the number of posts saying "this in no way is a defense of Zimmerman" is astounding

[RZM]

131. There was a rash of Ron Paul trolls not so long ago

Hence the 'Fuck Ron Paul' meme here on DU.

Many of them posted things like:

'I'm not a Ron Paul fan, but when you think about it, we really should end the Fed and the drug war, repeal the patriot act, cut all foreign aid, invest in gold, and bring the troops home. I mean, can we really trust Obama to do this type of stuff?'

It was 'vote Ron Paul' without actually saying it (and sometimes actually saying it). These were people who signed up to DU specifically to troll for Paul. He does have a mini-army of keyboard commando zealots, after all.

That's not the same as a DUer who thinks that our current drug laws need to be reformed. I think more than half of the posters here would say that. They are closer to Paul on that particular issue than they are to the president, like it or not. I see nothing wrong with people saying that. It's just a fact.

In fact, many others are closer to him on the patriot act and the wars too. That's part of the reason there were so many Paulbots signing up here. They thought they might be able to turn some people, or at least get them to vote for him in open Republican primaries.