War of Words

Ron Paul's (failed?) presidential campaign certainly demonstrated online fundraising prowess. But good old-fashioned direct mail played a highly unusual — and not exactly favorable — role as well.

The left-leaning magazine New Republic published an article titled “Angry White Man,” exposing some racist, anti-gay, anti-Israel and anti-government conspiratorial content that appeared in various newsletters published under Paul's name in the 1980s and '90s and at least one pitch letter.

The letter went out on Ron Paul stationary and contained what is purported to be his signature. But Paul has denied writing the newsletters and the pitch letter and said he doesn't know who did.

“Everybody in my district knows I didn't write them and I don't speak like that,” he said in a Jan. 10 interview with Wolf Blitzer on CNN.

When Blitzer asked how the comments ended up in his newsletters, Paul responded that publishers often don't know the content of their publications, and that the editor is responsible for day-to-day operations.

“People came and [went], there were some people [who] were hired, I didn't know any of their names,” he said. “I absolutely honestly do not know who wrote those things.”

Paul's campaign reported drawing nearly $20 million, mostly from small donors in fourth quarter 2007. More than half that total came from two 24-hour online fundraising efforts organized by supporters.