BREAKING: Ron Paul OFFICIAL STATEMENT on DELEGATE STRATEGY

[BenMuldowney]

I don't think Ron has a clue what happened at the conventions. Benton or wead, who want everyone to play nice (and I'm not saying we shouldn't, if we are standing up for our rights at the same time) are the ones who said Ron was concerned about the stories in the media about US brawling when our folks were just punching bags after insisting on a roll call vote under the rules and didn't even hit back.

and i would agree with your assessment.

 

[devil21]

The more I think of this, the more I am getting pissed off at Benton. Why would he do this NOW? When we have had great showings and crowds at the conventions, and when we are winning DELEGATES?? WHY? WHY??? Talk about demotivation.

It's what Benton does, apparently. He's great at destroying momentum. He did this same crap in 2008. Some have claimed he's compromised and I'm believing it more by the day. What really is the point of throwing in all this defeatist language in emails right when we're really making progress at these conventions??? Hopefully it's just political maneuvering but Benton has always concerned me and he reminds me why every May/June of election years. Last time around, Ron actually made a video with his thoughts. Nothing of the sort this time, just emails from campaign aides....

I NEED TO HEAR FROM RON HIMSELF

 

[sailingaway]

The real power and influence Ron Paul yields is in us winning leadership positions throughout the GOP, not what will happen during the one day he'll speak at the National Convention. The best way to continue Ron Paul's legacy is to become the GOP and yet that has not been our focus at all. Yes we have successfully taken over Iowa, Nevada, Alaska, etc., but there are so many other states where it is surprisingly EASY to take over the GOP where we have let our opportunities slip by.

It's a real shame we have the organization to take over all these state conventions but right after the conventions are done, there's no organization left to continue the fight. We have dozens of people phone banking in LA and if those resources could be used to call Michigan and Washington this week, it would almost be a shoe in for us to control the entire state party in both states for the next two years.

there are two different things here, one is 'legacy' vs 'Ron'. Yes of course we want to continue to make progress for our issues. But right now there isnt anyone with the record and ideologic purity of Ron Paul and there won't be as far as I can tell, for some time. So I want him as nominee. Short of that, I want him nominated on the floor and able to give a nominee's speech that doesn't have to be screened, and to show our strength in numbers at the convention. I don't know if you saw that curl of his lip talking about a 'speaking slot' short of a nominee speech, where they would be editing what he said. I want him to continue to lead this, whether in a Grover Norquist type role or a role in the party or a position somewhere, even if he doesn't make President. He won't be in the House after this year, and he is our voice, to my mind, in a way no one else comes close to being. Or maybe I am just speaking for myself.

 

[tbone717]

In all honesty, I haven't read the FairVote piece and I suspect you haven't, either, or you likely would have cited it in your numerous posts with your opinion.

Actually I have read the fairvote piece and the original source. The fairvote piece addresses a "unit rule" which is prohibited under Rule 38 of the RNC. A "unit rule" is an old tactic that used to occur quite often when the nomination was decided in the proverbial smoke filled rooms. Essentially, what would occur is for example, a state has 10 delegates, the delegates would vote prior to the convention vote and let's say the results were 7 votes for Smith and 3 for Jones. The state delegation would then vote as a unit and cast all 10 ballots for Smith. That is no longer allowed under RNC rules, and does not apply to any of the situations we are seeing this year. Under current rules each vote, even if it is unanimously for one candidate, is considered an individual vote. Therefore a state like VA this year cannot nullify the 3 delegate votes that Paul has and cast all of their votes for Romney.

The quote from Jennifer Sheehan originally was cited here - http://utahcountygop.com/blog/mr-jenkins-goes-to-st-paul/. If you read that piece (which was published in 2009) the article speaks of the situation that Utah faced in 2008. Utah's delegates were bound to Romney by way of the primary results, Romney dropped out and the delegates became unbound because of that withdraw. All but 2 of the delegates were voting for McCain. The two delegates were permitted to still vote for Romney because they were unbound. Utah would have violated Rule 38 if they required the other two delegates to vote for McCain. That is the context where the two sentences from Sheehan originally appeared. The context of the original article suggests that the letter was referencing the Utah situation. Applying that quote unilaterally without having the entire context of the letter is a logical fallacy.

The conclusion from all this, which is again stated today by the campaign, is the delegates bound to Romney today will be bound to Romney in Tampa, unless for some odd reason Romney withdraws. At that point, and only at that point, delegates will be unbound.

 

[Voluntary Man]

maybe I'm missing a subtle nuance, Jesse, but insulting your boss' most devoted/successful supporters doesn't really seem to be the best way to galvanize a movement.

 

[No1butPaul]

My gut still tells me Dr. Paul is going to win the nomination somehow. Hopefully my gut is right.

He doesn't then graciously hand it over to Romney, does he?

 

[JWZguy]

kathy doesnt speak for me. that is not the reason... think about it... it is not logical. posting the law would be the opposite of committing conspiracy. i have my reasons and kathy is wrong.

Ben - I agree. That's why I don't see any reason for not posting the law you're talking about. If you have your reasons, would you please state them?

I appreciate anything you've done to fight for freedom and further anything you've done to fight for Ron Paul.

However, even if what you're saying is true, and there are serious consequences in your state - that leaves 49 other states without those consequences. How many "bound" seats in your state would we lose? This is not a reason to give up.

As I've said, I believe there are many delegates willing to face consequences, although I doubt in reality that there would be any (consequences.) I also doubt any other candidate has supporters like we do. That's why Romney is giving rallies in front of 30 people in a restaurant and Ron Paul is filling stadiums.

I believe this email may be an attempt by the campaign to give our delegates the best shot possible at making it the Tampa seats unmolested. If so, they were depending on true supporters to trust that Ron Paul, as he has said many many many times, will always continue fighting as long as his supporters do too.

 

[sailingaway]

Do you REALLY think that Benton did this completely on his own without Ron knowing a thing about it?

I don't

I think Ron might not know where the 'brawling' came from and that some might have used that to make him feel responsible for violence rather than that we were the ones hit. I don't know that, but I could see it.

 

[tsai3904]

there are two different things here, one is 'legacy' vs 'Ron'. Yes of course we want to continue to make progress for our issues. But right now there isnt anyone with the record and ideologic purity of Ron Paul and there won't be as far as I can tell, for some time. So I want him as nominee. Short of that, I want him nominated on the floor and able to give a nominee's speech that doesn't have to be screened. I don't know if you saw that curl of his lip talking about a 'speaking slot' short of a nominee speech, where they would be editing what he said. I want him to continue to lead this, whether in a Grover Norquist type role or a role in the party or a position somewhere, even if he doesn't make President. He won't be in the House after this year, and he is our voice, to my mind, in a way no one else comes close to being. Or maybe I am just speaking for myself.

I agree that Ron Paul should and most likely will have a significant role in leading the liberty movement. My point is that we are not utilizing our scarce resources (phone banks) effectively to leverage Ron Paul's future role. What would have a more lasting effect...an extra 20k votes in California or Texas or controlling the State GOPs in Michigan and Washington? Our phone banks are calling California and Texas for what purpose? If we can turn those around and call Michigan and Washington supporters to get people to file as Precinct Committee People by the end of the week, that will give Ron more leverage in the future.

 

[cmo4ever]

I just don't see what the hell (Can I curse stronger than that? Because that's what I've been doing out loud for 2 days), are some delegates at a Convention going to realistically do? Put a bunch of stuff on the platform Romney will ignore? Congress ignores laws and the Constitution, what the hell are some platitudes about the Fed going to accomplish? It's been said, but when Ron is gone and out of the spotlight, I don't see how we have momentum to keep this movement going if he's not President. The media is going to forget about it, and so will most people. It STILL needs a figurehead and a spokesperson, and I don't see Rand being that guy, maybe I'm wrong and he will step upto the plate, but I doubt it.

Ron Paul was the last chance the country had before the descent into a Police State, I'm done with politics, and I'm done trying to save things. It's time to take care of your affairs, your family, and your community. The country is done, and is not savable. Too much ignorance, willful, too much stupidity, and too many average persons more than happy to stay plugged into the system of dependence. You can't save people who don't want to be saved.

 

[Todd]

Keep going to your local GOP conventions and keep changing the rules. Keep being involved. Keep nominating leaders that reflect Paul's ideology. A REVOLUTION isn't dependant on one election. In 5 years here, that's something you start to learn.

 

[cmo4ever]

Keep going to your local GOP conventions and keep changing the rules. Keep being involved. Keep nominating leaders that reflect Paul's ideology. A REVOLUTION isn't dependant on one election. In 5 years here, that's something you start to learn.

This is the problem, this long-term strategy assumes we have time , 5-20 years, to turn the ship around. We do not.

 

[Carlybee]

Keep going to your local GOP conventions and keep changing the rules. Keep being involved. Keep nominating leaders that reflect Paul's ideology. A REVOLUTION isn't dependant on one election. In 5 years here, that's something you start to learn.

We dont have 5 years.

 

[tsai3904]

Ron Paul was the last chance the country had before the descent into a Police State, I'm done with politics, and I'm done trying to save things. It's time to take care of your affairs, your family, and your community. The country is done, and is not savable. Too much ignorance, willful, too much stupidity, and too many average persons more than happy to stay plugged into the system of dependence. You can't save people who don't want to be saved.

Imagine if Ron Paul had this attitude after he lost his first election for Congress. Where would we be today?

The momentum will continue without Ron Paul. We control the state GOPs in Iowa, Alaska, and Nevada. We've won several National Committeeman and National Committeewoman positions. These are positions of influence. Obviously it's not enough to turn things around in a year but it is momentum and if people give up and quit fighting, then you're right, nothing will ever be changed.

 

[tbone717]

Keep going to your local GOP conventions and keep changing the rules. Keep being involved. Keep nominating leaders that reflect Paul's ideology. A REVOLUTION isn't dependant on one election. In 5 years here, that's something you start to learn.

Totally agree. As someone that has been at this since 1988, I can attest to this. If you are involved locally, you have a seat at the table and your issues and concerns will be heard. If you sit on the sidelines, then you don't have a chance. It is very important for all those that want to be involved to do so at whatever level you are able to help. Some of us can run for local offices, some for party leadership positions, some for state or federal office, and some of us are simply those go to people that can be used to knock on doors, make phone calls, and work the polls on election day. We can all have a role in this.

 

[ClydeCoulter]

Okay, look, we are talking about several things at the same time here.

This was a bad time to do this. Disheartening, think of CA and Texas and other "late" states. For the first time in how long would they be able to vote for a choice of candidate still in the race? We were told we are in this all the way to Tampa (period), and that gave everyone "drive", but this is deflating that drive.

But, that doesn't mean everyone gives up. What will a "disheartened" heart look like tomorrow or the next day? This thread is a venting thread. We are not going to comfort others by saying, "What you give up just cause.....". I'm pretty pissed right now that this has come out when it did. That doesn't mean I give up, it means I have to take a sit-back and reevaluate what is it that really "drives" me and what direction I will drive.

I understand everyones point of view, "Stick with it, it's about a movement", "Damn those campaign loosers", "screw this, get your act together", etc... They are all correct, right, wrong, left, right, and justified.

I love you all....

 

[cmo4ever]

Imagine if Ron Paul had this attitude after he lost his first election for Congress. Where would we be today?

The momentum will continue without Ron Paul. We control the state GOPs in Iowa, Alaska, and Nevada. We've won several National Committeeman and National Committeewoman positions. These are positions of influence. Obviously it's not enough to turn things around in a year but it is momentum and if people give up and quit fighting, then you're right, nothing will ever be changed.

The problem is that in 5 or so years I can see the conversation we're having right now being illegal on the internet.

 

[Carlybee]

Im not giving up fighting....my head is bloodied but unbowed. Just have to figure out a different way.

 

[BenMuldowney]

Ben - I agree. That's why I don't see any reason for not posting the law you're talking about. If you have your reasons, would you please state them?

I appreciate anything you've done to fight for freedom and further anything you've done to fight for Ron Paul.

However, even if what you're saying is true, and there are serious consequences in your state - that leaves 49 other states without those consequences. How many "bound" seats in your state would we lose? This is not a reason to give up.

As I've said, I believe there are many delegates willing to face consequences, although I doubt in reality that there would be any (consequences.) I also doubt any other candidate has supporters like we do. That's why Romney is giving rallies in front of 30 people in a restaurant and Ron Paul is filling stadiums.

I believe this email may be an attempt by the campaign to give our delegates the best shot possible at making it the Tampa seats unmolested. If so, they were depending on true supporters to trust that Ron Paul, as he has said many many many times, will always continue fighting as long as his supporters do too.

you have partially made my point. what does one state matter? we have to find out what the super majority of 'bound' state's laws say.

my focus on this thread has been my anger at the campaign and jesse benton for the way they have handled the last two days. i made a post yesterday proposing how they could have gotten out the information in a positive supportive way.

i applaud your actions in AZ.. thank you very much for what you and the others accomplished. i am still willing to continue the fight but i just ask the national campaign to not criticize us if we dont cower to goldman sachs' filth.

 

[Carlybee]

The problem is that in 5 or so years I can see the conversation we're having right now being illegal on the internet.

Bingo