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    Ron Paul's First-Class Airplane Trips: Do as I Say Not as I Do

    This story comes from the Yahoo! Contributor Network, where individuals publish their unique perspectives on some of the world’s most popular websites.
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    COMMENTARY | It certainly is a good thing there are people out there who are watching our tax dollars, making sure we aren't spending any more than we have to. The latest? The Associated Press has found Republican congressman and presidential hopeful Ron Paul has spent $25,000 more than he should have on airfare. Yup, seems he is booking first-class tickets between Houston and Washington instead of flying in economy class.

    Since Paul is running on eliminating waste in the federal government, it would seem that he should be "walking the walk and talking the talk," according to Steve Ellis, head of a budget watchdog group, as quoted in an AP report. The report also mentions looking at Rep. Michele Bachmann's expenses as well and found she also flew first class.

    When do you think the AP or the Taxpayers for Common Sense will release a report on how much of our tax dollars are spent by another candidate on his trips? Of course, I refer to Barack Obama, who has his own taxpayer-funded private jet that brings flying first class to a whole new level.

    Should Paul follow his lead when it comes to flying? Is he being hypocritical when he talks about spending cuts yet doesn't watch his own spending? With the amount of the deficit in the trillions, would $27,621 make a difference? It would if each representative were to do the same; then we might be talking some real money.

    Paul has said he will eliminate $1 trillion from the budget, mostly by eliminating three government departments and a lot of foreign aid, perhaps his travel budget would be a good place to start? He claims to be the tea party candidate and has made claims he founded the tea party movement, and one of its core principles is fiscal responsibility. Setting an example by getting your own house in order would be a good start.

     
    • DemoDude  •  4 mths ago
      Lawrence O'Donnell debunked this story last night. Ron Paul exchanges coach flight tickets for first class using frequent flyer miles, Has to do with problems associated with recess scheduling in Congress and buying non-refundable coach fare tickets in advance. Congress doesn't know precisely they will recess, but still it's scheduled. O'Donnell made a decent gesture.
      • Matthew 4 mths ago
        When one of the media's largest liberals DEFENDS Ron Paul and debunks this made-up story, you know that this article is essentially as good as toilet paper.
      • illini fan 91 4 mths ago
        Well at least toilet paper has a use.
    • Richard  •  Charlotte, North Carolina  •  4 mths ago
      If this is the biggest scandal you can find on a candidate, I say vote for him. If he flew coach, would you write that he should have taken a bus or train? If he drove, would you suggest he hitchhike? Compare his spending with any other candidate. How much do they spend on their campaign advertising, travel, hotels, staff, suits, etc.?
      • timmy 4 mths ago
        MSNBC callled the AP on their #$%$ and proved that tax payers do not pick up the cost beyond coach due to FFM. We do not pay a penny more. Search the story, as it lays it out well.SHAME ON YOU YAHOO FOR NOT CONFIRMING THE FACTS AND JUST BASICALLY REPRINTING AN ALREADY PROVEN FALSE AP STORY
      • aarroozz 4 mths ago
        Ron Paul is the only candidate working for the people. The others have unlimited funds they have stolen from the people through corrupt legislation they have lobbied for that provides them advantage over their mom and pop local competition.
      • TerryM 4 mths ago
        Yea whoever wrote this article is completely ignorant. So since he is saying America needs to watch how we spend our money, apparently him buying a first class ticket is a no no lmao...I swear people are BLIND!
    • sharon b  •  4 mths ago
      As long as he paid those ticket himself..not tax payer money i don;t care
    • tedgi  •  4 mths ago
      One time I saw Ron Paul double dip some Ranch Doritos. I was appalled.
    • Chris York  •  4 mths ago
      This has already be debunked by MSNBC, Ron's flights cost the same amount as everyone else in congress who fly back and forth.
      • Ryan C 4 mths ago
        Chris, we cant handle the truth.........
      • Chris York 4 mths ago
        Heh, well maybe the AP would like to think we can't. ;) It's kind of sad how desperate they are to find some kind of dirt. First the newsletters, then it was proven that someone else wrote those during a period when Ron wasn't in office, now this.
    • Charles  •  Centro, Mexico  •  4 mths ago
      He flies on Continental. Once you fly a certain amount a Continental per year, a complimentary upgrade to 1st class on flights within the U.S. is a near certainty, depending on one's frequent flier status, and Ron paul likely has a high one given that he flies 30+ trips per year (at the reduced government fare).

      I do not like the guy's politics at all, but this is a non-issue.
    • DW  •  Boulder, Colorado  •  4 mths ago
      The guy wants to eliminate $1 trillion in his first year, and eventually wipe out our $15+ trillion debt, and you guys want to focus on $25,000 that was spent getting refundable airplane tickets for the Congressman to do his job? Are you f-*-ing kidding me? If we get another four years of the same with Obama or Romney, I blame the mainstream media for publishing idiotic articles like this one...
    • Ray Sisd  •  4 mths ago
      The reason why Ron Paul is smeared and lied about and censored is because he is a standing rebuke to ALL the liars in 'our' govt/media. (If men speak lies, their own words can be used against them. Paul is truthful: there is nothing that can be used against him--except for force, fraud, and censorship.)
    • GuyPaul-2012  •  San Diego, California  •  4 mths ago
      2/3 reporters unemployed 2012!
    • gray  •  Wilmington, North Carolina  •  4 mths ago
      Let me get this straight romney says he would vote for ndaa, but this is all you have to write about?????
      • Upheevl 4 mths ago
        Romney is the wealthiest of all candidates. Net worth est 1/4 Billion. Financial disclosure show he has millions in offshore funds in Caymans and elsewhere. Helps him avoid tax w/investments in his blind trust (Bain Capital). Wants to do business with people who also want to avoid taxes. About two weeks ago, the FBI evoked FOIA exemption 7(a) and denied access to all Bain Capital records on the grounds that "there is a pending or prospective law enforcement proceeding relevant to these responsive records; and that release of the information contained in these responsive records could reasonably be expected to interfere with the enforcement proceedings."
    • Frank  •  4 mths ago
      So the government is allowed to spend everyone's money on things we can't afford, but Ron Paul can't spend his own money on things he can afford?
    • andrew  •  Grand Rapids, Michigan  •  4 mths ago
      If this is the worst thing there is on RP then I'd say he's a pretty #$%$ good choice!
    • Mike  •  Columbus, Ohio  •  4 mths ago
      Try getting any work done while crammed into a coach seat, especially if you are well known.
    • Real  •  4 mths ago
      What a stupid worthless article. Seriously.
    • Jeff  •  Jackson, Tennessee  •  4 mths ago
      Judas Priest!!! Where's all the crap on Mitt Romney? The guy clearly has news media amnesty! Ron Paul flies first class because the tickets are refundable if he has to cancel flights - instead of private jets like these other snakes.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Tamuning, Guam  •  4 mths ago
      His son recently returned half a MILLION dollars of his office operating budget to the Treasury...I suspect the elder Paul does the same thing, but of course this numbskull only reports on the side of being a government official that makes him look bad. I would argue that for safety and working conditions all Congresspeople should be in first class - even contemptible comedians from MN.
    • Smackass  •  4 mths ago
      Boy, this writer is an idiot.
    • James  •  Plymouth, Michigan  •  4 mths ago
      Yes, Ron paul, the guy who returns money from his congressional office budget every year and does not even participate in the lucrative congressional pension plan is out to milk the taxpayers. It does say something when this is all they got on Dr. Paul. You want to see something really scary then go dig up what the other congressmen and women are spending. Of course since you just vomit what the AP reported, I guess that means you don't know how to do any research yourself. Pathetic.
    • Brad Arlington  •  4 mths ago
      Paul has said he would take a $39,000 salary as president, as that is the income of the average american household.
    • Raul  •  4 mths ago
      Hard ball anyone?
      Yahoo has a witness that will testify that she went into the bathroom after Ron Paul and that the seat on the toilet was left up. She is being held in an undisclosed location for her safety and will be brought forth to testify if RP refuses to drop from the race.
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