Pro- Ron Paul Columnist slams campaign for botching Philly Rally Media Coverage

[jmarinara]

When I was running for office, I recruited an intelligent friend as my campaign manager. The first thing he told me when we discussed further staff was that I needed to move my search for intelligence to a #2 priority and make my #1 priority Loyalty.

If Dr. Paul trusts his people and they are loyal to him, he is a step above the rest of the candidates even if it sometimes seem that he is a step behind. Yes, they are gonna make mistakes. But one of the major reasons we aren't seeing leaks and issues from inside the campaign is that the staff loves their boss. Loves him. It may not seem like it now, but this strategy will pay off in the long run.

"Give me your heart over your mind, for I can reform your mind, but could never earn your heart." (I think that's from Beowulf, maybe the Odyssey, one of those epic poems)

Besides, in total honesty, the Philly rally was a giant flop because it was a giant flop. It ended up being NOTHING like it was supposed to be. From the last minute move to some convention center from the liberty mall, to the complete lack of exterior marketing. It's not ANYONE'S fault, it's just that some things are too big for the grassroots.

Keep the faith folks!!!!

 

[Spirit of '76]

How the heck is someone named "GREENSPAN" on Ron's staff??

I'm not liking some of the other people Ron has taken on so i'm curious about this other person with such a known last name.

 

[McDermit]

Instead of being negative about the official campaign staff, do what we did in Nashville, WE got on the phone and on our computers and faxes and notified ALL the local press and then did follow ups with them the day before and the morning of the rally. As a result, all four local TV stations coverd the rally in-depth on their evening and late night newscasts and two even led off with the rally story! The largest Nashville newspaper ran a really good article the day before the rally and, thanks to the grassroots bugging the bejesus out of Jesse Benton for a couple of days, we managed to get Dr. Paul on two of the local (one is actually in syndication in several states - Phil Valeninte) talk shows.

Lesson is - we can't rely on the campain who is far away to do the local work for these events. We MUST continue to take the bull by the horns and deal with the local press from the local level and let the official campaign deal with the national press. Most local news outlets would rather hear from local people anyway as it gives them a 'human interest'/local perspective to their stories. Also, by dealing directly with the local media, we are able to make friends with them so, when they need/want additional info/material on Dr. Paul, they know who to contact. ..capish?

Thing is, with the Philly rally in particular, HQ tied our hands. They took over the rally, then wouldn't confirm times, places, speakers, anything. We couldn't tell the media there was a rally but that we didn't know where or when. And then the last minute changes screwed everything else up and nearly every media outlet cancelled. Had HQ gotten their ducks in a row and either informed us or the media, it would have gone off as planned.

HQ has dropped the ball a bunch of times now... They are very unimpressive for the most part.

 

[mryanjax]

I have also found myself questioning the people on the official campaign myself. I do think there are plenty of grassroots supporters who could do a far better job. Sometimes the incompetence of the campaigners baffle me.

Laughable....then why didn't the volunteers get the media out there? Blaming the campaign??? Does anybody have any idea how much it costs candidates to run a campaign? Ask a Mitt Romney supporter sometime...

I don't care if the media does their job, which they clearly won't, or if the campaign does their job as you see it. I'd be happy knowing there were 5k people out there because the video is on YouTube. The campaign can save the cash we're giving them for when the real fight starts....until then, WE ARE THE CAMPAIGN! WE must get the media out there! It is OUR fault, we the grassroots movements, if we fail right now.

Come December 1st, then you can blame the campaign...

 

[Delain]

Nice divide (and conquer) thingy going on here me things.

Yeah, lets start blaming each other, that'll be a good way to focus our time and energy. While we're at it, a bit of suspicion will probably do wonders too.

Don’t like distractions? Me neither. We've got Ron Paul and Ron Paul has us. That’s all that matters. O and of course getting his name out here and telling people about his message. And it happens to be what we do best!

 

[Korey Kaczynski]

No offense. =) I just think of talk show host Tom Snyder and loyd BENton. It's like the name JOHNson, JACOBson, etc. They always seem to pop up in govt. and politics. =) I wonder why that is? huh.

Hahahahahaha, be careful dude. I would criticize you but your post was funny.

 

[filmmaker58]

There were some big mistakes made in Nevada today, and the meetup group is scrambling to make things work. I don't want to place blame, because I like to be a solution oriented person. So my suggestion to the campaign is to utilize the grassroots more. Your job should be to schedule Ron Paul to the events that the grassroots organizes, and not to micromanage them. No locals got to proofread the ad for the Vegas Rally, and it was printed with the times and locations incorrect. All you needed to do was let a local proofread the ad, but if I were you I'd let the locals design the ads, and you just approve them. The same goes for venues. the Vegas event at the University has no parking available (it's a school day...duh), while other venues (some cheaper) sit empty, with acres of parking nearby. Let the locals make the arrangements. This grassroots campaign is like no other in history, with plenty of enthusiasm, and expertise. When you don't let them do their thing, it only serves to frustrate, and alienate. I mean, we appreciate the demonstration of how a centralized organization doesn't really work, but we get that enough by watching the government. Ron Paul's campaign should be different. Again, I offer my services as an advisor.

 

[Eric23]

I have also found myself questioning the people on the official campaign myself. I do think there are plenty of grassroots supporters who could do a far better job. Sometimes the incompetence of the campaigners baffle me.

Agreed 100%. I found myself first doubting this campaign back in summer. Just the latest of a series of disappointments.

 

[me3]

Let the locals make the arrangements. This grassroots campaign is like no other in history, with plenty of enthusiasm, and expertise. When you don't let them do their thing, it only serves to frustrate, and alienate. I mean, we appreciate the demonstration of how a centralized organization doesn't really work, but we get that enough by watching the government. Ron Paul's campaign should be different. Again, I offer my services as an advisor.

The upshot is, at least there is a grassroots in place to smooth over the bumps and keep things headed in the right direction.

It's not ideal, but then nothing really is. Hopefully you get a chance to bring your ideas and initiative directly to the campaign's attention.

 

[Man from La Mancha]

The thing to do is we make the events and we get the media. Where ever Ron is scheduled then we can make an event there and bypass HQ and hope they can keep up.




......copy,paste,linked to teaparty07.com , last 2, only 1 million people at $100

 

[francisco]

Instead of being negative about the official campaign staff, do what we did in Nashville, WE got on the phone and on our computers and faxes and notified ALL the local press and then did follow ups with them the day before and the morning of the rally. As a result, all four local TV stations coverd the rally in-depth on their evening and late night newscasts and two even led off with the rally story! The largest Nashville newspaper ran a really good article the day before the rally and, thanks to the grassroots bugging the bejesus out of Jesse Benton for a couple of days, we managed to get Dr. Paul on two of the local (one is actually in syndication in several states - Phil Valeninte) talk shows.

Lesson is - we can't rely on the campain who is far away to do the local work for these events. We MUST continue to take the bull by the horns and deal with the local press from the local level and let the official campaign deal with the national press. Most local news outlets would rather hear from local people anyway as it gives them a 'human interest'/local perspective to their stories. Also, by dealing directly with the local media, we are able to make friends with them so, when they need/want additional info/material on Dr. Paul, they know who to contact. ..capish?

That is exactly the right attitude. That great idea you have--just do it! Get 'r done! Do not wait for instructions from headquaters.

 

[voteronpaul08]

Deleted comment.

 

[wfd40]

Instead of being negative about the official campaign staff, do what we did in Nashville, WE got on the phone and on our computers and faxes and notified ALL the local press and then did follow ups with them the day before and the morning of the rally. As a result, all four local TV stations coverd the rally in-depth on their evening and late night newscasts and two even led off with the rally story! The largest Nashville newspaper ran a really good article the day before the rally and, thanks to the grassroots bugging the bejesus out of Jesse Benton for a couple of days, we managed to get Dr. Paul on two of the local (one is actually in syndication in several states - Phil Valeninte) talk shows.

Lesson is - we can't rely on the campain who is far away to do the local work for these events. We MUST continue to take the bull by the horns and deal with the local press from the local level and let the official campaign deal with the national press. Most local news outlets would rather hear from local people anyway as it gives them a 'human interest'/local perspective to their stories. Also, by dealing directly with the local media, we are able to make friends with them so, when they need/want additional info/material on Dr. Paul, they know who to contact. ..capish?

even though the realities of this thread trouble me tremendously...

This post is SPOT ON.

Remember, all politics are LOCAL. While MSM news pieces are great for stroking the collective ego, local news stories are where we really hit the pay-dirt.

Come on fellers, this is what Dr. Paul's small govn't message is all about - namely, the less centralized power there is, the more power local constituents have. At the end of the day, NBC, CNN and Foxnews really don't have to cater to our interests (re: more Ron Paul stories!), unless of course, its good for business. In fact, spending a majority of our time trying to get their attention may in fact be an erroneous strategy.

Local news on the other hand DOES have to listen! You/we are their only viewers - they answer to us or else face definite (financial) consequences. This is what Dr Paul has in mind for all of america. How can we let him down on this front??

We all preach the gospel of free-markets, small govn't and yet here we are, complaining about the failures of the centralized Paul campaign HQ. OH THE IRONY. Do they have a job to do. Of course... but I certainly wouldn't put any/very many eggs in that basket - and part of me thinks dr. paul would agree.

We need to figure out some kind of open-source solution to this - perhaps a site where such events and local media contacts can be organized and connected.

Thoughts??

 

[rockwell]

This is the guy my son and I spoke with after the rally in the garage. He said to me that the press was given the shaft and I countered that they had earned it, but having read this piece I have some degree of understanding.

That said, being a reporter is not the same thing as being a girl waiting for an invite to the prom. When I write I may have half a dozen browsers open to research a given topic and I stay fairly well informed- usiong the excuse that "no one contacted us" is ridiculous. Is it a story? Are you covering it? Do you wait for murder suspects to phone the newsroom or do you hunt the people town to get them on the record.

That said it is starting to look like the campaign isn't one that has anticipated this level of success and it had better find folks who can handle it or get up to speed with the people they have.

 

[TVMH]

With friends like those posting all the negative crap in here, who needs enemies?

I say we fire everybody and pick a new candidate...Ron Paul is obviously not going to get it done, and he is obviously stupib for keeping the incompetent morons on staff that are running the national campaign.

ONCE AGAIN HATERZ....SAME TEAM!!! SAME FRICKIN' TEAM!!!!!

 

[rockwell]

My wife has a bad habit of leaving oven mitts and dishtowels on top of the stove when she cooks- not always, but often enough that I have had some heated rows with her over it.

Do you recommend I divorce her, or would it be better if I let the house burn down rather than be all negative and stuff?

Sometimes criticism is warranted and if we aren't allowed a voice in the process, why are we participating?

A couple of weeks ago I called on three consecutive days to make a large contribution so I could attend the pre-rally meeting. No one returned my voice mails and on all three occassions the line rang for upwards of six or seven times. No big deal, but it's still early on and if this gets bigger, you have to be able to accomodate more calls, more requests, be responsive not reactive and that is the purview of the campaign, not the grassroots. Do you think they shouldn't be made aware of the fixable shortcomings or should they spend all their time kissing MSM ass, constantly apologizing and explaining every perceived slight and offense we see in these daily articles?

This is constructive criticism, we want the campaign to succeed, but they have to want to as well.

 

[TVMH]

My wife has a bad habit of leaving oven mitts and dishtowels on top of the stove when she cooks- not always, but often enough that I have had some heated rows with her over it.

Do you recommend I divorce her, or would it be better if I let the house burn down rather than be all negative and stuff?

Sometimes criticism is warranted and if we aren't allowed a voice in the process, why are we participating?

A couple of weeks ago I called on three consecutive days to make a large contribution so I could attend the pre-rally meeting. No one returned my voice mails and on all three occassions the line rang for upwards of six or seven times. No big deal, but it's still early on and if this gets bigger, you have to be able to accomodate more calls, more requests, be responsive not reactive and that is the purview of the campaign, not the grassroots. Do you think they shouldn't be made aware of the fixable shortcomings or should they spend all their time kissing MSM ass, constantly apologizing and explaining every perceived slight and offense we see in these daily articles?

This is constructive criticism, we want the campaign to succeed, but they have to want to as well.

Do you call your wife a "stupid c*nt" every time she makes this mistake?

Calling someone incompetent and continuing to bemoan that notion is not what I consider "constructive criticism".

Conversely, identifying a problem in a respectful manner and then offering to help find a solution IS constructive criticism and, obviously, more productive.

I would hope that we are all intelligent and mature enough to recognize the difference.

 

[rockwell]

Do you call your wife a "stupid c*nt" every time she makes this mistake?

Calling someone incompetent and continuing to bemoan that notion is not what I consider "constructive criticism".

Conversely, identifying a problem in a respectful manner and then offering to help find a solution IS constructive criticism and, obviously, more productive.

I would hope that we are all intelligent and mature enough to recognize the difference.

"I would hope that we are all intelligent and mature enough to recognize the difference."

With an opening sentence like the one you wrote, what gives you the impression you'd be qualified for either of the above?

I made a post related to the topic- I met and spoke with- and defended Ron Paul- to the same reporter. He mentioned to me that the campaign "screwed up" and "cancelled" the press meeting. I confirmed that it happened because I WAS THERE. There was a particularly cogent remark made by one of the people at that meeting about calling on NH voters which was dismissed so offhandedly and with such a poor excuse- "We have that covered, it's really complicated and we have a system that's set up but it isn't ready yet" (?) that most of the folks in that room just scratched their heads.

The response to my comments was IN BIG GIGANTIC LETTERS, HATERZ!!! and so I tried to respond one more time, calmly and cogently that criticism isn't neccessarily a bad thing if the desire is to improve the overall outcome and then you respond with a comment so far out of left field I am embarrassed for you. Who writes like that? Do you kiss your mother with those fingers?

 

[TVMH]

"I would hope that we are all intelligent and mature enough to recognize the difference."

With an opening sentence like the one you wrote, what gives you the impression you'd be qualified for either of the above?

I made a post related to the topic- I met and spoke with- and defended Ron Paul- to the same reporter. He mentioned to me that the campaign "screwed up" and "cancelled" the press meeting. I confirmed that it happened because I WAS THERE. There was a particularly cogent remark made by one of the people at that meeting about calling on NH voters which was dismissed so offhandedly and with such a poor excuse- "We have that covered, it's really complicated and we have a system that's set up but it isn't ready yet" (?) that most of the folks in that room just scratched their heads.

The response to my comments was IN BIG GIGANTIC LETTERS, HATERZ!!! and so I tried to respond one more time, calmly and cogently that criticism isn't neccessarily a bad thing if the desire is to improve the overall outcome and then you respond with a comment so far out of left field I am embarrassed for you. Who writes like that? Do you kiss your mother with those fingers?

Are you asking me why I consider myself intelligent and mature based on my asking of a question using a word (censored, I might add) that some might find objectionable?

C'mon, gimme a break.

I didn't call anyone any names, rather, I asked if you called your wife such names after making a mistake that you feel is detrimental to your safety; the analogy is entirely appropriate.

My point is that it is counterproductive to bemoan the notion that HQ is incompetent, and in my opinion, continuing to say so is extremely disrespectful to Dr. Paul.

This does not preclude the notion that it IS acceptable to point out shortcomings in a respectful manner.

That I am able to distinguish between these two modes of behvaior, my use of censored "gutter words" notwithstanding, should mitigate your embarrassment for me while alleviating any concerns you may have for how I speak to my mother.

 

[rockwell]

"Are you asking me why I consider myself intelligent and mature based on my asking of a question using a word (censored, I might add) that some might find objectionable?"

Actually I based it on the fact that your comment was not in any way related to anything I had previously written. It was, however, crass and sophmoric on top of illogical and yes, I think people who use that word, with or without the asterix, are "immature" to say the least. I guess that's a twofer.

Once more, constructive criticism- and in this case warranted- is not something akin to being verbally abusive. I have a stake in this just as you do, I assume, and I would hope that a man who may one day be the President of the United States of America would be wise enough to appont the most qualified people to positions of trust and that those people would be in turn wise enough to delegate the appropriate tasks to people who would likewise MAXIMIZE the opportunities made available, whther they be monetary, publicity related or administrative.