Posted on 01/02/2012 12:19:23 PM PST by Kaslin
I know that every candidate has passionate supporters, but it’s obvious that Ron Paul’s followers are especially passionate to the point of being downright touchy whenever he is strongly criticized. Or am I being unfair in my assessment?
Last week, I received an email via Townhall from an apparent Ron Paul supporter. He wrote, “You want war with Iran send your own [expletive] kids, not mine. Stop sucking up to Isreal [sic]. What a piece of [expletive] this Townhall spews. One can clearly see your [sic] for the Tea Party of Hate. I know becuase [sic] of your hate for Ron Paul.”
Now, the funny thing is that, in several dozen Townhall articles written in 2011, I mentioned Iran a total of twice (in passing, at that), I mentioned the Tea Party twice (in the space of one article, without criticism or endorsement), and most importantly, I never once mentioned the name of Ron Paul. Not once! Yet somehow I am fashioned a Ron Paul hater.
Obviously, this is just one email from an anti-Israel, anti-Tea Party, profanity-using, spelling-challenged reader, and in no way do I judge Ron Paul or the rest of his supporters by one foolish email. Of course not. And yet, there’s something all too familiar about this pro-Paul email, specifically, its unusually rabid tone.
It is an open secret that no one has supporters who are more devoted, loyal, or committed than Ron Paul, and if other candidates had followers as dedicated as his, the current political landscape would look very different.
So is that the answer to my question? Is it simply that Paul’s followers are more passionate than others, implying that they will also be more defensive and even touchy?
Or is this overly simplistic? Perhaps the real issue is that, for years, the media has seemingly failed to give Paul his due, giving other candidates more coverage and attention and even time to respond in public debates. And so Paul’s followers have simply had it with being slighted, becoming especially sensitive to criticism.
Or maybe Paul’s supporters have emulated some of his own style, being more didactic than dynamic and more cantankerous than charismatic? Maybe this is one the reasons they are attracted to him?
Or could it be that as a libertarian, he gives voice to causes and stands up for values that few other candidates believe in or espouse? Although he is a long-time politician, he is also outside the main stream on many key issues, and so, he is not only embraced as a political candidate but also as a champion of the people, an anti-establishment hero to be defended and backed with tenacity and zeal. It’s not every candidate who writes a book on “Revolution” and really means it. (Hey, when he talks about the need for revolutionary change, he’s speaking my language too.)
Or is it something else? Could it be that his positions are so extreme that it leaves his followers vulnerable and defensive? After all, when your candidate downplays the threat of radical Islam (even though its adherents probably surpass the adult population of America in number), when he chooses not to recognize the very real danger of a nuclear weapon in the hands of Iran (despite all the blood currently on Iran’s hands), when one of his former senior aides, Eric Dondero, claims that Paul is anti-Israel, how can his supporters not be hyper-sensitive to criticism? (According to Dondero, while Paul is neither a racist nor an anti-Semite, he is “most certainly Anti-Israel, and Anti-Israeli in general. He wishes the Israeli state did not exist at all. . . . He sides with the Palestinians, and supports their calls for the abolishment of the Jewish state, and the return of Israel, all of it, to the Arabs.”)
I actually have no axe to grind when it comes to Ron Paul, nor do I have a dog in this fight. Is he really anti-Israel, or is there a solid answer to the charges against him? Are his foreign policies naïve, or does he really understand the nature of anti-American “blowback”? Are some of his radical monetary proposals the very thing we need, or is he arguing for changes that can never occur? Has he been wishy-washy on important social issues like homosexual activism, or does he really espouse conservative morality? And is he a man of trustworthy character, or is he being dishonest when he disavows knowledge of many of his past newsletters?
These are questions for others to answer, and despite the hostile comments that can be expected in response to this article, I am not hostile to Ron Paul. My question has to do with his followers.
Why are they so touchy? Or am I being unfair?
Post a thread about Reagan and we will talk, just stick to the issue which is Paul. Paul is delusional and dangerous based on his foreign policy ideas. I will not support him , I don’t support anti-Semites.
If you choose to support Paul, go right ahead, its a free country but do not try and change the subject to something other than Paul, best for you to get off the Paul is the only guy who can .....band wagon. Learn who he really is, based on what you have been posting, the man you think he is doesn’t actually exists.
I think the word libertarian should be retired. It is more of an impediment to rational exchange of ideas than a useful tool.
All it is is a que to start fighting. Whatever emotional you attach to it, good or bad, when people hear it their adrenalin starts flowing, their heart beat increases, their frontal lobes shut down and they hunker down for a battle.
That is hysterically funny, if Paul actually recognized failure he would have stopped running for President two decades ago.
Is that what you teach the children in your life? Go ahead and try but then give up.
Easy calling someone a idiot because someone made a minor grammar mistake.
No ownership I get it.
Otherwise, as I have said before I am still recovering from my public school education.
Anyone would probably be touchy if their favorite candidate was dismissed offhand as a nut.
The poster commented on Paul which is what I responded to, don't change the subject.
FC said that Paul has the ability to recognize failure
I simple said: That is hysterically funny, if Paul actually recognized failure he would have stopped running for President two decades ago.
I’m surprised him and his buddies weren’t zotted on that other RP thread.
At least Nader only runs when he needs a new polyester suit.
Well, he is a nut, plus he sounds like a mouse
They’re all guilty of pork barrel spending all the while trying to claim to being the most fiscally sound politician in Washington. They go around town with their pointing finger pointing outward at everyone else.
Actually, that *was* funny. Brilliant in a way.
They’re a mindless cult, just like Obamabots.
Because they are “bat-guano-crazy”.
Ron Paul is the American Khadaffy.
You are criticizing Paul for not quitting. I think my comment was apt.
Perry supporters (on here at least) are also extremely touchy.
Oh Christ...look...if all you say is “Ron Paul is a nutter” w/o citing any reason to back it up, I think you’re an asshole. Does this help all of you?
I have never said Paul was a nutter, I have said he is dangerous and delusional.
I may be an a$$hole, but that has nothing to do with Paul’s delusions.
The point being again is that people post Paul musings all of the time, you must have just missed them.
I haven’t missed them ...at all. I’ve said he’s as dangerous a candidate I’ve seen on this forum. I’m simply saying that the Paulies get touchy because so many people call the man a nut and leave it at that. Perhaps...just perhaps...if more people took the time to say, “I think he’s a nut because he believes Iran has the right to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to economic sanctions.” Or
“I think he’s a racist because he published a newsletter stating all young black males are fast” It might make the Paulites less reactionary and force them to do somehting other than saying “You’re a nut because you support the Reblocrats...”
maybe I’m just tired of this site...
And I wasn’t calling you specificaly an asshole...thatg was intemperate of me. sorry...
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