniently for Palin, Paul -- who refuses to endorse McCain -- will be holding an outside-the-convention "Rally for the Republic."

More than 10,000 tickets have already been sold for an event that is expected to draw thousands of Paul's most ardent supporters to the Target Center in Minneapolis on Tuesday.

Perhaps Palin will join them.

Or is she now with the party machine?

Comments (3)

Advertisement
Advertisement

Blogs

» The Beat

Revolutionary Republic of July 4 Should Eschew Empire's Errors | Instead of interventions in Iran, Honduras, we must recall wisdom that said: "(America) goes not abroad in search of monsters to destroy."
John Nichols
32 Comments

» Act Now!

Defining Patriotism | What do you value in the traditions of your country?
Peter Rothberg
22 Comments

» Editor's Cut

Rediscovering Secular America | This Fourth of July those who identify themselves as non-believers have much cause for celebration.
Katrina vanden Heuvel
36 Comments

» The Notion

Celebrating the Fourth by Remembering the Fifth | On Independence Day, the forgotten and imperiled Fifth Amendment bears honoring.
Eyal Press
20 Comments

» Altercation

Mikey 'n' Me | I got closer to Michael Jackson than almost anyone, or at least closer than most people of the age of consent.
Eric Alterman

» Capitolism

Washington: Even More Corrupt Than You Thought! | Washington Post sells access to lobbyists.
Christopher Hayes
59 Comments

» The Dreyfuss Report

Whisky Tango Foxtrot? | General Jones tells the generals in Kabul: don't bother asking for more troops.
Robert Dreyfuss
65 Comments