“In the face of several electoral challenges from tea party-connected candidates, Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul cautioned in a recent interview that ‘neocon influence’ is ‘infiltrating’ the movement he is often credited for creating. Speaking to MSNBC host Rachel Maddow on Tuesday night, Paul first took up for the tea parties as a natural reaction of the people when they are unhappy with government. What they are not, he explained, are entirely adherent to his ideas. Paul suggested that the group only ’sometimes’ represents his views. ‘My message is somewhat different,” he said. … His core issues, such as creating transparency at the Federal Reserve, recalling overseas soldiers and ending the drug war, are ‘not what is generally heard from the Republican party,’ he said.” (02/10/10)