Texas Rep. Ron Paul drops a bomb
(CNN)-2012 GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul raked in almost $3 million in small donations over the last five days during his latest fundraising push.
The twelve-term congressman launched his "Black This Out" moneybomb following the CNN Western Republican Debate in Las Vegas. Claiming he did not speak for 40 minutes during the debate, Paul turned his gripe into a grab for funds by blasting supporters with a request to donate from October 19th to Monday at noon.
CNN debate host Anderson Cooper disputed Paul's claim, noting that his lapse in speaking didn't surpass 20 minutes, including a three minute commercial break.
"Candidates are welcome to whatever views they may have on the issues or opponents and the media, but facts are facts, and in this case, the Paul campaign is simply wrong on the facts," he said on CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, two days after the debate.
"There's no gap longer than 19 minutes and 16 seconds, and it's certainly nothing like the 40-minute gap that Congressman Paul claims in his fundraising letter," Cooper said. "It just didn't happen."
Rep. Paul brought in $2.75 million for his third presidential campaign during the moneybomb, named for the "blackout" he complained of following the debate. Paul has made two previous runs for the White House–in 2008 as a Republican, and in 1988 as the Libertarian candidate.
The Paul campaign touted donations from all 50 states, U.S. territories, and U.S. military installations that numbered 44,527.
And his latest moneybomb brought in almost one-third of the campaign's entire third quarter haul of $8.27 million.
- CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Also see:
Cain 'flip-flops,' Bachmann says
Obama heads West to campaign, push jobs bill
Watch Anderson Cooper 360° weeknights 8pm ET. For the latest from AC360° click here.
From CNN Politics
- White House tells refugee advocates Biden likely to raise cap quickly April 17, 2021 04:48 pm
- The 2020 election still hovers over the Supreme Court with another pending Pennsylvania case April 17, 2021 04:02 pm
- Marjorie Taylor Greene launching 'America First' caucus pushing for 'Anglo-Saxon political tradition' April 17, 2021 02:53 pm
- Families of Americans held in Afghanistan and Russia worry about consequences of Biden's tough foreign policy moves April 17, 2021 02:19 pm
- White House backtracks on refugees decision after criticism and says Biden will announce increased cap by May 15 April 17, 2021 02:00 pm
- 60 years after the Bay of Pigs invasion, many Cuban Americans' distrust of the Democratic Party still affects national politics April 17, 2021 01:49 pm
twelve terms he's one that needs to go along with the rest in DC
Ron Paul doesn't speak up, blames the media, then uses that as a fulcrum to fleece the yahoos who follow him, for campagin donations. Only Ron Paul followers could be taken so easily.
Paul can spend and donors can donate all they want. Paul will never be president, and I don't agree with half of the things he proposes.
@Ron Paul in'12: "We were so much more prosperous and free when the government didn't meddle in our lives."....
That is the most COMPLETELY inaccurate statement I've ever heard.
This guy reminds me of Pat Paulsen. Does anyone else remember him.
"Texas Rep. Ron Paul, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination, cried foul Friday over the killing of a radical U.S.-born cleric in Yemen without a trial, joining a chorus of civil liberties groups raising "due process" concerns over the drone attack."
NO to Paul!!
Haters gonna hate. Ron Paul is the only candidate on either side to stick to his guns on a variety of issues for extended periods of time. He won't "flip flop" on an issue because it's the flavor of the week. If you want someone who can't keep their promises (I.E. CLOSE GITMO AS SOON AS A CERTAIN SOMEONE WAS ELECTED *cough*obama*cough) and promised "change" that never came, then stick with Obama. If you want ACTUAL change for this country then vote Ron Paul. He does need to run as an independent though because the republican front runners are a joke (besides Ron Paul).
President Obama announces the Sun will rise in the East. Mitch McConnell vows to fight this in the Senate, claiming it is a liberal agenda item that must not go through. Congressman Ron Paul announces that the Government should not be in the business of announcing where the sun will rise. His son, Senator Rand Paul, announces he will Chair a Senate investigation into this subversive announcement about Sunrise. Senator Reid reminds Senator Paul that he does not have the authority to call for or chair an investigative committee. Paul announces he will boycott the Senate for the next four years until he gets his way.
Social Security is near its end. He doesn't believe in it because the program will not exist by the time anyone my age (23) can access it. We are paying into something we aren't going to get, and that is crap. Earth to American citizens 50 and up, all of these super cool government programs you have depended on your whole life are just making a few people rich. Do all of the elderly have to pass on in order for anything good laws to be passed? Why pay into something that you will never get anything out of? If the "older" generations would open their minds a tiny bit and realize that the way this country has been run is atrocious, we could make progress. Oh, but Reagan was a great guy!!!111
This kind of shut out has happen to Ron Paul in years past. He should of learned by now. He needs to just interrupt and speak up. Hey I got something to say damn it. If not he will continue to get the same old black out crap. Its CNN for Christ sakes Ron.
AMERICA! WAKE UP! Just as you cannot trust the government and their continuation of corporate welfare, you cannot trust the corporate media. RON PAUL 2012. RISE ABOVE THE ESTABLISHMENT
Ron Paul is our only hope of saving this country. Otherwise the Bush / Obama conglomerate will continue to wage war on the American middle-class and bankrupt the country.
The Kochtopus at work...
Well, sorry man, guess you want to live in a few more decades of decline and recession. If you want the same old failed policies, go ahead and vote for a corporate backed leech who will run this country's debt even higher. In reality, it doesn't matter if you vote for Obama, Romney, Cain, or Perry. The next ten years will look a lot like the last ten. Ron Paul is the ONLY one who can turn things around and it's disheartening to see so many brainwashed people commenting here. Cast your vote for Paul if you want America to be great again.
Ron Paul did not write that e-mail. He went out of his way to say in a fox interview the day after the debate that thought the debate was fair and so was his time. The blackout moneybomb had nothing to do with the CNN debate and was planned well before its occurrence. There must've been a mistake from Paul's staff, but Paul himself did not say what he's accused of.
I'm sorry but, I keep hearing all this talk about Paul being a man who sticks to his principles, blah , blah, blah. I can't even decide what poliitical affiliation he wants to run under. Is he a Republican or a Libertarian (acutually, I'm having a hard time determining btw the two – one seems more secular than the other). He used to be a Democrat when they were conservatives and the party's changed ideologies. Seriouisly, I only see monons dumping tons of cash into a lost cause. Yeah, I hear ya. You LOVE Ron Paul but, you and I both know he won't get the nomination for the GOP just like Huntsman won't. He's too – not too, but rational and secular. He doesn't tow the party line and the fundi's won't like him. Does Ralph Nader ring any bells? Even if he decided to run again as a democrat instead of a green party rep, he would have lost. Vote your conscience or vote for the lesser of two evils or don't I don't care but, for God's sake please put your support and money into something that will acutally make a difference. Ralph got us GW.
The Paul campaign got the 40 minute figure from Michell Bauckman who was told by a lady in the audience, so it must be true.
President Obama says that we need to spend another trillion in stimulus to make sure the sun keeps rising in the east. President Obama apparently believes water runs uphill and needs more trillions in government "stimulus" to make it run downhill.
I guess getting in a snit about nothing, i.e., relevant to facing up to the real economic disaster facing our nation, such as unemployment, is less challenging and "safe," Go for it. However, down the line, "gee, i wish I had...," won't cut it as an excuse.
Cooper and Gregory are anti-American. No better than Bill O'Reilly or Rush Limbaugh. Disgusting. History will expose them as traitors to free society. Their power is waning as media 2.0 takes hold. The American people know that Wall Street is the head, FOX, CNN and MSNBC are the mouth and the executive branch is the iron fist. They know they are being lied to and robbed by people with influence and that if we don't change course we will look a lot like Greece in a couple of years. Oh you didn't know Greece is rioting right now? Thank our media for the fascinating coverage of fecal matter on Anderson's cell phone (presumably from the BS that spews from his mouth).
Ron Paul supporters spend big in their futile attempt to get him into office, but would they give that much to charities if he actually won?
Considering Ron Paul's policy for everything seems to be "take the government out of it and make charities handle it," the already-stressed and under-funded charities and organizations in our country would need much more support if required to shoulder even more responsibility under a Paul administration.
So Paul supporters, how much have you given to charities this year? If you really believed in Paul's message, your money would have been better spent giving it to one of these organizations rather than Paul.
The wailing of the ignorant masses against Dr Paul is primarily upsetting, as these same mouthpieces are part of the problems from which the USA suffers. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
CNN, shame on you for reporting something that is not accurate. You should stick to simply reporting facts. Fact #1 BlackThisOut was scheduled one month before the debate. Fact #2 Paul's Supporters did it, not his campaign. The media is evil..
The media will not stop the Ron Paul revolution. Freedom and Liberty will win in the end.
Ron Paul 2012