“Dr. Paul loved President Reagan’s campaign platform and sincerely hoped he would govern that way,” said spokesman Gary Howard. “Dr. Paul remained personal friends with Reagan, flying on Air Force One with him several times, but was saddened with the weakening of the Reagan Revolution and the co-opting of Reagan’s great message by the Establishment.”
Howard said he doesn’t think Paul endorsed any candidates during the years when Reagan won the White House, so it doesn’t appear the congressman “stood with” the Republican favorite beyond 1976.
The Paul campaign has a history of manipulating the facts when it comes to Reagan-related issues. The group produced an ad in July claiming the former president had reluctantly raised the debt ceiling because of pressure from Democrats. In reality, his reluctance had nothing to do with the debt ceiling, but instead with a set of automatic defense cuts that would take effect if he and Congress couldn’t reach a deficit-reduction deal.
Paul “stood with” Reagan, but his support didn’t last for long. He endorsed the charismatic Republican in 1976 and later ostracized him while chasing his own presidential dreams — at the same time Perry backed Gore, nonetheless.
The Texas congressman may be more Reagan than the Gipper himself, but he can’t “totally disassociate” himself from the conservative icon only to invoke his name once he needs more support from the Republican base. He earns two Pinocchios for trying to have it both ways.