Free Republic

Lewis Black injected a bit of his signature brand of humor into the current political discourse on Monday, calling socialism “enforced Christianity” and telling anyone that calls Obama a socialist that “you’ve got to be out of your goddamn mind.” The comedian, playwright and Daily Show fixture, speaking at the National Press Club in Washington DC, went on to lampoon Republican attacks on the federal government and the role they ascribe to “entrepreneurs” in the American economy. “To say it’s all going to come from the private sector is truly psychotic,” Black said. Asked about his preferred candidates for the...

By Susan Davis NEW ORLEANS–Republicans and tea party activists are fond of accusing President Barack Obama of being a socialist, but today party gadfly Ron Paul said they had it wrong. “In the technical sense, in the economic definition, he is not a socialist,” the Texas Republican said to a smattering of applause at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference. “He’s a corporatist,” Paul quickly added, meaning the president takes “care of corporations and corporations take over and run the country.”

Lately many have characterized this administration as socialist, or having strong socialist leanings. I differ with this characterization. This is not to say Mr. Obama believes in free-markets by any means. On the contrary, he has done and said much that demonstrates his fundamental misunderstanding and hostility towards the truly free market. But a closer, honest examination of his policies and actions in office reveals that, much like the previous administration, he is very much a corporatist. This in many ways can be more insidious and worse than being an outright socialist. Socialism is a system where the government directly...

Lately many have characterized this administration as socialist, or having strong socialist leanings. I differ with this characterization. This is not to say Mr. Obama believes in free-markets by any means. On the contrary, he has done and said much that demonstrates his fundamental misunderstanding and hostility towards the truly free market. But a closer, honest examination of his policies and actions in office reveals that, much like the previous administration, he is very much a corporatist. This in many ways can be more insidious and worse than being an outright socialist. Socialism is a system where the government directly...

“The question has been raised about whether or not our president is a socialist,” Paul said. “I am sure there are some people here who believe it. But in the technical sense, in the economic definition of a what a socialist is, no, he’s not a socialist.” “He’s a corporatist,” Paul continued. “And unfortunately we have corporatists inside the Republican party and that means you take care of corporations and corporations take over and run the country.” Paul said examples of President Obama’s “corporatism” were evident in the heath care reform bill he signed into law last month. He said...

Ron Paul: Barack Obama is Not a Socialist NEW ORLEANS–Republicans and tea party activists are fond of accusing President Barack Obama of being a socialist, but today party gadfly Ron Paul said they had it wrong. “In the technical sense, in the economic definition, he is not a socialist,” the Texas Republican said to a smattering of applause at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference. “He’s a corporatist,” Paul quickly added, meaning the president takes “care of corporations and corporations take over and run the country.”

Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul has recorded a YouTube video warning libertarian-minded Americans that Barack Obama's inaugural address amounted to an effort to camouflage his big government ambitions. "If you are honest with oneself," said Paul, "you have to say, 'I'm for more government.' Or: 'I'm for less government.' But he would like to avoid trying to be blunt and saying, 'I'm for a lot more government.'" Watch it here. Paul, a Texas congressman who raised $35 million during last year's presidential run, says that if Obama's views on government are not "socialism," they are "fascistic." During Tuesday's inaugural...