Ron Paul supporters aim for big surprise
Lowcountry backers optimistic on GOP long shot's chances
By Robert Behre
Lowcountry backers optimistic on GOP long shot's chances
Ronald Ernest Paul
Born: Pittsburgh.
Age: 72.
Education: Gettysburg College and the Duke University School of Medicine.
Military experience: Served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force.
Current occupation: Congressman from Texas since 1997. Previously served in Congress from 1976-1977 and 1979-1985.
Previous occupation: Obstetrician/gynecologist.
Committees: House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.
web site: www.ronpaul2008.com.
Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul hasn't even visited the Lowcountry, but he still has a core group of supporters here feverishly working to help him win.
They know it's a long shot — most polls show him in the low single digits — but that doesn't dim their hopes.
Like the Texas Congressman himself, Paulites are against the war in Iraq — like most Democratic candidates — but they also harbor a strong libertarian streak with a dislike of big govern- ment and taxes impinging on their freedom.
In Charleston, they're operating out of a former lube and oil shop, off the beaten path but ardently attempting to be in the middle of the national conversation.
Amanda Moore, Paul's South Carolina field coordinator, set up shop on Belgrade Avenue in West Ashley to help spread Paul's message, particularly his noninterventionist foreign policy.
"It's time to stop bashing these countries on the head and telling them, 'You're going to be free.' If you want them to be free, you lead by example," she said.
Paul's criticism of the United States' invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq sets him apart dramatically from his other GOP competitors and party leaders. After Paul criticized the war during a July debate in Columbia, state GOP chairman Katon Dawson said, "I thought Ron Paul fell off the stage."
Still, Dawson acknowledges that voters who like Paul really like him.
"I see a lot of handmade signs (for Paul). That means passion when you see handmade signs," he said. "They're very passionate about his ideas, the constitution. With that being said, I don't see a wide grassroots network that's enough to win an election of this magnitude. I could be wrong, but I just don't see it."
A recent Winthrop-ETV poll asking likely Republican voters who they would vote for in the primary showed Ron Paul with only 2.1 percent, less than the 4 percent margin of error, but it was more than Sam Brownback, Duncan Hunter and Tom Tancredo — all who have campaigned here — combined. Still, four others — Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson — are well ahead of him.
Clemson University political science professor Bruce Ransom also has noticed Paul's popularity among the youngest voters.
"There are signs all around Clemson. I just run into them anywhere," he said. "A lot of young people in particular have been attracted to his campaign, and they are passionate, I would say almost to the point of resembling a cult. They believe he's going to go on and win in '08. They, for whatever it's worth, don't believe the polls."
One reason they don't believe in polls is because pollsters overlook young voters, such as Allison Gibbs, 24, a microbiologist at MUSC. Gibbs leads a late-night meet up group of Paul supporters and volunteers almost 40 hours a week for his campaign.
"I don't have a land line, I have a cell phone. We aren't getting polled," she said.
While Moore helps oversee "the grunt work" of Paul's campaigning — canvassing voters, running phone banks, distributing signs and the like — it's on the Internet where the campaign has struck some impressive chords.
Paul is the top Republican as far as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube hits; of the eye-opening $5 million that Paul's campaign raised between July and September, 70 percent came from online donations.
Moore, who hasn't been very involved in politics since helping Arthur Ravenel win a congressional seat two decades ago, said Paul's message of freedom resonates strongly with her.
"He stands for the little people, and when the little people come out of the closet, it's going to shake up the establishment," she said. "It's time for a change, and there's going to be a change."
Gibbs said even if Paul ultimately falls short, she won't think her work was for nothing.
"If he doesn't win, I feel he will be the new Barry Goldwater. He will set the standard for conservatism," she said. "He seems very honest when he speaks. There's something raw about him and new."
And local supporters who meet up weekly at places like Gene's Haufbrau could soon have even more reason to get excited about Paul's candidacy: He is expected to make his first campaign visit to Charleston before the end of the month.
Reach Robert Behre at 937-5771 or rbehre@postandcourier.com.
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Cid95 (anonymous) says...
I never felt any connection with any candidate in my voting lifetime, let alone actually donated money, before Ron Paul.
All the "major" candidates are just slightly different versions of the same old thing. And the same old thing is leading us away from the Constitution.
I don't agree with Dr Paul on every issue, but only the tired same old thing politicians try to position themselves as all things to all men. Ron Paul is honest and has principles and his every move is guided by the US Constitution, that's what I'm looking for and that's why I support him
November 19, 2007 at 3:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjmehlhose (anonymous) says...
He wants to pull us out of the middle east immediately and surrender to the terrorists just as we are on the brink of victory. He would be the worst thing to happen to our national security since Bill Clinton signed that infamous executive order giving the communist Chinese ballistic missile guidance technology.
November 19, 2007 at 5:35 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjmehlhose (anonymous) says...
This guy is just as dangerous to our national security as the democrat Hussein Obama.
November 19, 2007 at 6:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mggoose2000 (anonymous) says...
With the mess in Iraq and Afghanistan on the horizon, why anyone would want to take the reins is beyond me.
Ron Paul, Hilary, Obama, Juliani, Romney; they are all babes in the woods compared to John Thompson. He is the only person running that has the experience or the tenacity to take this problem on and possibly come out with a winning solution (my opinion).
November 19, 2007 at 7:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Diamondhead (anonymous) says...
I agree with almost all of Ron Paul's positions except his views on the War with Islamic terrorism. He needs to rethink that position before he gets my vote and support.
November 19, 2007 at 7:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjmehlhose (anonymous) says...
Yes, he wants to wave a white flag of surrender to the terrorists, so they can attack civilians on our shores instead of armed Marines overseas. Yes, maybe he's right, maybe civilians here are better equipped to fight terrorists than an armed Marine in body armor driving an armored vehicle.
November 19, 2007 at 7:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wegwam (anonymous) says...
Ron Paul does not wave a white flag to terroists. he voted to go in afghanistan and had we listened to him from the beginning on iraq we would be much better off. but you are right smellhose, it is smart to go into foreign countries while leaving the front door wide open. (border with mexico) which is what bush has/is doing.
Paul wants to close the border immediately. end birthright citizenship. no amnesty for illegals. fix social security (instead of just talking about it)
November 19, 2007 at 8:33 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rittmeister (anonymous) says...
Of all the candidates, Ron Paul has received the most support from military personnel.
Why? I think, because many have realized, that the whole thing is just another scam for some people to make money at the expense of the taxpayer and the victims.
What's the result of the war? The longer we stay in Iraq, the more victims and the more resistance fighters are created.
In the meantime, the Clintons and Bushes are doing everything to keep an open border to Mexico.
They say "terrorists hate our freedom", while our government has done more harm to our freedom than any terrorist could ever dream of. Patriot act, homeland security, surveillance, National ID card are direct attacks on our liberty.
Since the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913 - a fraudulent action during the christmas holidays, when most congressmen were absent - the US Dollar has been inflated year after year. Please note that the Fed is a private bank, which creates money out of thin air, and lends it to our government at interest. Money the government should create itself without interest via an independend but accountable bank.
Ron Paul is the best chance America has to restore it's former glory!
November 19, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Rittmeister (anonymous) says...
Of all the candidates, Ron Paul has received the most support from military personnel.
Why? I think, because many have realized, that the whole thing is just another scam for some people to make money at the expense of the taxpayer and the victims.
What's the result of the war? The longer we stay in Iraq, the more victims and the more resistance fighters are created.
In the meantime, the Clintons and Bushes are doing everything to keep an open border to Mexico.
They say "terrorists hate our freedom", while our government has done more harm to our freedom than any terrorist could ever dream of. Patriot act, homeland security, surveillance, National ID card are direct attacks on our liberty.
Since the creation of the Federal Reserve in 1913 - a fraudulent action during the christmas holidays, when most congressmen were absent - the US Dollar has been inflated year after year. Please note that the Fed is a private bank, which creates money out of thin air, and lends it to our government at interest. Money the government should create itself without interest via an independend but accountable bank.
Ron Paul is the best chance America has to restore its former glory!
November 19, 2007 at 8:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
Ron Paul believes in a non-interventionist foreign policy- instead of war-mongering and sabre rattling from a bunch of chickenhawks.
How many times did Rudy avoid the draft?
You can easily pick out the folks who have been brain-washed by our war propaganda machine. Just ask them a simple question-
How do you define winning the war in the Middle East?
Today we are bogged down in Iraq- with Osama Bin Laden hiding out in Pakistan - which has nukes. Great job there Bush. Does that make sense- spending half a trillion dollars in Iraq- while Osama - the guy who attacked us- watches us go broke -mired down in Iraq?
Let's go bomb Iran, too. I want to send my kids over there in a few years on borrowed money- when the dollar is worth about 3 cents - so we can bomb them into our kind of democracy.
The Republicans, unless they nominate Ron Paul - will get killed in the 08 election - and they deserve it .
The majority of people want us out of Iraq and want our U.S. borders protected and want to reduce our debt- Ron Paul is the only guy who can get that done.
Wake up America!
November 19, 2007 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wegwam (anonymous) says...
I guess Pauls common sense domestic policies are too logical for smellhose. or maybe its the fact that he believes in the constitution.
vote for thompson if you want a lobbyist in the white house.
vote for romney if you want a businessman that changes his views for the polls.
vote for giuliani if, no please dont vote for rudy. please dont.
November 19, 2007 at 8:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
Please learn about Ron Paul. He is the most searched Presidential contender on the internet. Go to you tube and search Ron Paul and watch him speak and see his points of view.
Here is an excellent video clip to get you familiar with his views-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZ...
See what companies give Hillary , Rudy , and Mitt money.
It is the same companies donating to all of them .Scroll down and see who is giving Ron Paul money - the armed services - our military .
Follow the money and see there is little difference between Hillary donors and Rudy and Mitt donors.
http://rabbit-hole-journey.blogspot.c...
nointed.html
November 19, 2007 at 8:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
santee_chris (anonymous) says...
thank you P&C for finally doing some coverage of Ron Paul.. Go Ron Paul!! be sure and check out www.RonPaul2008.com and www.teaparty07.org
November 19, 2007 at 9:02 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Except for his stance on running from Iraq and his views on religion in government I like Ron Paul, but for someone who believes in strict interpretation of the constitution to find a reason for the federal government to involve itself in a religious rite like marriage is pretty danged strange. The only relation between marriage and the federal government is via taxes...and if he could change the tax code even that would go away.
And while I don't think we should have gone into Iraq, to leave after making a mess without cleaning it up is hardly the responsible thing to do...especially at this point, when it would only encourage our enemies.
November 19, 2007 at 9:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sjmehlhose (anonymous) says...
What about Huckabee? He is conservative both socially and fiscally. He is strong on national defense too.
November 19, 2007 at 9:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
Huckabee wants to continue the war in the Middle East- and spend billions of dollars we do not have to do it.
He has no plans to bring our troops home- more of the same- pointing our guns at Muslims telling them how to have a "democracy" that can live around our military bases in their country.
Staying in Iraq waiting for it to somehow get better is not a strategy. We made a mistake- let's act like responsible adults. It is time to leave and bring our troops home.
November 19, 2007 at 9:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jammanofdi (anonymous) says...
Thank You Post and Courier! It's about time that Ron Paul is getting a slice of the publicity that he deserves. Just because he is behind in the polls is no reason not to support him. We have 1 year to get his message out - if you are interested in Ron Paul, please visit his site, watch his video's, read his views. He is a dynamic leader and a true hope for our country. I cannot wait for him to visit!
November 19, 2007 at 9:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
skeeter (anonymous) says...
Everyone always says if we leave Iraq then the terrorists will attack us at home.
My question is why are they not doing that already. Why not bypass our millitary and attack soft targets in the US. I also thought the mission was accomplished back in 2003 but what do I know, politicians have always used a different callendar than me.
November 19, 2007 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rutledge (anonymous) says...
mggoose2000,
JOHN Thompson could probably do a better job of beating Ron Paul; he was an excellent coach at Georgetown. FRED Thompson is running from... I mean "for" president. Your man John Thompson would make a better candidate than Fred Thompson for many reasons,
1. He accomplished something in DC
2. He retired on top of his game
3. He always carries a towel
4. He always had a talented crew around him
5. He has real backing from a relevant religous organization
John Thompson in 08 Hoya Saxa
November 19, 2007 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
skeeter (anonymous) says...
Hey rutledge that ws excellent!
November 19, 2007 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wegwam (anonymous) says...
the same people who say we will be attacked here are the same ones who took us there. the middle east has been fighting for thousands of years.
common sense tells me it would be much easier to protect our country if our military stood at our borders, ports, and airports.
November 19, 2007 at 10:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wegwam (anonymous) says...
a vote for Paul is a vote for you!
a vote for anyone else is a vote for special interests
November 19, 2007 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
As Ron Paul points out, Ronald Reagan got the hell out of Lebanon when Lebanese terrorists truck bombed and killed a bunch of U.S. soldiers. Reagan said then we did not understand the politics of the Middle East.
It is obvious Bush and Cheney do not understand the Middle East political situation either - they are just too stubborn and irrational to have the courage necessary bring our troops home.
It takes a real patriot and statesman to admit a mistake and correct it- something sorely lacking from all Republican candidates -except Ron Paul.
November 19, 2007 at 10:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MHA (anonymous) says...
I thought Ron Paul was the black drag queen from MTV...
November 19, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
truthseeker: the republicans will lose to a radical left wing democrat candidate for no other reason than they have lost the way, the way of Reagan foreign and domestic policies. not everything Reagan did or endorse was right for america. he was human and he made mistakes. but he was right on target with his dealings with the middle east. we did not then and do not now understand the mentality of radical islam.
November 19, 2007 at 1 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eyfigueroa (anonymous) says...
as a libertarian, i WANT to support Ron Paul but he will have to have a clearer and a potentially more successful foreign policy than the one he touts now.
everything else, he is right on the money.
November 19, 2007 at 1:02 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iloveohiointhesummer (anonymous) says...
!!GO RON PAUL!!
November 19, 2007 at 1:45 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
November 19, 2007 at 2 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
riceowlex (anonymous) says...
Ignorance and a lack of the desire for the rule of law is now killing this country? I invite everyone that has logged in here and screamed about the threat of Islamic Terrorism to visit ae911truth.org
Has anyone seen the results of the criminal forensic investigation done after 9/11. You wont because there isn't one, nothing was ever done with the exception of a private accounting by Steven Jones and Richard Gage. Nearly 3000 people were killed that day in NY from the result of a demolition of the buildings that they were in. That has never been investigated and we want to know why. Especially puzzling is the fact that these buildings were Federal buildings and impossible to enter without the utmost of security clearance. Larry Silverstein collected 4 billion dollars on a 150 million dollar investment. Dr Ron Paul indeed. Absolutely Dr Ron Paul..we have killers in our midst I'm afraid and a North American Union to boot.
Along with a National ID card and a non existent Constitution if we do not act. WAKE UP!!!
November 19, 2007 at 4:26 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
majorjohnson (anonymous) says...
Yeah! And Mickey Mouse killed Kennedy but they covered it up! The government doesn't want you to know!
November 19, 2007 at 4:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
khalderman (anonymous) says...
An important thing to remember about these primary polls that measure likely Republican voters is that the people who are being asked are those who voted in the last primary. That was 2004 when George Bush ran unopposed. So only about 6% of the eligible Republicans voted. There was no real reason to vote because Bush was going to win no matter what and only those who really liked him bothered to show up. Since that is the sample population is it any wonder that Ron Paul lags behind. Come election day these pollsters are going to look very incompetent. Also, an earlier comment called Mike Huckabee a fiscal conservative and this simply is not true. When he was governor of Arkansas he spent a lot and taxed a lot and that is why he has very little support in his home sate.
November 19, 2007 at 10:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ruthelator (anonymous) says...
The people who say we are on the brink of victory are brainwashed sheep, still believing the liars who tricked most of us into supporting the invasion to save us from weapons of mass destruction and imminent threat to America. They want to keep us terrorized so we'll continue to submit to big brother's quest for power and OUR money, to protect "our" interests in the middle east. Who's actually benefiting from the war? Halliburton. Greedy power brokers, oil brokers, and corporate execs who own the media.
Come on, sheep, let's not let big corporate-owned media manipulate us into seeing only "first tier" candidates as our only choice, marginalizing any "dark horse" who defies their hidden corporate agenda.
Wake up people. Our victory will be in Americans daring to choose outside the media box, someone who will keep his oath of office to uphold our constitution, and end double taxing hard working Americans and future generations to pay for endless policing of the world.
Wake up America. This endless, senseless war is expanding our national debt (to China and other foreign states and corporations) by trillions, leaching funds away from basic domestic needs like border security and maintaining bridges, and robbing our kids of the prosperity we enjoy today. The current course we are on leads inevitably to collapse of our currency, national bankruptcy, and slavery to whoever owns us.
Our victory will be in electing a truth-teller who will work diligently (as he always has) to preserve our liberties while establishing a strong national DEFENSE (not empire-building, intrusive, offensive-to-most-of-the-world OFFENSE). Someone who tells it like it is, doesn't waffle or speak out of both sides of their mouth to win a popularity contest so they can become the next king or queen of the universe. Someone who actually believes in the constitution as the rule of law, governing (setting boundaries around) the actions of our elected officials.
Stand UP Americans! Don't lie down on your couches and bitch. We CAN stop the insanity! Dare to vote and campaign for a "long shot" who will actually take us on a different course. Fight for freedom and a properly limited, fiscally responsible national government.
GO Ron Paul!!
November 20, 2007 at 12:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mzingalis (anonymous) says...
I am really looking for a change. I am a former Marine, and have donated money to Ron Paul's campaign. I really believe that the majority of republicans and democrats are on the same side...and it's not ours. Our current president is a deserter and a cokehead...maybe you've noticed. A man that complains about the barrier of the constitution, and jokes about how a dictatorship might be better. Get smart people, otherwise we will eventually have only the choice between 2 families...not 2 parties. Even if the head is different..it is on the same beast.
November 20, 2007 at 12:47 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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