Will Ron Paul Support John McCain?
Ron Paul may not be the Republican nominee, but he has the capacity to make a big impact on the election. In a speech that he delivered outside the Minnesota State Convention, because he was not allowed to speak inside, he stated that he is more concerned with getting his libertarian leaning views out in front of the voters than he was about working for unity in the Republican party.
Ron Paul is aiming for a major speaking roll at the National Convention later this summer and Minnesota is not the only place where he and his supporters have shall we say not be greeted with open arms. Take the events at the Nevada State Convention for instance, where Paul supporters fought so hard to get some of his delegates seated that the convention was eventually postponed. In actuality, the Nevada State Convention is not going to be held at all, but the delegates are to be chosen by the party.
Now, John McCain may have more supporters than Ron Paul, and Paul’s supporters are fiercely loyal to him. In recent primaries, Paul has pulled as much as 25% of the vote that John McCain needs in his camp this coming November. And some of the statements he made to the crowd of about 400 of his supporters did hit at the Republican party. For instance, he argued that the Bush administration got us into the war in Iraq by misleading us as to the actual facts.
Paul’s supporters fought on the floor of the Minnesota Convention, which is taking place in St. Paul to get some of his delegates seated, which they feel will lead to Paul getting a speaking spot at the national convention. According to Minnesota State Party Chairman Ron Carey Paul and his supporters are going about it the wrong way and he would have a much better chance of getting a speaking spot if he would throw his support to McCain.
Now, the way I see it a pattern is immuring in the way the state conventions are dealing with Paul and his supporters. They need his support in November, no question about it. So, if he wants to speak and get his message across, then support McCain and get a shot at a speakers roll. Fight on to get his delegates seated, and the road to a speaking roll will be hard if not impossible.
Will Paul throw his support to McCain? Do you believe in miracles? Remember, he said party unity is not his number one agenda. And he has run as a Libertarian in the past. Now, we all know he cannot get the Libertarian nomination this time around. Bob Barr has that already, but just imagine the reaction if Ron Paul were to through his support behind Bob Barr ? Talk about throwing a monkey wrench into the works.
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Comment by Jeremy on 4 June 2008:
I really don’t understand why it would be feasible in any way to support someone against your will. They want Dr. Paul to sell his soul to get a speaking spot at the convention. Well… guess what. I guarantee you he will not.
Comment by wootendw on 4 June 2008:
Ron Paul certainly will not endorse McCain. And, he can throw his support to Barr without formally endorsing Barr. He just needs to make some joint appearances with Barr at ‘conservative’ or ‘libertarian’ events. His supporters will get the message even if it is not explicit. McCain may get skunked in the Electoral College.
Comment by Paul on 4 June 2008:
A speaking role at the National Convention is most certainly not in the cards for Ron Paul, for he would never show himself to be hypocritical enough to throw his support behind somebody whose views are opposite his own on almost every issue. McCain is a liberal as surely as Obama, and Paul would lose all the credibility he has worked 30 years to gain to throw away all his beliefs to bargain for a speaking position. If need be, he’ll speak outside the convention, but don’t look for any sleazy political deals from him. It ain’t gonna happen.
Comment by Van Lindy on 4 June 2008:
Your message would have substantially more impact if you learned to write, and especially to spell.
Comment by mike on 4 June 2008:
Ron Paul will NEVER endorse McCain.
He would not do it for a speaking role, or any other enticement. Ron Paul is a man whom has battled courageously in the Congress for 20+ years, voting alone sometimes because he would not sell out his principles for convenience.
The only views that he and McCain share are those which McCain has sold out on to try and unify the base of the party (Border fence, tax cuts, 2nd amendment).
Ron Paul will NEVER endorse him. Don’t hold your breath.
Get ready for November. The R’s have held onto the war issue and will continue to legislate morality and go down with the ship. Obama will crush McCain in the general.
Comment by jen on 4 June 2008:
Did you watch McCain’s speech last night?
That was the most pitiful speech EVER. The spookiest.
I would be ashamed to support McCain.
I am toally surprised he even got the RNC Nomination.
Ron Paul would have had thousands show up for his speech as usual, where McCain got a hand full of support last night. What does that tell you?
Ron Paul already said he would not support McCain.
Ron means what he says.
Comment by J. OBrien on 4 June 2008:
I know what the GOP should do about Ron Paul.
Nothing. Since Ron Paul will not be the nominee now, the GOP and McCain should instead take the case directly to Ron Paul supporters as to why a vote a for McCain would take a Ron Paul supporter closer to their goals than some kind of protest vote like Obama or Barr.
I am a MN GOP State Delegate and witnessed what the MN GOP, with RNC consultant help did at the convention.
The GOP are fools if they don’t try to harness this Barry Goldwater style energy to their advantage. The MN GOP also had the nerve to brag at the convention about how their coffers had suddenly swelled recently with “a large number of small dollar amount contributions”. Yet, the GOP still put huge energy into disenfranchising these people at the convention.
The GOP leadership needs to get a clue.
Comment by cliff on 4 June 2008:
Are you somehow surprised that Ron Paul is sticking to his beliefs? Hmm, what an idea, a politician with morals! He is not ‘Libertarian leaning.’ He is a Republican in the true sense of the word. I’m attending a class right now studying the constitution. I would suggest you do the same so that you will have your facts straight.
Comment by logicprobe on 4 June 2008:
Jen: “I am toally surprised [McCain] even got the RNC Nomination.”
John McCain has enough comitted delegates to secure the nomination at the Republican National Convention at the beginning of September, but he is not the Republican nominee yet.
Striving for accuracy…
Comment by USAF Vet Dan on 4 June 2008:
For you to even suggest that Ron Paul would consider endorsing Boom Boom McLame shows that you never received the memo that Ron Paul is not for sale… that partisan politics fall far below his commitment to the Constitution. Ron Paul endorsing McLame to get a speaking roll at the national convention would be akin to Gandhi endorsing Stalin to get a new Rolls Royce.
Find a new hobby.
Comment by Ron Holland on 4 June 2008:
The Federal Reserve is the problem not the solution!
Sign and forward our Ron Paul Is Right: Abolish the Federal Reserve Petition at
http://www.petitiononline.com/fed/petition.html to all your pro-freedom friends and associates. The collapsing dollar, falling housing market, the subprime mortgage and growing credit crisis and stock market weakness are all a result of earlier Federal Reserve actions designed to maximize Wall Street and banking profits at the expense of productive, working Americans.
Ron Holland, The Swiss Confederation Institute, Wolf Laurel, NC
Comment by Darryl Schmitz on 4 June 2008:
The Republican Party has informed me they do not want me or my vote. They communicated this to me by the un-American, uncivil, insulting way they and their ilk at the polo-pony club at Fox News treated him. And because he respects the Constitution and had the audacity to question our military presence around the world. Imagine that, will you?
Republican Party, go straight to hell.
Comment by DJ on 4 June 2008:
Let’s just throw away our principles to support the Party! Yeah, thanks for informing us how easily you’d sell-out to be unified with beliefs that would go against your own. I’d rather write-in Ron Paul then “unite” behind John “I hate g**ks!” McCain. This isn’t even a Party anymore, it’s a neo-con sausage fest.
Comment by Marianne on 4 June 2008:
Ron Paul won’t sell out, and neither will we. Support your local Ron Paul Republicans, put all your money and effort into those few soldiers.
Pressure the CP and LP to join Barr and Baldwin on one Prez/Veep ticket for November. Rules and Bylaws all provisions for change. Call a special exec meeting or convention of each party, as the case may be, to get it done. They need to do it for our country.
Comment by RaferJanders on 4 June 2008:
NEVER!! You guys at the McShame Camp are going to get whooped like Narc’s at a Hell Angel’s Party, I would rather burn in Hell than vote for a punk like McShame, The same guy the Greatest Navy in the WORLD!! would not even make an Admrial, Why would you vote to make him Commander and Chief of it? He passed flight school, even though he crashed an aircraft and destroyed it on landing, I asked a Navy Flier if you could crash a plane and still get your wings? Floyd Jormao, the class ahead of McShame, He said sure If your Dad and Grandpa are Admrials. So Like I said John McShame will spell doom for the Republican Party in Nov. He will know how Dukias felt after Reagan smoked him. Then maybe he will drink a glass of milk and retire in SHAME, He already has brought Shame to his families great Naval Tradition!
Comment by Andy B. on 5 June 2008:
John McCain is a paper-shepherd and the masses are his sheep.
–
Hopefully, this infusion of active youth into the political system will do some good…finally. However, if you’re just posting comments on the internet, you’re not doing enough.
Comment by Leonardo on 5 June 2008:
“Judge not by the color of the skin but by the content of the character” - MLK
Here’s one of the reason McCain will not get support from the admirable Dr. Paul!
“I hated the gooks. I will hate them as long as I live.” - McCain told reporters.
The word “gook” is offensive and it is a racial epithet that has historically been used to demean all Asians. He even failed to make a distinction between his torturers and an entire racial group.
It’s alarming for a presidential candidate to publicly used a racial epithet and refused to apologize for doing so and remain a legitimate.
To the Asian-American community, the term is no different than a word “nigger.” The message is loud and clear to the Asians community and that they could “The enemy combatants.”
It’s also disturbing that a major candidate for the U.S. president can perpetuate the stereotype of Asians as permanent foreigners, hurtling us backward to a time and a place where such racial epithets were an acceptable part of mainstream discourse.
What makes this incident even more disturbing is how neither the media highlighted that his use of a racist term is unacceptable.
Asian communities are one of the fastest growing minority populations in the United States. And the media choose to ignore or excuse McCain’s behavior is a painful reminder that Asians still remain the outsiders on the back steps of national American politics.
For the very reason above.
We, the Asian communities Will NOT support McCain”
Asians for Freedom, Prosperity, Peace and Dr. Paul
Comment by Randy Anderson on 5 June 2008:
Would Ron Paul support John McCain? What a stupid question! Of course he would not and will not. Anyone who has heard what either candidate has said over the past year should wonder why this idea is even being floated.
Comment by John on 5 June 2008:
There is no need for Paul to support McCain. McCain is not eligible due to Article II section I clause 5 about natural born citizen. Now Obama, Catskill and Clinton sponsored a Senate resolution but it is non binding. To change the constitution you need 2/3 of the states approving the change (article V). Obama taught constitutional law he knows this. Now McCain should step down before the convention. The Democrats remember 2000 very well. Yesterday Obama spoke to the Likud/neo-cons at AIPC. Both Israel and Americans are strongly against these policies. The question is why the Media cartel does not report it. It seems strange that the war spending has had the opposite effects on the economy that these folks wanted. McCain does not have a chance and Americans don’t really have a choice.
Comment by Rizwan on 5 June 2008:
How little you know of Ron Paul. Back McCain? Pah! Why do you think we support him?
Comment by Brad F on 5 June 2008:
With Barr in the race, McCain can’t win… So make your choice republicans, Barr Or Obama?
Paul Will NOT endorse McCain, unless waterboarding is instituted.
Comment by Henry Miller on 5 June 2008:
The republican party needs to reach out to Ron Paul supporters if they want to win. With McCain moving more to the left, he is losing conservatives. Letting Ron Paul speak at the convention would be one step to show that we have a place - maybe I’d even hold my nose and vote for him (though McCain has been behind far too many violations of conservative principals in the past for that to be likely).
Ron Paul supporters are in this for the long term. We are already planing for the next election, even while we are trying to get a few of our guys elected to congress this year.
The party leadership still does not understand why we are unhappy with the party, even when many are complaining about the problems. It isn’t just just Ron Paul supporters, I’ve talked to many other republicans who are willing to vote McCain - but overall they are not happy with the party either.
Comment by KProctor on 5 June 2008:
It looks like the republican party core is not going to allow Ron Paul to speak at he national convention. Across this country the party leaders have done everything to marginalize and disenfranchise dedicated liberty loving Paul supporters from having a voice in the republican party. I have read that Karl Rove will be one of the speakers. If Rove is a better representative for the republican party and if Ron Paul’s supporters aren’t welcome inside, then it’s time to give the GOP a shove from the outside. Take a look at the only political party that is consistent in it’s defense of Liberty and individual freedom. Join the Libertarian party. This November, Bob Barr gets my vote.
Comment by Jive Dadson on 5 June 2008:
The GOP “mainstream” neocons blew it. If they wanted to secure votes from traditional conservatives, they should not have nominated a Bush clone. The notion that Ron Paul or his supporters would come out in favor of McCain is absurd on the face of it.
Comment by jen on 5 June 2008:
Power in number. Join the march on Washington..If you care enough to want real change, be there! Americans FIRST. Stand up for yourselves or else..
Comment by jen on 5 June 2008:
http://www.channelingreality.com/Music/IfIwasaterroist.wmv
Comment by big j on 7 June 2008:
I think you mean throw his support to bob barr, not through his support.
Comment by Gmartine on 8 June 2008:
Very well written article.
The answer is pretty easy to tell though. Especially to Ron Paul supporters.
He will not endorse McCain. He will most likely not endorse any candidate, even Bob Barr. Chuck Baldwin would be the closest but Ron Paul knows that his policies are going to lead the Republican party in the future and he has a secure seat in congress.
We get to enjoy many more years of Ron Paul speaking at Congressional hearings. We will be putting in more Ron Paul republicans on his platform. Our fundraising capailities are there, the “The Revolution: A Manifesto” is still a top seller on Amazon and NY Times.
So welcome to the revived Republican Party.
Join in or join another party
Freedom +1
Comment by web design company on 11 June 2008:
Not at this time.
Comment by bobp sr on 13 June 2008:
I am voting for Ron Paul.
I want the republicans lose by a margin smaller than the Ron Paul vote as punishment for their actions!!!!!
Comment by Pennib on 13 June 2008:
Don’t count Paul out before the Convention..He will still have delegates there, and there are other issues that will become key as the economy tanks. Ron Paul is the only candidate that has any clue about how to fix the economy- Obama wants to tax and spend us to third-world status, and McCain has admitted his ignorance on the economy. With a large percentage of the electorate being discontent with their choices, we are ripe for a revolution in one or both of the parties.
Comment by Ken Kerckhoff on 20 June 2008:
I see no way that enough voters are going to vote for Bob Barr and his unknown running mate to get elected.
The LP really shot itself in the foot over the V.P slot, and needs to reload the ticket.
Maybe Mike Huckabee will cruise by, or Steve Forbes, and give the campaign some legs.
I’ve been a Republican since Goldwater, and have made the decision to support Bob Barr. But this point really needs to be addressed if they’re serious about making a real run at the presidency.
Comment by James Finn on 11 July 2008:
My advice to the Republican Party…Be afraid! Be very, VERY afraid!
Comment by xiong on 22 July 2008:
I support ron paul. He stands for what america is ment to be. news media… no longer report the news… they are brain washing tv programs.
Comment by John on 3 August 2008:
The Republicans are making a huge mistake by allowing McCain be the nominee. Obama, Mckaskill and Clinton supported a senate resolution to say that McCain is Natural born. According to Article II section I clause 5 McCain is no more eligible to be president than Manuel Noriega.Why was this done? HELLO DON’T YOU THINK DEMOCRATS REMEMBER 2000! I know McCain takes some great pleasure in being a hired gun to “enforce a little democracy” on the world for this New World Order stuff. Both candidates are socialist and the corrupt GSE treasury action basically kills the dollar and presses us toward third world inflation. Every thing Paul warned about is happening before our eyes. The latest employment data showed that government and health care (half Medicaid, Medicare) put more pressure the government debt. If you believe in free markets then Arnold’s California state worker at minimum wage will extend to anyone working on government contracts.. Paul plan of retiring the badge of policeman of the world is the only one that has even the slightest chance of working. Both candidates think (bad choice of words) that more government works. There is very little chance of brokered convention but this Ron Paul conservative would never never vote for McCain. The smell may be great but Obama is the only choice as the war is expensive and the sanctions (siege)in Iran is as aggressive act of war on civilians. The British empire ended in 1909 looks to me like the 100 years of war needs a break.