Ron Paul supporters, OWS protesters join forces to harass Gingrich, Santorum

The Examiner ^ | January 12, 2012 | Joe Newby

[2ndDivisionVet]

On Monday, militant Ron Paul supporters joined forces with Occupy Wall Street protesters to harass former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum.

Fox News reported that Gingrich was forced to cancel an appearance at his New Hampshire campaign headquarters when Ron Paul supporters and Occupy Wall Street protesters swarmed the entrance:

About 40 protesters showed up Monday evening carrying placards reading "Ron Paul" and "Occupy." One played speeches by presidential candidate Ron Paul from a loud speaker.

Gingrich spokesman R.C. Hammond says the former House speaker's private security detail decided to cancel the event because of security concerns regarding the entrance and exit to the building.

According to Fox, about 75 volunteers and supporters were inside, waiting to hear and meet the candidate.

On the same day, ABC News reported that Rick Santorum, his wife and two of his children were similarly targeted by the same coalition:

Supporters and press mobbed the candidate as he made his way around the packed restaurant and bar here. As he exited his final primary eve event, he was surrounded by a mix of protesters from the Occupy movement and Ron Paul supporters.

As he walked out of Jillian’s in downtown Manchester, his staff surrounded him and the protesters tried to form a circle around the former Pennsylvania senator. They chanted, “Bigot, bigot!” and “Shame, shame!” as he made his way to his car....

[detective]

“Why has RP encouraged everyone to drop out of the primaries EXCEPT Mitt Romney???”

Ron Paul never attacks Mitt Romney or Obama. He only attacks conservatives. His goal is to get Romney the Republican nomination and to get Obama reelected. He also may run as a third party candidate to help Obama.

[surroundedbyblue]

“Ron Paul never attacks Mitt Romney or Obama.”

Glad its not just me.

[stuartcr]

So you think he’s directing these people, or they are acting on their own?

[trisham]

Paul is dangerously off his rocker. Imho, he will do anything to get elected.

[C. Edmund Wright]

Ron Paul never attacks Mitt Romney or Obama. He only attacks conservatives

Nuff said, right there.

[Proud2BeRight]

Directing them in a tactical sense personally or through a subordinate, probably not. Directing them in a strategic sense through encouraging that type of human debris on and fully accepting a rude in-your-face rabid campaign behavior, certainly.

[stuartcr]

How would you propose he stop them from acting in any manner they want?

[Republican Wildcat]

Joined forces...? Or one and the same?

[Shelayne]

Why aren’t they harassing Romney?

Romney would seem much more the 1% that they abhor.

[jboot]

He could start by publically distancing himself from them and asking them to behave in a civil manner and treat the other candidates with respect. That is the least that would be expected if-say-Newts supporters got out of hand.

I'm not holding my breath.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Isn’t that always the excuse? They broke FEC laws raising millions for him? “He didn’t know!” Who paid for the blimp? “Wasn’t us!” Etc., etc...

[SECURE AMERICA]

Guess when you are a loser nutcase you have a lot of free time to act like an idiot.............

[Antoninus]

Do you really think Paul has anything to do with what these people do?

THey showed up in a Ron Paul bus...

[Proud2BeRight]

Ron Paul wouldn’t want to change their behavior. Frankly, I wouldn’t want them to change either. I think they need to be on full display for mainstream America to see what follows him.

[GladesGuru]

Paulistas & OWS freaks + Nuts & Flakes.

When the Queer Nation types join, we will have:
Nuts & Flakes AND Fruits = Collectivist Grainola.

I’m not vagan, so pass me the eggs and bacon.

But, I’ll pass on Paul and OWS.

[detective]

The Occupy people arrived together in a Ron Paul campaign bus. They worked in unison to disrupt the events. They chanted Ron Paul slogans in unison as directed. It's obvious the were organized and directed. It's obvious they were following orders. Who else but someone from the Paul campaign do you think organized and directed this activity?

[stuartcr]

Yeah, so? I could show up in a Cain bus and he wouldn’t know it until after.

[mnehring]

The Occupy people arrived together in a Ron Paul campaign bus.

If this is true, and if the bus was officially owned by the campaign and if this was coordinated in any way by the campaign, this is a federal crime under Title 18 of the US Election Code regarding interfering by means of intimidation with political campaigns. It may even go one step further if it is found that Paul himself knew in any way about this as it would be both coordination with an outside group as well the fact he is a congressman so it would be a double whammy as lawmakers are also prohibited by law from interfering with a campaign.

[John D]

Do you really think Paul has anything to do with what these people do?

He is the puppet master for the paulbots. They are not allowed to think, only follow.