Benton: 'Dr. Paul will not seek to be nominated from the floor.'

[NIU Students for Liberty]

To make as many gains for liberty as possible and make our presence and numbers known...

And cmon people, it was easy to predict that anything mentioning Benton would draw a negative response, but all he said is that Ron himself will not be seeking to be nominated from the floor. Well, I'm sure that's true, but that doesn't really have anything to do with what the delegates choose to do with their numbers.

Just like it's been for a while, it seems like the campaign is just maintaining a level of plausible deniability should anything damaging to the movement occur.

And how is that statement going to motivate the delegates? I'm sure quite a few already declined the trip to Tampa once the campaign released the "Ron will not be actively campaigning in primary states" email that went out in May and so what are they supposed to think when they hear this crap from Benton?

 

[LibertyEagle]

They are not going to change. The libertarian wing just like any other niche group of any political party is going to be on the fringe in the major parties. I am really thinking it is time for us to move on.

I would remind you that early in the campaign, Ron Paul had over 20 percent in national polls. And that doesn't include the people who thought he couldn't win, so they didn't support him for that reason alone. We have grown by leaps and bounds in 4 years. We have liberty people in place now in leadership positions in the GOP in several states. If we would get busy and do that everywhere, getting our candidates elected would be much, much easier. It would make the cheating that we saw go on this time be much harder to do.

We have won a lot of hearts and minds in 4 years and are actually getting some of our candidates elected. And you want to quit now? That makes no sense to me, whatsoever. Especially given that it is only the 2 major parties that get in debates and get any media attention whatsoever. I hate it, but we still have a 2 party system here. We either deal with it strategically, or we will forever be relegated to the sidelines.

 

[alucard13mmfmj]

I'm confused.. Im pretty sure Jesse doesn't say anything that Dr. Paul doesn't approve of.. So Are you guys pretty much telling Ron to stfu?

No. There is just some tin foil hat thing going on with Ron's inner circle being compromised (Wead and Jack haters as well) and that family is Paul's weakness and is being exploited by the enemy.

But the last few weeks of active campaigning was a disaster and it seemed deliberate.

 

[RickyJ]

"Dr. Paul will not seek to be nominated from the floor," he added.

Sorry Jesse, I don't trust you, I will have to hear that from Ron Paul himself to believe it.

 

[GopBlackList]

Libertarianism is on the momentum in the GOP. IF you quit that, then what? Failing third parties that only assure Democrat victories?

You are thinking federal level I assume. Focus on local elections and city council as libertarian and move your way up. Most importantly have a trade and earn lots of money so you can finance your own campaign without selling your soul to special interests.

 

[AJ Antimony]

"seek" is the key word there

 

[Okie RP fan]

You are thinking federal level I assume. Focus on local elections and city council as libertarian and move your way up. Most importantly have a trade and earn lots of money so you can finance your own campaign without selling your soul to special interests.

Right. We all need to start focusing at the local and state levels at this point. Work our way up, establish good relationships with the parties and continue to recruit people to the ideals of liberty.

 

[RickyJ]

I'm confused.. Im pretty sure Jesse doesn't say anything that Dr. Paul doesn't approve of.. So Are you guys pretty much telling Ron to stfu?

Considering some of things Jesse has said before, I am not sure of that at all. I will wait to hear directly from Ron Paul on this before I believe it.

 

[Aratus]

WHY NOT A MATT COLLINs + JESSE BENTON TICKET FOR 2020?

DANGIT... IF PORE JESSE HAD TO SENT OUT THAT EMAIL THAT

GOT ALEX JONES IN RARIFIED FORM, CUT HIM SOME SLACK, PLEASE!

 

[GopBlackList]

I would remind you that early in the campaign, Ron Paul had over 20 percent in national polls. And that doesn't include the people who thought he couldn't win, so they didn't support him for that reason alone. We have grown by leaps and bounds in 4 years. We have liberty people in place now in leadership positions in the GOP in several states. If we would get busy and do that everywhere, getting our candidates elected would be much, much easier. It would make the cheating that we saw go on this time be much harder to do.

We have won a lot of hearts and minds in 4 years and are actually getting some of our candidates elected. And you want to quit now? That makes no sense to me, whatsoever. Especially given that it is only the 2 major parties that get in debates and get any media attention whatsoever. I hate it, but we still have a 2 party system here. We either deal with it strategically, or we will forever be relegated to the sidelines.

And that's great that we made inroads.. but look at what's happening with the Republican party.. they selected a Bush-era guy as their VP, they screw over our delegates (I am one of them), and it remains to be seen if any of our positions would make it to the convention platform (NDAA, Internet freedom, etc.).

 

[TheGrinch]

And how is that statement going to motivate the delegates? I'm sure quite a few already declined the trip to Tampa once the campaign released the "Ron will not be actively campaigning in primary states" email that went out in May and so what are they supposed to think when they hear this crap from Benton?

Ive gotten many emails to motivate us to show up in Tampa, including the emails in question. Just because some may choose to be butthurt over him admitting that we only have half the numbers needed for a nomination, doesn't mean he's not still encouraging delegates to make all the gains for liberty they can.

(ETA: and I'd like to think that most of our delegates can read between the lines well enough to not have such kneejerk reactions like this)

 

[ChristianAnarchist]

Look, if I were running the campaign, I would say the same exact words... "Dr. Paul will not seek to be nominated from the floor". It fits with the good Doctor's style. He is not "seeking" something that might cause a ruckus. He did not say anything about REJECTING such a nomination. Read between the lines here people. We need to get 5 states to gather and do the nomination. Believe me, Ron will not shy away from accepting the nomination and he will use that speaking slot to convince other delegates to vote for him...

Damn, sometimes I think we liberty types are our worst enemies...

 

[The Gold Standard]

That piece of shit Benton doesn't want Ron to have an unedited speech because he thinks it will hurt his future (and probably current) employer, Rand Paul.

 

[RickyJ]

That piece of shit Benton doesn't want Ron to have an unedited speech because he thinks it will hurt his future (and probably current) employer, Rand Paul.

His current employer seems more like Romney than it does Rand Paul.

 

[The Gold Standard]

His current employer seems more like Romney than it does Rand Paul.

I thought Rand was out campaigning for Romney on all of these Fox shows. He just has his groupie Benton doing it too.

 

[twomp]

His current employer seems more like Romney than it does Rand Paul.

I totally agree. The campaign sure has a way of taking the wind out of people's sails. It hard not to wonder if its not intentional?

 

[Carlybee]

It sounds like a deal was made in exchange for a speaking slot. I don't get this campaign at all.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Look, if I were running the campaign, I would say the same exact words... "Dr. Paul will not seek to be nominated from the floor". It fits with the good Doctor's style. He is not "seeking" something that might cause a ruckus. He did not say anything about REJECTING such a nomination. Read between the lines here people. We need to get 5 states to gather and do the nomination. Believe me, Ron will not shy away from accepting the nomination and he will use that speaking slot to convince other delegates to vote for him...

That is exactly what ran through my mind too. I could very well be wrong though. Who knows? lol

Damn, sometimes I think we liberty types are our worst enemies...

 

[pcosmar]

I'm confused.. Im pretty sure Jesse doesn't say anything that Dr. Paul doesn't approve of.. So Are you guys pretty much telling Ron to stfu?

I don't know that. I don't imagine Ron as a puppet master with his hand up Benton's back and putting words in his mouth.

I honestly wonder how much he is insulated from what is going on around him.

I see two possibilities.
One, Ron has been threatened,,or (more likely) the family threatened,, and has backed off.
or Two. he is trusting people that are actively working against him,, while smiling in his face.

Protecting his wife, children and grandchildren is the only answer that makes logical sense.

 

[LibertyEagle]

That piece of shit Benton doesn't want Ron to have an unedited speech because he thinks it will hurt his future (and probably current) employer, Rand Paul.

Oh, come on. That's not fair.