DISGUSTING

Date: January 1, 2012
Program: Fox News Sunday
Topic: Interview with Ron Paul
Source: http://www.foxnews.com/on-air/fox-news-sunday/index.html#/v/1360001989001/rep-ron-paul-defends-controversial-aids-comments/?playlist_id=86913

         Until I'd watched this video, I'd had a fairly favorable view of Ron Paul. That has certainly changed. I give him credit for being somewhat consistent in his ideologies--more than most of the other Republican candidates--BUT when your ideology is so consistent that it violates certain moral boundaries, you have absolutely crossed the line. Paul, in the interview, in my opinion, crossed the line, in TWO instances. 

        First, his stance on HIV/AIDS is absolutely ridiculous. He writes in a 1997 book, "The individual suffering from AIDS certainly is a victim of his lifestyle, but this same individual victimizes innocent citizens by forcing them to pay for his care." In the interview he reaffirms this statement, saying that people are products of their own foolish actions and that they should have to pay more for insurance as a result. Let's make a few things clear. 1) In addition to sexual activity, HIV/AIDS can be transmitted via childbirth and open wounds. Childbirth is NOT a foolish action. Touching somebody elses' blood is NOT foolish action. 2) this policy would indubitably discriminate against some sub-populations (e.g. African Americans, perhaps male homosexuals) of the United States. Furthermore, how would one prove if the disease were transmitted via foolish behavior? AND isn't foolish behavior a subjective term?  In my book, this is NOT reasonable discrimination...

      In his same book, Paul writes, in reference to sexual harassment in the workplace, "Why don't they quit [their jobs]once the so-called harassment starts? Obviously the morals of the harassee cannot be defended, but how can the harassee escape some responsibility for the problem?" In the interview, Paul calls verbal sexual harassment "rude behavior" and says it should be dealt with at home, not by the federal government. IF ANYONE SHOULD BE FORCED TO QUIT HIS/HER  JOB IN A SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE, IT SHOULD BE THE HARASSER, NOT THE HARASSEE. Safety prevails over ideological concerns! Even verbal harassment can be scarring. This is ridiculous. I just lost oodles of respect for Mr. Paul. Good Bye.