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twitter11th hour, Ron Paul holds to his maverick strategy
Tiffany Brown
Congressman Ron Paul meets with supporters at Memphis Championship Barbecue on Tuesday.
Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2008 | 2 a.m.
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Ron Paul, a long-shot Republican presidential candidate with a cult following, did not break from his maverick campaign approach Tuesday: Instead of appealing to large crowds of undecided voters, he met with members of his base.
They include: staunch constructionists of the Constitution, opponents of the war in Iraq, strong advocates of beefed-up border control and an end to coalitions with Mexico and Canada, and people who literally wear the American flag on their sleeves.
“Most of what we do in Washington isn’t permitted under the Constitution,” Paul told about 70 people, including staff and members of the media, at Memphis Championship Barbecue in Las Vegas. “This causes most of the problems.”
Predictably, when gun rights advocate Catherine Klimenkov asked the Texas congressman whether he supports the Second Amendment “the right of people to keep and bear arms” Paul responded, “What do you think?”
Laughter filled the restaurant’s annex, a small room at the rear with a steeply arched roof from which a gold-colored chandelier dangled.
Entrance was permitted only to those invited by March for America, a national coalition of advocacy groups including the Minutemen and You Don’t Speak. The same was true of Paul’s midday event in Las Vegas, the Third Tuesday Coalition Luncheon hosted by the Nevada Policy Research Institute.
Tuesday’s events were Paul’s last two scheduled in Nevada before Saturday’s caucus. He is heading east to campaign in South Carolina, whose Republican primary is garnering far more attention within the party than the Silver State’s caucus.
Despite Paul’s unorthodox strategy in Nevada, no Republican has campaigned here more. And in the three days before Saturday’s caucus, only one of his rivals is expected to campaign here former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who on Tuesday won Michigan’s primary.
In an interview, Paul said he didn’t understand why the other candidates had largely ignored Nevada in favor of Michigan and South Carolina.
“I think there’s a fertile field here in Nevada,” Paul said. “It’s easier to run a grass-roots campaign here. There’s potential here.”
Paul’s push for an end to illegal immigration is especially popular in Nevada particularly with those at Memphis Championship Barbecue.
The congressman noted that some people who are sympathetic to undocumented residents advocate for “humanitarian efforts.”
Paul views such efforts as “subsidized immigration.”
“What about the humanitarian efforts of us? Hospitals in Texas closing down,” he said. “Border guards are in, of all places, Iraq. They ought to be here.”
One attendee asked Paul, who is polling in the single digits in Nevada, whether he’d consider running as a third-party candidate if Arizona Sen. John McCain is the Republican nominee. Paul acknowledged he’d been asked that question several times and said he wasn’t inclined to do so.
But what if March for America tells him he’s its last hope?
“It is our belief that he is the last train to freedom ... and we don’t know when another one is coming,” said Jonnie Crivello, March’s founder.
Discussion: 16 comments so far…
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well, i believe there are far more reasons to advocate for the good doctor.
aside from the media exploits into making and shaping news, rather than reporting, we have the "inclusive" contingent of the populace who, by seeing themselves as the ones for "change," continue to push for their candidates precisely for reasons of color, gender, and "patriotism" which defines only those who tow the line as "progressives."
http://zeromotivation.com/why_they_attac...
ron paul: liberty first, and all else follows
BillyW's comment includes:
>>>>IMMEDIATELY end all combat operations in promotion of the illegally-declared Iraq War and send all of our troops back to where they belong: Home.
Immediately isn't true. Probably six months in order to do it safely for the troops. The Navy will still patrol the sees with carrier groups providing quick response capabilities along with submarines.
>>>>Open and investigation into what exactly happened on 9/11.
I've never seen Ron Paul say this, nor have I read it from him. I think you are making this up, so please provide a link if this is true.
>>>>Stop funding dictators and other anti-americans.
Ron Paul will also stop funding our allies such as south korea, isreal, germany, etc. This will allow that money to be spent at home.
Ron Paul's platform is available at http://www.ronpaul2008.com/issues/
Using the term, "Cult following" carries a negative connotation in America. This reporter as well as the Las Vegas Sun should be ashamed of this biased reporting. Not only to silence a good man but to slander his supporters as a cult. This is truly pathetic reporting. Ron Paul is the only voice telling the truth in a sea of pablum for the masses. His followers are the true patriots in this nation who refuse to be lead by you, the mainstream media into more war and famine by the globalist/fascist war-machine. The networks carried the top 4 Republican winners till Dr. Paul placed there. Now they are, "others" May God have mercy on us.
Gardentoolnumber5 is absolutely right- referring to Ron Paul as leader of a "cult" is an especially low blow, and particularly inept with regards to Nevada- he is the candidate with the greatest support for the mining industry, and for the gambling industry as well, and in his tax philosophy, closest to that of official state policy.
This man, ignored by the mainstream press, amassed almost as many votes in Michigan as Guliani and Thompson combined. Cult following indeed.
This is a shame! Ron Paul has beaten Ruy Guiliani, Fred Thompson...REPEATEDLY AND CONSISTENTLY. I agree that to label us "a cult following" is a biased statement that carries a negative connotation. When is the media, who is owned and directed by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), going to see that we do not like who you want us to like. Real Americans, true patriots, support Ron Paul and will show that with our votes. Every major media site consistently ignores the cries for support of Dr. Paul and refuse to cover him. The media needs to WAKE UP and see that we will not go away. Dr. Paul is the only real hope for America. I am tired of Washington and the politicians that the lobbyists own. What will the media do when they see that Ron Paul and his supporters are not going away?
All of the candidates are CFR, with the exception of Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, and Mike Gravel who are also coincidentally the candidates most maligned by the mainstream media.
Las Vegas Sun is the latest media institution I will be boycotting due to openly biased reporting. I don't want you to endorse Ron Paul. I do not want you to endorse anyone, I want you to be as objective as possible.
This article has parallels to "The O'Reilly factor"; or, more blatantly, fox news in general. "We report, you decide." Ha! They (fox news) will slip in their opinion or subversive suggestions, then try to present facts in a manner in which allows them to APPEAR objective.
This article is the same. It begins with a suggestion this candidate has no chance; proceeds to write off the followers of this candidate as outsiders, people that the average American looks down upon (which I find outrageous and insulting); and, eventually will present other points of view as though it is objective.
Theoretically speaking, the media is objective. The media is supposed to get as many facts as possible, present all of them; and let the people decide.
You all (media) want to control us, that is a byproduct of the power you hold. You are abusing your power. You should truly be ashamed of yourselves, especially since most media organizations go out of their way to paint their image as being a service for the people.
You (LVS) are only serving the corrupt, the ideologically BANKRUPT, and the manipulators of this world. It wouldn't surprise me if one day the fools of the media wind up helping a candidate gain power who will wind up stripping them (media) of their power. All that goes around comes around.
You all want to play with the peoples' freedom of choice, one day someone will come along that will play with your freedom to report! Brian Eckhouse of the Las Vegas Sun, and the Las Vegas Sun itself for reporting his incredibly biased, manipulative "report" are doing their part to damage Democracy, good job!
Very snide attempt to "subtly" marginalize Ron Paul. It's so transparent, though, that it is unlikely to work. And if it causes a few more people to actually look into Paul's campaign, so much the better.
while i'm sensitive to the persistent slighting of ron paul's legitimacy, and i did cringe at the insertion of "long-shot" and "cult" in the same sentence, i have to disagree with the conclusion echoed by some.
this news piece reads as an intimate look at ron paul and speaks well of his view of the importance of nevada to its residents:
"They include: staunch constructionists of the Constitution..."
"He is heading east to campaign in South Carolina, whose Republican primary is garnering far more attention...no Republican has campaigned here [nevada] more..."
"...there’s a fertile field here in Nevada..."
"...he is the last train to freedom..."
i'm not advocating turning lemons into lemonade where insult or belittlement occurs, but this example is such a benign and rather positive reflection on the campaign. after all, the whole strength of dr. paul is that he can take the tough criticism and defend his position without rehearsal. equality might be nice, but pandering on the media's part would be far more perplexing.
a message of not voting your pocketbook will perhaps never be the most popular platform for the masses or the media. otherwise, we all wouldn't be so complicit in the century-old mess we've perpetuated.
Yes, Sadly "a long-shot Republican presidential candidate with a cult following," is the typical opening line for a story on Ron Paul.
Our local (major) newspaper rarely even whispers Dr Paul`s name. They even go as far as posting Rudy Gulianni`s face with the caption "Florida`s frontrunner". This media blackout is widespread folks, And a message to Dr. Ron Paul, Orlando needs you here, Please come to Orlando! We desperately need at least ONE positive, informative article in the Orlando Sentenel, Central Florida`s largest newspaper.
The one factor that separates the supposed cult followers that worship RP is that they are significantly better read and informed. Most it seems have already well formed ideas about the direction our country should and should not be headed. Ron paul supporters are not subject to the MSM influence as are the general population. It is truely amazing the reason and logical process the average american goes through to pick their canidate. If Ron Paul really wanted to win this election he would employ slogans that would reach deep into americas core, such as; ~America is GOOOD~ or, ~Ima McCanidate~ even, ~Theres are terrorists everywhere watch out, and be very very afraid!!~
wake up now or wake up later America....get informed
Why would you consider Ron Paul's following a "cult"? This presents a negative impression on any new comer that might read your article about Ron Paul... but I guess that is your whole point, huh?
What a load of crap our "media" and "journalists" are now. You are supposed to be a truth bearer and provide a sort of protection against corrupt government.
Ron Paul is the only candidate that makes sense.
He would have a bigger following, too, if main stream media decided to like him.
From my experience on the ground and through writing contacts, Ron Paul supporters are very educated. They know the history and government elements of present countries, and also those past countries that have already fallen, giving us a very interesting lesson indeed. Ron Paul understands economics; did you see the debate where Paul had to EXPLAIN inflation to Thompson??
Voting for Thompson is like voting for George Clooney.... and that, I believe would be a cult following.
I'm a Mormon from Salt Lake City and I'm also an ardent Ron Paul supporter. I find it disheartening that this article marginalizes Ron Paul by describing his supporters as a "cult following". Usually when media uses the word "cult" in their reporting of the 2008 presidential primaries it is in reference to the Romney's Mormon religion!
How ironic is it that if Romney wins Nevada it will be in large part due to the "Mormon vote". Similarly, how sad is it that Huckabee won Iowa in large part due to the "Evangelical Christian vote".
A vote cast for a presidential candidate should be placed based on where the candidate stands on the issues and not because of their religious affiliation. Dr. Paul, more than any other candidate, is the best qualified to address issues such as fiscal policy, monetary policy, foreign policy, civil liberties, constitution rights, etc.
I strongly urge all Nevada Republican caucus attendees to seriously read up on where Ron Paul stands on the issues (RonPaul2008.com).
Dr. Ron Paul Endorsed by the *US* (not foreign) Constitution
With the exception of Fred Thompson (occasionally), Dennis Kucinich, Barack Obama and your favorite, Dr. Ron Paul (always), few of the candidates seem to take the US Constitution seriously anymore. Our economy and our Constitution are both imploding. This should give us pause or should it? Perhaps we should scrap it and start anew? After all, once in office our elected representative must swear to uphold the US (not foreign) Constitution for all people. This includes even their most hated adversaries. People at the extremes defend it because according to this document they deserve equal protection under the law just like everyone else. I support Ron Paul. I tolerate people of all races, religions and sexualities. I happen to be straight, Christian and black if you must know. The Ron Paul supporters I know love their country passionately. They are not racist, sexist pigs with tin foil hats or 911 truthers. They are hard working, regular people who volunteer in their community and take the time to educate themselves on the issues. They are a threat to the establishment because they think outside the box. Please consider voting for Ron Paul. Thank you for your time.
re: "...racist, sexist pigs with tin foil hats..."
-------
what is wrong with tin foil hats?