What Would Ron Paul Do?
The thing I find most remarkable about the campaign Ron Paul is running this primary season is his organization's ability to mobilize a large army of young, enthusiastic volunteers like Obama did in 2008. The task of harnessing the raw energy of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Paulites is more challenging than it might seem at first blush. Think about it – the task of organizing daily schedules and canvassing itineraries for hundreds of temporary and rotating volunteers would most likely prove to be a full time job for a handful of staff members. Then, consider that the campaign is centered in Iowa right now – a state where the average resident is, well, a whole lot more normal looking and wholesome than a lot of the edgier Paul supporters that come from places like Berkeley or Brooklyn or Madison. Never having spent too much time in Iowa (I did drive through the state on I-80, but that hardly counts for anything) this is just conjecture, but I would assume that native Iowans, especially Iowan Republicans might be a bit turned off by a scrappy looking youth trying to sell them on the virtues of Mr. Paul. That's where the "What Would Ron Paul Do" code of behavior comes into play. The NYT reports on young Paul volunteers cleaning up for the cause:
And they say they are under strict orders: To look, dress, shave, sound and behave in a way that will not jeopardize Mr. Paul’s chances. Even before flying here on their own nickel, some students said they had been instructed to cover up tattoos and told that their faces should be fresh-shaved or beards neatly trimmed, wearing only nice clothes that one described as “business casual."
“No tats,” another volunteer, Rocco Lucente, said as he ticked off the rules after arriving at the airport Tuesday night. No liquor, no drugs and, he said, no “fraternizing in the dorms, nothing like that.”
He said the standard expected of volunteers was: “What would Ron Paul do?”
Persuading youth to forsake their means of "personal expression" for the sake of the cause — as I said, it's a pretty remarkable coup.
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Jul '11
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
The vast number of people that feel betrayed by career politicians, crony capitalists, the military industrial complex, both political parties, and our crooked Federal Reserve should not be underestimated. Right now a decent number have hitched their wagon to Paul, warts and all. If people want the support of these folks they ought to understand what they want. Their common enemy is the crony/insider establishment and many view the GOP as equally complicit in the destruction of our country's finances considering Bush 2.
Whether people agree with youth supporting Ron Paul or not, the movement is very real and Paul has mobilized kids that really do have insight and interest in their future. In the battle against crony capitalism, where does the GOP lie? How much has big pharma, Wall st, and the insurance lobby given to Mitt Romney?
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
Good point here, DocJay. And that would explain the NYT's recent attempt to paint Obama as a distant outsider...
Jun '10
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
It's the Barack Obama phenomenon all over again. The true believers don't care about Paul's past associations or his biases. He'll change things. Even apart from any bad motives, Paul's isolationist utopia is just not possible anymore. The world is too interconnected--both economically and diplomatically. You can't isolate the wreckage to foreign lands. You can only try to direct it away from yourself...if you're involved.
Dec '11
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
Same thing happened in 1968, when scruffy young supporters of Senator Eugene McCarthy were exhorted to cut their hair, shave and go "Clean for Gene".
And guess what? McCarthy knocked Lyndon Johnson out of the running for re-election.
Dec '11
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
I've said this on Twitter the other day and it seems, to me at least, apt here as well: Ron Paul dose not have supporters, he has followers; he's less politician than he is a kind of Cult-Leader.
Jan '11
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
Glad to know I'm a cult follower. [Redacted]. I'm bright, articulate, and free thinking, which is why I've repented of my neoconservative, islamophobic tendencies and recognized that not only are most GOP members RINOs when it comes to fiscal policy, but that our foreign policy over the last thirty years has been an abject failure that has only increase hatred toward us. A rich Iran means a rich elite and middle class in Iran which is already highly educated and highly skeptical of islam, and will overthrown the mullas if they have enough internal financial backing.
As for charges of racism and Ron Paul's associates, I'm not a liberal loon prone to PC [nonsense]. I'll stand with my racist friends and win them over, rather than exclude them and ensure their continued racist views.
Edited on Dec 30, 2011 at 4:21amMar '11
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
Go Clean for Gene
It turns out the ragamuffin constituency is more decisive than you'd expect!
May '10
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
@Gobluesasquatch, what do you do when the power of a radicalized Islam overwhelms the sane changes you hope will come with a growing Iranian middle class? This is the risk which accompanies your position. I do sympathize, but there are similar problems in China: the whole "March towards political freedom preceded by economic freedom" is at risk when economic conditions worsen.
Apr '11
Re: What Would Ron Paul Do?
He also has quite a lot of supporters. Even in a caucus state, even in (non-online) polls, you can't win on hardcores alone.