Ron Paul: I don't fully endorse Romney for president

Former Gov. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., and Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, are seen at a Republican Party debate at the University North Florida on January 26, 2012 in Jacksonville, Fla.

/ Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

(CBS News) Republican Rep. Ron Paul, the libertarian leader who competed against Mitt Romney in the GOP primary, isn't speaking at the Republican National Convention because he isn't willing to give Romney his full endorsement, Paul told the New York Times.

In an interview with the Times, Paul said that he was offered an opportunity to speak at the convention this week on two conditions: that he let the Romney campaign vet his speech, and that he give Romney his full support. He declined the offer.

"It wouldn't be my speech," Paul said. "That would undo everything I've done in the last 30 years. I don't fully endorse him for president."

As Romney prepares to officially accept the Republican presidential nomination at the convention in Tampa this week, his campaign has been making amends with the Paul campaign and its ardent supporters. For instance, the Romney campaign this week will show a short tribute film about the libertarian-leaning congressman. And while Paul will not address the convention, his son, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, will deliver a speech.

Ron Paul himself will address his supporters at a rally at the University of South Florida on Sunday afternoon.

[synchroman69]

The Republicans stated over a year ago that there should only be one party in this country and it should be the Republican Party. It seems the Democrats and even good Republicans do not see what has been and is transpiring in this country. It is the take over of the government. The tactics are the same that the Nazi party used in 1930s to take over the legal government in Germany. People, the Fourth Reich is alive and viable. History will repeat itself if you all do not get out the word and get the votes out against all Republican candidates. You have already seen the results in Republican control states what they are capable of. The Fourth Reich started to seize the Republican Party in the late 1960s covertly. Conspiracy? No. In 1962 at the age of 22 I was told this scenario by someone who was going to DC and picked me up as a hitchhiker going to Boston. I told him it was not possible that the constitution is our protection. As we are now seeing this person knew what was being put forth in the political system and is now happening.

[rondonaz]

It's time for you to take your medications and get some sleep. The truly sad thing is that your rant fits right in with the other nonsense posted here on CBS. I seldom read CBS on-line, and these moronic comments confirm that decision. I love the idiotic comment by life 220, referring to Romney as the Mexican Mormon Moron. In truth, Romney is likely the most intelligent Presidential candidate in our nation's recent history, but liberals have always liked to try to question the IQ of Republican candidates, in spite of hard evidence that they are brighter than the Dem candidate. For grins, let's get Obama and Romney to both reveal their undergraduate and Harvard Law School grades; it would be an eye-opener for all the liberals who get chills running up their groins when they contemplate Obama's supposed brilliance.

[RollotheNorman]

Well, Ron, that's why the RNC conducted a purge of your supporters from state delegations. Hey all you Libertarians, that goes to show what the "big tent" thinks of you.

[TimeToEvolve]

Most of us who are liberals and progressives (read, those of us who have common sense and can think for ourselves) are going to grin and bear voting for Obama and Democrats.

The alternative, to vote for another incompetent Republicon administration whose ideas have utterly failed, is too painful to imagine. At least Obama cares about people other than rich white men.

[romneyman]

Ross Perot was seen in Texas at Ron Jon Paul's Surf Shoppe, under his hood to see what went wrong? Remember Ross? He's an old-man too!
Ron Paul is a nice old man but why can't he join the Astronauts like Armstrong, Glenn and Nelson for the last shuttle into Space?
They will be up there forever for all you Spaced-out Voters??

[TimeToEvolve]

Hey, you would not be an American with a brain if you fully endorse the wacko Mitt Robbed Me. Didn't this extremist wacko get thrown under the buss last time, in 2008. He's like a bad dream that keeps coming back.

[EmpireGeorge______--]

by Repubs_R_Fiscal_Liberals August 26, 2012 4:48 PM EDT

Perhaps you don't realize that not supporting a republican doesn't mean someone supports the dems instead.
________________

Not supporting the Republican, means you support Obama, there are two choices, and two only.....Ron Paul didn't secure the nomination and any others are insignificant, so there you have it, two choices.....if you are against one, you are for the other....it's pretty simple, everyone in the country knows this, the primary season is over !!! did you not get the memo ?

[mikesfilms]

A liar (per Newt Gingrich) and a potential tax cheat, he'll collapse the Economy and wreck the Recovery. Two of three voters don't trust Romney. Assoc Press GfK poll: 58% of adults expect Obama to be re-elected. Even 43% Repubs expect Romney to lose. With his millions, he sunk Santorum, Gingrich, Paul and others. He'll sink the GOP next election.

[Kestrel88]

Romney is as unwelcome as the flu. No one likes him -- not even the weather wants to help him out.

The GOP wants people to vote for a lemon. Good luck. Hope y'all find someone human for 2016.

[RollotheNorman]

True CONservatives vill support Ron. Ve vil see who ist true und who ist a poseur. Und then ve have vays of pluckink out the veeds.

[cologirl55]

"No one Likes him"-REALLY? Are you braindead? He and Obama are about 1 percentage point apart in the race towards President. As for being a lemon-Romney was THE MAN to go to To Fix things in business. EXACTLY what we need to FIX the economy and unemployment rate! So when you say "no one likes him" YOU MEAN YOU! and maybe your half wit cousin and your addled brain sister. Go spew your venom elsewhere.

[erin_yu]

Ron Paul may be a crackpot. But he has a strong and fanatical following. That's why Mitt Romney and the Republican establishment made a concession to Ron Paul's loony wing of the party by incorporating the ludicrous idea of returning to the gold standard as part of the GOP's platform. Ron Paul may be batty, but he's no fool. Ron Paul sees how phony Mitt Romney is. Ron Paul dislikes Romney, although he can't totally turn his back on Romney because he hates the Democrats even more. So Ron Paul is between a rock and a hard place, so he will simply give a grudging, no commitments type of endorsement to the Republican party.

[NaziBigotCensorship]

Go away old geezer insane hypocrite carrer politician.
I guess Libertarian and fake GOP do not believe in term limits.

[NaziBigotCensorship]

"career"

[RollotheNorman]

Sie sind Nazi nicht! Ve vill catch little traitors like you and gekicken zem in der pissport mit our hobnailed boots!

[stevex47]

I at least respect the guy for sticking to his guns.

He should have run as an independant. He's as much a republican as Obama is.

[cologirl55]

Romney is WHAT the Republican Party Once WAS-and seriously needs to get back to! Morales, ethics, values, etc. Haters like you people need to go sit in the Mud with your President Muslim Barack Hussein Obama. The muslims claim him as one of their own!

[RollotheNorman]

"by cologirl55 August 27, 2012 12:09 AM EDT
Romney is WHAT the Republican Party Once WAS-and seriously needs to get back to! Morales, ethics, values, etc. Haters like you people need to go sit in the Mud with your President Muslim Barack Hussein Obama. The muslims claim him as one of their own!"

If you really believe what you say about Willard the Weasel, I've got some beachfront property in NE to sell you.