Ron Paul People
When Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was censured by various GOP county committees in his own state recently, Graham dismissively blamed it on “Ron Paul people.” When Florida governor and U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist was defeated in a Republican straw poll by challenger Marco Rubio in December, Crist complained it was nothing more than “Ron Paul people”
At this year’s 2010 Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C/, there were plenty of “Ron Paul people,” enough to deliver the congressman a first-place victory in the annual CPAC straw poll, long considered a decent gauge of conservatives’ mindset. But when Paul’s victory was announced much of the CPAC crowd booed, showing disdain for the congressman not unlike that expressed by Graham and Crist. Those pesky “Ron Paul people” had struck again, it seemed, and many Republican establishment types quickly dismissed the poll. But one glaring question remains: Who is it that Paul’s critics prefer to him? What kind of “people” are they?
What, for example, are Mitt Romney people, who placed second this year and won CPAC’s straw poll the last three years? Romney was introduced at CPAC by newly elected senator Scott Brown, and the Massachusetts politicians stood side by side before a cheering conservative audience that seemed oblivious to the fact both men implemented government-mandated healthcare in their state, similar to the Democrats’ current national plan. President Obama and his party have even often cited the Massachusetts plan, known as “Romneycare,” as the model for “Obamacare.” In his speech, Romney also had much praise for George W. Bush. The crowd went wild.
What are “Dick Cheney people,” who received a standing ovation at CPAC? Said Cheney, “A welcome like that almost makes me want to run for office,” which elicited chants of “run, Dick run!” from the audience. Cheney promised that Obama would be a “one-term president” and said that conservatives could look forward to victory in 2010. Considering his big government track record, Cheney giving conservatives’ prospects is sort of like Tiger Woods giving marital advice. Yet loudly and with zero irony, CPAC cheered Cheney.
We could go down the list — what are Newt Gingrich, John Boehner, or Tim Pawlenty “people?” What solid, tangible conservative platform or agenda are any of these people suggesting, other than defeating Obama and the Democrats? Is a return to Bush Republicanism really a desirable goal, as Romney and Cheney’s warm welcomes seemed to suggest? Rush Limbaugh claims Paul’s straw poll victory means CPAC wasn’t conservative this year, which raises the question, “well, who was ‘conservative’ this year, Rush?” Since CPAC’s inception in 1973, what has actually been done to shrink the size of government? What in the last Republican administration, something Romney praises and Cheney represents, gives anyone who isn’t completely brain dead hope for a better, more conservative future?
When you boil it all down and though they won’t admit it, here’s what those who complain about “Ron Paul people” really care about — GOP victory. They don’t really care why, how, or to what ideological end — only that Democrats lose elections and Republicans win them. The tolerance of the big-government George W. Bush years proved as much, and the current nostalgia for Cheney only underscores this point. Those at CPAC who cheered Romney, Cheney, and the conventional rest have no intention of ever challenging the status quo precisely because they are the status quo.
Then there are the “Ron Paul people.” Paul’s CPAC speech was not simply partisan Democrat bashing, but a lesson on how any GOP worthy of challenging the status quo must finally deliver on the conservatism it has always promised. Paul said Republicans must finally show true fidelity to the Constitution. Considering the conservative movement’s abysmal failure in stopping government growth, Paul asked the crowd to reexamine first principles, casting a critical eye upon the Right’s enthusiasm for wars that don’t make much sense and cost too much money, incurring massive debt. In short, Paul called for an end to big government — all of it. Asks Pat Buchanan, “Who in the Republican Party today is calling for a Barry Goldwater-like rollback of federal power and federal programs? Except Ron Paul.” Answer: no one. Paul’s CPAC speech proved as much.
Derided as “kids,” or irrelevant “college students,” the many young people who support Paul are the heart and soul of what has been dubbed the “Ron Paul Revolution,” and they are a force to be reckoned with. Writes National Review Online’s Robert Costa, “Paul supporters were the most visible and vocal throughout CPAC.”
Expect Paul supporters to become even more visible and more vocal in the future, because it will be impossible to silence a genuine movement driven by actual conservative passion, and not just the two-party horse race the Republican establishment continues to mistake for principle. In their ignorance, conservatives who boo Paul, at CPAC or anywhere else, are essentially dismissing the only force in contemporary American politics serious about smaller government. And despite the constant media spin and gnashing of teeth, Ron Paul and his “people’s” onward march does not represent some sort of confusion within the conservative movement-but the only conservative movement.
Be kind to your kids, they’ll be choosing your nursing home…
Praise God. Is this light I see? End the GOP, the Democrats and the entire federal disgrace we call the US government. When Ron Paul wins, I’ll start flying my flag again.
YES! Freedom loving conservative Americans are here. And we are not a revolution about Ron Paul. We are a revolution about restoring our constitutional republic. We are a revolution about my wife and I deciding what’s best for our family, how we should spend our money, how we should educate our daughter, and how we should protect our family. We are fighting for our futures and our childrens’ futures and so we will win back the GOP and then our country.
Ron Paul isn’t a Conservative. Ron Paul is a Libertarian who is right leaning.
Great Read, thank you. I think if people would just take off the blinders and actually not just listen to the speeches but listen to the substance in the speeches and they will see the list of candidates who actually have a real solution to our problems is Paul. And hey im not exactly happy that the only choice, but I am hoping more will embrace his message and continue the revolution once hes gone.
This illustrates how guys like Hannity and Limbaugh can truly harm the real conservative movement. The sheeple that follow their rhetoric will never see paul as legit.
Excellent article. Thank you Mr. Hunter for your unbiased reporting.
The way Fox News reported on Ron Paul’s support at this conference reminded me of how they denounced his winning the initial presidential primary debates. According to their own polls Ron Paul won substantially. They dismissed the results, stating Ron Paul’s supporters were more technically capable and more likely to text in their votes. Then they excluded Dr. Paul from future debates. Is this what they call this fair and balanced journalism? MSM was responsible for Dr. Paul’s loss of momentum in that race, but I don’t believe people are near as gullible these days. This doesn’t just involve young people who know how to text better than the RINO’s . There is a vast majority who are tired of the expansion of unconstitutional wars, deficit spending and the loss of freedom being perpetuated by the dinosaurs leading both parties.
[...] here. When Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was censured by various GOP county committees in his [...]
Excellent article! Ron Paul has been ridiculed as a rule, in spite of the fact that he’s been 100% RIGHT about the economic situation for over 20 years. The omniscient Pundits have been wrong, but still get face time and respect from the Republicrats. The ONLY problem they really have with Dr. Paul, the thing that makes him “irrelevant”, is that he is too HONEST and consistent to be in politics.
Viva la r3voLution! Go Paul People Go!
Time to end the war against one billion Muslims, which can’t be won, and to stop making israel’s enemies our enemies. What we have managed to do is to put ourselves in the terrorist cross hairs and bankrupt the country. Out of Iraq and Afghanistan now! No more support for israeli war crimes in Gaza!
Awesome article. This really peels back the facade to expose the sham of the establishment “conservatives.”
sweet article, will post to my blog
-Travis
I strongly agree. Many Republicans have become so angry and frustrated with the Democrats’ policies, that they have lost sight of conservative values. They are no longer conservatives, they are anti-Democrats. To oppose the Democrats’ dream of utopia under a benevolent-socialist dictator, many Republicans want a moral king. Either plan destroys liberty, no matter how noble the intentions of its proponents may be.
He catching on because he’s teaching a whole new generation about constitutional principles that have been lost. Live on and grow!
Running Paul for President is probably necessary, but we should be prepared for a painful loss. We’ll have a divided party like in 1964. Ron will be too much, too soon like Goldwater was. But Barry laid a foundation for Reagan like Paul will for a more electable candidate–Rand? Let’s pray we have enough time.
There hasn’t been a conservative Republican in office in my lifetime. Reagan was all about big government and big deficits, and Bush was (much) more of the same.
Give the party to Paul — he can’t do any worse.
Two things, Sarah Palin not only believes in cutting back government, she acutally has a track record of doing so. I used to be a Ron Paul fan until his anti-war rhetoric turned into damnation. The twentieth century is long gone, but the lesson of the two world wars should still be clear. We cannot afford to sit back and let our enemies bring a war to us. I believe it is a good thing that Ron Paul won the straw poll, for many of the reasons given above. Romney isn’t a conservative, and neither is Brown. But the Paulites had better take a lesson from Obama’s current pickle. Huge positives a year ago and now a golden boy no more. The middle or so called independents in this country are fickle and unreliable, thank god. But if you Paulettes think that making him president is the end of big government I would be willing to bet dollars to doughnuts he would find himself in the same situation as O-lame-a. I personally want the tea party to dictate who represents the republicans, not the libertarians and certainly not CPAC. Paul has expended far too much energy being a gadfly. I believe most of his policies are the correct ones, but I no longer trust him. He’s to unstable, like many of the heirarchy in the libertarian movement. For instance, Lew Rockwell, a moron I want nothing to do with.
Rush only cares about two things: his wealth and electing Republicans to keep his taxes low.
I have a litmus test for war. I would not send one American soldier to fight and die in a foreign
land that I would not personally be willing to die for. Making the Middle East safe for Israel to
expand its still undefined borders is not our responsibility. (The Bible says that God promised Abraham
all the land from the Nile River to the Euphrates River. That promise was conditional and the modern
state called Israel does not and cannot meet those conditions.)
I only disagree with Ron Paul on trade and tariffs. Read Pat Buchanan’s book “The Great Betrayal.”
Pat Buchanan for president in 2012!
Finally a great article reflecting the philosophy of Dr. Paul without pandering to the pundits and presstitutes by calling him names.
Thank you for what I considered a dead language… journalism.
Ron “Janus” Paul, Hamlet of the GOP, “wild shrimp cowboy” and the anti-Reagan is the King of Earmarks and defrauding taxpayers — how is that conservative? Bad enough that appeasing Muslim terrorists and dictators seems to be a Paul penchant, but his shameless love of government pork while spouting off about cutting spending and smaller government is nauseating. He’s the poster boy for corrupt DC politics as usual. Ron Paul Express is a fraud. Those of you who believe in this older version of Obama need to find out what your guy’s record really is before swallowing his phony baloney rhetoric. Why couldn’t he have just told Bruno “yes” in that DC motel room — GOProud Ron Paul.
Apparently the Paul supporters listened and discerned, saw the difference and voted. Not the way the US electorate would have voted I’m sure but Paul isn’t offering a nanny state. He’s offering an opportunity state. I know nothing of his alleged pork but I think I rather deliver that much pork throughout the country than allow leviathan to control/deliver healthcare or prosecute wrongful wars that will surely bankrupt us. Paul’s other policies make sense to me too.
Obama won because the Ron Paul people stayed home on election day because there wasn’t enough difference between the offered candidates. Obama was clearly a Socialist and McCain never saw a government program he didn’t like – the practical definition of Socialism. The R’s had better dump their socialism and get with the freedom program or expect another 4 years of Obama.
Dr. Paul and his philosophy is America’s only hope to return to a constitutional republic. Both the increasingly Fascist Republicans and the Marxist Democrats are just the left and right hand sock puppets of the big brother ruling class. The abuses of the American Empire particularly of the Arab world engender revenge through terrorism, you must be brain dead or brainwashed not to recognize that elemental fact. The more we murder them the more they will seek to repay the favor in kind.
As a former Republican conservative I am appalled by the welfare-warfare state we have created and now support Austrian economics
which has correctly predicted all our economic woes and hope for a day when I can once again recognize America as a country at peace with a free civil society and a free economy and at last free of a twisted greedy murderous ruling class. Ron Paul is the Thomas Jefferson of our day or perhaps Paul Revere.Those that can not see this have been brainwashed and twisted by this perverted State. Read the Founders and take an honest look at America today would they recognize it? Would they support it? You know the honest answer.
[...] for president in 2012 in a poll at the Conservative Political Action Conference is a sign that “those Ron Paul people” are not fringe-y crackpots- they’re normal Americans looking for someone to finally, at long [...]
Michael T and Don Y both seem to make sense. If interests vital to the American people are not threatened why are we risking lives and spending a fortune pursuing wars abroad? If American security is threatened and we must achieve vistory or at least contain terrorism and regimes who support them thru force then Paul is not the right candidate. It’s hard for me to buy into that Cheney,Limbaugh, Hannity ,Romney etc are deliberately supporting bankrupting the country and shedding its citizens blood for no good reasons. I could be mistaken and if Paul gets a chance I may be surprised that the USA becomes a safer and more prosperous place. It seems to me that the left wing Democrats will push Obama to try and wind down in Iraq and Afgahnistan before 2012 especially if it seems that progress is not forthcoming. Paul seems to me to be honest and refreshing but that alone doesn’t in my opinion make him a good choice for President. Same for Palin. If I had to vote now I’d take a chance on Romney.
Well written. You said it exactly as I’ve thought it!
Romney for prez? What for? It would mean just more of the same at a slower pace.
I agree with Ron Paul regarding our sham monetary system but disagree that moving back to the gold standard makes sense. The reason many “conservatives” and Republicans don’t like Ron Paul is because he doesn’t believe in government support of business monopolies… he rightly sees that government sponsored monopolies are harmful to the competitive environment and also harm consumers. However, those monopolies are BIG BUSINESS who fund politicians with their deep pockets and Republicans (and Dems) don’t want to bite the hands that feed them. Paul wants TRUE capitalism… something to which most Republicans only pay lip service.
Ron Paul’s win indicates something simmering under the surface in the GOP. The “old guard” is the “new guard”, and the young folks with their libertarian ideals will eventually reclaim the party. Like Pat Buchanan says, the neocons are illegal immigrants in the GOP. They need to be deported pronto. The young Ron Paul crowd are the “old right” who believe in personal liberty and true federalism, not the big government of the Dems and neocon Repubs.
Wonder why Rush, Hannity Beck and the other so called “conservative” talk radio hosts cannot and will not ever support Ron Paul? Look at who PAYS them. They are all totally and wholly owned by Big Business, and their continued income depends on the status quo. They all may claim to be “conservatives first”, but in the ene, they support the GOP. I still listen to them, and since CPAC they have all been bleating the same tune. “No third parties, support the GOP” I supported the GOP my adult life, and as far as I am concerned, they have betrayed ME for the last time. I don’t trust the republicans any more than I do the democrats.Both wings on the same buzzard. Go Ron Paul
Well said, Jack.
Quincy said, “To oppose the Democrats’ dream of utopia under a benevolent-socialist dictator, many Republicans want a moral king.” Nice turn of phrase. I may borrow that from you, although I might say “emperor”.
The “Ron Paul people” are taking back the Republican Party from the corporate neo-con shills and its future was forecast by the CPAC straw poll. Today CPAC, tomorrow the GOP!
Said Cheney, “A welcome like that almost makes me want to run for office,” which elicited chants of “run, Dick run!” from the audience. Cheney promised that Obama would be a “one-term president” and said that conservatives could look forward to victory in 2010. Considering his big government track record, Cheney giving conservatives’ prospects is sort of like Tiger Woods giving marital advice. Yet loudly and with zero irony, CPAC cheered Cheney.
[...] When Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was censured by various GOP county committees in his own state recently, Graham dismissively blamed it on “Ron Paul people.” When Florida governor and U.S. Senate candidate Charlie Crist was defeated in a Republican straw poll by challenger Marco Rubio in December, Crist complained it was nothing more than “Ron Paul people” MORE [...]
SV, I think you mean “Republican,” rather than “conservative.”
Why root for another 75yr old established sore loser. He should run on libertarian ticket istead of sucking votes out of Gop to give to Dems the Victory..If it wasn’t for Sarah I would never have pulled the lever for Mccain either..Half of Congress is over 65yrs old with 20-30 yrs in DC..They want us to keep re-electd their failed policy’s..NO Thanks..Stop whining if your young get out & run for office yourself instead of relying on these Old Turds..They got us here,,get rid of them all!
I think Glenn Beck has done a good job of nailing Republicans and conservatives for what most of them really are: progressives. Romney, McCain, Cheney, Bush etc. are indeed progressives. They absolutely do not believe in limited/small government. The many conservatives that despise Ron Paul reveal a truth about themselves in doing so.
Michael Tomlinson
feel free to wake up any time now…we won`t hold your ignorance against you
[...] who boasts hordes of very vocal young and, I would imagine, internet-savvy supporters? This “Ron Paul Revolution,” as they have been called, has fortified him with a 239,427 Facebook [...]