From Eric Dondero:

Formerly Self-proclaimed "NeoConservative" turned diehard Progressive Michael Lind has a hit piece on libertarians at the NeoLiberal Salon, "Bring it on Ayn Rand Geeks: Why the emergence of the libertarian right is good news for progressives" March 15.

Lind makes the case that the Right will suffer from the stridently anti-Government "libertarian" wing of the GOP. He acknowledges with the decline of the religious right, and NeoCons, the libertarians or Ayn Randians are emerging as the leading intellectual force among Republicans, led by Glenn Beck, the Cato Institute, Congressman Ron Paul and fiscal conservative Cong. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin.

Read the full article here.

But a few paragraphs down, Lind makes a major blunder, which highlights his unfamiliarity with the libertarian movement.

It is hardly surprising, then, that libertarianism is the beneficiary by default of the relative decline of its rivals on the right, neoconservatism and the religious right... Now two of the stars of the emergent right, Ron Paul and Paul Ryan, are professed disciples of the Mary Baker Eddy of egotism...

"The reason I got involved in public service, by and large, if I had to credit one thinker, one person, it would be Ayn Rand," Ryan told a convention of Randians in 2005. Ron Paul named his son Rand Paul.(Emphasis mine)

I worked for Ron Paul, on and off, in various capacities for 15 years, from 1987 to 2003. This included the 1988 Libertarian Presidential campaign as his Travel Aide. Rand, or as we knew him then, "Randy" was involved in his father's presidential effort, particularly the last few months of 1988.

I was there when he formally announced to everyone that he wanted us all to refer to him as "Rand." His motivation was two-fold; his admiration for Ayn Rand, and the distinction of Rand as unique and more formal sounding.

Ron Paul's reaction at first was a bit negative, beliving his son's name change decision to be a little silly. But he soon got used to it.

I believe Rand did eventually go to the courthouse here in Brazoria County, Texas and officially get it changed.

But there's no doubt Rand made the change entirely on his own. It is entirely incorrect for Lind to assert that it was Ron Paul (and presumably Carol Paul) who named his son "Rand."