Making Ron look "presidential"

[SeanEdwards]

hmm.. now that you mention it, the comparison to Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is perfect! That character is almost an icon of American culture - Ron can tap into that affection Americans have for the honest guy who isn't flashy but is not afraid to stand up to the big dogs of politics and who isn't trying to be anything other than what he is.

I think it would be cool if one of the folks who is good at making youtube videos put together one that explicitly made that connection by showing a clip of James Stewert from "Mr. Smith goes to Washington" juxtaposed with Ron Paul addressing Congress.

 

[LFOD]

Videos are great! I love seeing all the spontaneous creative input that's going into the campaign - from original songs to videos to home made signs - WOW How about a T-shirt store with cool original design T-shirts? Donate everything after expenses to the campaign? Continuing on the Mr. Smith theme, the front could have a big smiling picture of Ron with the words "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Ron Paul 2008" on the back....

 

[SeanEdwards]

Videos are great! I love seeing all the spontaneous creative input that's going into the campaign - from original songs to videos to home made signs - WOW How about a T-shirt store with cool original design T-shirts? Donate everything after expenses to the campaign? Continuing on the Mr. Smith theme, the front could have a big smiling picture of Ron with the words "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and "Ron Paul 2008" on the back....

"Mr. Paul goes to Washington"?

 

[vertesc]

Aha! I knew that SOMEONE here would be familiar with the movie. For you young whippersnappers, "Mr. Smith" is Jimmy Stewart, down-home farmboy who is simple and honest. He gets sent to Washington to fill out the term of a senator who passed away, in the expectation that he'll be totally manipulable, a puppet to the powers that be. Of course, it turns out that he's a real American Boy, and he becomes the one honest man who stands up to dirty politicians.

He becomes Ron Paul. I agree that the honesty of his message is what makes him such a strong candidate, and that should never change (and never will change, I'm sure). But I'm talking about little things, like being conscious to stand straight when talking to a camera, like making a conscious effort to always get the fire in his speech that we hear when he gets passionate. Or like standing straight, looking another candidate straight in the eye without flinching, and saying without any guile: "you mean you NEVER read the 9/11 commission report?"

No one is talking about compromising Ron's identity. I'm talking about making his VISUAL identity match up with the content of his message. He MUST be different, even diametrically opposed to the look of Rudy McRomney... but that difference doesn't mean he should slouch, and look apologetically at the camera in an interview.

 

[jon_perez]

I find absolutely nothing wrong with the way Ron Paul presents himself.



His honesty, passion, intelligence and sincere concern for his country shines through every time he talks. If that is not enough for Americans, then they do not deserve someone like Mr. Paul.

And actually, I think Ron Paul knows how to create flair and drama when needed like any politician needs to.


In fact, I felt that in the New Hampshire GOP debate he went just a tiny bit overboard with his "pro-constitution" spiel and alienated the (self-labeled) Republicans a bit. The real-time poll showed a clear divergence in response between uncommitted and Republican during the portion he talked about leaving Iraq asap. (My opinion was that he should have reiterated on the Vietnam experience even more - when Americans left Vietnam to completely "fend for itself", the communists did win out but it did not spell disaster for the US at all - back then it was communists, today it is Islamic fundamentalists...)

Which is not to say he should pander to these people but just that he make an effort to figure out why a certain group of Americans - people who in fact consider themselves as having Republican values which is precisely who Ron Paul considers himself as representing - feel the way they do. Adhering to principles (e.g. the constitution) is a top quality for a leader to have, but listening to and understanding people is every bit as important.