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

[TVMH]

"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.

I will admit that I haven't read all of your posts, although, I saw your dish-towel example as an opportunity to illustrate the folly of name-calling; that you saw my attempt to do so as crass and sophomoric indicates to me that I achieved my objective. (and you are certainly entitled to your opinion with regard to my use of words).

Personally, I like the maxim that my daddy relayed to me when I was younger: 'Shit' is just a word...it is not a turd.

But again, my point is that we are not helping the campaign by insulting those at HQ who may or may not have made mistakes.

If we see a problem, we should identify it respectfully and offer solutions to that problem...to do otherwise is to become part of the problem itself.

 

[rockwell]

"But again, my point is that we are not helping the campaign by insulting those at HQ who may or may not have made mistakes.

If we see a problem, we should identify it respectfully and offer solutions to that problem...to do otherwise is to become part of the problem itself."

Then we are in accord.

 

[Benaiah]

I'm giving money to the campaign on Dec 16th, but then I'm done. I feel like my time/money can better be spent by me spreading the word about Paul in my town. Buggy is definitely pushing the horse in our case.

 

[LibertyEagle]

Further evidence:
* Barry Goldwater, Jr.'s endorsement of Ron Paul didn't get NEARLY the coverage that Rudy Guliani got for Pat Robertson's endorsement. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it was the same situation here.

The campaign did NOT hold a press conference with Goldwater, Jr. and Paul. That is why this got no media attention.

If you'll notice, Giuliani held one with Robertson, McCain with Kean, etc. What do we do? Issue a press release. Lame; totally lame.

Get your act together, campaign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[KingTheoden]

There is a lot of truth in here, but it is mixed with deception. I like Mulshine but he has a tendency to be very negative in his writing approach regardless of the issue. He is right that there should be better, more regular handling of the press, but he suggests that we get 'professionals' (hardcore politicians would never support Ron Paul in the first place, and even if they did they would screw up the message). He also implies that there is no intentional effort to ignore Ron Paul.

The latter charge is ridiculous. Various programs have been promoting Obama every single morning like it is some holy sacrament that we must do each day. CNBC has given Huckabee every chance to make a name for himself (has yet to do much, at least in terms of stemming our tide).

Yeah, there is bungling at HQ, no question. And that should be addressed. But the media is also making it hard for us.

 

[terlinguatx]

...

 

[jenius]

this should've stayed in grassroots central. the campaign needs to be completely transparent and open or completely closed off. cryptic emails and the like just lead to confusion with things like the philly rally and the tea party

I agree completely. At least when they post here, communications from the official campaign should be COMPLETELY transparent if they want our full support. Without that transparency, it leaves us all wondering what's going on when (for instance) the campaign sends out an e-mail saying they need even MORE money before the already planned money bomb.

 

[shortna]

I agree completely. At least when they post here, communications from the official campaign should be COMPLETELY transparent if they want our full support. Without that transparency, it leaves us all wondering what's going on when (for instance) the campaign sends out an e-mail saying they need even MORE money before the already planned money bomb.

i will third this: COMPLETELY transparent.

HQ could really stand to get a good Communications director, i think that would help things out.

 

[Swmorgan77]

Let's not play into the "Divide and conquer" strategy everyone!

If you see something that you think could be done more effectively, instead of getting on here with criticism and creating divisions, step in with your OWN EFFORTS to make up for it.

 

[JS4Pat]

don't be so hard on national, they probably never expected to get this much attention and for grassroots to basically plan events for them.

OK - That excuse is getting a little old...

Let me clue National In On Something...

EXPECT MUCH MORE ATTENTION IN THE COMING DAYS, WEEKS AND MONTHS!!!

Be ready for it!

Hire a professional staff!

 

[aksmith]

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.

Lloyd Bentsen.

 

[CelestialRender]

The campaign staff has been a bit disappointing. I think that's a natural symptom of our campaign having a smaller staff, and one that's not composed of Washington insiders.

 

[scrosnoe]

Well said indeed!!!!

A candidate that no one expected to break 1% in the polls now has a shot at finishing in the top three in Iowa and to win New Hampshire.

It was Dr. Paul's debate performances, starting in May, that provided the foundation for everything that followed.

The people running the campaign had the good sense to use existing social networking sites instead of trying to maintain control.

The campaign made news with its strong fundraising and cash balance at the end of June and Semptember, well before the Nov 5th money bomb.

The campaign decided to display donation amounts and names in real time, which no other campaign had ever even considered. Without that decision, and the end of Semptember success, I suspect that MUCH less would have been raised on Nov. 5th.

The campaign wisely resisted the temptation to try to control the grassroots, which is what any other campaign team would have done.

They aren't perfect, and they are certainly don't have experience running a national campaign. But I suspect that anyone who "knew" how to run a national Presidential campaign wouldn't have made the decisions that enabled the grassroots to blossum.

Ron Paul's campaign staff have done a hell of a job, accomplishing far more than anyone believed possible last Spring. They deserve our thanks and respect, whether we agree with all their decisions or not.

Bottom line - if you see something that needs to be done and can make it happen - do so!

Don't think someone else is going to do it for you.

The good news is you will be ready to take the reigns of party leadership because you are actually doing the work. Your team will make you the county chairmen and the state republican executive committee members and the district chairs and the precinct chairs all over the country in 2008.

That is the base of support that Ron Paul needs to actually implement his policies once he takes the nomination and then the general. Don't look back eyes straight ahead and let's get this done.

Work with the existing leaders around the country in elected office and party officialdom if they want you to be part of the team. However, that would be their call and must be followed up by appropriate action on your part if they do not want you to be part of the team! Including Ron Paul Republicans in party positions and as delegates will be determined by all involved in the process.

Make your voice and your wishes known and do not wait on anyone else to do it for you. At least that is the way I see the elephant! and our relationship with Ron Paul National 2008!

 

[Brinck Slattery]

The campaign did NOT hold a press conference with Goldwater, Jr. and Paul. That is why this got no media attention.

If you'll notice, Giuliani held one with Robertson, McCain with Kean, etc. What do we do? Issue a press release. Lame; totally lame.

Get your act together, campaign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There's a difference between holding a press conference/issuing a press release and getting media coverage. People have press conferences all the time - most of them aren't deemed newsworthy.

Everyone keep doing what you're doing, and keep working like crazy to get Ron Paul elected. It seems to be working so far!

 

[BizmanUSA]

If you only knew what went on

I'm glad this is being brought up. I was very enthusiastic about the Phili event and it just seemed to come and go without too much word. Even the videos i saw were very uninspiring. All I could see were a few hundred supporters. If there were actually a video with 5000+ screaming Ron Paul fans it would be a powerful piece to use not to mention inspiring for hundreds of thousands across the net. As someone who speaks about Ron Paul with multiple people everyday yet will never once come in contact with the official campaign I can tell you that these events are the food that keep me going. I am very sorry that this incredible event had to be limited too those people that were able to attend. Let the campaign hear it and let's not make the same mistake twice. Time is running out. Within 90 days we will know whether or not Paul will be in the Whitehouse. We can ill afford to miss this sort of opportunity again.

The Philly Event was to be a HUGE Rally/ Media Event and was the brainchild of the grassroots with Sematary & tmg19103 taking the lead and busting serious tail for many weeks/months. A lot of people poured in hundreds of dollars to spread the word.

HQ never was all that excited about the Philly rally and after HQ dragging their respective feet on getting things done (the grassroots was always trying get HQ to act & decide) Sematary put up a website to get things rolling (site was providing some info not yet approved by HQ) a HQ mid-level decision maker got really cranky (as I was told) and demanded the rally be turned over to HQ and they would run the event from that point forward.

It was made very clear HQ had Ron Paul and a HUGE rally/media event without Ron Paul wouldn't be very successful so the event was turned over to them.

The Philly rally turned out to be a giant loss for the grassroots and the RP campaign as Tom K. the Pennsylvania Statewide Coordinator was forced to resign due to some "in the moment heated & passionate " PRIVITE words about the poor handling/decisions of HQ that got back to HQ.

Ron Paul is to be highly commended for being frugal with public and campaign funds.

Unfortunately the HQ staff became/continued to be Penny Wise and Pound-Foolish and did NOT see the Big Picture of what this event could have been if it was presented as a professional political event production. Not only did they deny the campaign and supporters the chance to catapult RP in to the stratosphere but they seem to continue not to learn from their mistakes.

Plans were discussed with the grassroots to make this a huge rally/media event and when HQ took over things stalled and started spiraling backwards.

Not only did HQ not understand what it takes to present this type of production in a major NorthEast city in an urban historical park, someone at HQ decided to post on the RP official website a Giant Slap in the face to the city of Philadelphia, the unions and the local contractors complaining about costs.

As we all know once posted on the internet forever on the internet and this I hope will not come back to bite them in the butt.

The rally was originally planned to be an event for the grassroots that would have the MSM there in droves and 5K-10K confirmed attendance.

We all know the rally happened and RP got some coverage but it could have been SOOO much better.

So SAD! Too late for Philly but let us ALL learn what must be done as we want and need RP to win!

If HQ has internal staff concerns then we grassroots MUST take the bull by the horns and do what it takes. Remember that Ron Paul has gotten this far mainly by the grassroots.

I truly hope HQ will allow the help and everyone works as ONE TEAM for ONE GOAL and that is to get RP elected POTUS.

 

[Sematary]

That's a bummer. But the campaign really didn't seem as enthused about the possibilities for the Philly Rally as the grassroots, almost from the beginning.

Too bad, too, because it could have been even BIGGER than it was.

 

[Sematary]

The Philly Event was to be a HUGE Rally/ Media Event and was the brainchild of the grassroots with Sematary & tmg19103 taking the lead and busting serious tail for many weeks/months. A lot of people poured in hundreds of dollars to spread the word.

HQ never was all that excited about the Philly rally and after HQ dragging their respective feet on getting things done (the grassroots was always trying get HQ to act & decide) Sematary put up a website to get things rolling (site was providing some info not yet approved by HQ) a HQ mid-level decision maker got really cranky (as I was told) and demanded the rally be turned over to HQ and they would run the event from that point forward.

It was made very clear HQ had Ron Paul and a HUGE rally/media event without Ron Paul wouldn't be very successful so the event was turned over to them.

The Philly rally turned out to be a giant loss for the grassroots and the RP campaign as Tom K. the Pennsylvania Statewide Coordinator was forced to resign due to some "in the moment heated & passionate " PRIVITE words about the poor handling/decisions of HQ that got back to HQ.

Ron Paul is to be highly commended for being frugal with public and campaign funds.

Unfortunately the HQ staff became/continued to be Penny Wise and Pound-Foolish and did NOT see the Big Picture of what this event could have been if it was presented as a professional political event production. Not only did they deny the campaign and supporters the chance to catapult RP in to the stratosphere but they seem to continue not to learn from their mistakes.

Plans were discussed with the grassroots to make this a huge rally/media event and when HQ took over things stalled and started spiraling backwards.

Not only did HQ not understand what it takes to present this type of production in a major NorthEast city in an urban historical park, someone at HQ decided to post on the RP official website a Giant Slap in the face to the city of Philadelphia, the unions and the local contractors complaining about costs.

As we all know once posted on the internet forever on the internet and this I hope will not come back to bite them in the butt.

The rally was originally planned to be an event for the grassroots that would have the MSM there in droves and 5K-10K confirmed attendance.

We all know the rally happened and RP got some coverage but it could have been SOOO much better.

So SAD! Too late for Philly but let us ALL learn what must be done as we want and need RP to win!

If HQ has internal staff concerns then we grassroots MUST take the bull by the horns and do what it takes. Remember that Ron Paul has gotten this far mainly by the grassroots.

I truly hope HQ will allow the help and everyone works as ONE TEAM for ONE GOAL and that is to get RP elected POTUS.

Judging from the tone of that email yesterday, I think they didn't learn anything.

 

[BizmanUSA]

What will it take?

Judging from the tone of that email yesterday, I think they didn't learn anything.

What will it take?

Time is TOO precious and someone at HQ has to wake up and smell the roses!

HQ doesn't have to make every rally/meeting site a Nite in Vegas production but a few strategic rallies/media events will do EVERYONE both existing and NEW supporters a place to get excited and do a viral spreading of the word by mouth and internet.

Even if HQ was to bring on a part-time special event coordinator that has a clue this will make for bigger headlines and more MSM coverage (and raise more money).

We RP supporters have raised a lot of money to assist in the election of RP and HQ needs to spend a little of it as it will pay back in spades many times.

It takes money to make money in this political game and deep down HQ knows this.

 

[Knightskye]

It's encouraging that Paul has so many amateurs supporting him. Now if only he could find a few professionals.

- Star Ledger dude
It is up to Ron Paul if he wants to hire a new campaign chairman, but not announcing the press conference; interrupting the few reporters who showed up; and not answering their questions is pretty damn stupid.