Think Progress

September 2, 2008

The Washington Times reported today that the McCain campaign and the Republican National Committee have been “negotiating with Rep. Ron Paul to win his support and acquire the names of his sympathizers among the 4,607 delegates and alternates at the Republican National Convention.”

However, when CNN’s John King asked Paul this morning whether such reports were true, Paul laughed. “I wouldn’t put it in those words,” he said. In fact, he said the RNC seemed to be trying to keep him off the convention floor, even though as a congressman, he should be able to get floor passes without a problem. Watch it:

Paul was barred from speaking at the convention “because the the congressman would not change his position on the war in Iraq, which he opposes.” The Washington Times also reports that Paul “was denied permission to address the Republican Platform Committee last week” after “the McCain forces who controlled the platform proceedings, as well as the Rules Committee and the Credentials Committee, objected.”

The McCain campaign’s stonewalling of Ron Paul may not have the support of his vice presidential pick, Gov. Sarah Palin. In an interview with MTV earlier this year, Palin expressed support for Paul, saying that he was “cool“:

He’s cool. He’s a good guy. He’s a good guy. He’s so independent. He’s independent of like the party machine, I’m like, right on, so am I. The party machinery, on both sides of the party, ya know, Americans are tiring of the incessant partisanship that gets in the way of just doing the right thing for this country.

Paul will at least be welcome at a “counter convention” held in Minneapolis for his supporters, where he is speaking today. Paul said he expected around 18,000 people to attend today’s rally.

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