Posted on 01/01/2012 5:22:39 AM PST by markomalley
Ron Paul's supporters have donated millions of dollars and provided countless hours of work boosting his presidential bid – all for a man who, according to many top political analysts, cannot win the Republican nomination or the presidency, no matter how well his campaign performs in the early states.
It begs an important question: Who are Ron Paul’s supporters, and why do they back him?
While Paul’s critics often deride his supporters as fringe, the campaign’s appeal extends into many quarters. Here’s a look at six key groups – some larger and some smaller – that provide support for Paul in Iowa.
1. Homeschoolers
Four years ago, homeschoolers helped Mike Huckabee win in Iowa. Now, this group is breaking more for Paul than for Rick Santorum or Michele Bachmann, both of whom homeschooled their children.
Although Iowa was one of the last states to legalize homeschooling in 1991, homeschooled children now account for about 6 percent of the student population – roughly double the national average. These voters are often attracted to Paul’s vision of dramatically curtailing the federal government’s role in education, including abolishing the Department of Education.
2. Goldbugs
The New York Times editorial page argued this week that Paul disqualified himself for the White House long ago with his plans to eliminate the Federal Reserve and return to the gold standard. But what the paper called “claptrap proposals” have attracted a following among so-called goldbugs.
Driven by today’s fragile economy, goldbugs yearn for the stability they associate with a commodity-backed currency, and they denounce the Federal Reserve, which they say causes inflation and recession. Some even invest heavily in hard assets themselves as a hedge against economic disaster—assets like gold coins and bullion. For them, Paul’s long-held positions on these issues can be appealing.
3. College Students
Many attribute President Obama’s success in 2008 to vocal and active youth support, but Paul—a 76-year-old former gynecologist from Texas—could not be less like Obama.
Many young people like him on the issues. Young voters are traditionally antiwar, and Paul is an outspoken opponent of U.S. intervention in foreign conflicts. His support for legalizing marijuana and eliminating the income tax and the IRS also resonate. Or it may be that he’s simply not a typical politician. He’s plain-spoken, decidedly un-slick and not afraid of big, dramatic ideas.
4. Isolationists
Those who shun U.S. intervention overseas find a home in the Paul camp, thanks to dovish foreign policy positions that promote, for example, removing U.S. military personnel from the Middle East and giving terror suspects Miranda rights.
It’s an outlook that Republican establishment voters often cannot stomach. After a Dec. 15 debate in which Paul both dismissed the need for military action against an Iranian nuclear program and suggested cutting aid to Israel, Republican leaders – and his opponents – called his positions “extreme” and “dangerous.”
Still, Paul’s positions attract voters sick of the massive debt that has accumulated as a result of two wars in 10 years.
5. Internet Denizens
Whether Paul courted the Web or the Web found Paul, his popularity there is undeniable. Supporters flood negative news articles with positive comments, organize online through social networking sites, and do more to amplify his message online than perhaps any other candidate’s backers.
Paul’s most popular video on YouTube has almost 1 million views, more than twice as many as Mitt Romney’s or Newt Gingrich’s top videos. Moreover, an analysis of Google data shows Web users conduct more searches on Paul than any other candidate, by an almost 4-to-1 margin.
6. Small Farmers
Threatened by the growing strength of agribusiness and increased government interference in commodities markets, some small farmers have become key Paul supporters.
While many depend on federal crop insurance to stay afloat in a business dominated by mega-farms, some want to end Environmental Protection Agency and Food and Drug Administration regulations that they say limit their market capabilities. At its root, however, their support often derives from a desire to hold onto the country’s founding agrarian principles.
“All around them, they see land being bought up by agribusiness,” said Rachel Paine Caufield, a professor of government at Drake University. “And they have no idea how they’re going to hold onto their land and be able to eke out a living.”
Convenient how they always leave those two groups out.
Mostly Potheads and those who believe we can put a sack over our head and all the world’s problems will disappear. Go Newt! You are our Obi-Wan-Kanobi, our only hope.
They forgot:
#. Liberal Demcorats who are calling conservative talk shows and replying to articles on the Internet CLAIMING to be conservatives/right-wingers who really want change to help the country, but who are really looking for a third party to split the vote so that Obammie the Commie wins again.
I can’t remember exactly who remarked that Ron Paul would be a *dangerous* president, but I certainly agree with the statement.
Pray and fast for our nation in 2012.
I know this because I saw it in a dream after 6 bong hits, 26 Twinkies and a bowl of three day old Ramen noodles.
GO RON P....
Um...
Yo dude what's his last name again...
Oh, look nachos...
Why are these stupid....yes stupid people...even considering Paul. He’s a sicko. Do they think this election process is a joke? Apparently so.
The leftist media support Ron Paul for the GOP candidate because they know he will destroy the Republican Party.
Now thats funny.
Try CODE PINK
They conduct fundraisers for this loon and fraud
Old Ronny supported their terrorist flotilla against Israel !
By the National Journal is a left wing operation
Try CODE PINK
They conduct fundraisers for this loon and fraud
Old Ronny supported their terrorist flotilla against Israel !
By the National Journal is a left wing operation
Anti-Semites
Code Pinkos
conservative atheists
What about Iranian mullahs and ayatollahs?
What about Islamic terrorists?
They must support Paul because he is on their side, or at least he excuses their actions, which is essentially the same thing.
The authors are idiots. Ron Paul supporters are 1960s hippy throwbacks and Islamo-fascists, not homeschoolers and small farmers.
Yeah. Those homeschoolers are EVIL people who dare to try to give their kids the decent education the “conservatives” like President W Bush tried to deny with his and Ted Kennedy’s No Child Left Educated plan. How dare they! Why, W was a conservative!
Listing homeschoolers at the top of a Paultard list is ridiculous. Of everyone in our homeschool group, some of whom live in Ron Paul’s district, he is the *least* popular candidate. But why worry about reality when trying to denigrate an entire group? Or groups. I have a suspicion a majority of small farmers think Paul is an idiot and the percentage of small farmers in the Paultard camp is less than 1%. Growing veggies in your backyard or weed in a hothouse does not make someone a “small farmer.”
If the Republican establishment wants more support from homeschoolers, maybe they should actually support ideas where, oh, I don’t know, kids’ educations are put ahead of federal government control of local schools. Maybe if the Republican Party supported more small government where the government really is too big, they’d get more support from small farmers as well.
In the meantime, real live *conservatives* jump from candidate to candidate because the GOP establishment just can’t stop pushing Romney onto us. Since we won’t accept Democrat Romney, we must all be Paultards. I’m shocked they didn’t list anyone who owns a firearm, doesn’t want government control of healthcare and goes to church as top Paultards. I think the GOP Establishment is as afraid of us “clinging to our guns and religion” as Obama, which is why they set us up to look like we support a fool like Paul when we don’t really like anybody they’ve pitched. I’m leaning to Santorum, but with reservations.
“Why are these stupid....yes stupid people...even considering Paul. He’s a sicko. Do they think this election process is a joke? Apparently so.”
Are you so easily manipulated that you actually believe the groups listed are the ones supporting Paul? Where are their studies showing the homeschoolers and small farmers support this retard? Ron Paul’s own website lists his supporters as 25% Republican and 75% other parties/ independent.
The homeschoolers and small farmers are certainly helping lead the charge against Romney. Gee, I wonder why they would be included in a list of people supporting a known crackpot.
The people supporting Paul are retards. The readers of this article who actually believe the groups listed are his supporters are equally as stupid.
I hate Iowa Nazis!
I hate Iowa Nazis!
I hate Iowa Nazis!
I really do!
Let’s add:
7. Truthers (a/k/a Alex Jones fans)
The RNC is doing a bang-up job of that all by themselves.
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