Those decades old newsletters just seem to keep following Ron Paul around like a bad penny or a stalker ex-girlfriend. And while it sometimes gets the Texas congressman peeved to the point of walking out of interviews when asked about them, it looks like the questions won’t be stopping any time soon. Three people, including one of Paul’s former secretaries, have come forward to tell the Washington Post that Congressman Paul was actually quite hands on when it came to the publication.

Ron Paul, well known as a physician, congressman and libertarian , has also been a businessman who pursued a marketing strategy that included publishing provocative, racially charged newsletters to make money and spread his ideas, according to three people with direct knowledge of Paul’s businesses…

But people close to Paul’s operations said he was deeply involved in the company that produced the newsletters, Ron Paul & Associates, and closely monitored its operations, signing off on articles and speaking to staff members virtually every day.

“It was his newsletter, and it was under his name, so he always got to see the final product. . . . He would proof it,’’ said Renae Hathway, a former secretary in Paul’s company and a supporter of the Texas congressman.

But it’s not just the secretary. A second person supposedly involved in the process – and this one is a bit more problematic because they “spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid criticizing a former employer” – claims that the use of racist comments and other highly controversial material was a deliberate marketing ploy. They go on to describe it as a way of capturing the environment of the times, including racial tension and fear of the government, and boosting sales by making the publication more provacative. He goes on to describe Paul as a “shrewd businessman” who knew that the highly charged editorials would make for “good copy” and higher sales.

Ron Paul still doesn’t look like he’s in any danger of winning the Republican nomination at this point, but if he sticks to his stated strategy of hunting delegates in the caucus states he could cause problems at the convention for the Mitt and Not Mitt candidates. With that in mind, they may start seizing on this issue yet again to see if they can drive down his support. Expect Paul to get short tempered again, but there’s no telling if that will significantly affect his share of the vote with the Ron Paul Army.