Ron Paul Revolt: A new kind of RNC Welcoming Committee?
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 12:02 pm
- 10 Comments
A significant amount of attention has been paid to the anti-war protesters and liberal demonstrators headed for the Republican National Convention, but a potentially more disruptive group of political activists threatens to descend on St. Paul this September in what has already been dubbed “Ron Paul’s Revolt.”
“I have a busload of Ron Paul supporters on the way to Minneapolis-Saint Paul for the National Convention, along with an expanding army of volunteers from more than 1,500 locations coast to coast. We are resolved to make these next few months count. We look forward to the list of speakers. We will converge on Minnesota regardless of whether you invite Dr. Paul, but we would prefer to stay in hotels and attend the convention as members of the Republican Party rather than stay at the YMCA and protest outside as disaffected ex-Republicans. The choice is yours.”
That is the message Ron Paul supporters are sending to Maria Cino, chief executive officer of the Committee of Arrangements which is organizing the 2008 Republican National Convention. Paul’s fervent followers have been frustrated by the Republican Party establishment as they continue to push their candidate’s libertarian ideals. Many in the party view Paul as a nuisance for not ending his campaign and not endorsing Republican nominee John McCain.
The Paul campaign has been organizing for state and county conventions nationwide in an attempt to wrest delegates away from McCain. This has led to disruptions of state GOP conventions in Nevada, Maine, Hawaii, Idaho, and Georgia as well as district conventions in Minnesota. Now, word of an unconfirmed “Freedom Rally” to be held in St. Paul during the Republican National Convention is spreading through message boards, blogs and MeetUp groups. Such a demonstration could steal the spotlight from McCain and give the Republican Party a major headache going into the general election.
Paul spoke with radio station KTRH in Houston this past week and discussed the role of his supporters at the convention. When asked about a “revolt” at the convention, Paul said he wasn’t sure that’s the appropriate word, but “there certainly will be some challenges because the supporters I have, have been very energized.” Asked what those challenges from his supporters in St. Paul may be, Paul said, “There is no specific plan.”
While Paul’s lawyers have apparently advised the candidate to avoid such a rally, the prospect of unrest is being used as leverage for a prime speaking slot at the convention. Furthermore, Paul himself may be helpless to stop his enthusiastic supporters from crashing the party if their dissatisfaction persists.
Listen: Paul interview on KTRH in Houston
Watch: Fox News & Friends discusses the “Ron Paul Revolt” and the convention revolt
10 Comments
Comment posted May 21, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
Minnesota State Convention? Hard to believe there’s been any disruption at the Minnesota GOP State Convention when it hasn’t been held yet. And there is no plan to disrupt the MN convention. The Ron Paul Republicans here have been out working for and supporting the Republican candidates. They’ve been actively involved in the party and will continue to be.
As much as I love a good story, this seems to be nothing more than sensationalism, with all due respect.
Comment posted May 21, 2008 @ 2:10 pm
You’re right… I should have distinguished Minnesota’s district conventions from the state conventions. Thank you.
Comment posted May 21, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
Go Ron Paul! And thank you, Minnesota Monitor, for providing the best news source on my home state available!
Michael Blaine
http://www.rudelystamped.blogspot.com
Comment posted May 22, 2008 @ 8:38 am
No disruptions in Georgia No disrespect meant to you, Mr. Elko, and I appreciate your generally fair coverage of Ron Paul in this article, but Ron Paul’s supporters didn’t ‘disrupt’ the Georgia Republican Convention last weekend as you state here.
We were all duly elected delegates and, as such, were participating in our party’s convention no differently than any other delegates.
It was not Ron Paul’s supporters who claimed that McCain was like Jesus Christ, that was Georgia Republican State Chair Sue Everhart. It was not Ron Paul’s supporters who refused to allow a call for division of the house on a vote to approve Newt Gingrich’s “American Solutions” platform, that was Randy Evans, Newt’s former counsel. And lastly it was the state GOP themselves who voted to change the rules on the Friday without a quorum of delegates present in order to keep Ron Paul’s supporters from making nominations from the floor in opposition to the state GOP’s list of nominees to the National Convention.
Because of reporting like yours the Republican establishment believes were are rogue outliers in the Party bent on causing havoc rather than genuine conservatives who are unhappy with our leadership. Rather than perpetuate that stereotype, you would do you and your readers a great service to interview us Ron Paul supporters personally about our experiences at the conventions you listed in your article and report on our mistreatment.
For those who are interested there is 30 minutes of video of the convention at thecharminitiative(dot)wordpress(dot)com.
Comment posted May 22, 2008 @ 9:26 am
Paul Supporters Have Participate Peacefully & Fairly YOUR WORDS, EMPHASIS MINE
“The Paul campaign has been organizing for state and county conventions nationwide in an attempt to WREST DELEGATES AWAY FROM McCAIN. This has led to disruptions of state GOP conventions in Nevada, Maine, Hawaii, Idaho, and Georgia as well as DISTRICT CONVENTIONS IN MINNESOTA.”
MY WORDS
Not only do perpetuate the myth that Paul supporters are rouge members, you show OBVIOUS bias in this report.
What’s wrong with one Republican candidate trying to put THEIR delegates in, rather than the other? Isn’t that part of the POLITICAL PROCESS? Isn’t that what we see with Clinton vs. Obama EVERY DAY? Apparently, it is not okay when the PEOPLE stand up & take part of the process to have their VOICE HEARD when their candidate is an anti-establishment minded politician who ACTUALLY HAS A PLAN TO REDUCE THE SIZE & SCOPE OF OUR EVER-EXPANDING GOVERNMENT.
Paul supporters have taken time to show up & make a difference for their point of view. Is this not the AMERICAN WAY? The only “disruption” we have caused is that we aren’t goose-stepping with what ze Party has determined to be “their” candidate. I was at one of those Congressional District Conventions, which we won fair & square. I have yet to see any sort of cheating by the GOP establishment in Minnesota, like what was done in Nevada. I am somewhat confident that these men & women will stay honorable in their efforts to stay within the rules to confirm the voice of the people.
The McCain-oriented GOP establishment is the one you should be writing negative reports on……there are many examples of shenanigans committed outside of the rules (aka CHEATING) in a few states outside of Minnesota. The PEOPLE are speaking…..they don’t want a Democrat-clone as their Republican nominee. The establishment has gotten desperate in a few cases, they’ve actually had to resort to cheating to win!
THERE ARE MORE TRUE PEACEFUL CONSERVATIVES LIKE US. WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN ARE ONLY THE ONES WHO BOTHERED TO SHOW UP. WE ARE NOT THE MINORITY YOU THINK WE ARE.
Comment posted May 21, 2008 @ 8:36 am
Minnesota State Convention? Hard to believe there's been any disruption at the Minnesota GOP State Convention when it hasn't been held yet. And there is no plan to disrupt the MN convention. The Ron Paul Republicans here have been out working for and supporting the Republican candidates. They've been actively involved in the party and will continue to be.
As much as I love a good story, this seems to be nothing more than sensationalism, with all due respect.
Comment posted May 21, 2008 @ 9:10 am
You're right… I should have distinguished Minnesota's district conventions from the state conventions. Thank you.
Comment posted May 21, 2008 @ 4:59 pm
Go Ron Paul! And thank you, Minnesota Monitor, for providing the best news source on my home state available!
Michael Blaine
http://www.rudelystamped.blogspot.com</p>
Comment posted May 22, 2008 @ 3:38 am
No disruptions in Georgia No disrespect meant to you, Mr. Elko, and I appreciate your generally fair coverage of Ron Paul in this article, but Ron Paul's supporters didn't 'disrupt' the Georgia Republican Convention last weekend as you state here.
We were all duly elected delegates and, as such, were participating in our party's convention no differently than any other delegates.
It was not Ron Paul's supporters who claimed that McCain was like Jesus Christ, that was Georgia Republican State Chair Sue Everhart. It was not Ron Paul's supporters who refused to allow a call for division of the house on a vote to approve Newt Gingrich's “American Solutions” platform, that was Randy Evans, Newt's former counsel. And lastly it was the state GOP themselves who voted to change the rules on the Friday without a quorum of delegates present in order to keep Ron Paul's supporters from making nominations from the floor in opposition to the state GOP's list of nominees to the National Convention.
Because of reporting like yours the Republican establishment believes were are rogue outliers in the Party bent on causing havoc rather than genuine conservatives who are unhappy with our leadership. Rather than perpetuate that stereotype, you would do you and your readers a great service to interview us Ron Paul supporters personally about our experiences at the conventions you listed in your article and report on our mistreatment.
For those who are interested there is 30 minutes of video of the convention at thecharminitiative(dot)wordpress(dot)com.
Comment posted May 22, 2008 @ 4:26 am
Paul Supporters Have Participate Peacefully & Fairly YOUR WORDS, EMPHASIS MINE
“The Paul campaign has been organizing for state and county conventions nationwide in an attempt to WREST DELEGATES AWAY FROM McCAIN. This has led to disruptions of state GOP conventions in Nevada, Maine, Hawaii, Idaho, and Georgia as well as DISTRICT CONVENTIONS IN MINNESOTA.”
MY WORDS
Not only do perpetuate the myth that Paul supporters are rouge members, you show OBVIOUS bias in this report.
What's wrong with one Republican candidate trying to put THEIR delegates in, rather than the other? Isn't that part of the POLITICAL PROCESS? Isn't that what we see with Clinton vs. Obama EVERY DAY? Apparently, it is not okay when the PEOPLE stand up & take part of the process to have their VOICE HEARD when their candidate is an anti-establishment minded politician who ACTUALLY HAS A PLAN TO REDUCE THE SIZE & SCOPE OF OUR EVER-EXPANDING GOVERNMENT.
Paul supporters have taken time to show up & make a difference for their point of view. Is this not the AMERICAN WAY? The only “disruption” we have caused is that we aren't goose-stepping with what ze Party has determined to be “their” candidate. I was at one of those Congressional District Conventions, which we won fair & square. I have yet to see any sort of cheating by the GOP establishment in Minnesota, like what was done in Nevada. I am somewhat confident that these men & women will stay honorable in their efforts to stay within the rules to confirm the voice of the people.
The McCain-oriented GOP establishment is the one you should be writing negative reports on……there are many examples of shenanigans committed outside of the rules (aka CHEATING) in a few states outside of Minnesota. The PEOPLE are speaking…..they don't want a Democrat-clone as their Republican nominee. The establishment has gotten desperate in a few cases, they've actually had to resort to cheating to win!
THERE ARE MORE TRUE PEACEFUL CONSERVATIVES LIKE US. WHAT YOU HAVE SEEN ARE ONLY THE ONES WHO BOTHERED TO SHOW UP. WE ARE NOT THE MINORITY YOU THINK WE ARE.
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