[exettybele]

Ron Paul to avoid supporters’ dueling pre-convention rallies

By Business Insider
Tuesday, June 26, 2012 11:54 EDT
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Topics: Paul Festival ♦ ron paul



By Grace Wyler
With Ron Paul effectively out of the 2012 presidential race, the ragtag coalition that propelled his dark-horse campaign is already showing signs of unraveling.
In the wake of the realization that Paul does not have enough delegates to win the Republican nomination, his supporters have split on a variety of issues, exposing latent fault lines between the diverse factions of libertarian-leaning, small-government-loving voters who had pinned their political hopes on Ron Paul.
The divisions have become increasingly apparent as Paul and his supporters plan for their last hurrah at the Republican National Convention in Tampa this August. Ron Paul activists are planning competing festivals for the three days leading up to the convention, while the candidate himself has broken with the grassroots and opted to host his own rally.
The dueling activist events are the result of a schism between organizers of Paul Festival, a three-day grassroots rally-cum-music festival at the Florida State Fairgrounds that will celebrate Paul’s life and career. Although details about the falling out are hazy, several organizers have split with the Paul Festival, and decided to organize the Freedom Festival, which is set to take place just 35 miles down the road, at the Fantasy of Flight aviation attraction, over the same three days. Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson — whose positions are often markedly different from those of Ron Paul — is scheduled to speak, according to the Freedom Festival website.
In an effort to control his message and rise above the grassroots chaos, Paul has decided not to attend either festival, and will instead host his own rally in Tampa on August 26, the day before the convention, campaign manager, Jesse Benton, told Business Insider. He added that the campaign has finalizing a deal with the Republican National Committee a venue for the rally.
“We have said definitively, 100%, he’s not going,” Benton said. “We’ve always planned to have our own rally before the convention.”
But several insiders close familiar with the campaign’s discussion have suggested that the rally was actually planned with some reluctance, due to concerns that would be seen as a distraction by the RNC and the Mitt Romney campaign. According to those sources, the campaign’s hand was forced when grassroots activists decided to plan their own festivals, which could distort Paul’s message — and possibly hurt his position within the Republican Party — in the critical days before the convention.
“The movement has a life of it’s own,” a source close to the Paul campaign told Business Insider. “But the rally will for sure suppress turnout for the other events.”
Still, Ron Paul’s snub is a blow to the grassroots, exposing what is perhaps the most salient split in the Movement — the growing divide between the Paul political operation and the rebel army of the Ron Paul Revolution.
“It’s obviously disappointing — we’re doing something to honor someone, so of course, we would like it if he was there,” Paul Festival organizer Bryan Siemon told Business Insider. “Ron Paul and the campaign have told us that they didn’t want to hurt our event, so there’s definitely some confusion.”
“At the same time, we understand that we did this independently, and we can’t expect him to be obligated to attend,” Siemon added. “Everyone understands that its always been about the movement, not about one person.”

[margoaroyo]

I take it he wasn't getting any money from the other rally and this is the excuse.

[exettybele]

I really dont think it has anything to do with money, he campaigned strong as hell until someone pulled the off switch.

[we0MA4MI]

I really dont think it has anything to do with money, he campaigned strong as hell until someone pulled the off switch.

Don't forget, somebody pulled that off switch last time as well. Personally, I think he has always had a hidden hand up his ass. He's a REPUGLICAN through and through. A party asset. Both him and the apple of his loins, Rand.

[alexosnasos2]

Don't forget, somebody pulled that off switch last time as well. Personally, I think he has always had a hidden hand up his ass. He's a REPUGLICAN through and through. A party asset. Both him and the apple of his loins, Rand.

may be.

he seemed like the "Real Deal" in debates, but he didn't handle the question of his allegedly dropping out of the race a month or 2 ago, very well.

he had more support than either Obama or Romney.

he always had the choice of admitting that the Republican Party was mis-directing his votes in the primaries, and that he was therefore declaring as a 3rd party candidate.

[margoaroyo]

I really dont think it has anything to do with money, he campaigned strong as hell until someone pulled the off switch.

It's always about money. Heck with two events, and people probably donating at both sites, RP will be raking in the frn's.

[Tibaveriafark]

You guys are pretty hard on RP.

[margoaroyo]

You guys are pretty hard on RP.

Why should we be soft? We are just as hard on Obummer and Mittens and rightly so in doing. RP and Son's shenanigans of late seem to warrant much more scrutiny than they have received in the past.

[mpegdvdclip]

I think Ron Paul is the real deal. I also think that the big money behind the scenes (aka Bilderberg, Rothschild, Rockefeller, etc.) threatened Ron Paul in a way that he had no choice. I have no idea what the threat might have been, but you know those Trilateral guys can have anyone taken out with no problem.

[Tibaveriafark]

Why should we be soft? We are just as hard on Obummer and Mittens and rightly so in doing. RP and Son's shenanigans of late seem to warrant much more scrutiny than they have received in the past.

I don't think you should be soft, but this whole movement against Ron Paul is just crazy. His sons actions should not be held over his head, his son is a douche and I think we pretty much all agree on that. Like I have said for awhile now, he may be the best senator but thats like saying this is the best smelling crap I've ever taken.

Ron Pauls campaign has never had brass balls from what I can tell, rampant voter fraud across the board in many many states and nothing is done about it. Whether Ron is to blame or his campaign I'm not sure, but it was mishandled. I tend not to blame Ron for 2 reasons 1) he is 76, way past the age of endless energy to wage multi front wars, I think he is very content to just speak and educate on a nation wide scale 2) Ron only ran because everyone begged him everywhere across the internet for the last 4 years, so any amount of good he has done this election cycle is all on him, he didn't have to do it, he could've retired into obscurity with his money, but he continues to educate.

I have said many times before, when I'm 76 the very last thing I want to find myself doing is running for POTUS I can't imagine he feels any different.

This whole Ron Paul is a mason, bilderberger, shill, controlled diversion is just nonsense and a half.

[Gremlinn]

I don't think you should be soft, but this whole movement against Ron Paul is just crazy. His sons actions should not be held over his head, his son is a douche and I think we pretty much all agree on that. Like I have said for awhile now, he may be the best senator but thats like saying this is the best smelling crap I've ever taken.

Ron Pauls campaign has never had brass balls from what I can tell, rampant voter fraud across the board in many many states and nothing is done about it. Whether Ron is to blame or his campaign I'm not sure, but it was mishandled. I tend not to blame Ron for 2 reasons 1) he is 76, way past the age of endless energy to wage multi front wars, I think he is very content to just speak and educate on a nation wide scale 2) Ron only ran because everyone begged him everywhere across the internet for the last 4 years, so any amount of good he has done this election cycle is all on him, he didn't have to do it, he could've retired into obscurity with his money, but he continues to educate.

I have said many times before, when I'm 76 the very last thing I want to find myself doing is running for POTUS I can't imagine he feels any different.

This whole Ron Paul is a mason, bilderberger, shill, controlled diversion is just nonsense and a half.

Well said LS!

He ain't done yet

[RsQhyZyR]

I think Ron Paul is the real deal. I also think that the big money behind the scenes (aka Bilderberg, Rothschild, Rockefeller, etc.) threatened Ron Paul in a way that he had no choice. I have no idea what the threat might have been, but you know those Trilateral guys can have anyone taken out with no problem.

I think it is ridiculous to think Ron Paul was threatened to do anything.
This man has stood on his principles all his life and is not the type to take threats lying down.
If I were in his position, and in the national spotlight...no threat could could sway me. In fact, the moment I received a serious, possible life endangering threat...the first thing I would do is contact all media news outlets to expose the fact and those who made the threat. Regardless if it endangerd my family members. There are some things in this world that are bigger then your own little family.

[Anypeny]

You gotta admit it's pretty strange that he bows out almost immediately after his secret meeting with the Ben Bernanke.

[margoaroyo]

Fmr staffer: Ron Paul planned ‘No’ vote for Afghanistan invasion, staff threatened mutiny

In a statement released on Monday, a 16-year former aide to Texas Rep. Ron Paul writes that the presidential candidate “was opposed to the war in Afghanistan, and to any military reaction to the attacks of 9/11,” but ultimately voted “Yay” [sic] in the face of a threatened staff rebellion and near-certain political suicide.

rest at link
He did not for the last Iraq invasion. But being described as a vote change due to political suicide is a politicians act, not that of a statesman.

[margoaroyo]

I don't think you should be soft, but this whole movement against Ron Paul is just crazy. His sons actions should not be held over his head, his son is a douche and I think we pretty much all agree on that. Like I have said for awhile now, he may be the best senator but thats like saying this is the best smelling crap I've ever taken.

Ron Pauls campaign has never had brass balls from what I can tell, rampant voter fraud across the board in many many states and nothing is done about it. Whether Ron is to blame or his campaign I'm not sure, but it was mishandled. I tend not to blame Ron for 2 reasons 1) he is 76, way past the age of endless energy to wage multi front wars, I think he is very content to just speak and educate on a nation wide scale 2) Ron only ran because everyone begged him everywhere across the internet for the last 4 years, so any amount of good he has done this election cycle is all on him, he didn't have to do it, he could've retired into obscurity with his money, but he continues to educate.

I have said many times before, when I'm 76 the very last thing I want to find myself doing is running for POTUS I can't imagine he feels any different.

This whole Ron Paul is a mason, bilderberger, shill, controlled diversion is just nonsense and a half.

Controlled Opposition is my feeling. I have never directly supported the guy. I have no personal attachment to him, his family, or his politics. I felt that his ideas on liberty closely identified with my own. I also feel that if this is a man of great ideals, he should stick to his guns. Backtracking, grinding his toes, and basically allowing himself and the campaign to be thrown under the proverbial bus says a lot.

[margoaroyo]

RP's comment on the SCOTUS decision.

http://paul.house.gov/index.php?opti...1987&Itemid=28
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Ron Paul issued the following statement on the Supreme Court's decision to uphold most of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

"I strongly disagree with today’s decision by the Supreme Court, but I am not surprised. The Court has a dismal record when it comes to protecting liberty against unconstitutional excesses by Congress.

"Today we should remember that virtually everything government does is a 'mandate.' The issue is not whether Congress can compel commerce by forcing you to buy insurance, or simply compel you to pay a tax if you don’t. The issue is that this compulsion implies the use of government force against those who refuse. The fundamental hallmark of a free society should be the rejection of force. In a free society, therefore, individuals could opt out of “Obamacare” without paying a government tribute.

"Those of us in Congress who believe in individual liberty must work tirelessly to repeal this national health care law and reduce federal involvement in healthcare generally. Obamacare can only increase third party interference in the doctor-patient relationship, increase costs, and reduce the quality of care. Only free market medicine can restore the critical independence of doctors, reduce costs through real competition and price sensitivity, and eliminate enormous paperwork burdens. Americans will opt out of Obamacare with or without Congress, but we can seize the opportunity today by crafting the legal framework to allow them to do so." Yep keep voting and expect those in CONgress to change something. What does he has to lose by attacking with force all of those in support of obummer care? A plank at the convention? He laid out the ramifications. I give him that. However, he wants us to use the same process that has led us to this point to get us out. Ain't gonna happen.

[Piediahef]

had to go 9 pages in to find a Ron Paul thread to post this in, not the exact right thread, but is RP related.....

[gariharrr]

arg, speakers not working. Recap please?

[Piediahef]

arg, speakers not working. Recap please?

in general, everyone acting like Romney has nomination, isnt official yet though, can be to nomination speeches in tampa. Is just maddow trying to keep the divide in repub party, though her help is not necessary.

[Lictimind]

You gotta admit it's pretty strange that he bows out almost immediately after his secret meeting with the Ben Bernanke.

Yeah, but that can be a) a coincidence, or b) that he's been told something that changed his mind - for instance that this county is under bankruptcy and office of President is not elected but chosen by the recipients of the bankruptcy, i.e. bankers, the Queen, CFR or whoever

or they said they are going to kill his son.