Although William F. Buckley, Jr., died more than three and a half years ago, his spirit clearly lives on in the National Review, the neoconservative political magazine he founded in 1955. The September 19 cover story, “Ron Paul’s Last Crusade,” by Kevin D. Williamson, purports to be an investigative piece about Congressman Ron Paul and his latest run for the presidency, but is instead a snide character assassination of Paul and an all-purpose smear on anyone who shares his convictions, including The John Birch Society.

“Ron Paul is kind of a dork,” Williamson declares in the article’s opening paragraph — this allegedly in favorable contrast to “Mussolinian” Barack Obama, “cowboy” Rick Perry, and “self-parodically ‘presidential’ ” Mitt Romney. Decrying the “raging personality cult” that has supposedly elevated Ron Paul far beyond what his limited natural merits could possibly justify — the congressman checks his watch too often, according to the article, and isn’t much of a public speaker, transgressions that make him America’s “most successful awful retail politician,” whatever that means — Williamson effuses paragraph after paragraph of scornful prose intended to portray Ron Paul supporters as nut jobs and ignorant wackos. Dislike the Federal Reserve? How dare they, those ignorant booboisie! Oppose interventionist American foreign policy? What are they thinking, given the shining success of America’s incessant warmaking in the Middle East and Central Asia over the past generation!

The article is classic Buckleyite National Review, with its faux intellectual sniping at anybody to the left of William Kristol and its East Coast Ivy League-esque contempt for the Old Right grassroots, all packaged in the mocking, ad hominem purple prose that was and remains the hallmark of Buckley and his latter-day epigones.

According to Williamson:

The Ron Paul party, unlike the Republican Party, is full of people who whisper darkly about “international bankers,” “the New World Order,” “globalization,” “American imperialism,” “war profiteers,” and the like. They hate Dick Cheney more than any three-espresso leftist ever hated Dick Cheney. And if Ron Paul is not the nominee — and let me go ahead and break the bad news to you guys: He’s not going to be — many of them will not be supporting the Republican in 2012. They’re already talking about an independent or third-party run for the most electable Republican who isn’t going to be elected as a Republican. And the fact that Ron Paul is on his way out — he’s not running for the House again — has a few Republicans worried that he’s going to be a looser cannon than usual.

And that isn’t the worst of it. It seems that Ron Paul and many of his followers have ties to The John Birch Society, which Williamson derides as “fringe lunatics”:

[Ron Paul] still addresses the [John Birch Society] and has other political connections to it. Asked about this by the New York Times, Doctor Paul said: “Oh, my goodness, The John Birch Society! Is that bad? I have a lot of friends in The John Birch Society. They’re generally well-educated and they understand the Constitution. I don’t know how many positions they would have that I don’t agree with. Because they’re real strict constitutionalists, they don’t like the war, they’re hard-money people.”

The John Birch Society: hard money heroes. That is an example of what one longtime Paul-ologist calls “Ron’s Ronness.” He is so maniacally focused on his issues — the Federal Reserve and American military action above all – that he has a hard time making judgments about friend and foe alike…. The John Birch Society may in fact be rock-solid on monetary policy; they also think that vast swathes of the U.S. government and business community are part of a secret socialist cabal actively working to replace American sovereignty with a one-world government under the United Nations. It’s the only political organization that I know of that lists “CONSPIRACY” as a major title under the “Issues” tab on its web page. They’re crackpots — but they’re Ron Paul’s crackpots.

Elsewhere, Williamson smears Ron Paul’s Iowa campaign manager, Drew Ivers, for his long-ago association with maverick congressman John G. Schmitz — who also was involved for a time with The John Birch Society, dontcha know (he was kicked out of The John Birch Society for his extreme views — “Too crazy for the John Birch Society – make a note,” smirks Williamson). Oh, and John Schmitz’s daughter was a teacher who notoriously had an affair with a 13 year-old student back in the '90s — “totally random but absolutely unexcludable trivia” that Williamson can’t resist bringing up, although it has absolutely nothing to do with Ron Paul or, for that matter, The John Birch Society.

For the record, Kevin, The John Birch Society does believe that conspiracies play a significant role in history, politics, and finance. However, nowhere does the JBS characterize such operations as “vast swathes of the U.S. government and business community” taking part in a “secret socialist cabal.” What the JBS does say under its “Conspiracy” tab is:

By definition, a conspiracy is when two or more people work in secret for evil purposes. The John Birch Society believes this definition fits a number of groups working against the independence of the United States. Extensive study has shown us that history is rarely accidental.

That’s it. No black helicopters. No shape-shifting aliens. Heck, not even neocons are mentioned. And given Ron Paul’s takes on U.S. foreign policy and the Federal Reserve, among many other issues, it’s a good bet the Texas Congressman would be as glad to see the United States exit the United Nations and Congress lay bare the secret machinations of the Federal Reserve as would The John Birch Society. As for malevolent cabals, check out fringe historical events such as the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, the Catilinarian Conspiracy in Ciceronian Rome, the Sicilian Vespers in the medieval Mediterranean, and other such. Nothing to be seen here, folks. Move along.

So there you have it: Ron Paul is certifiably nuts, according to the studied opinion of National Review pundits. It’s ironic that, in another feature article this month — in Time magazine, of all places — writers who presumably disagreed with many of Ron Paul’s ideas nevertheless managed to produce a thoroughly fair and professional description of Paul and his ideological influences, including economists Murray Rothbard (another figure on the libertarian right that Buckley and the National Review have always despised, and whom Buckley notoriously smeared in a brief obituary), Hans Sennholz, and Friedrich von Hayek.

But National Review, one of the most mean-spirited periodicals this side of Fangoria, has always reserved especial bile for those it perceives as ideological competitors. With the gospel of neoconservatism on the wane — thanks in no small measure to the efforts of Ron Paul and organizations such as The John Birch Society — a meritless hit piece like Williamson’s is to be expected. 

TrackBack URI for this entry

Comments (9)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

USS Constitution said:

Guilty and proud of it. "international bankers" - I'm guilty. "the New World Order" - I suppose I'm somewhat guilty, although I don't generally say those words, it does exist. "globalization" - I'm guilty. "American imperialism" - I'm guilty. "war profiteers" - Guilty as charged, there is little doubt it's been going on. "They hate Dick Cheney more than any three-espresso leftist ever hated Dick Cheney." Once again I'm guilty. "many of them will not be supporting the Republican in 2012." I'm guilty. The other candidates aren't republicans, and have no interest in all for this nation being a "republic". They are just democrats posing as republicans. When it comes to the levels of governments and so on, they are very much democrats. So I'd much rather see the left win another election and have a chance in 4 years at a real republican than be forced to wait 8 years for the chance. I hope every one of those other corporate candidates falls straight on their face. They are fakes. So, yes I'm guilty as charged. And the best part - they can't win without us. I suppose you could say that works both ways, but I'm fine with that. Because if they get elected, I lose anyway so I don't see the difference. See ya neo-cons. I will NEVER vote for you.

September 22, 2011

Publius Maximus said:

... "For more than a century ideological extremists at either end of the political spectrum have seized upon well-publicized incidents... to attack the Rockefeller family for the inordinate influence they claim we wield over American political and economic institutions. Some even believe we are part of a secret cabal working against the best interests of the United States, characterizing my family and me as 'internationalists' and of conspiring with others around the world to build a more integrated global political and economic structure--one world, if you will. If that's the charge, I stand guilty, and I am proud of it." ~ David Rockefeller - Chairman of the Chase Manhattan Bank, Chairman of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Founder and Chairman of the Trilateral Commission, Founder and Life member of the Bilderberg Group, Class A Director of the Federal Resever Bank of New York, etc.

September 22, 2011

Declaration of Independence said:

Interesting post from USS Constitution Ok first off: 1) I understand that the JBS does not endorse candidates running for local, state or national office. Members I undertand encouraged to get involved in the party of their choice and work for those seeking office who they belive will restore constitutional principles at all levels of government. 2) I also understand that The John Birch society does not endorse hatred of anyone. a)Indidviduals have their own consciences to deal with. I have heard the president of the JBS state that the JBS stands by the Constitution, The Declaration of Independence, the Principles upon which America was founded anchored to "freely accepted moral restraints like the Ten commandments. What many call the "golden rule" is a rule to respect your neighbor; to love not hate one's fellow man. b) anyone can research the JBS positions at www.JBS.org or go to JBS Youtube TV channel and watch Overview of America to get a better understanding of their views. Quite frankly I don't understand why National Review didn't do that to begin with.But here is the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RTQQJOEn9yI

September 22, 2011

Carl said:

... Does anyone actually read that rag?

September 22, 2011

Greg Butko said:

... The National Review is just one more Establishment publication, pretending to be a Conservative oracle. In reality, it is just a mouthpiece for the Republican Party Leadership, and so the globalists and special interests which control both major parties, most of mainstream media, and many of our politicians. The National Review has become a joke, just as Buckley became a clown in his final years. Both have lost all credibility with Conservatives.

September 23, 2011

Louis Nardozi said:

What REALLY infuriates me Is when we finally have a candidate that REALLY supports ALL the stated objectives of the Republican Party, they stand to one side as he is attacked and maligned and treated unfairly. GOP Leadership has had ample opportunity to address this issue, by objecting or even filing lawsuits to show they're not going to let the media pick their candidates. IF they continue to do nothing, and IF someone else gets the nomination due to their lack of action, I will be left with no choice but to vote a straight democrat ticket, RIGHT DOWN TO DOG CATCHER. Senators, Congressmen, State Senate, City Council - I all hold you equally responsible. I do NOT ask you to support Ron Paul, I only ask that you protest until he is treated fairly. That is the cost of my continued support, and I've been a Republican for 30 years. I refuse to have anything to do with people with no honor, and yours is growing well-nigh transparent.

September 23, 2011

sixstring said:

National Review Yes, quite a few conservatives and others read that "rag." In fact in the early stages of development of the John Birch Society, founder and CEO Robert Welch recommended to members to have NR placed on the reading list of major airlines. Welch thought NR deserved our support. But that was back in the early sixties when the magazine run by Buckley used to have some good writers on staff. Robert Welch and Buckley shared the same podium at conservative events. It was Buckley who went off the beam and began attacking Mr.Welch and the Birchers. Robert Welch was by far more intelligence, far wiser and moral than Buckley who came to embrace a lot of the liberal social policies. Welch remained staunchly committed to contitutional principles thoughout his life On foreign policy Welch agreed with George Washington's dictum to keep out of foreign entanglements. Vietnam US troops had been deployed and the choices were to either cut and run or win. Welch advocated a military victory and a quick end to war. Buckley tended to embrace the endless war formula of "no-win" war and more UN control and little US sovereignty over our military. Welch asked why fight them in Vietnam and help them (communists) everywhere else? The help we were given them was foreign aid to soviet bloc countries and even the USSR. Welch reasoned that any aid to communist would aid the communists in Vietnam who in fact received guns and other tools of war to kill our troops from the soviet bloc of nations. Stop the foreign aid insisted Robert Welch but Buckley went with the whole bit of big government and foreign aid handouts and the rest of the "neocon" policy that basically is big government liberalism.

September 23, 2011

MickeyHobart said:

... So basically, how dare Paul question central planning, and state robbing and murdering???

September 24, 2011

markbunnell said:

none Bush speaking on Sep.11: “Out of these troubled times, our objective—a new world order—can emerge. Today, that new world is struggling to be born, a world quite different from the one we have known.” (George Herbert Walker Bush: September 11, 1990) Although New Order can be like New and Improved Bounty. It's always new everyday.

September 30, 2011