Kelly Clarkson Loves Ron Paul, Haters Pounce

Kelly Clarkson knows all about casting votes in public when it comes to singing, but politics is whole different kettle of fish: The former American Idol champ stirred up a hornet's nest with a tweet of support for fellow Texan Ron Paul, notes AFP. "I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last republican nomination and no one gave him a chance," she wrote. "If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't."

That immediately set off Paul haters who tweeted that he's a racist homophobe, notes CNN. (Apparently because of those old newsletters.) Sample: "I'm flabbergasted that an artist with such a huge gay fan base would publicly support Ron Paul," wrote one fan. Clarkson tweeted back that she is "sorry if I have offended anyone" but that she'd never heard those kinds of accusations against the candidate. "I like Ron Paul because he believes in less government and letting the people (all of us) make the decisions and mold our country. That is all." Her Twitter feed is here. Click to read how Paul's rivals are going after him on foreign policy, too. (More Kelly Clarkson stories.)