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...he is arguing for and in fact defending the 9/11 terrorist attack, by finding a plethora of faults in our foreign policy, and in the way we handle the war on terror here in the home front and in the Middle East which he believed justified the terrorists' attacks killing thousands of innocent Americans... If we examine the reactions of pro-Paul haters of America to the published article I have mentioned, we find no brain, only emotional kicks... Another fan of Paul thought Paul was the smartest candidate because unlike the other candidates, to defeat the enemy, he wants to study and know first the enemy. No, talking of who is smart and who is not, he is not even a shadow of his nemesis Rudy Giuliani. A scatterbrain does not compare to Giuliani who is surging ahead in the polls without looking back. Sorry to disappoint a rabid fan... Paul claims to be the only enforcer of the U.S. Constitution. His followers are duped into believing that he is. He is not - he is a defiler if not a violator of the Constitution... Note that under this Act, our financial obligations to the UN, the sending of troops to troubled spots in the world at the call of the UN are, among others, mandated by the Constitution... My initial advice to him at this distance and I hope his handful of followers will get it too is, don't be a glutton for public scorn even if you thirst for public accolade as champion of the taxpayers by attacking the United Nations in violation of the Constitution. It does not make a hell of sense.

Ron Paul#110

PolicyForeign policyMediaTerrorismPublic opinion

About this quote

What does it mean?
Critics accuse Paul of defending 9/11 attacks through foreign policy criticism, while supporters claim his analytical approach is superior to rivals.
In plain terms
He is both blamed for defending terrorism and praised for strategic insight.
What can you take from it?
Political narratives can be sharply polarized.

Where it applies

  • media commentary
  • campaign debates

Putting it to work

  • provide nuanced policy analysis
  • avoid inflammatory language

Questions to consider

  • How do we separate policy critique from extremist endorsement?
  • What mechanisms curb misinformation in campaigns?

Another view

Accusations can be weaponized regardless of factual basis.

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