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When a Republican tells you "Ron Paul is wrong on Iran," we have some serious ammunition to defuse the situation, and hopefully remove that barrier from someone supporting him. If we can get primary voters to remove at least some of their objections to his foreign policy, it is far more likely that they will support him.
If a Republican asks you about Ron Paul on Iran....
Foreign Policy Points
- Iran is not presently a direct threat to the United States (the bold words are vital)
- Israel can defend herself (300 nuclear weapons) if we allow her to do so, which we should, and President Paul would not interfere in their doing so; Ron Paul supports Israeli sovereignty and their right to exist more strongly than any other candidate (another way to say this is "we should unshackle Israel")
- Pre-emptive war with Iran would lead to a greater quagmire in the region that would cost countless American lives and endless amounts of American treasure, and therefore it must be avoided at all cost
- If Iran becomes a threat, and the American people through their representatives in Congress decide to go to war, President Paul will ensure that Congress declares war as the Constitution requires of us, ensuring checks and balances
- If Iran truly becomes an imminent threat or if the country is attacked, President Paul will take swift and immediate action to defend the country as the Constitution authorizes him to do
Related Points
- President Paul will ensure that Iran's economy is neutralized by providing a clear path for energy independence here at home, getting rid of the EPA and allowing American energy to be produced, reducing our dependence on oil from the Middle East
- President Paul will never listen to international organizations that would seek to prevent the United States from protecting itself; he would ensure that our national defense is an American decision, not influenced by the feelings of Europeans or anyone else
- By ending foreign aid to all countries, that means that Islamic countries which threaten Israel would be defunded and therefore, Israel would be in a better position relative to their neighbors (Muslim countries around Israel receive 3 times more foreign aid than Israel does)
- As a military veteran of the Vietnam War, Ron Paul understands the sacrifices of our young men and women in uniform and will always do everything as Commander in Chief to respect their service and honor it; he will respect each soldier's life by only using our military when necessary
Things NOT to Say
Each of these things might be useful in an intellectual debate with an open-minded individual, or in an academic context where someone is willing to consider all sides of the issue. But if you are speaking with a primary voter, you are just trying to win them over or at least defray their opposition to Ron Paul because of foreign policy. Do not stray into the following points, lest you want to create more problems than you solve.
- Terrorism is caused by U.S. intervention in foreign countries
- Iran is doing what is in their national interest, because they feel threatened
- We should not tell other countries what to do, including Iran
- There are innocent civilians in Iran who would die as a result of war
- A non-interventionist foreign policy will convince Iran to respect instead of hate us
- "Military-industrial complex" etc.
- Conspiracy theories of any kind
Attitude is Everything
Kindness and respect for others goes a long way.
- Win people over with your genuine respect for them as thinking individuals
- How you treat someone will give them a greater impression of Ron Paul than watching Ron Paul. If his supporters argue with anger and disrespect, then people will graft those attributes onto Ron Paul in their minds
- Speak as concisely as you can. Do not get into long-winded minutiae. Stick to your message.
- Be positive. Don't act like you are in despair over Ron Paul's unfair treatment, etc. etc.
- Never, ever call anyone "ignorant," "stupid," "misled," or condescend in any way. Be respectful of everyone, even the jerks. Take the high road.
- Do not disparage other candidates or get into arguments about other candidates' positions. Your main goal to positively represent the positions of Ron Paul.
- Even if you do not convince someone, thank them for listening and considering your points. You never know if someone will change their mind, and if they were to, they might not tell you about it. People are prideful, so keep that in mind. You are planting a seed if nothing else, and seeds can blossom into realizations and "aha" moments later on. I know this, because it is how I came to support Ron Paul's foreign policy (after years as a hawk myself)
Remember, when you talk to someone about Ron Paul, you're representing him. We owe it to ourselves to keep an eye on our own behavior and message when we speak to those who disagree. If we are respectful, we can win people over.
If a Republican asks you about Ron Paul on Iran....
Foreign Policy Points
- Iran is not presently a direct threat to the United States (the bold words are vital)
- Israel can defend herself (300 nuclear weapons) if we allow her to do so, which we should, and President Paul would not interfere in their doing so; Ron Paul supports Israeli sovereignty and their right to exist more strongly than any other candidate (another way to say this is "we should unshackle Israel")
- Pre-emptive war with Iran would lead to a greater quagmire in the region that would cost countless American lives and endless amounts of American treasure, and therefore it must be avoided at all cost
- If Iran becomes a threat, and the American people through their representatives in Congress decide to go to war, President Paul will ensure that Congress declares war as the Constitution requires of us, ensuring checks and balances
- If Iran truly becomes an imminent threat or if the country is attacked, President Paul will take swift and immediate action to defend the country as the Constitution authorizes him to do
Related Points
- President Paul will ensure that Iran's economy is neutralized by providing a clear path for energy independence here at home, getting rid of the EPA and allowing American energy to be produced, reducing our dependence on oil from the Middle East
- President Paul will never listen to international organizations that would seek to prevent the United States from protecting itself; he would ensure that our national defense is an American decision, not influenced by the feelings of Europeans or anyone else
- By ending foreign aid to all countries, that means that Islamic countries which threaten Israel would be defunded and therefore, Israel would be in a better position relative to their neighbors (Muslim countries around Israel receive 3 times more foreign aid than Israel does)
- As a military veteran of the Vietnam War, Ron Paul understands the sacrifices of our young men and women in uniform and will always do everything as Commander in Chief to respect their service and honor it; he will respect each soldier's life by only using our military when necessary
Things NOT to Say
Each of these things might be useful in an intellectual debate with an open-minded individual, or in an academic context where someone is willing to consider all sides of the issue. But if you are speaking with a primary voter, you are just trying to win them over or at least defray their opposition to Ron Paul because of foreign policy. Do not stray into the following points, lest you want to create more problems than you solve.
- Terrorism is caused by U.S. intervention in foreign countries
- Iran is doing what is in their national interest, because they feel threatened
- We should not tell other countries what to do, including Iran
- There are innocent civilians in Iran who would die as a result of war
- A non-interventionist foreign policy will convince Iran to respect instead of hate us
- "Military-industrial complex" etc.
- Conspiracy theories of any kind
Attitude is Everything
Kindness and respect for others goes a long way.
- Win people over with your genuine respect for them as thinking individuals
- How you treat someone will give them a greater impression of Ron Paul than watching Ron Paul. If his supporters argue with anger and disrespect, then people will graft those attributes onto Ron Paul in their minds
- Speak as concisely as you can. Do not get into long-winded minutiae. Stick to your message.
- Be positive. Don't act like you are in despair over Ron Paul's unfair treatment, etc. etc.
- Never, ever call anyone "ignorant," "stupid," "misled," or condescend in any way. Be respectful of everyone, even the jerks. Take the high road.
- Do not disparage other candidates or get into arguments about other candidates' positions. Your main goal to positively represent the positions of Ron Paul.
- Even if you do not convince someone, thank them for listening and considering your points. You never know if someone will change their mind, and if they were to, they might not tell you about it. People are prideful, so keep that in mind. You are planting a seed if nothing else, and seeds can blossom into realizations and "aha" moments later on. I know this, because it is how I came to support Ron Paul's foreign policy (after years as a hawk myself)
Remember, when you talk to someone about Ron Paul, you're representing him. We owe it to ourselves to keep an eye on our own behavior and message when we speak to those who disagree. If we are respectful, we can win people over.
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