LETTER FROM WASHINGTON:

Paul backers give in, graciously

Sam Morris

The Nevada delegation cheers Thursday during a speech about Sara Palin at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn.

By Lisa Mascaro

Sun, Sep 7, 2008 (2 a.m.)

More Stories by Lisa Mascaro

Washington — In the end, the revolution would be fought from within.

Nevada’s loyal supporters of one-time presidential hopeful Ron Paul, who pushed so hard for a seat at the table at the Republican National Convention, decided when their moment arrived last week to break bread rather than dishes.

On the third night of the convention, when the state Republican Party chairman stood in the hall and announced Nevada would be casting all of its 34 delegates for Sen. John McCain, it was because the Paul supporters made it so.

Paul delegate Carl Bunce said Friday they decided not to spoil the party. Bunce knew Republicans from Nevada, a swing state this election year, wanted desperately to present a unified front for McCain.

The Paul supporters had to decide — make a point or make peace?

Their few votes would not bring the congressman’s suspended campaign for the presidency any closer to its goal. Nor would they stop the ascension of McCain. Had they abstained, which under party rules was the only act of opposition they were allowed, it would be a symbolic act.

So Bunce and the other Paul delegates decided to use the political capital they had gained during the months-long war with the state party to try to generate a little more.

“We gave an olive branch,” he said.

This was not an easy gesture.

The Paul contingent has battled the state Republican Party all year. After a few of them were ultimately invited to St. Paul, they arrived only to feel like unwanted cousins.

Bunce and Chris Dyer tell a funny story about trying to sit next to each other on the floor of the convention, only to be told by state party leaders they must sit in their assigned seats, separated from each other.

When the state finally relented on the last night of the convention, Bunce was already on a plane home.

“I understand their fears,” Bunce said. “They think we’re all crazy.”

Bunce ends a lot of sentences that way — with the acknowledgment that most people think the Paul people are crazy.

They’re tired of being kooks. They want to be players.

The man settling into the seat next to this reporter on the plane ride from Minnesota on Friday talked about a book he’s reading.

It’s Paul’s “The Revolution: A Manifesto,” which is exactly what the cover says it is. He had a signed copy.

He was an alternate Paul delegate from Texas and he said the plan now is to make inroads with local Republican parties. They don’t want to take down the party, they want to become it.

Dyer said he and Bunce, who ran recently failed in congressional primary elections, want to run for office again. So they had motivation to play nice.

When the roll call vote came, Bunce and Dyer forfeited their seats so two McCain supporters could fill the slots.

Not all of Paul’s supporters are pleased. Wayne Terhune, the Sparks dentist who had helped lead the fight, said “they should have at least abstained.”

But when told about the move, the seatmate on the plane, Matt Sistrunk, called it “a class act.”

As party Chairwoman Sue Lowden announced Nevada’s 34 unanimous votes for McCain, Bunce and Dyer were at a concert a few blocks away.

They were listening to Rage Against the Machine, the 1990s rock band that once offered a soundtrack for a generation of politically disaffected young fans. Dyer served in the military during the band’s early days and had never seen it perform.

He thought he could use a jolt of anger “to kind of recharge my activist batteries.”

Discussion: 20 comments so far…

By thirty3na3rd

9/7/08 at 5:03 a.m.

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This article strikes me as kind of odd, because the entire country had been told that Nevada had suspended its democratic process and the Party had appointed all of the delegates in lieu of any "real" Paul delegates getting to attend. This is something we'd typically hear about happening to the voting process of corrupt third-world countries. Now, sadly, we too belong to a staged charade pretending that we really have a choice in our nation's leaders, when in reality we only get to choose between two carefully-designated puppets.
By ftsmallwood

9/7/08 at 10:44 a.m.

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No, we have a great democracy here in the USA. Those Ron Paul'ers should shut up, there spoiling the whole charade that we present to the world
By thomaswcornell

9/7/08 at 11:39 a.m.

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By ronpauljones

9/7/08 at 12:04 p.m.

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This article is neocon propoganda at its worst. There are two major parties: the Socialist Party of America and the Democrats, although they call themselves the Democratic and Republican Parties respectively. True Ron Paul supporters would never compromise their principles to "be players" or further political careers as this article points out. The good thing about this kind of journalistic crap is knowing that the right people are feeling threatened by the great awakening that Ron Paul has promoted.
By jfnance32

9/7/08 at 4:44 p.m.

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I think the Ron Paul group did the right thing.

Also, they should focus on building a party. They should try to win a senate seat or a governor position somewhere.
By Syren

9/7/08 at 6:10 p.m.

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Unbelievable. After all the hard work everyone put in, these delegates caved in calling it an 'olive branch'? Did they not learn ANYTHING about the Republican Party machine? An olive branch is useless - the party doesn't consider it a gift. It now knows that its strong arm tactics and illegal actions WILL PREVAIL in the end.
Thanks for nothing, delegates. Shame on you.
By Whatagonna

9/7/08 at 11:30 p.m.

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Syren is right on this. Olive branch my a**. If those Paul people really believe compromising their votes for the party regulars is going to gain them anything other than the temporary fake thanks for not embarrassing the party they are fools. The party now knows that they can take from these people and take they will continue to do.

They caved. And after the way they were treated, being shadowed by the security "black hats" that threatened to take away their credentials if they did anything suspicious, not allowed to talk or sit with other Paul supporters, after their belongings were rifled through and anything potentially embarrassing on national TV was confiscated (like a Paul sign), after the mics being turned off every time a Paul supporter came near one.

And after all that the Paul votes were not even read. The party was so desperate to show the world the lie that is a unified party behind MaCain they pretended the Paul votes weren't even there. In hind sight perhaps it would have been worth the credential confiscation and expulsion to get ONE undeniable protest in the national media outlets. The unprecedented level of aggression and "preemptive strikes" the police took with protesters outside the convention were barely a burp beside the 12 course meal of convention bull. How many of you know we now have a bunch of kids in prison on trumped up terrorism, and conspiracy to commit a riot charges, when ten years ago they would have been facing some misdemeanors?

Shameful, embarrassing, and worthy of any election in China.
By BlackStarRanch

9/8/08 at 3:02 a.m.

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...a shameful sell-out. My Republican Party in this state is obviously headed as well by a bunch of thugs and criminals. Wait - excuse me - I'm supposed to be nice and not use abusive language - sorry. So I think I'll just go into the bathroom and retch. The whole thing sickens me.
By stevo1

9/8/08 at 6:42 a.m.

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Traitors to the cause! Caving into McCain is not why they were sent to St. Paul! They were sent there to make a statement and take a stand. No matter how fruitless some may think such an action may be, it was essential that the few RP supporters who were able to make it to the floor remain steadfast. "Change" does not occur if those entrusted with it give in to political pressure. The Alamo was a "lost cause" too, but look at the courage that event provided others because of the resolve and sacrafice of a few brave men. We didn't ask these people to give their blood, but to simply stand there and vote for Ron Paul! Unbelievable!
By PubliusIV

9/8/08 at 7:22 a.m.

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Regrettably, those alleged supporters of Ron Paul chose their own personal interests over those of the people who voted to make them delegates in the first place. It's nothing less than a betrayal; and it's what has come to be the modus operandi of nearly everyone contesting in the establishment's political arena. This demonstrates, again, that the sorry state of affairs that has overwhelmed the American people has arisen out of a woeful lack of principled behavior. And, of course, that lack of principled behavior is caused by a lack of principles. Jefferson observed that a people cannot simultaneously be ignorant and free; accordingly, the less well-informed the people of America become, the less freedom we have. Jefferson also observed that people get the government that they deserve, If the Nevada voters who sent those turncoats to the Republican convention don't act locally to hold them accountable, then they have no reason to change their repugnant behavior.
Hoping to change either of the two "official" parties is folly. As long as the plutocrats can control party operatives and the Federal Election Commission, this system posing as a democratic process will only get worse. Here's their message to America: "Shut up and pay your taxes!"
By RonPaul08

9/8/08 at 7:40 a.m.

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By RonPaul08

9/8/08 at 7:48 a.m.

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We will not get behind McCain even if you continue to censor our comments --
By RonPaul08

9/8/08 at 8:08 a.m.

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These people did not want to back McCain they were forced into it.
They cannot force us to vote McCain or Obama

And why would we when both Obama and McCain:

Voted for FISA
Write blank Checks for Iraq
Voted for the unPatriot Act (obama 2005)
Vote for National Ids (Real ID act 2005)
Both call for a Troop Surge in Afghanistan after Iraq
Both will keep troops in over 140 Countries policing the world causing Blowback
Both vote for the Federal Reserve to bail people out by printing more money from thin air devaluing our currency causing more and more of the inflation tax
Both will Cap and Trade tax us with energy growing the power of government more.
Both will not drill in ANWAR and would rather we stay dependant on oil from others

Both will continue to give foreign aid to Saudi Arabia, Israel and Pakistan as if they are the 51st states of our country -- We give Israel foreign aid to build and army and then Saudi Arabia money to fight off the threat of Israel -- DOES that make any sense? It will continue with either Obama or McCain

Both will continue to turn the other way and pretend illegal immigration is not costing us Billions instead of rewarding those who come here legal.

Peace-Freedom
Ron Paul 08
By thomaswcornell

9/8/08 at 8:51 a.m.

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Why didn't Lisa publish my comments from her interview with me in St Paul? I was an alternate delegate from Nevada. My previous post has been removed from this blog. I will vote for Bob Barr.
By rokdevil

9/8/08 at 11:32 a.m.

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Graciously? You mean "they went quietly into the night", right? After the DNC and the RNC staged events I'm just so ashamed of my country and its people.
Although its supposed to be a republic using democratic methods for electing our "leaders" I don't consider "vote for mccain or abstain" a shining example of a democratic process. I believe "silencing dissent" is a better description.
When are the people going to realize that the strength of our system can only be found by exercising it, that apathy breeds much worse than contempt?
By libertyforone

9/8/08 at 11:56 a.m.

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As an American I have never felt more betrayed. There is no compromising liberty. Once you do, you lose. Do you win on the slavery issue, if you only allow slavery a little? Of course not. Anyone who gives up liberty for any reason does not deserve it. It takes grit to fight for your rights. Giving in so you can play politics is pathetic. What do they think they won? Respect? I got news for you fools. Not only does the Nevada GOP not respect you for your actions, but you are considered traitors to everyone you represented.

This action just shows how completely beaten the American people are. Even a group that is supposedly fighting for liberty, as soon as they get involved with politics, they cave like children desperate for approval from their parents. This goes to show how unusual Dr. Paul really is. No other Congressman has the gumption to stick to their principles, instead they all learn to "compromise" our liberties away. Dr. Paul is the only true patriot we have, and sadly, some of his supporters are not capable of holding those same principles.

If those delegates had been able to do their jobs and support the man they were sent their to support, this country might have had a chance to have a dialogue about the issue and look at a corrupt system and make some changes. Instead, they turned tail and ran. They hurt us all with their actions. And they spit on every soldier who ever died for our freedoms.

We had one good moment to show how corrupt the parties are and to do something about it. They had a chance to fight for our freedom to vote. They threw it away. What good is voting, if your votes are ignored and shredded?

I hope that every Nevadan who sent these people to the convention take these turncoats to court. Someone has to fight for our freedom. Please. Too many of my family members have died fighting for our freedoms, going back to the Revolutionary war. Please don't let their deaths be in vain. I beg you.
By libertyforone

9/8/08 at 12:13 p.m.

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P.S. Shame on the Sun for their title of this story. If the people who fought to make this country a country had just given in graciously, we would all be British.

Selling out the people is not gracious, it is vile. Giving in to fascism is not gracious. Destroying democracy is not gracious.

What if every other delegate who was supposed to vote for McCain decided to vote for their best friend instead? Would you have thought that their behavior was gracious or would you have been up in arms? Perhaps when it comes time for the electoral college to cast their votes, the Ron Paul supporters can get them to graciously ignore the popular vote and vote for Ron Paul instead?

Apparently, it is gracious to break your word and sell your supporters down the river. The lesson taught to our children: 1. bullies win; 2. One should always cave in on your beliefs, and 3. be a sell out and you will be praised.

Come on Las Vegas Sun, you can do better. Help us teach the children well.
By marktwain403

9/8/08 at 3:37 p.m.

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The Ron Paul delegates were far more gracious than the party regulars deserve. In April the party leadership prevented, using illegitimate tactics, the election of a delegation consisting of predominately Ron Paul delegates. At the national convention, those running the convention had the Ron Paul delegates followed every day and also subjected them to mild harassment. So I think it was quite gracious of Carl Bunce and Chris Dyer to offer their votes for John McCain. If McCain is elected I wonder what his people will do at the next convention, maybe tap the telephones of any opposition?
By Johnathan_Abbinett

9/8/08 at 8:52 p.m.

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The Nevada Ron Paul supporters would be better served by going over to the Nevada Libertarian Party and increasing their political clout - the Nevada Republican Party is 95% corrupt to the core and on it's death bed!

Sadly, the Democratic Party is 75% corrupt!

So what's a patriotic citizen to do? Recognize the ugly realities of 2008!

As the first poster pointed out, candidly, the democracy, that once was alive and well, is dead!

Now-a-days, it's just a grand illusion that's become a business for professional liars, cheats and thieves - it's all about telling enough people what they want to hear and convincing them to vote, unknowingly, against their very own interests.

American politcs have evolved beyond an art into a science, socio-political neuro-linguistic psychiatry - creating a fantasy and sub-consciously influencing voting behaviors - most voters are being successfully duped!

The Republicans have successfully used fear, in it's many forms, principly the fear of more taxes and economic poverty, to scare people into voting for more debt than ever, putting the next two generations into debt before they're even born - and most have yet to even figure out what really happened in 2000, or 2004, going into the 2008 elections!
By PanamaJohnMcCain

9/14/08 at 1:20 p.m.

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The constitutionalist wing of the GOP will still continue to assure that the buffoons of the Republican Party get embarrassed for nominating a constitutionally ineligible, non-native born "statutory citizen" as the party candidate for the nation's executive, in opposition to U.S. Const. Art. II, 1.