By Michael S. Murphy – RLC-Wisconsin Chair
Ron Paul has now surged as the GOP Presidential Frontrunner in Iowa. This is making the Republican Warfare Establishment very nervous and some speculate there will be a GOP backlash if Dr. Paul wins the Iowa Caucus.
But will this be smart on behalf of Reince Preibus’ Republican Establishment?
Over the past several years, I have been deeply entrenched in all-things-Paul. Studying the comments in the forums and watching how the independents are polling, it’s obvious that there is a very deep resentment for the treatment Ron Paul has been receiving thus far. The GOP mainstream is disenfranchising the Ron Paul loyalists by contributing to this ridicule and shunning. This is very surprising being that Ron Paul has garnered 27.5% of the vote in the recent poll.
Can the GOP afford to lose 27.5% of their Republican vote if Ron Paul is not the GOP Nominee?
Seeing how passionate Ron Paul’s supporters are for this man of Constitutional consistency, it would set off red lights and buzzers for me if I were Reince Priebus. I for one would have at least tried to use my RNC Chair influence to make sure that major news media outlets were reporting equally on all GOP contenders. If that didn’t work, then I would have made my own personal appeal to the GOP base. But that didn’t happen. Reince Priebus has been silent in his own words and has not made a plea to keep things ”Fair and Balanced”.
Now, the Ron Paul loyalists are angry. You can see it in their online posts, their activism at events they volunteer for; especially in helping his campaign in Iowa, and impressively in their campaign contributions to any one of Ron Paul’s Moneybombs. In fact, the latest TEA Party moneybomb had collected over $4 Million dollars. Yes, the Ron Paul loyalists are angry; and angry they should be.
Why are these supporters so loyal you might be wondering?
It’s very simple really. In his 12 terms as Congressman, Ron Paul has a very consistent voting record. Adhering to the Constitution, Dr. Paul makes no vote in favor of a bill unless it is granted in the US Constitution. He predicted the recession. He is not afraid to acknowledge the unsustainable debt of our country, and that we cannot spend money we don’t have. Ron Paul understands the military-industrial complex– the perpetual cycle of overseas wars and imperialism that has depleted our budget, caused enemies abroad, and resulted in tremendous casualties. And he has exposed the conflictions the Federal Reserve poses to our Free Market Economy.
Although these are just a very few of the major reasons Ron Paul loyalists are so enthralled with him, many can cite several pages for their support. But just these few reasons are examples that no other GOP Presidential Nomination contender can self-apply. The field is currently stocked with the same old dyed-in-the-wool Neoconservatives and Big Government Progressive Conservatives. With his never-ending passion to uphold the Constitution and the Founding Fathers’ intent, Ron Paul stands above all other Republican Presidential hopefuls both different and alone.
So why are so many Republicans against Ron Paul?
Today’s Republican Party has become a Big Government Conservative Party. (Huh? Yes, I know…) The sentiment that is present is that Republicans can run a better Big Government than their Democratic counterparts. But Big Government policies and global stormtrooping are policies that are completely different from the Republican principals when the Party was established in our Great State of Wisconsin back in 1854. Ron Paul poses a serious threat to the GOP establishment and Republican Beltway politicians. In his struggle to keep a limited government, Ron Paul’s vision of limiting government would put many in government out of business and yield power to many of the powerbrokers.
Despite the new scene within the Republican Party, the major consensus that still stands strong is to keep government out of the hands of the Democrats. This is a core struggle that is the essence of the Party itself. Many Party loyalists go as far as to claim that come 2012, they will vote for “Anyone But Obama”.
REALLY?
If that is the sentiment within the GOP, then a Ron Paul nomination is not so far fetched. In another poll recently released, Ron Paul is deemed the most likely to beat President Obama. If the current crusade is “Anyone But Obama”, then only a fool would stand against Ron Paul being given the nomination. After all, polling reflects he can clearly beat the current President, whose base is fleeing as much as his approval rating is diminishing. In addition, many are speculating that even anti-war/pro-civil liberties Democrats are looking to vote for Ron Paul over Barack Obama, if that is the match up come general election.
The Ultimatum
The Iowa Caucus will kick off all caucuses and primaries on January 3, 2012. Since there has been not one vote cast for any Republican contender, the field remains completely open. No candidate is an actual frontrunner, as far as official votes are concerned, or Party favorite as of yet. Therefore, despite what many in the mainstream media are trying to portray, Ron Paul IS NOT a spoiling third-party candidate; he is a valid Republican contender and should be treated as such.
Taking into consideration the current polling and the strong, unwavering support for Ron Paul by his loyalists, the Republican Party, if they wish to unseat President Obama, has to seriously consider nominating Ron Paul as the Republican Presidential Candidate.
Why?
As the RLC-WI Chair and fellow Ron Paul supporter, I am calling on all the members of the entire Republican Liberty Caucus nationwide, to vote for Ron Paul not only in the Republican Primaries and Caucuses, but in the Presidential General Election too.
I, along with many others, am done with having to be forced to choose the lesser of two evils in what really is a two-party dictatorship. I see absolutely no difference between the likes of Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Individuals like these, both Democratic and Republican, have the same Big Government Statist, globalistic agenda. Sure, they may differ on some issues, but ultimately they have proven by their track records to be proponents of expanding government, not of limiting government. They have restricted individual rights, not upheld them. And they have restricted and regulated our Market Economy, not completely allowed to maintain and keep it fundamentally free.
Come general election day, I shall vote for Ron Paul. Whether I check the box for Ron Paul as the nominated Republican candidate or have to write-in his name, Ron Paul and only Ron Paul, shall receive my vote. I call on all defenders of Liberty and the Constitution to join me as well; and encourage all those in your spheres of influence to do the same.
This Republic shall no longer be held hostage to the party elites and the agenda spinning media. We, as citizens, shall no longer have to choose such marginal candidates who after time and time again, fail to keep their promises. Ron Paul has a proven and consistent track record which backs every thing he says.
The option is now for all Republicans to decide… Choose Ron Paul as your GOP Presidential Nominee or face a significant voter shortage come the general election for an alternate candidate that will suffer the same fate as John McCain did in 2008.
Many will claim that this action is simply another vote for Obama. If Newt Gingrich or Mitt Romney becomes President, it is my personal belief that we will not see that much of a difference, if any.
If Republicans want Barack Obama removed from office, the only secure option is to vote Ron Paul as the Republican Presidential Nominee.
This is now the Republican’s ultimatum. Choose wisely.
On December 24th, 2011 at 5:42 am
This is about the stupidest damn thing on the internet right now.
Question: what happens when the Romney moderates issue a similar ultimatum? Or if the social conservatives do likewise? Or the national security conservatives do likewise?Ron Paul now must forge a coalition rather than lead a movement. Congratulations on that — it’s beyond time. But elections are won with 50%+1 of the general population, not with 1/4 of 1/2 of the American public.Time for the Ron Paul movement to put on the big boy pants… will his supporters allow his campaign to do it? We’ll see…
On December 24th, 2011 at 6:04 am
So, if someone enters a race, they must win the race or they are being mistreated? I agree with Shaun. I’ve never seen a more stupid collection of words on the Internet. Why enter a nominating process if you will not abide by it’s outcome. Hard to think of less honorable conduct in the political arena than to announce you are going to participate in a process but only respect it if you get your way. To not declare your respect for the process reflects dishonor on that candidate. How could you negotiate with, work with or ever trust someone whom you know for a fact will not honor the outcome of your supposed joint effort? You can’t. Yet, that’s what you demand. You demand negotiation with a certainty of battle if you do not get your way. Politics is sharing your vision to convince others to join you in realizing your vision. If you do not convince others, don’t blame them for your failure. You can never realize your vision without coalescing with others. That requires trust. If you would do as you suggest here, you can never gather the support you wish. BTW, your numbers are way off. The 26% is in Iowa, not nationally. And, they are of participating republicans not the entire republican base, much less the electorate. That makes what you are considering massive support fairly small.
On December 24th, 2011 at 6:32 am
I am a supporter of Ron Paul and agree that Gingrich and Romney are big government through and through. So, I agree with Murphy throwing down the gauntlet in terms of who to vote for in the primary.
However, if we cannot convince a majority of Republicans to vote for him in the primary, it makes no sense to split the Republican vote in the general election. This is a time of peril for Liberty in our nation. Liberty has been eroded over the past 70 years and we must be willing to work for more than two election cycles to regain it.
On December 24th, 2011 at 7:10 am
Now, StreamliningLiberty makes sense, as does his argument.
On December 24th, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Ron Paul will also get most of the Independents and will convert the most Democrats in his favor compared to any other Republican candidate.
So not only do the other candidates lack the 2 latter groups, but if it’s not Ron Paul the nominee, whoever is, will also lack Ron Paul’s supporters. If you do the math, you’ll find out the others come out much shorter at the general election than Ron Paul.
On December 24th, 2011 at 4:34 pm
The point here is that if the other candidates had been treated by the media and base the way the Dr has, they wouldn’t even be on the radar right now.
I encourage everyone to vote their conscience. This party line crappy is how we got here in the first place. If Ron Paul is not your cup of tea, don’t vote for him, but if you think that I am going to vote for a wolf in sheeps clothing, just becuase you nominated him, then you are wrong. As a veteran, I will vote for the anti-war candidate.
On December 24th, 2011 at 4:40 pm
This is all too true. The differences between Obama and the Republican Party’s anointed “front-runners” are too negligible. Ousting Obama to install one of them would not be a meaningful or fruitful victory. They are so similar to Obama why would an independent bother? Only Paul has both the conservative credentials and independent appeal.
Furthermore, only Paul has foreign policy ideas not rooted in bigoted, paranoid fantasies.
On December 24th, 2011 at 4:53 pm
StreamingLibery, The Republican Party is not entitled to solidarity. If the GOP is interested only in talking the talk of liberty but not walking the walk, it deserves to be scuttled every time by libertarians and sensible conservatives. America has no need for a party of Wilsonian Democrats strutting about in Ronald Reagan masks.
On December 25th, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Ron Paul or Bust. No more corporate owned candidates period.
On December 25th, 2011 at 9:50 pm
My only comment is that if you cannot see a difference between Obama and any Republican then I understand why you would support Ron Paul. But given the racist, anti-semitic and truther stuff emerging I find myself somewhat skittish. In addition, I am not a militarist, but his isolationism scares me in the current world environment.
On December 27th, 2011 at 3:45 am
The last thing you want to do is put down an ultimatum to an individualist. Thanks for making up my mind for me, I’ll be supporting Gary Johnson in the Michigan primary (name is still on the ballot, can’t wait to hear to hypocractic “wasted vote” arguments from the militant and coercive Ron Paul supporters).
On December 27th, 2011 at 3:54 am
Looks like my grammer is bad tonight. Meant to say “hypocritical.”
On December 27th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
Wow the Republican party has completely abandonded Gary Johnson. Even the RLC states (which GJ includes himself in) ”
The field is currently stocked with the same old dyed-in-the-wool Neoconservatives and Big Government Progressive Conservatives.” Despite the fact that Ron Paul can not win vs. Obama, if he gets the nomination then I will vote for him; however, the establishment will ensure that he does not get the nomination, the same way they have completely shun GJ. When one of the same old dyed-in-the-wool Neoconservatives and Big Government Progressive Conservatives does get the nomination, I will be voting for GJ as he will be running as the Libertarian nominee, I suggest that all here do the same!
On December 28th, 2011 at 2:24 am
We are the minority who are paying attention to the election at this time. Keep in mind that the majority who vote are not. The last election was a beauty contest between an articulate, energetic young man against our tired looking old wounded warrior. Ron Paul is old and looks tired. It would be the same mistake. Most Republicans like me are not looking for the person who is perfectly in sync with our ideas, but someone who can beat Obama. Get realistic. Remember that Reagan was a Democrat before he became a Republican.
On December 29th, 2011 at 8:16 pm
Ron Paul is responsible for his own actions and his own writings. He is not a libertarian, but he is trashing the libertarian brand. Ron Paul or bust? I choose bust.
On January 3rd, 2012 at 7:52 am
Would you consider taking Gary Johnson up on his offer to support Ron Paul for the GOP nomination even if you plan to vote for Johnson in the general election?
On January 3rd, 2012 at 7:56 am
It is interesting how those that do support Paul actually fear anyone else for the Presidency, especially how the current president does not do such a great job in allowing Congress to do its job in declaring war–Constitutionally the President must engage in debate with Congress to decide on the terms of war.
On January 16th, 2012 at 12:27 am
Romney ran for governor of Massachusetts as a “moderate progressive”. He is a RINO. If you can determine who the media, establishment and shadow government wants in office, that person will continue to force us toward “one world order”. His initials are M.R. or, more correctly, W.R..
Ron Paul is the only person who can save our country from collapse.
He served his country in the military. He has been married to his wife for a long time. He has raised some class children. He never flip-flops, as is the habit of some candidates. He understands what the federal reserve has done and is still doing to our country; and plans to STOP it! He is the only genuine conservative running for president.
Try comparing his record with any of the other candidates. I rest my case.