Civil Rights? That Is Ancient Stuff
Just when I thought the field of Republican Presidential candidates was overcrowded with foolishness, Dr. Ron Paul finagled his way in to prove that the GOP has no limit on animus towards marginalized communities. Before I go any further, let me make myself clear: I am not married to any particular political party. I don’t believe monogamy should exist in politics, that’s why I’m single. Nevertheless, I couldn’t let a week go by without airing my frustration about Paul’s recent statement that he would have voted against the Civil Rights Act. I wasn’t too suprised to hear this coming from Paul. He’s like the Dennis Rodman of the Republican Party, very colorful and many times politically incorrect, but an all-star nonetheless. His strong brand of libertarianism has made him a fierce opponent of the War On Drugs and capital punishment (two positions that I agree with). However, his peculiar stance on race and gender relations makes me uneasy.
Rep. Ron Paul kicked off his third run for president on Friday, but not without inciting controversy. Shortly after calling for abolishing FEMA on CNN, the latest Republican presidential candidate told MSNBC’s Chris Matthews that he would not have voted for the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the landmark piece of legislation that outlawed major forms of discrimination against blacks and women. In a 2004 speech to Congress explaining his opposition Paul stated: “The forced integration dictated by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 increased racial tensions while diminishing individual liberty… The Civil Rights Act of 1964 gave the federal government unprecedented power over hiring, employee relations, and customer service practices of every business in the country. The result was a massive violation of the rights of private property and contract, which are the bedrocks of free society.” While I am just as dubious that we will ever live in a color or gender blind society, I don’t believe that tacitly allowing the perpetual discrimination by private businesses breeds happiness or prosperity
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ugPOAiHdTM
Title I
Barred unequal application of voter registration requirements.
– I would not have been able to vote without fear of having some silly test used to keep me from casting my ballot.
Title II
Outlawed discrimination in hotels, motels, restaurants, theaters, and all other public accommodations engaged in interstate commerce; exempted private clubs without defining the term “private.”
– I would not have been able to watch Jungle Fever with my White friends in a movie theatre.
Title III
Prohibited state and municipal governments from denying access to public facilities on grounds of race, religion, gender, or ethnicity
– I would not have been able to play catch with my Dad on the public baseball fields back in my hometown.
Title IV
Encouraged the desegregation of public schools and authorized the U.S. Attorney General to file suits to enforce said act.
– I would not have been able to attend my elite public high school where I received a top-notch education.
Ron Paul specifically said he would have voted against Jim Crow laws, and almost all you have above, so your information is inaccurate. Since you went to the trouble to publicize this wrongly, are you fair minded enough to watch the entire interview and not just the tiny clip thinkprogress is circulating? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPwcGKmBsaw
Ron Paul specifically said he would have voted against Jim Crow laws, and almost all you have above, so your information is inaccurate. Since you went to the trouble to publicize this wrongly, are you fair minded enough to watch the entire interview and not just the tiny clip thinkprogress is circulating? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPwcGKmBsaw
First of all thanks for reading my blog post. Your contribution is valued.
Although Paul claims that he would have voted against Jim Crow laws, his belief that government should not intervene in cases where discrimination is evident is troubling. His statement is oxymoronic considering the fact the Civil Rights Act was proposed and enacted to oenforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States of America to provide relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes. Thus, to vote against this act is akin to tacitly allowing institutions to continue patterns of historic discrimination.
This bill essentially argued again the ALL Americans should have equal protection under the law. To merely say that “I oppose Jim Crow” means nothing if you want to repeal a piece of legislation that outlaws it. You can’t talk about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 without talking about Jim Crow.
First of all thanks for reading my blog post. Your contribution is valued.
Although Paul claims that he would have voted against Jim Crow laws, his belief that government should not intervene in cases where discrimination is evident is troubling. His statement is oxymoronic considering the fact the Civil Rights Act was proposed and enacted to oenforce the constitutional right to vote, to confer jurisdiction upon the district courts of the United States of America to provide relief against discrimination in public accommodations, to authorize the Attorney General to institute suits to protect constitutional rights in public facilities and public education, to extend the Commission on Civil Rights, to prevent discrimination in federally assisted programs, to establish a Commission on Equal Employment Opportunity, and for other purposes. Thus, to vote against this act is akin to tacitly allowing institutions to continue patterns of historic discrimination.
This bill essentially argued again the ALL Americans should have equal protection under the law. To merely say that “I oppose Jim Crow” means nothing if you want to repeal a piece of legislation that outlaws it. You can’t talk about the Civil Rights Act of 1964 without talking about Jim Crow.
Dear Edward,
Are you more shocked at the fact that Ron Paul said this or that he is a libertarian and the only politician that is strictly aligned with his political values? Libertarians support small government where the government only provides the public goods (see economic definition) at the most. Libertarians believe that government intervention erodes individual choice and freedom, so it should be at a minimum. Its not oxymoronic for a strict Libertarian to be a strict Libertarian. The Jim Crow Laws (by being a law from the authority of the municipal governments) also erodes individual choice and liberty. You can disagree with it morally, but you should stray from attacking an ideology that you’re unwilling fully understand.
Dear Edward,
Are you more shocked at the fact that Ron Paul said this or that he is a libertarian and the only politician that is strictly aligned with his political values? Libertarians support small government where the government only provides the public goods (see economic definition) at the most. Libertarians believe that government intervention erodes individual choice and freedom, so it should be at a minimum. Its not oxymoronic for a strict Libertarian to be a strict Libertarian. The Jim Crow Laws (by being a law from the authority of the municipal governments) also erodes individual choice and liberty. You can disagree with it morally, but you should stray from attacking an ideology that you’re unwilling fully understand.