Forget Sarah Palin. Forget that she is “libertarian leaning”–so is Bob Barr; forget that she said “something good about Ron Paul”–so did Ralph Nader; forget that she “took on the GOP”–so did John McCain.
Let’s say that a real libertarian was asked by John McCain to be his vice presidential running mate. Let’s say that he asked Ron Paul because he thought it would help him get elected. Let’s say that Ron Paul accepted. If this had actually happened, I see two possible scenarios.
1. Ron Paul is allowed to be on the ticket with the understanding that he must never criticize McCain or his policies. Once elected, McCain just gives him an office in the White House and pretends that he has no vice president. Dr. Paul keeps his mouth shut during the campaign and then for four years until he can run for president on his own.
2. Ron Paul campaigns for McCain and his policies even though he doesn’t like him or them. That is, he lies so he can help McCain get elected and then continues to lie for four years until he can run for president on his own.
McCain would prefer no. 2 but might accept no. 1 if he thought it would still help him get elected. Paul, because he is a man of integrity, would never go for either scenario–even if it guaranteed him the Republican presidential nomination.
