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First Read is an analysis of the day's political news, from the NBC News political unit. First Read is updated throughout the day, so check back often.

Chuck Todd, NBC Political Director

Mark Murray, NBC Deputy Political Director

Domenico Montanaro, NBC News Political Reporter



Bill to Paul supporters: 'You’re nuts'

Posted: Monday, January 07, 2008 4:13 PM by Domenico Montanaro

From NBC/NJ’s Mike Memoli
KEENE, NH -- Several Ron Paul supporters shadowed a much larger Clinton entourage as Bill Clinton greeted supporters downtown. The former president later called them "nuts."

During his third stop of the day, the former president posed for pictures and shook hands as he strolled down Main Street on this unseasonably warm Primary Eve day. Across the street, a few Paul supporters shouted his name.

Eventually, Clinton stopped outside a bakery, offered some remarks, and took questions. As he was answering one on Iraq, one of the Paul backers interrupted and shouted that the Sept. 11 attacks were an inside job, and that the U.S. didn’t need to be in Iraq and Afghanistan.

When he dropped an F-bomb, the crowd booed. Clinton, who had tried to talk over the man, gave up.

"You wanna know what I think?” Clinton said. “You guys who think 9/11 was an inside job are crazy as hell. My wife was the senator from New York when that happened. I was down at Ground Zero. I saw the victims' families. You're nuts."

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Comments

I agree with James A.
"Clinton didn't call Ron Paul's supporters nuts. He called a 9/11 truther nuts. I am a Ron Paul supporter and I am not a 9/11 truther. I organize hundreds of volunteers and while there are some among us, they are far from the majority and we do NOT allow them to spew crap like this when campaigning with us, since we do not all agree and it has nothing to do with Ron Paul. So this person or persons were likely out there entirely on their own doing their own thing.

But, hey, if lying helps you manipulate an election, that's all that counts, right?"

I was going to express the same just in other words, no need to repeat.
Ron Paul supporters are not nuts, it is nuts not to support him.
Typical Paulnut.
PS Paul is running as smoke screen for the Dems so 9/11 troofers on the left don't get noticed. We all no Dems will win and nobody really want to move that far left. The conspiracies will remain just that...conspiracies.

As for the Paul candidacy I can only give my sincerist sympathy to his followers and movement. As a liberal, we've been trying to argue that government should be run by the constitution and by reason and science...not by religious nutbags who are obsessed with abortion and homosexuals like Kathryn from Bahm.

Another crop of kids learns what it feels like to realize that we don't elect good men or even decent men. We don't elect intelligent men, philosopher kings, or even men with 5th grade reading levels. We elect corporate shills, we always have, and always will. The last man to buck that trend JFK got a quick one to the head.

There will be no great democratic revolution. Most people are so ignorant as to our American principles and the constitution that we will go on like this for centuries more, long after all of us are dead.

I still hope, but I've learned not to expect much especially when there's enough Christians out there to manipulated into voting for anyone who talks nice, hates gays, and wears a cross.
I was one of the Ron Paul supports there. It is unfortunate that a supporter makes statement that do not reflect Ron Pauls postitions and Ron Paul gets the rap for it. Ron Paul has never even remotely suggested that 911 was an inside job. Most of us Paul supporters stood quietly with our signs and let Bill Clinton talk to his supports.
Paul doesn't agree with the 911 inside job wackos. And most people who support him don't believe that garbage.
Ever wonder what the term agent provocature relates to, wheiter it was set up or not, it's disgrace to journalistic ethics to use this incidence to intentionally discridet this candidate.  Unfortunitly this corruption is rampent in today's elections.  Honor is not in style, nor distinct in the collective unconscious today, thanks to the low ethics of the press.
Ron Paul has nothing to do with this "inside job" nonsense. Ron Paul is anti big government so it's not unusual that his campaign would attract 9/11 truthers that have no trust in the government.

To link Ron Paul to this "inside job" stuff is completely false. You people need to learn about Ron Paul who stands for following the Constitution, sound monetary policy and a non-interventionist foreign policy. If you can't see that the US economy is in big trouble thanks to a foreign policy it can't afford, a $10 trillion debt and an estimated $50 trillion debt when future obligations are considered then you won't understand why Ron Paul is so important.

How can you people support these other candidates that will continue this disastrous war in Iraq that even George W Bush has admitted on camera had nothing to do with terrorism or WMDs? Even Obama can't promise a withdrawal before 2013 *after* his presidential term would be up?!! You call *that* change??!!! YOU are paying for this war in a big way via heavy taxation and the hidden taxation of inflation. Pay attention people! If Ron Paul goes away the problem will NOT go away!!
This guy yelling at Bill Clinton was just an idiot.  Ron Paul has more common-sense than all the other candidates combined.  He is not a 9/11 "truther".  I would encourage people to research Ron Paul and learn his views.  Many of you will be pleasantly surprised by how much you will agree with Dr. Paul.  The guy makes a ton of sense and has great character.  GO RON PAUL!
I don't think Bush or the government had anything to do with planning or carrying out 9/11. I DO think tower 7 was a planned demolishon because of the way it 'dropped' like other buildings I've seen brought down. Regardless who is responsible, I don't think any of the candidates can do anything about it now. Any 'evidence' has long since been destroyed. Time to call it 'water over the dam' & move on to different issues that somebody might be able to do something about! I plan on voting for Ron Paul based on other issues than who was responsible for 9/11. Maybe he'll be able to rein in some of that huge out-of-control government spending if any of them could. At least we wouldn't be required to buy any mandatory healthcare insurance like what I heard Hillary promoting on the TV...
What refreshing dishonesty in MSM reporting!

Bill Clinton did not call Ron Paul supporters nuts.  By your own reporting, he said:

“You guys who think 9/11 was an inside job are crazy as hell. My wife was the senator from New York when that happened. I was down at Ground Zero. I saw the victims' families. You're nuts."

In what upside down world does that say Clinton called Ron Paul supporters nuts?
Nice try at attacking the man..

How about you elite establishment press types actually cover what THE MAN himself stands for?

Instead of like Fox news did, ban him from the debate. Doesn't that just add some credibility of a conspiracy against his campaign?

By the way, for the record, Ron Paul has never openly endorsed the 911 truth movement or their views.

www(dot)RonPaul2008(dot)com
whoa..... he didn't call Ron Paul supporters nuts, he called the people who think it's an inside job nuts.  And they are.  I dont support Ron Paul, but you guys who go out of your way to try to catagorize them into one group are rediculous.

A few bad apples don't spoil the whole bunch.  I'm saddened and ashamed to be part of a group of people that have to go out of their way to try to make everyone look bad.  We're all Americans and we're fighting with each other.  Makes me sick.
Ok, So Ron Paul indeed has a few nutty supporters (Like all candidates)so that makes all Paul supporters nuts? Thats an ignorant and insulting comments to allot of good people who support Paul and almost as Ignorant as the 9-11 conspiracy crowd comments...
Those kind of comments indeed show the person who posts them true colors and intent to paint all of Pauls supporters badly.. Shame on you people.

Lets start naming Nuts that voted for Bush in the last election, or Chinese spies that Donated money to the Clintons or the scary Whack job right wing radical Christians that support Huckabee.. I guess this makes all Bush, Clinton, Huckabes supporters whack jobs based on there IGNORANT logic..  Funny, I notice that they are quick to trash Paul but they NEVER name there choice of Candidate, Why, glass houses they live in.

I am 44 years old, politicaly active for 20 years, Professional job, Never hurt a person in my life, I have respect for all life, I help my family, friends and strangers how ever I can. I am sick of politics as usual..

I am the average Ron Paul supporter..

Brian Kuszmar
Google my name if you wish..
Lbts, Fla. 33308
I hope wholeheartedly whoever is elected is honest and truthfull and listens to the people of America instead of large greedy corporate industries and banking cartels who seem to be the real influences in almost every decision nationaly and globaly and one day you could use  good impartial mainstream media not one controlled by someone who wants to influence the votes and manipulate your minds .Ron Paul could be a duff president but his interests amount more than just warring fear and oil.
A Brit in France. Good luck whoever you get that goes for the rest of us too.
Nice try at attacking the man..

How about you elite establishment press types actually cover what THE MAN himself stands for?

Instead of like Fox news did, ban him from the debate. Doesn't that just add some credibility of a conspiracy against his campaign?

By the way, for the record, Ron Paul has never openly endorsed the 911 truth movement or their views.

Most of us Paulites aren't "9/11 Truthers."

They like Paul because he's anti-war. Don't lump all of us Paul supporters in with the crazy people.
Bill Clinton's running again?...that is nuts.
How about everyone stops listening to all the BS biased news.. and actually steps out on a limb and research the man and what he stands for ...

http://www.RonPaul2008.com
President Clinton calling anybody "nuts" is about like the "pot calling the kettle black" as grandma used to say...
Ron Paul will be on Leno tonight. Truthers are nuts.
Ron Paul isn't.

RonPaul2008.com
9/11 truthers are nuts, not Ron Paul supporters. 9/11 truthers seek out information and knowledge, which is the difference between all Ron Paul supporters and other candidate supporters.
I'm a Ron Paul supporter as well, and I'm aggravated with these loud-mouthed nutcases getting the attention when they are supposed to be loyally campaigning for the congressman.  These few people, and they are a very tiny minority, are simply using his assertive grassroots campaign as a soapbox for their personal insanity and need for attention, and the media is just as guilty for jumping on the opportunity to smear Ron Paul.  You can't put his name on your piecharts or even devote a minute to real discussion of his policiesbur and ideas,  but you sure as heck can make a headline out of some nameless nutjob hiding behind his good name.  Way to report objectively.
Ron Paul must be winning in New Hampshire.
The Clinton machine is attacking him.
This REAKS of a fabricated report or even a Clinton supporter pretending to be a Ron Paul supporter and pretending to be a 9/11 truther.
Think no one would try something that dirty?
Welcome to the world of politics ESPECIALLY Clinton politics.
That scumbag, those people should really be angry at him because Billy boy robbed our children's future by stealing money from the Social Security funds just to 'look good'.
I think anyone who thinks all Ron Paul supporters are 9/11 conspiracy theorists are the nuts ones.
Not all Ron Paul supporters are 911 truthers.  Bill was calling the 911 truthers nuts.  I find the title of this tripe offensive, and I can't believe Ron Paul has to take a hit over it.  Shame on msnbc for publishing yellow journalism.
Wow, another misleading title.  He clearly called the 9/11 "truther" guy nuts, not all Ron Paul supporters.

When asked if he thought 9/11 was an inside job, Ron Paul answered:  "Absolutely not."

Those are not Paul's ideas, and he does not support them.  Nor do any Ron Paul supporters I've ever talked to.
I am not a Ron Paul guy but it sure sounds like the nuts are trying to Hi-Jack him as a canidate listening to his supporters on this blog. That is good enough for me to believe the Truthers are not typical of Paul supporters. I still don't think he is a viable canidate.
On the 9/11 inside job, what kind of work were all those Israeli students doing here, prior to the attacks. There were seen cheering in New Jersey when the towers went down, and were ushered quickly and quietly out of the country after that. Had they planted explosives in the building prior to the attacks? I wonder why so little was said of their presence and deportation. Carl Cameron of Fox tried to say something about them but was cut off.
POST COMMENTS
As a Ron Paul supporter, I will agree that the 9/11 truthers are nuts and are doing nothing but hurting the campaign.  Their views do not represent the majority of Ron Paul supporters, 'nor the man himself.
Truthers are nuts. How could honest and decent people like Jorge and Dick be into anything rank?
Way to go, Bill Clinton -- I'm not usually a fan, but I am today.
I support Ron Paul and I think those 9-11 people are absolutely positively NUTs too.

I also believe this is an irrelavent news story...and quite honestly it is just a way to try and slander Dr. Paul's message...same thing they did to Howard Dean.  

Ron Paul has said many a time that his supporter support HIS message and that he does not necessarily support their cause.
This more than likely was a PLANT folks. Wakeup! The status quo is doing everything they can to discredit Ron Paul

Find out more about Ron Paul:
http://www.ronpaulforpresident2008.com/news/
Those are the first meaningful words I've ever heard Bill Clinton speak!
why not post a real news story like reuters?  you know there is no connection between paul and these people.  Why keep saying it?

http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS189298+07-Jan-2008+BW20080107
The Ron Paul Brownshirts strike again!

Thankfully, it will soon be over for them, and all those neo-nazi losers will have to return to their parents' basement to await the next messiah.
I dont think thes were Dr. Paul supporter just a group throwing wood into a fire...Next time find out who the were and ask them some question about there support...I dont agree with Dr. paul on a lot of issue but he does make sense on some issue....I think all the other canadates have people throwing wood on the fire to make a person not look good.....Just politcs at its best
I can hardly blame the truthers for their paranoia when stuff like this starts popping up.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3137695.ece?

There is far more to this world than taught in our schools, shown in the media, or proclaimed by the church and state. Most of mankind lives in a hypnotic trance, taking to be reality what is instead a twisted simulacrum of reality, a collective dream in which values are inverted, lies are taken as truth, and tyranny is accepted as security. They enjoy their ignorance and cling tightly to the misery that gives them identity.

Just because the media(where most of us get our information) tells us something is true, doesn't mean it is. They have the capacity to write the plot as they see fit (see media conglomerate and the movie Network)

If Americans were taught to think critcally, they would see that there ARE questions that should be asked about 9/11. You think these people are just making this stuff up?

Do your own research. Use your own brain and decide for yourselves, but this petty name calling is a waste of good human energy. You may find the "crazy" people aren't actually the crazy ones.

Knowledge is the key to unlocking our potential. Who is doing the thinking for you?

I'm becoming very alarmed seeing how often the media is doing it's own job of making sure people have all kinds of inaccurate information on what Dr. Paul stands for.  

I'm actually an Obama supporter from Chicago, but Ron Paul has a point of view we should all be hearing and taking seriously.  What does the media gain from contributing to the blacklisting of Dr. Paul's campaign already coming from all sides? Is your responsibility to whoever owns your company out weigh your journalistic responsibility to bring facts to the people?  it's very disappointing and frankly kind of scary.  Let the man be heard. He does NOT think 911 was an inside job!  President Clinton never said a thing about Ron Paul!  get it right or quit your job!
Ron Paul is a nut case(and so are his supporters). He has no understanding of human nature or world affairs.
I am a Ron Paul supporter and I think the 9/11 Truthers are FREAKING INSANE.

9/11 Truthers aren't Paul Supporters--they're doing the exact opposite of support by hijacking the campaign for their own agenda.
The truth is spending has to be cut before a tax cut will work. I will be voting for Ron Paul.
The whole idea that the Islamo-fascists want to invade the US and convert us all sounds like a conspiracy theory to me. The entire justification for the war on terror is based on a conspiracy theory.

The government refuses to show transparency in the evidence relating to the 9/11 attacks and engages in a massive cover-up, and people who question this are 'nuts'.

The American public is dumbed down beyond belief where they will go ahead and mindlessly accept Clinton's argument to the contrary. We should believe it wasn't an inside job because his wife was the senator, he was down on ground zero, and he saw the victims families. Ok, you're right, we're nuts.

Now people, please try to use some critical thinking here. Saying it was an inside job does not mean that Bush planned the attacks. When we say the government did it, we aren't saying the entire government is responsible. It only takes criminal factions inside the government to pull it off.
they are far from the majority and we do NOT allow them to spew crap like this when campaigning with us,

Uhhhh......

I watched that debate Saturday night and I was shocked that Ron Paul did not blame Brittney Spears going psycho on the Iraq war.  He blamed everything, everyone and everybody on the Iraq war.  I can see why his poll numbers are the way they are.

I thought I would never have to say this.....
But Kudos to Bill Clinton for the way he handled the Ron Paul people.  They are the DailyKOS side of the GOP...

Anybody who thinks 9-11 was an inside job is a nutcase.
This one supporter is just stating his opinion, it is not the opinion of Ron Paul or his supporters.  With every candidate, unfortunately, you do get some loonies.  Dr. Paul even publically said that it is proposterious to think that 9/11 was an inside job. He said the FBI had intelligence to indicate that there were Saudis, etc. learning how to fly planes but not land them. I get so mad when the mainstream media and others portray Ron Paul's supporters as crazy people.  I think because his supporters are enthusiastic, they get a bad rap. Regardless of what others say, Dr. Paul is an honest, intelligent man.  I just think that most "uneducated" people don't understand what he is trying to say and accomplish.  Americans are more interested in watching television instead of picking up a book and learning about the history and policies of this country.  I bet almost half of the population does not understand that our Government does not even print the money that we use.  It is done by the Federal Reserve and the Federal Reserve is comprised of private banks. So in essence our Government in 1913 gave that authority to private companies. Talk about selling us out. That is the same year that the federal income tax was passed. Our federal income tax was created to pay the interest to the Federal Reserve for the money that they print for our Government.  Watch the documentary  "America: Freedom to Facism" by Aaron Russo. Great eye opener for all Americans. As a matter of fact, Dr. Paul was interviewed in that film three years ago before he ran for President.

Peace!
truther or not about 80% of NY believes it was inside job and so do a lot of the victims families, fire dept and NYPD. So your argument isn't with Ron Paul who has said nothing of the kind but it's with other Americans that have critical thinking capabilities.
Out of ALL the coverage they have IGNORED about Ron Paul, this one was just too juicy for them to ignore. Ask yourself why the media ONLY reports on Ron Paul when there is something to put him in a negative light?

Where was MSNBC when Ron Paul was excluded from the Fox debates? Where was MSNBC when Ron Paul won all those straw polls? Where was MSNBC when Ron Paul raised all that money?

Does anyone really believe these people are unbiased?


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