A new "press corps" CW on Ron Paul?

The San Francisco Chronicle's Carla Marinucci rarely strays from the conventional wisdom of the Establishment press. So when she writes what is barely more than a puff piece like this on hardline rightwinger Ron Paul, The GOP's Dark Horse? 11/28/07, it strikes me that the GOP-friendly CW of the Beltway press corps is shifting from seeing Paul as an irrelevant "fringe" candidate to an unconventional but lovable long-shot candidate. She only hints at his far-right ideas. His history of actively courting the hardcore, militia-type far right, and their current remarkably united support for him, goes unmentioned. As does his longtime role of acting as an important channel for the "mainstreaming" of radical right ideas into the mainstream Republican Party.

At least she points out his dedication to insuring that rightwing "militia" types have unrestricted access to firearms and ammunition, as well as his hostility to pretty much any measures designed to protect the environment:

Paul's eclectic mix of fiercely libertarian and conservative values has created a passionate support base that might be unlike any other candidate in the 2008 presidential race.

The former practicing obstetrician, who has served in the House about 20 of the past 35 years, is vehemently anti-abortion - voting against federal funding of abortion, stem cell research and even family planning funding in U.S. foreign aid - and strongly pro-gun rights. His views have gained him high ratings from conservatives and groups such as the Christian Coalition and the National Rifle Association. Paul also is seen as strongly anti-environmental by groups such as the League of Conservation Voters, which gave him just a 5 percent legislative rating on his voting record.

But Paul also appeals to progressives on a number of issues: He supports repealing most federal drug laws, including those against medical marijuana, is against the death penalty, vigorously opposes the war in Iraq and is against the Patriot Act and free trade agreements such as NAFTA.

But this is pretty much the spin that the Republicans need to position a third-party Ron Paul run to appeal to conservatives and Republican-leaning independents who are against the Iraq War but are leery of voting from Democrats.

Tags: carla marinucci, ron paul