Posted on 03/15/2008 9:13:01 AM PDT by pissant
Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas), he of the quixotic GOP presidential campaign and unique policy positions, is never one to be shy about his opinions. Take the case of fallen New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer (D), whose political career fell apart this week after his liaisons with high-priced call girls became public. Spitzer resigned his office effective Monday.
Most politicians from both sides of the aisle publicly (at least) offered condolences for Spitzer and his poor family, including his three daughters, but didn't — of course — defend Spitzer's atrocious behavior.
But for Paul, Spitzer's downfall at the hands of a Justice Dept. investigation shows government at its worst. Yes, Spitzer climbed to power on the backs of political enemies he destroyed, making him not a swell guy, but he didn't deserve what happened to him. The FBI should have never been allowed to listen in to his phone call in the first place, according to the Texas Republican.
Here's the statement Paul made on the House floor last night. It's worth reading, at least for the enlightenment it gives into Paul's view of the world, which basically comes down to who controls the money:
"Madam Speaker, it has been said that 'he who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.' And in the case of Eliot Spitzer, this couldn't be more true. In his case it's the political sword, as his enemies rejoice in his downfall. Most people, it seems, believe he got exactly what he deserved.
"The illegal tools of the state brought Spitzer down, but think of all the harm done by Spitzer in using the same tools against so many other innocent people. He practiced what could be termed 'economic McCarthyism,' using illegitimate government power to build his political career on the ruined lives of others.
"No matter how morally justified his comeuppance may be, his downfall demonstrates the worst of our society. The possibility of uncovering personal moral wrongdoing is never a justification for the government to spy on our every move and to participate in sting operations.
"For government to entice a citizen to break a law with a sting operation — that is, engaging in activities that a private citizen is prohibited by law from doing — is unconscionable and should clearly be illegal.
"Though Spitzer used the same tools to destroy individuals charged with economic crimes that ended up being used against him, gloating over his downfall should not divert our attention from the fact that the government spying on American citizens is unworthy of a country claiming respect for liberty and the Fourth Amendment.
"Two wrongs do not make a right. Two wrongs make it doubly wrong.
"Sacrifice of our personal privacy has been ongoing for decades but has rapidly accelerated since 9/11. Before 9/11, the unstated goal of collecting revenue was the real reason for the erosion of our financial privacy. When 19 suicidal maniacs attacked us on 9/11, our country became convinced that further sacrifice of personal and financial privacy was required for our security.
"The driving force behind this ongoing sacrifice of our privacy has been fear and the emotional effect of war rhetoric — war on drugs, war against terrorism and the war against Third World nations in the Middle East who are claimed to be the equivalent to Hitler and Nazi Germany.
"But the real reason for all this surveillance is to build the power of the state. It arises from a virulent dislike of free people running their own lives and spending their own money. Statists always demand control of the people and their money.
"Recently we've been told that this increase in the already intolerable invasion of our privacy was justified because the purpose was to apprehend terrorists. We were told that the massive amounts of information being collected on Americans would only be used to root out terrorists. But as we can see today, this monitoring of private activities can also be used for political reasons. We should always be concerned when the government accumulates information on innocent citizens.
"Spitzer was brought down because he legally withdrew cash from a bank — not because he committed a crime. This should prompt us to reassess and hopefully reverse this trend of pervasive government intrusion in our private lives.
"We need no more Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act! No more Violent Radicalization & Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Acts! No more torture! No more Military Commissions Act! No more secret prisons and extraordinary rendition! No more abuse of habeas corpus! No more Patriot Acts!
"What we need is more government transparency and more privacy for the individual!"
“Objectively speaking, what Spitzer did was really not that bad.”
Would you say it wasn’t that bad if he was paying the Hookers with political bribe money? There is a good chance that it was that or campaign funds.
When they put their bongs down, you mean?
I would like to see public officials get double penalties but I guess that would run afoul equality under the law.
You might want to look at what you said.
(Shakes head in disbelief)
On the WOT, I might agree. On the Constitution, though, he's continues to sound cogent warnings about excessive government power over American citizens.
This isn’t most countries, pal.
Why should Americans give a hoot about the rest of the world, especially the gelded relativist Europansies?
I’m a nationalist. I could give a tinker’s d#amn about the rest of the world.
It has nothing to do with sex you follish person. It is illegal what is it you do not understand about illegal. Have you ever heard of the Mann Act. It is a federal law to transport people across state lines for the purposes of Prostitution. You dont like the law good your entitled to your private feelings.
Run for govt or start a crusade to change the law.
Do a wikipedia on the Mann Act.
I dont care what this idiot from Texas says he is a senile old man and the people in his district should be ashamed of him. He belongs in a nursing home certainley not in Congress. I also say the Republican Party should be ashamed of him also and if they were half as conservative as they would have the rest of us conservatives believe they would throw him out of the party.
Yes I vote republican and have for the past 12 years. Thats the same party that threw Katherine Harris under the train. They should be ashamed of themselves.
Oh please.
If you’re law-abiding you have nothing to worry about.
If you’re a criminal money-laundering whore-buyer like Elliot Mess, you SHOULD have plenty to worry about.
These remarks are very discouraging. You would think that someone who has been married for 51 years to the same woman would criticize Spitzer's lack of moral judgment and hypocrisy.
I don't know why Paul even commented on this.
Oh stop the paranoia!
ANYONE doing what Spitzer was doing would be in trouble.
Bozo, Paul, can't even get the facts right.
But what's shocking here is that the heretofore friendly MSM turned on a dime against a "progressive" Democrat.
By sharp contrast, many wanted Bill Clinton to go down but it still hasn't happened.
Wait til the Eurowenies all fall under dhimmitude.
“I have some libertarian leanings myself, but so far I have been able to keep my brains from falling out........”
LOL, yep!
What, attackng me for a personal observation? I live in the heart of the bible belt. Hypocrites abound here sadly. Sorry if the lable “bible thumper” offended you, but that was really the best term I could use. You know the type, witnessing non stop, putting on the big church act... and then having a nice budget for strip clubs.
I hope his family gets the care that he needs and that they encourage him to step down from Congress so he may leave with what little shreds of dignity he has remaining.
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