America, I want you to give me a couple of minutes here.
I want to ponder what I'm saying to you, and hear me clearly. As a family, state and nation grieves for one of its brightest, bravest heroes, there is one among us with another agenda in mind.
Over this last weekend here in Texas Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle, a man who served four tours of duty in two wars. He received not one but two silver stars, five bronze stars with valor. A husband, a father, a son. An unquestioned Patriot. A man who didn't talk about Jesus but lived his Christian belief was senselessly murdered by a fellow veteran he was just trying to help.
He's not a doctor. He didn't pretend to be a doctor. He was helping a friend. That's it. But yesterday in something I couldn't believe happened. Yesterday former congressman Ron Paul took to that brave platform we all call Twitter and tweeted this: Chris Kyle's death seems to confirm that "he who lives by the sword dies by the sword". Treating PTSD at a firing range doesn't make sense.
Well Dr. Paul he wasn't treating it. I'm sorry that you listened to the media. I thought you knew better than that. After all, aren't you a guy who just loves to blame the media on cover-ups on things like Tower 7. Suddenly you rush to believe the media that he somehow or another had his stethescope out and was treating someone.
Dr. Paul, as I have said many times we share many ideas about freedom and the Constitution and I know you fought hard for the Constitution over the years. But as I have also said many times we disagree on a good number of issues. But even those who disagree can respect each other. And I've had healthy respect for what you tried to accomplish for the cause of liberty.
I understand so unbelievably clearly that you don't like the foreign wars our nation has been involved in. I understand that you've been fighting against them from day number one, and I also understand that some of us haven't. But some of us are at a different level of understanding. We're not all Dr. Paul now.
But Chris Kyle and those like him are not the policy makers, doctor. As Americans, we don't go over to the graves of even the German soldiers from World War II and dance on them - because it's what sets us apart. A fundamental respect for life.
Would you tweet something similar about someone who smokes? "Well, He died of cancer. huh?He who lives by the cigarette dies by the cigarette?"
Would you tweet the same thing about those involved in auto accidents? How about pilots, and those in the muted media? Is this how you would react if some doctor would make some staement about Rock Hudson or Freddie Mercury?
Somehow or another I think not.
Chris Kyle gave all that he had as a volunteer for his country. In a nation that doesn't require mandatory service on anything, doesn't even require responsibility anymore, we rely on those few who're truly special, those few who're driven to put their lives where their beliefs are, and Chris Kyle did so repeatedly.
Dr. Paul, so many Americans admire you because you were willing to put yourself out there in Washington for a cause in which you believe. Chris Kyle was no different. He was willing to put himself out there for a cause in which he believed. Except he did it with other people actually shooting at him in the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan.
Quite honestly what Ron Paul wrote yesterday sounds more of the ramblings of Code Pink, the New Black Panthers, or the Westboro Church. I can't decide which one you've gained a membership in - maybe all of them. It's more the statements of members of one of those organizations than an elder statesman newly retired from office in the service of United States of America.
It's beneath you, Dr. Paul.
You know what one of our problems is as a country? We're no longer decent to one another. ANd I know there are many who would say 'Talk about the pot calling the kettle black'. I know. I know. But see, that's the point of being human. Recognizing your mistakes and then trying to be better the next day. When you assess a problem, when you know what we shouldn't be in all of these foreign wars. You admit your mistake and you move forward. You know, we shouldn't have the PATRIOT Act because they didn't mean the sunset. Then what are you going to do? Honesty and decency is required.
What I want to say is not always what should be said. Example, right now to Dr. Ron Paul. Why shouldn't it be said? Because we should be civil to one another. And we've all said things that we shouldn't have said. And maybe that's the way Ron Paul feels about this tweet last night. Maybe he regrets this serious, serious error in judgment. I hope so.
I hope that his isolationist views when it comes to the US military hasn't blinded him that he can't take a pause and reflect on life of the sacrifice, and the courage and honor of the men and women that put their lives every single day because Congress and President demand it. Because liberty demands it. Even if you disagree.
Ron Paul and to his supporters, I deal in the free speech. I deal in the First Amendment every single day. And I know unlike like most that freedom of speech that amendment the only real speech that requires protection is the speech like this that others might find ugly and offensive. I find Ron Paul's speech ugly and offensive. But I defend his right to say it. And I would not violate nor ask anyone else violate it by having him silenced. More speech, not less speech. But it requires all of us in responsible ways to respond. Because that is the right that so many like Chris Kyle fought for.
I'm becoming more and more Libertarian every day. I love these people who just that pretend they were born Libertarian. I'm sorry I'm imperfect. I guess I'm an imperfect species, but I'm learning something new every day. And I learned a few years ago - I think it was six years I started calling for the troops to return home. Again today I called for an end to the war. Like Ron Paul I've been calling for this war to be over and our troops to be pulled out of not just the Middle East but also Europe. What are we doing in Asia anymore?
I know that's not good enough for some Libertarians, and that's fine. Because if kicking a man who's now dead or kicking a family when they're down makes one a Libertarian, let me tell you something, you so-called "guardians of liberty" have grossly misread what is required for man to look like himself. And for man to create a civil society we must first be civil to each other.
For those in this audience who have wondered over and over again why I haven't, and why I could never support Ron Paul, this should finally answer your question.
