[Ron] Paul To Surprise Again? (Fundraising)

RealClearPolitics ^ | September 30, 2007 | Reid Wilson

[2ndDivisionVet]

As the fundraising quarter draws to a close at midnight tonight, candidates are scrambling to boost their numbers by any means necessary (we've received two fundraising pitches signed by candidates with the subject line "Hey," and one from a spouse headed "Re: Hey"). And while he's gotten little attention outside his fervent and fanatic fan base, Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who finished the second quarter with more cash on hand than Sen. John McCain, could have another surprise in store for the media establishment his supporters so often malign.

In the run-up to the filing deadline, Paul's supporters were asked to help the candidate raise $500,000 in just a few days. That's more than former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee raised in the entire first quarter, by the way. Yesterday, the Paul campaign revised its goal -- supporters had raised $850,000 already, and the campaign was shooting for $1 million by midnight tonight.

The campaign reached the $1 million mark last night, a full day ahead of schedule.

Paul won't outraise any of the front-runners, but the frugality with which he is running the campaign, as well as the fervency of his supporters and his presence in Iowa and New Hampshire, mean that he will be one second-tier candidate unwilling to drop out before the nominating process takes its course. Paul could cause some serious problems for the front-runners, and it looks increasingly like he will have the money to compete in at least a few early states.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I'm at a loss as to how the Paul campaign is able to utilize all that "loose cannon" volunteer support, money, blogs, signs and other activity without attracting attention and discipline from the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Is it because it is so "grassroots" and "under the radar" and Internet-based that the FEC can't track it? Any other candidate doing the same thing would be fined millions of dollars! The liberal blogger Lane Hudson turned in Senator Fred Thompson to the FEC for supposedly not dotting every "i" and crossing every "t" but no one seems to care that Paul's campaign is flagrantly violating the rules of the game. Most of it is "in-kind" contributions by supporters usually not under the campaign's direct control, but it is still illegal, IIRC. Any lawyers here that know what's what?

[Cicero]

His followers are what Eric Hoffer called true believers.

No matter how much money they throw into the pot, there’s no way that Ron Paul is going anywhere, outside of his district.

[NCSteve]

So, are you accusing Paul’s campaign of illegal activity? Do you have any evidence or are you just guessing?

[Terrence DoGood]

Again, who the heck is Ron Paul? Oh I remember, the kook from Texas trying to pass himself off as a Conservative.

[festus]

Again, who the heck is Ron Paul?

There was actually a yardsign I passed saturday am literally saying "Who's Ron Paul ?!" and with no other direction to a website or organization name etc.

;-)

[Drango]

Paul/Kucinich ‘08
or ?
Paul/Sheehan ‘08

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

It’s not against federal law to have unpaid, enthusiastic volunteers making signs, donating their time and money, working the grounds, and contributing individually without the aide of special-interest groups or PACs, but whatever. It’s all moot anyway, right? Paul’s not going to win anyway, he’s a moonbat kook. Let’s just say that all of Ron Paul’s money came from Code Pink, MoveOn.org, and neo-Nazis skinheads and kill the thread.

[Brilliant]

$1,000,000? That’s about 2% of what Hillary has in the bank.

[South40]

The only thing surprising about Rupal is that he’s not locked up in an asylum.

[RetiredArmy]

. . . but no one seems to care that Paul's campaign is flagrantly violating the rules of the game.

Because Paul is yelling pull the troops out now and Bush is an idiot. That's why. He smells like a liberal to liberals.

[pickledelf]

Just goes to show how wrong campaign finance law is. People should be able to freely support their candidate to whatever extent they want and in whatever manner they choose.

[t_skoz]

How is it in any way illegal to create your own campaign materials clearly marked as “not paid for or authorized by any candidate or committee”? How is it illegal to spraypaint someone’s name on a sheet of Tyvek or write it on a posterboard? How is it illegal to make t-shirts and buttons with your own money? How is it illegal to pay for your own booths at fairs and gatherings to promote a candidate, for free, on your own time, with your own campaign materials? How is it illegal to talk to your friends and neighbors about a candidate? How is it illegal to wave signs for your candidate, many of which you have paid for or made yourself, on a street corner?

None of these activities are illegal. And in addition to millions of dollars worth of campaign materials created for free and paid for by individuals, millions of hours of volunteer work in every city in America, we have the ability to raise actual campaign contributions as well. For example, $6600 every single hour, 24 hours a day, for 1 week. Currently, with 4 hours left in Q3, $1.13 million. All perfectly legitimate and under the scrutiny of the FEC.

That is the biggest grassroots organization in the current Presidential campaign, and we are a “top tier” campaign.

[longtermmemmory]

He is a “useful idiot” candidate.

I suspect he gets funding the same way Hsu funded democrats.

He is a way for the left to infest the republicans and divert energy of potential hard core republican supporters who don’t see paul is a lunatic.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

$1,000,000? That’s about 2% of what Hillary has in the bank.

How much of Hillary's money came from shady foreign donors or left-wing PACs
and interest groups? Virtually all of Paul's money came from individual donations across the country.

[dragnet2]

None of these activities are illegal.

Maybe they'll create a new law right quick.

[paudio]

Every cent the loose cannon money goes to Ron Paul’s campaign means one cent less money goes to Obama or Edwards (those people in general are not keen to Hillary).

[paudio]

Every cent the loose cannon money goes to Ron Paul’s campaign means one cent less money goes to Obama or Edwards (those people in general are not keen to Hillary).

[2ndDivisionVet]

I. Filing a Complaint
Any person may file a complaint if he or she believes a violation of the Federal Election Campaign Laws or Commission regulations has occurred or is about to occur. The complaint must be made in writing, and sent to the Office of General Counsel, Federal Election Commission, 999 E Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20463. The original must be submitted along with three copies, if possible. Facsimile transmissions are not acceptable.

A complaint must comply with certain requirements. It must:

Provide the full name and address of the person filing the complaint (called the complainant); and
Be signed, sworn to and notarized. This means that the notary public’s certificate must say “...signed and sworn to before me...”
Furthermore, in order for a complaint to be considered complete and proper, it should:

Clearly recite the facts that show specific violations under the Commission’s jurisdiction (citations to the law and regulations are not necessary);
Clearly identify each person, committee or group that is alleged to have committed a violation (called the respondent);
Include any documentation supporting the allegations, if available; and
Differentiate between statements based on the complainant’s (the person who files the complaint) personal knowledge and those based on information and belief. Statements not based on personal knowledge should identify the source of the information.

http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/complain.shtml#anchor460355

Federal Election Campaign Laws:
http://www.fec.gov/law/feca/feca.pdf

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I suspect he gets funding the same way Hsu funded democrats.

That's simply preposterous and is just sour grapes. Apparently you guys have a problem with individuals giving their time and money to someone they choose to support instead of to one of the candidates approved by the liberal media. These are the sheeple that FReepers used to complain about for not taking part in the political process. So now that they are and finally see someone they like, suddenly their support shouldn't be taken seriously and they don't know what they're doing, they're dumb, blah blah blah.

Ron Paul isn't going away you guys. He's a legitimate presidential candidate who in all likelihood could win several primary states and could give the GOP some problems. Reports are circulating that he could be between $5-$10 million dollars for the 3Q. While that's not exactly Giuliani or Romney money, it's far more than all of the other GOP candidates combined and he could edge out Thompson in 3Q fundraising, but I take into account that Thompson just formally declared three weeks ago and his $8 million is impressive.

[George W. Bush]

RP's fundraising now at $1,131,000.

Obviously those spammers are spamming his donations on the web.

[new cruelty]

I've seen several signs for paul in New Jersery around Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, and Moorestown. Some look like official campaign signs, others looked like they were painted stencils. I recall one sign that was stapled to a telephone pole read "Ron Paul RevoLution".

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"Antiwar moonbats are the domestic enemy. Antiwar moonbats willingly give aid and comfort to the enemy during wartime. In my book, that's tantamount to treason. Ron Paul is an antiwar moonbat. You figure it out. If antiwar moonbats are the enemy and Ron Paul is an aid and comfort supplying antiwar moonbat, then Ron Paul IS the enemy!"

-- Jim Robinson, 09/30/07

Nuff Said! ;)

[calcowgirl]

other candidate doing the same thing would be fined millions of dollars!

Fined for what, exactly? What are you saying he has he done that is illegal?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

How is that related to this thread? First of all, the thread wasn't posted by a Paul supporter, it was posted by a Fredhead. Second of all, discussing who is donating to Paul and what FEC guidelines he's supposedly violating is still within the FR guidelines. There's no open support of Paul's campaign or his anti-war stand, just benign discussion of his fundraising.

So sick of you FR butt-smoochers who ping the Mods all the time and try to get good FReepers banned just because they don't agree with you.

[Abcdefg]

Ron Paul is not the enemy.

[Brilliant]

Unfortunately, that doesn’t make any difference at the polls.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Unfortunately, that doesn’t make any difference at the polls.

If you're referring to the percentage polls pushed by the MSM that always show Giuliani ahead and Paul "stuck" at 2%, they're worthless.

[rb22982]

There are some crazy ‘conservatives’ on this website. They’re ok with Republicans bloating the gov’t to no end, not closing the borders, handouts for illegals, not even doing litmus tests for Roe vs Wade on SC nominations but Ron Paul is ‘the enemy’ even though he’s strong on all of these conservative stances. I don’t agree with Paul on Iraq (and I plan on Voting for Duncan Hunter) but these anti-Paul types as far as I can tell are simply Big Gov’t Republicans who want to cling to power as much as Hillary and her ilk do and are scared to actually have a change in the status quo in Washington.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

How is that related to this thread?

It's a statement about Ron Paul (the putative thread topic, posted on FRee Republic), by the owner of FRee Republic. Sorry if that made your puzzler all sore, an' stuff.

and try to get good FReepers banned just because they don't agree with you.

No non-moderating poster here has the power (nor even the inclination; you assess an artifically high value as to your importance overall to most of the rest of us, I'd wager... and by a not-inconsiderable amount, I shouldn't wonder) to "get [you] banned." Your own behavior (or misbehavior) is what either gets that done, or doesn't.

Now: wipe your chin, for heaven's sake.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Ron Paul is not the enemy.

For certain constituencies? I daresay.

[Cyclops08]

Yes, he is.
He is a coward who will not defend this country.
He will break existing treaties with true allies.
He will depend on unpaid pirates who will loot our “Enemies” to pay themselves.

The man is certifiably insane. Certainly not fit to be Commander in Chief.

Ron Paul is supported by anti-Semites and conspiracy-tards.

YES, he IS the enemy. He NOT a republican, not a conservative.
Ron Paul and his followers are Fruit Loops...nothing more.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

It's a statement about Ron Paul (the putative thread topic, posted on FRee Republic), by the owner of FRee Republic. Sorry if that made your puzzler all sore, an' stuff.

I'm quite familiar with the Forum owner's statement but Paul is a presidential candidate, so he's going to be in the news and there will be comments posted about him pro and con.

No non-moderating poster here has the power (nor even the inclination; you assess an artifically high value as to your importance overall to most of the rest of us, I'd wager... and by a not-inconsiderable amount, I shouldn't wonder) to "get [you] banned." Your own behavior (or misbehavior) is what either gets that done, or doesn't.

My behavior has been within the rules; it is you guys who ping the Mods every thread when someone who supports Paul posts on it and makes a general comment. I agree that when Paul supporters start bloviating about "war profiteering" or "neo-con" then they should be given the boot, but there's nothing wrong with discussing other aspects of his campaign.

[billbears]

Well get on it then. File a complaint with the FEC. For what? Volunteers who actually aren't making a dime but want to get the message of their candidate out? Who aren't paying anything and in many cases putting signs up in their own yards? Can we help it if nobody wants to even cross the street for any of the other candidates but Rep. Paul's freely show up and give of their own time to support Ron Paul's campaign by marching, making their own signs and T-shirts, and get together in groups to print their own materials and hand them out whenever they can?

Really, what are you going to do? Go to the FEC and claim Ron Paul's campaign is illegal because his supporters are exercising their First Amendment rights independent of the campaign? I realize the establishment hates the man for his stance on practically every issue he's talking about, but you just don't have a viable complaint here.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

As a Fredhead, I don’t understand why you’re even worried about this. Perhaps you should worry about Fred’s campaign and let Paul worry about his. All you’re doing is alienating the voters who may vote for Fred in the general, since Fred’s views on limited government is consistent with Paul’s.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Paul is a presidential candidate, so he's going to be in the news and there will be comments posted about him pro and con.

Which is precisely what I posted. So? And...?

I agree that when Paul supporters start bloviating about "war profiteering" or "neo-con" then they should be given the boot, but there's nothing wrong with discussing other aspects of his campaign.

Which is precisely what I posted. So? And...?

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

but there's nothing wrong with discussing other aspects of his [Ron Paul's] campaign.

I don’t understand why you’re even worried about this. Perhaps you should worry about Fred’s campaign and let Paul worry about his

In two statements LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES APART.

[*snort*] ;)

[saganite]

He might be going “out of his district”. He’s getting a strong challenge back home. While he’s out playing at running for prez he could lose his house seat.

[2ndDivisionVet]

My candidate can’t take in-kind contributions without reporting them (nor would he), so why is Congressman Ron Paul above the law? That’s all I’m saying. Don’t be paranoid without cause, okay?

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

You really are in Seattle aren’t you.

[rideharddiefast]

Paul/Kucinich ‘08 or ? Paul/Sheehan ‘08

I doubt if it would be either. I am sure with cut and runs determination to surrender and appease it is more likely

Kucinich/Paul '08
or
Sheehan/Paul '08
He is so determined to loose he will not care how he does it.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

You really are in Seattle aren’t you.

*Yawn* If I only had a nickel for each and every time some fuddled and overmatched yip-yop thought that might actually constitute a point, I'd be able to afford bigger "campaign donations" than Norman Hsu.

[rideharddiefast]

Ron Paul is not the enemy.

But he is America's enemies best friend.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

My candidate can’t take in-kind contributions without reporting them (nor would he), so why is Congressman Ron Paul above the law?

Dr. Paul's volunteers are independent from his official campaign. They make their own signs, spend their own money and time themselves. So what is an "in-kind" contribution? Why, it's a non-cash item or service from the campaign that can be given a cash value. Read: Paul's campaign doesn't give his volunteers SQUAT. They do their own thing. So there is no FEC violation or Paul skirting the law.

That’s all I’m saying. Don’t be paranoid without cause, okay?

You're the one that posted the thread. It's not Paul's fault that he has the biggest grassroots network out of all of the candidates. Don't hate the playa, hate the game.

[eyedigress]

Maybe that’s why they run?

[eyedigress]

Be nice.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I don’t agree with Paul on Iraq either, but then again all of the GOP candidates have a major flaw or two.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

Be nice.

Always. ;)

[2ndDivisionVet]

“It’s not Paul’s fault that he has the biggest grassroots network out of all of the candidates. Don’t hate the playa, hate the game.”

Alabama for Thompson

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[live+let_live]

“Maybe they’ll create a new law right quick.”

They had better hurry. This Ron Paul guy is dangerous. He must be stopped. He might let the electorate in on the game.

We have a one party government, the Big Government Party with a Democrat wing and a Republican wing. He threatens to upend the apple cart.

I don’t know anything about him but reading all the raw emotion and very little intellect here on FR every time he is mentioned, makes me wonder.

[trek]

"Who is Ron Paul?"

"Who is John Galt?"

Get it now?