Candidate Paul: Awkward But Authentic

Carlson takes the measure of the Libertarian Republican
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 26, 2007 4:09 PM CST
Candidate Paul: Awkward But Authentic
Catherine Bleisch, West Port, Mo, leads supporters of Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul sing and shout at supporters of Republican presidential hopeful, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, at a campaign stop Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2007, in Columbia, Mo. (AP Photo/Dan Gill)   (Associated Press)

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul speaks tonelessly about such drab subjects as the constitutionality of the Federal Reserve, but people like him anyway, writes Tucker Carlson in the New Republic, perhaps because they see “authenticity.” The no-longer-bow-tied pundit returns from the campaign trail sure about one thing: "The crowds at Ron Paul rallies aren't coming to be entertained."  

Carlson boils down Paul's philosophy: "Let adults make their own choices; liberty works." The Texas congressman's platform inspires diverse crowds, including “anarcho-capitalists, 9/11-deniers,” and “antiwar lefties,” Carlson says, not to mention two prostitutes with whom Carlson, to his own surprise, arrived at a Paul press conference. (More Ron Paul stories.)

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