Internet Fuels Supporters Of Ron Paul

WCBSTV.COM ^ | 31 AUGUST 2007 | AP

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

(AP) NEW YORK -- Passengers on a plane leaving New York could see three words in 4-foot block letters painted on an East Village rooftop terrace as they ascended: GOOGLE RON PAUL.

The entreaty to search the Internet for news of the Republican congressman from rural Texas is one of the more visible signs of enthusiasm from a do-it-yourself base of Web fans. Their support doesn't show up in public opinion polls, but it's unmatched among presidential candidates in its passion.

On their own, the fans have developed a Ron Paul Revolution logo, marketing the idea through YouTube. Message boards and Web sites debate his virtues.

The Web fans for Paul's anti-establishment campaign run away with online polls and blanket Web sites with caps-locked, exclamation-point endorsements of the contrarian Republican, even though he measures no more than 2 percent in most national opinion polls.

The supporters have an entrepreneurial drive and get their political news from Internet sources outside the mainstream media, especially blogs and news aggregators that rely on popular vote to determine news value. That same spirit inspires them to canvass parade routes in 100-degree heat, argue campaign strategy in two-hour meetings or paint the roof of a Manhattan apartment building.

"To get your arms around everything and understand what is going on is really impossible to do," Paul spokesman Jesse Benton said of supporters roaming the Web.

Paul's message is gospel among his base, which Benton described as mostly old-school conservatives.

Supporters can recite his talking points at length.

"They forge their own intellectual world to find the obscure, unusual sources of information that lead them to obscure, unusual candidates like Ron Paul," said Brian Doherty, a columnist for the libertarian magazine Reason.

Avery Knapp is typical of the Paul Web supporter. A 28-year-old radiology resident, Knapp describes himself as a lifelong conservative who voted for President Bush in 2000 before growing disillusioned with the Iraq war and federal spending.

Bush "did nothing but increase the size of government. The Republican Party needs to move back to its core principles," Knapp said. Many Paul supporters share Knapp's disdain for what he called a "neo-conservative clique" and hope Paul can spark a Goldwater-style insurgency.

At 46, Kevin Leslie has never bothered with politics. After watching an interview with Paul during his 1988 campaign as candidate for the Libertarian Party, Leslie told himself, "If this guy ever runs for president again, I'll back him."

Paul did, and Leslie was good to his word, starting a prominent Paul blog in February and traveling to the recent straw poll in Ames, Iowa.

Paul has attracted a contingent of previously apolitical and even left-leaning Americans like Leslie who support his call to pull all troops out of Iraq immediately and who like his reputation for opposing any legislation not linked to principles already expressed in the Constitution.

"I've already been surprised by how much traction his campaign has gotten," Doherty said. "He's a clever politician because these netroots types can call him a 'true conservative,' a 'constitutionalist' or whatever they call themselves, and he's sensitive to that."

Whatever their political background, the supporters all consider themselves part of a spray-paint and duct-tape "Ron Paul Revolution." Four banners with that unofficial logo hang from the fire escapes of the Manhattan building.

"They couldn't reel us in if they wanted to. Most everything has become an unofficial-official part of the campaign," said Dave Gallagher, whose cadre of Paul supporters came up with the Ron Paul Revolution logo.

Gallagher claims to have started the first group for Paul supporters on Meetup.com, a Web site geared toward the kind of networking that helped presidential candidate Howard Dean's supporters organize in 2004.

In the six months since, more than 30,000 people have joined Meetup groups in more than 700 places across the country. Paul's Meetup presence surpassed Dean's in just two months, said Andres Glusman, vice president of Meetup.com.

"Because people have the power to self-organize here, it's obvious that he's hitting a chord that is resonating with people in a way the media is not acknowledging," Glusman said.

This weekend, Paul will be the major Republican candidate to attend a Texas GOP straw poll in Fort Worth. Straw polls typically are won by the candidate who does the best job turning out dedicated supporters. All the top tier candidates in the race -- and a few lower-rung candidates as well -- are bypassing the event.

When Paul supporters get together, they often find themselves thrown into the intricacies of running an insurgent campaign, attorney Steven Heath said after a Meetup session in Dallas.

"These guys in Meetup, hardly any of them have any political experience," Heath said. "These people are newbies. They're about to get plugged in, and they'll be plugged in with Paul's ideas."

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Statement of Faith by Ron Paul

We live in times of great uncertainty when men of faith must stand up for our values and our traditions lest they be washed away in a sea of fear and relativism. As you likely know, I am running for President of the United States, and I am asking for your support.

I have never been one who is comfortable talking about my faith in the political arena. In fact, the pandering that typically occurs in the election season I find to be distasteful. But for those who have asked, I freely confess that Jesus Christ is my personal Savior, and that I seek His guidance in all that I do. I know, as you do, that our freedoms come not from man, but from God. My record of public service reflects my reverence for the Natural Rights with which we have been endowed by a loving Creator.

I have worked tirelessly to defend and restore those rights for all Americans, born and unborn alike. The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideal of liberty. My professional and legislative record demonstrates my strong commitment to this pro-life principle.

In 40 years of medical practice, I never once considered performing an abortion, nor did I ever find abortion necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman. In Congress, I have authored legislation that seeks to define life as beginning at conception, H.R. 1094. I am also the prime sponsor of H.R. 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn. I have also authored H.R. 1095, which prevents federal funds to be used for so-called “population control.” Many talk about being pro-life. I have taken and will continue to advocate direct action to restore protection for the unborn.

I have also acted to protect the lives of Americans by my adherence to the doctrine of “just war.” This doctrine, as articulated by Augustine, suggested that war must only be waged as a last resort--- for a discernible moral and public good, with the right intentions, vetted through established legal authorities (a constitutionally required declaration of the Congress), and with a likely probability of success.

It has been and remains my firm belief that the current United Nations-mandated, no-win police action in Iraq fails to meet the high moral threshold required to wage just war. That is why I have offered moral and practical opposition to the invasion, occupation and social engineering police exercise now underway in Iraq. It is my belief, borne out by five years of abject failure and tens of thousands of lost lives, that the Iraq operation has been a dangerous diversion from the rightful and appropriate focus of our efforts to bring to justice to the jihadists that have attacked us and seek still to undermine our nation, our values, and our way of life.

I opposed giving the president power to wage unlimited and unchecked aggression, However, I did vote to support the use of force in Afghanistan. I also authored H.R. 3076, the September 11 Marque and Reprisal Act of 2001. A letter of marque and reprisal is a constitutional tool specifically designed to give the president the authority to respond with appropriate force to those non-state actors who wage aggression against the United States while limiting his authority to only those responsible for the atrocities of that day. Such a limited authorization is consistent with the doctrine of just war and the practical aim of keeping Americans safe while minimizing the costs in blood and treasure of waging such an operation.

On September 17, 2001, I stated on the house floor that “…striking out at six or eight or even ten different countries could well expand this war of which we wanted no part. Without defining the enemy there is no way to know our precise goal or to know when the war is over. Inadvertently more casual acceptance of civilian deaths as part of this war I'm certain will prolong the agony and increase the chances of even more American casualties. We must guard against this if at all possible.” I’m sorry to say that history has proven this to be true.

I am running for president to restore the rule of law and to stand up for our divinely inspired Constitution. I have never voted for legislation that is not specifically authorized by the Constitution. As president, I will never sign a piece of legislation, nor use the power of the executive, in a manner inconsistent with the limitations that the founders envisioned.

Many have given up on America as an exemplar for the world, as a model of freedom, self-government, and self-control. I have not. There is hope for America. I ask you to join me, and to be a part of it.

Sincerely,

Ron Paul

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

BTTT

[CJ Wolf]

BTTT

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

(Whistles, checking watch...)

[Ditter]

We just came from Paul’s district, it doesn’t look like a shining example of a conservative utopia.

[Ukiapah Heep]

Yea, sure. Total victory through humiliating surrender in the War on Terror.

[West Coast Conservative]

Paul/Sheehan ‘08!

[soccermom]

Gawd, now I have aPaulogists pinging me to the Paul threads? Sheesh! You guys will spam anything!

[B4Ranch]

Ping to http://www.republicmagazine.com/

On September 10th, the Patriot community will get it’s second installment of the REPUBLIC MAGAZINE. This special issue features the cover story on Ron Paul. While Dr. Paul is continually being downplayed and ignored by the mainstream media, patriotic Americans and even Canadians are rallying behind this Texas Congressman.

Learn why you should also listen to what this presidential hopeful has to say and why we feel that he is the only candidate worth voting for in this election. Could he be the savior of this great nation? Find out in the coming issue.

Also featuring: 60 Second Activism, Activist Profile- “Ron Paul MeetUp Austin”, Learn how to live “Off the Grid” with this feature on Organic Gardening, 9/11 Six Years Later, Constitutional RE-Education and The End of the IRS Pt 2.

[Lady Heron]

It has been and remains my firm belief that the current United Nations-mandated, no-win police action in Iraq fails to meet the high moral threshold required to wage just war. That is why I have offered moral and practical opposition to the invasion, occupation and social engineering police exercise now underway in Iraq. It is my belief, borne out by five years of abject failure and tens of thousands of lost lives, that the Iraq operation has been a dangerous diversion from the rightful and appropriate focus of our efforts to bring to justice to the jihadists that have attacked us and seek still to undermine our nation, our values, and our way of life.

This is the reason you can not make it through the primary. You will be lucky to make it into double digits in the Conservative Republican primary whose voters have been the strongest supporters of the war on terror. Good luck with that!

[Tears of a Clown]

come back to me when he breaks 3 percent

[Columbine]

While Dr. Paul is continually being downplayed and ignored by the mainstream media, patriotic Americans and even Canadians are rallying behind this Texas Congressman.

If the Canadian supporters are like the rest of the Paulbearers they'll vote in the primary and probably more than once. Ugh!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Gawd, now I have aPaulogists pinging me to the Paul threads? Sheesh! You guys will spam anything!

Yeah you were probably waiting for the anti-Paul faxes from GOP headquarters to come through first.

[soccermom]

LOL! Yeah -— GOP HQ is fixated on Paul! LOL!

[B4Ranch]

Is your picture on a magazine cover yet?

[Tears of a Clown]

I don’t think a “magazine cover” will win you a primary, its the message.

If Ron wasn’t a cut-and-runner, and had a majority of supporters that weren’t conspiracy nutjobs, confused liberals, and white supremacists, then maybe i’d consider voting for him.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

If Ron wasn’t a cut-and-runner, and had a majority of supporters that weren’t conspiracy nutjobs, confused liberals, and white supremacists, then maybe i’d consider voting for him.

If you honestly believe these are Paul supporters, then you also believe Hillary is a Saint.

[The_Victor]

Internet Fuels Supporters Of Ron Paul

Internet Fuels Invents Supporters Of Ron Paul

There fixed the headline.

[soccermom]

LOL!

[billbears]

Ahem...ahem...clearing throat...You pauleofacists are just stinky!! I don't have an actual argument against anything Ron Paul stands for but,but, but he supports terrorists!! Well I know that's not an argument but Fox told me and I believe everything Fox says. And, and, and he'll cut some of my sacred cow favorites. Like Social Security, NASA, Homeland Security, oh Homeland Security, why does Ron Paul not want to protect me?!?!? O woe is me. And to top it all off he likes shrimp!! ( /standard party faithful)

Did I get 'em all? ;)

In 40 years of medical practice, I never once considered performing an abortion, nor did I ever find abortion necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman. In Congress, I have authored legislation that seeks to define life as beginning at conception, H.R. 1094. I am also the prime sponsor of H.R. 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn. I have also authored H.R. 1095, which prevents federal funds to be used for so-called “population control.” Many talk about being pro-life. I have taken and will continue to advocate direct action to restore protection for the unborn.

Imagine that. Maintaining federalism and being pro-life. Excellent. More than a few Republicans could take a lesson from this fine gentleman

[L98Fiero]

Exactly. One thing I will say about Paul’s candidacy, it has probably lowered donations MoveOn. Only so much moonbat money to go around.

[DugwayDuke]

“They forge their own intellectual world to find the obscure, unusual sources of information that lead them to obscure, unusual candidates like Ron Paul,” said Brian Doherty, a columnist for the libertarian magazine Reason.”

Pretty well sums things up. And, that’s from “Reason”.

[Old 300]

How serious is Ron Paul about illegal immigration? Why has Texas had so much trouble with the invasion, yet he doesn't seem to have done much about it? Will that change if he's elected? (I know he's written some strong commentary on it.) Also, he didn't sign the Republican anti-SPP letter, at least not at first. Has he yet?

[DugwayDuke]

“Many talk about being pro-life. I have taken and will continue to advocate direct action to restore protection for the unborn.”

Imagine that. Ron Paul is for protecting the unborn. But only some of the unborn, some times, and in some places.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

How serious is Ron Paul about illegal immigration?

Border Security and Immigration Reform

The talk must stop. We must secure our borders now. A nation without secure borders is no nation at all. It makes no sense to fight terrorists abroad when our own front door is left unlocked. This is my six point plan:

• Physically secure our borders and coastlines. We must do whatever it takes to control entry into our country before we undertake complicated immigration reform proposals.
• Enforce visa rules.  Immigration officials must track visa holders and deport anyone who overstays their visa or otherwise violates U.S. law.  This is especially important when we recall that a number of 9/11 terrorists had expired visas.
• No amnesty. Estimates suggest that 10 to 20 million people are in our country illegally. That’s a lot of people to reward for breaking our laws.
• No welfare for illegal aliens.  Americans have welcomed immigrants who seek opportunity, work hard, and play by the rules.  But taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads, and social services.
• End birthright citizenship.  As long as illegal immigrants know their children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter the U.S. illegally will remain strong. 
• Pass true immigration reform.  The current system is incoherent and unfair.  But current reform proposals would allow up to 60 million more immigrants into our country, according to the Heritage Foundation.  This is insanity.  Legal immigrants from all countries should face the same rules and waiting periods.

No pathway to citizenship crap, no amnesty, nada for illegal aliens.

[Old 300]

Why didn’t he do more to stop illegal immigration and secure our borders in Texas during his tenure in congress?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

He did. He opposed giving illegal aliens benefits and have always called for a militarized southern border.

[Old 300]

I guess he was a lone voice crying out in the wilderness.

[armymarinemom]

I have learned enough about the Ron Paul Campaign from reading his supporters comments to our Veterans and Gold Star Families on the Freedom's Watch video site at youtube./p>

Comments Iraq war veteran John Kriesel a double amputeebargainmom:
NICE LIES! Sure, Sure, Sure, play the old ‘Patriotism’ card..IF they did indeed attack us, WHY? Could it be that as Ron Paul said, we have been BOMBING Iraq for 10 years? That sanctions on Iraq hurt NOT Saddam (installed by the CIA) but the PEOPLE? Women and children going hungry? What if WE were invaded by a foreign nation that wanted our natural assets (oil) and said they would ‘liberate’ us with a puppet government? Would YOU be angry?

Nathanlahue: ( Ron Paul supporter):
For the past five years:
-where are the videos and evidence of the aircraft hitting the pentagon -why did WTC 7 (not investigated in 911 omission report) fall without being hit by aircraft? -Even if Saddam had them, WHO DO YOU THING GAVE THEM TO HIM?….We did. We supplied him with them during Iraq/Iran war. -Iraq had NOTHING TO DO WITH 911. So said King George himself.

TheAlphaNick : Subscribes to Ron Paul
related videos I don’t think his argument has any legs.

Ron Paul Supporters left some pretty outrageous messages to the families on each video

[KDD]

Is only a one star rating after 56,000 views reflective of the popularity of this war-nation building adventure or of the video itself?

Freedoms Watch, the producer of this ad, is not a veterans organization. It was founded by former Bush administration officials and insiders (such as Ari Fleischer), and funded by major republican donors.

I hope that both sides in this debate will avoid using our brave servicemen/women for their own political purposes.

The above is also one of the comments.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I guess he was a lone voice crying out in the wilderness.

Enforcing immigration laws is the executive branch's job.

Paul has always been opposed to amnesty and he supports militarizing the southern border with U.S. Army troops instead of a Border Patrol agency.

[CatholicEagle]

Responding directly to “If...a majority of supporters that weren’t conspiracy nutjobs, confused liberals, and white supremacists,” I’d say that I’m “none of the above” but I do my own thinking and vote based not on somebody else’s actions but what I believe to be objectively right.

I find most Democrats to have an odor of cat dung but Phyllis Schlafly defeated the Equal Rights Amendment utilizing a strategy that appealed without regard to party affiliation and my guess is that the above-mentioned nutjobs etc. would have supported her efforts. Would you have, then, opposed it? I doubt it.

As regards the “cut and run” matter, I don’t “blame the USA” for slavery. I do recognize, however, the government’s role in the upholding of the institution of slavery and the matter is complex and nuanced but in the end, reason and morality prevailed and slavery ended.

Likewise, I don’t “blame the USA” nor its people, a characterization which I find simplistic and insulting, but I DO believe a series of policy decisions, beginning with Roosevelt and Eisenhower’s role in the overthrow of the Shah of Iran in World War II in favor of Reza Shah Pahlavi set the stage for a series of foreign policy decisions which allowed radical Islamic sects to gain adequate power to resume where they left off after the Crusades failed.

Our hand was forced in World War II partly by tne need for oil and supplies to fend of German advances in the Middle East. In fact, if anything, we were ultimately victimized by a cruel necessity to support a British-Russian invasion of an ostensibly-neutral country in order to stem German advances.

This complex reality blames nothing beyond the unfortunate advance of history but it set the stage for the war on terror we face today. Fast forwarding, US support of the UN was also a player in the form of UN NGO’s promoting birth control, abortion and other practices that Muslims, themselves in a kind of dark ages, abhor but which cause them to see the western world in a negative light.

Add in the violent nature of conflict between Muslim sects and other complex issues, including Israel, which by treaty and moral necessity we are bound to support, and this goes well beyond the blame game and what has happened is not so important as much as what we do next.

Do we withdraw from Iraq? I have a hard time with the prospect of withdrawl for what I think are obvious reasons of needing to try and finish the job we started the best we can. Do we adopt a policy of non-intervention for the future? Absolutely, if one understands that non-intervention is defined as no more pre-emptive invasions. Can we do that AND return to a policy of peace through strength. Sure, and we should, but I believe so but it must be one grounded in just war theory.

Is this where Ron Paul is? Partly. Win or lose the nomination, Paul is a badly-needed candidate to exert tension against the liberalization of the GOP, a call to return to its conservative roots. I’m reminded that the American revolution was won by only three percent of Americans.

Finally, the social liberals supporting Paul will receive a rude awakening should they find the states again empowered to rule against things like abortion and gay marriage sans activist federal district judges and a states rights Supreme Court that I think would typify a Paul-like presidency. I don’t think these people know entirely that which they are supporting but I don’t mind, I’ll take their vote if it allows for a constitutional amendment to ban abortions (not just federal laws that can be overturned by tyrannical judges or a Democrat-controlled White House and Congress as the marriage law would have done), a return of state sovereignty, an end to presidential directives and real tension against runaway federal spending and debt.

In this, the Paul voting bloc becomes essential in the badly needed reform of the GOP even if we get only some of the gains we need, including sending into exile ersatz Republicans like Giuliani and Romney.

[Old 300]

There is a lot of misplaced anger out there. That works both ways. I cannot sympathize with the opinions you quote, but they are hardly representative of any particular candidate.

We must be very careful in this election not to run into the arms of those who would further curtail our liberty because of what supporters or detractors from particular candidates say. We should be thinking about our role in history, and how we can best transmit liberty to our great, great grand children.

American liberty is the greatest cause of all. It is our cause, and no one else’s.

[SJackson]

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