Comments on: Is Ron Paul Running Away From The Libertarian Label ?

By: paxx:blog » Blog Archive » 8 GrÃ¼nde gegen den Ron-Paul-Mythos

paxx:blog » Blog Archive » 8 GrÃ¼nde gegen den Ron-Paul-Mythos — Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:43:40 +0000

[...] ist nicht libertär, er ist konservativ. Zumindest bezeichnet er sich stets als solcher und verschweigt sogar seine Präsidentschaftskandidatur als “big-L Libertarian” von [...]

By: Little Bit Farm

Little Bit Farm — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 13:09:26 +0000

Personally, I think you were smarter when you first started voting! Ron Paul is running as a republican. He’s been in office for years as a republican. He is a consititutionalist who is trying to find a road back to a constitutional government. I don’t care if he runs at the looney tunes candidate, as long as he can take us to a more constitutional government!!! Go Ron Paul!!!

By: Todd

Todd — Thu, 26 Jul 2007 03:27:24 +0000

Ron Paul can win the libertarian vote without using the word. He stands a much better chance of winning mainstream Republican votes by NOT using the term. His strategy is to convince mainstream Republicans that libertarian ideas (without using the term) are the same as conservative ideas and Republican ideas.

By: Brian Miller

Brian Miller — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:55:47 +0000

when you claim the mantle of libertarianism, the ideological purity police will come knocking and try to discredit you because of a squabble that in practicality is rather insignificant

Yeah, like the idea that women own their own uteruses, or that sodomy laws are unconstitutional, or that immigration shouldn’t be restricted to protect domestic industry, or that free trade is better than tariffs, and all the other “insignificant” issues where real libertarians disagree with conservative right-wing Republican Ron Paul.

The reason he doesn’t call himself a “libertarian” is simple — he isn’t one (the fervent wishes of his vocal fanboys — and they’re almost all boys — to the contrary).

By: zenpiper

zenpiper — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:34:53 +0000

Much ado redux.

If there were 100 biographies, or web sites or other forms of media which claimed to describe Dr. Paul’s history, and left something out, it would make no difference.

It appears your problem is with those who write about him. Well, nobody writes the perfect history, biography or anything else.

Either support Dr. Paul, or don’t support him, regardless of what gets written about him.

By: robert haley

robert haley — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 20:03:09 +0000

It isn’t particularly informative for Ron Paul to describe himself as a libertarian. There a actually many differences among libertarians. Many are strongly pro-abortion and strongly pro-gay marriage. Others are big supporters of the war in Iraq. I’m sure Ron Paul doesn’t want to be confused with those people.

By: TanGeng

TanGeng — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 19:58:18 +0000

Libertarianism does certainly have a ton of baggage attached to it.

But when you claim the mantle of libertarianism, the ideological purity police will come knocking and try to discredit you because of a squabble that in practicality is rather insignificant.

Damn, sometimes I hate Libertarians…

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:41:49 +0000

GeeDub,

I think you are on to something. Dr. Paul’s support includes the LP, Rep, Dems, and the largest group- the politically disenchanted and the apolitical. The last two groups are powerful-they are really hacked off with the current system.

If only a fraction of the estimated 50,ml non-voters , vote for Paul… All I can say is bring your lunch to the polls- the lines will be long!!

By: GeeDub

GeeDub — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:01:09 +0000

Since the mainstream doesn’t know what libertarianism is it is easier to omit that information rather than have to debunk all the false rumors about it. Hardcore republicans won’t vote for a libertarian and that is what he needs to focus on in the primaries. I think the majority of his support is going to come outside the party that do not want politics as usual. At least that’s why he’s getting my vote.

Live, let live, and be free in both action and consequence.

By: Michael Wagner

Michael Wagner — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:52:56 +0000

The answer is very simple. Ron is trying to win the nomination of the Republican Party. To have a realistic chance of doing that, he needs a good chunk of “party regulars” to support him. Delegate selection, ballot placement and other behind the scenes stuff has to be done by these party regulars. If he openly uses the libertarian label now, he runs the risk of alienating the regulars.
One of the long term goals of the campaign is to take over the party apparatus at the local level. With enough local, active support, freedom loving people can mount a coup and take over the GOP. It’s a long shot, sure, but while we’ve got some momentum going why not give it a shot?
Here in Pinellas Co. FL there is NO other campaign on the ground. The Ron Paul MeetUp groups are the only active grassroots campaign visible here. We are having a meeting this Friday that combines all the local groups to see if we can gather enough “troops” to mount a GOP “invasion.”
The Christian right did it in the 80′s and the neocons did it in the 90′s. Why can’t we do it now?
Everybody who is even remotely libertarian should just quit your bellyaching, set aside your differences for a little while, join a meetup group and get to WORK.
This is the last best hope we have. If one of the “other” candidates gets in, it will be 4 more years of expansion of government. We will have passed the tipping point and we won’t be able to get our country back.
Let’s all unite behind the one guy who actually has a shot.

By: Amy

Amy — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:46:54 +0000

This is called a tactical omission. And it is working!

By: Maria Folsom

Maria Folsom — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:20:30 +0000

Yes, it was devious and sneaky of Paul to omit a major chunk of his career. This would not look good on a business rÃ©sumÃ©. Let’s reward a Real Libertarian who is proud of his past and consistent in his “constitutional” principles – George Phillies. Check out his website: http://phillies2008.org/

He is all the Libertarian you can want.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 13:09:39 +0000

As Dave said, his ’88 Presidential campaign was not part of congressional resume.

But on a sidenote:
Twice this week Howard Dean has been on TV and said that No Republicans are anti-Iraq-war. Both times he has been corrected; but argued his point by saying Ron Paul is a Libertarian (not Republican). It seems obvious that Howard Dean thinks that painting RP as a Libertarian (not a Republican) is good for the Democrats.

By: NickK

NickK — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 10:21:44 +0000

acknowledges libertarianism briefly here, talking about the environment:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yGGOiv7sA4w

By: Timo

Timo — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 08:46:14 +0000

Does it really matter what he calls himself. This, to me is just playing into the already to the main stream with this “divide and conquer” tactic. His message do you like it? It makes sense and he provided real answers to some real perplexing issues. If you look at some videos on the net you can find the same issues he has talked about since 1988. He is consistent, precise and honest. If for no other reason I will be voting for Ron Paul but I am confident at what I am voting for…the Constitution.