Allegation: Ron Paul Is Not Electable - Please Help Me Respond

[gerryb]

Ron Paul has won more elections than any other candidate running....

He is the only candidate with military experience.

He is polling the best among independents who will be required to defeat Obama in the general election.

He is the only front-runner who does not have the baggage of flip flopping

 

[kazmlsj]

Is it more important to vote one's conscience or the "lesser-of-two-evils" (a silly statement, if ever there was one)?

I personally will never, ever support evil. Lots of evil these past few decades.

 

[libertygrl]

Thanks for some great replies guys. Actually, the whole discussion began when he posted information on Michelle Bachmann after the NH debates. He posed a link to vote for Bachmann for President and then I responded that any politician who mixes their extreme religious views with American foreign policy is dangerous and that she also voted to extend the Patriot Act. His response was:


Bachmann's foundation is faith & that's fine. I'll take someone with character over what we've got today. If she uses her Christian beliefs to justify foreign policy, that is obviously misguided, but I still think, (although I doubt you'll agree), that it is in our national interests to support our staunch ally, Israel. The only true friend I believe the US has in the world. Not only do our ideals & principles mesh, but don't forget what happened on 9/12/2001. Ariel Sharon called W. & offered Israeli bases & air space as a platform from which to strike back. Contrast that with all our other supposed allies around the world.


So, once again it's about Republican's belief in supporting Israel at any and all costs as well as the perception that Ron Paul can't win. Same thing we were up against in 2008 I'm afraid.

 

[Travlyr]

When the powers-that-be, and their followers, say that Ron Paul is "unelectable" ... they mean Ron Paul is not the "chosen one". It appears that Rick Perry may be the chosen one this time around, for his record proves that he is a tough political competitor and a member in good standing of the global elite.

 

[ItsTime]

Ron Paul leads all GOP candidates against Obama in polls. He is MORE electable than any other GOP candidate. Tell your friend to stop listening to MSM.

 

[NewRightLibertarian]

Ron Paul leads all GOP candidates against Obama in polls. He is MORE electable than any other GOP candidate. Tell your friend to stop listening to MSM.

Yeah, the 'Ron Paul can't win' BS is all media created. They're trying to sink him. The country is against all of these wars, against the debt, against the spending, etc. He's got a shot. It's not probable, but it can happen this time around.

 

[Travlyr]

Yeah, the 'Ron Paul can't win' BS is all media created. They're trying to sink him. The country is against all of these wars, against the debt, against the spending, etc. He's got a shot. It's not probable, but it can happen this time around.

That's right. The country could get behind Ron Paul if the media would get behind him.

Our guy is a medical doctor, an author, a family guy, a legislator for 30 years, honest, intelligent, consistent, principled, wise, soft spoken Christian, and ardent defender of the rule of law, yet somehow few in the media can see their way to promote him. It seems like the people in modern day media have a problem with freedom. Those who do support Ron Paul are the real winners.

 

[LibertyMage]

Here's the deal. I'm having a discussion with another conservative and while he likes Ron Paul - (here again) - I run up against the same position with Republicans that Ron Paul can't win an election. How do we respond to this? Here's what the guy wrote in response to a post I had written:

I am surprised that nobody on these forums understands the real answer here. Lets cut through the non-sense. This is the response you should use.

Many Republicans, conservatives and small government advocates wonder why we are besieged by a constant slide into socialism. Real activists understand why this is occurring. These groups would be benefited by understanding what tenured activists call "The Greatest Lie in Politics".

The Greatest Lie In Politics: Good people are obligated to vote for the lesser of two evils.

Supporting a candidate that is "hopefully at least a fiscal conservative" is supporting the lesser of two evils. There are at least five reasons why this belief is hurtful to our cause:

• The lesser of two evils is still evil
• You are rewarding the political establishment for bad behavior and they will never change their behavior when they are already being rewarded
• Good people and good activists are demoralized if the only thing you can offer them is someone that is "hopefully at least a fiscal conservative"
• When "our guy" is passing bad policy, we can't mobilize against him
• When their guy is passing bad policy, you can mobilize to change things

By compromising, we prove that we will always compromise and we are forced to continually compromise.

After the 2000 election, Ralph Nader was asked if he regretted being the spoiler. His response: "maybe now the Democratic Party will pay more attention to its progressive wing and less attention to its conservative wing."

A candidate that is "hopefully at least a fiscal conservative" is just a socialist. Nothing was ever accomplished in politics by swallowing your pride and hoping for the best. If we have to accept these candidates, we will be force fed socialism until we die.

Progressives understand this and the Democratic Party is continually forced to conform to their activists, not the other way around. If we ever hope to reverse the direction that this country is heading, we will have to stop settling for the lesser of two evils.

 

[libertygrl]

I am surprised that nobody on these forums understands the real answer here. Lets cut through the non-sense. This is the response you should use.

Oh man, that's perfect. and right to the point. Thanks!

 

[LibertyEagle]

We should also hear what she is saying...

Talk to any of them at a street fair, beach, park or concert & ask them about Ron Paul, Ending the Fed, the Council of Foreign Relations, etc., and they look at you like you're some kind of fringe nut case. Although RP has more support than ever as people on the right come to value their liberty, in my opinion, those who actually decide elections will never vote for him.

They do not understand how these things impact them. Instead of convincing them of that, or trying to get them to read 10 books, we need to address THEIR concerns in as simplistic terms as we can.

 

[febo]

I don't think there is an answer to this point of view. It's quite complex - you say that someone is unelectable based on a second guess of what everyone else will do ie you are saying "Most people won't be able to get thier head around it, they won't be brave enough" etc. The person saying this does not want to confront his/her own reluctance to accept that Paul is simply right (that's what it boils down to), listen, learn and vote. "If everyone else can't be bothered, there's no point in me taking a position."

How do you answer that? You can't. So move on immediately.
You have to concentrate efforts on those closest to Paul's "brushfires" - husbands need to convince wives and vice versa. Family, work colleagues - these are the ones that can be worked on over a period of time if necessary.

 

[libertygrl]

I don't think there is an answer to this point of view. It's quite complex - you say that someone is unelectable based on a second guess of what everyone else will do ie you are saying "Most people won't be able to get thier head around it, they won't be brave enough" etc. The person saying this does not want to confront his/her own reluctance to accept that Paul is simply right (that's what it boils down to), listen, learn and vote. "If everyone else can't be bothered, there's no point in me taking a position."

How do you answer that? You can't. So move on immediately.

You have to concentrate efforts on those closest to Paul's "brushfires" - husbands need to convince wives and vice versa. Family, work colleagues - these are the ones that can be worked on over a period of time if necessary.

Actually, the guy DOES like Ron Paul and wishes he would get the nomination! But he doesn't see that as a possibilty, so he wants to go with a candidate who will! I know, it's so insane.

 

[hazek]

The best response:

Ron Paul is the best candidate, consistently defending the constitution and the most conservative of all of them and that's all that should matter in deciding whether or not vote for him.