A reader writes:
One of your readers argued that Ron Paul's position on the drug war isn't about racism but rather his stance on constitutional matters. Fair, but this doesn't mean Paul wasn't very aware of the insidious racist nature of the war on drugs. Here's Paul, from a speech in 1988 (right around when the material in the newsletters got nasty):
"Before the 20th Century there was none of that [drug prohibition] and it was the medical profession as well as many other trade groups that agitated for the laws. And you know there’s a pretty good case made that this same concept was built in with racism as well. We do know that opium was used by the Chinese and the Chinese were not welcomed in this country,” Paul said. “We do know that the blacks at times use heroin, opium and the laws have been used against them. There have been times that it has been recognized that the Latin Americans use marijuana and the laws have been written against them. But lo and behold the drug that inebriates most of the members of Congress has not been touched because they're up there drinking alcohol."
More here.
The Dish 