Santorum Interview Contrasted with Paul Interviews

[tbone717]

Well yah. The main problem is that every other candidate is lying. The electorate is simply basing their decision on rhetoric. Its easy to get up there and say youre a conservative. Unfortunately, the electorate is stupid enough to believe it.

Everyone of them has voted for or endorsed the expansion of government and increases in spending without the slightest regard for the Constitution or civil liberties.

So how do we combat the fact that Ron Paul is the only one with a conservative RECORD not just conservative rhetoric? Well, the media isnt going to do it, so in my opinion, Ron Paul has to expose these fakes. The electorate needs to know that they are being misled by the typical lying politician who will sell us down the river once elected, just like Obama.

Agreed. Which is my point here. Instead of taking us on a history lesson why not attack Obama on a policy, present a solution, show how the other candidates support Obama policies, show the contrast.

It is a tactic maybe we in the grassroots need to use to take charge of this.

 

[ohgodno]

Don't assume though that the average GOP voter is a neo-con. Neo-cons are actually a very small part of the GOP. I've been involved at the local level for years, and I can assure you that the typical GOP voter in my area is much more receptive to Paul's platform (particularly the economics) than what the others offer. We do have some work to do in FP, but it is more in the delivery of the message than the content. As many have said the surrogates explain Paul's FP better than Paul does.

Neocons themselves yes, neocon THINKING on the other hand is throughout - meaning they gravitate toward centralized control (if they agree with what is being centralized).

If Santorum, for instance, was on the campaign trail calling for mandatory prayer-time in government-run schools, he'd get wide-ranging support for it. Voters would not see that act is the SAME thing they're railing against right now.

Yes, I understand that Santorum is railing against Obama's "left-wing" economic agenda—BUT he is simply proposing MORE government control.

Dr. Paul would do-well to point out Santorum's tax plan to "fund" manufacturing is the SAME thing that Obama did by giving tax breaks to "green" companies. Yes the message should be more tailored to resonate with everyday GOPers - looking to Santorum as an example though - I disagree with.

 

[Bruno]

Ron attacks positions and records, not people. He believes both parties are at fault, which is correct. This position doesn't go over well with some Republicans who would rather believe in the left/right paradigm.

 

[tbone717]

Neocons themselves yes, neocon THINKING on the other hand is throughout - meaning they gravitate toward centralized control (if they agree with what is being centralized).

If Santorum, for instance, was on the campaign trail calling for mandatory prayer-time in government-run schools, he'd get wide-ranging support for it. Voters would not see that act is the SAME thing they're railing against right now.

Honestly I think you are over generalizing here. Having been in the trenches so to speak for 25 years, working on several campaigns, working the polls on election day, attending local GOP committee meetings, I do not see this viewpoint at all among the majority. The GOP voters I know and there are hundreds of them, are middle class hard working people that just want their taxes low and the government off their backs.

Now I am not saying that you personally are doing this, but I do think that we sometimes paint this picture of GOP voters as blood thirsty, religious zealot neo cons so we can feel better about our own failure to reach out to them.

 

[tbone717]

Ron attacks positions and records, not people. He believes both parties are at fault, which is correct. This position doesn't go over well with some Republicans who would rather believe in the left/right paradigm.

If that is the case, and he is unwilling to go on the attack, then I think we can pretty much pack it in for this year then. He is running against Obama ultimately, and needs to convince the voters in the GOP that he stands in direct contrast to Obama. Again this isn't an intellectual exercise it's a political campaign. I have heard Rand in interviews and he does a far better job at defining the opponent than his father does.

As I said, watching those three interviews there is nothing that Paul said that would inspire undecided voters to go out and cast their ballot for him. Until he begins to do that we can continue to see the type of results that we have been seeing.

 

[coffeewithchess]

I've been at this for years and honestly I just can't understand what is going on here. Especially after hearing that interview on Beck and thinking to myself, I can see why people are starting to vote for this guy. He is pushing himself as the only conservative and attacking the left like crazy.

If you're saying people are voting for Santorum because he's a fake conservative and they are too lazy to look at his own record, then yes I agree.
I also agree though that RP and his campaign have failed the supporters in the area of tailoring RP's message TO THE VOTERS that he needs/needed to win the caucus and primaries.

RP would have had this nomination sealed MONTHS ago if he had a speech coach/tailoring the message to the audience.
The fact is, RP won't use/get a speech coach, even though he has admitted he could improve on delivering the message....

The campaign could have spent $100K (maybe a little more) to hire one guy, to follow RP around 24/7 helping him tailor his message, and STAY focused.

As for Santorum, here are some videos I have been putting together for people to share:

 

[ohgodno]

Now I am not saying that you personally are doing this, but I do think that we sometimes paint this picture of GOP voters as blood thirsty, religious zealot neo cons so we can feel better about our own failure to reach out to them.

I agree with this generalization, but you have to agree that the contests thus far has proved these voters are receptive to this type of message. See Newt / Santorum's "wins"

The campaign has failed to target these voters effectively, some of that blame is on us, but much of it is on the "gatekeepers" in the "conservative media" - misrepresentation of policies, outright lies and distortions, and slander are par for the course when Dr. Paul is involved. The media are to blame for the tone of interviews, Dr. Paul has been 1000 times better at redirecting the questions - but again - he is honest and will answer (for the most part) what is asked.

I've also mentioned countless times the campaign should frame policy statements to be received by mainstream GOPers - but the venues in which Dr. Paul speaks are often extremely hostile.

 

[unknown]

Agreed. Which is my point here. Instead of taking us on a history lesson why not attack Obama on a policy, present a solution, show how the other candidates support Obama policies, show the contrast.

It is a tactic maybe we in the grassroots need to use to take charge of this.

I started a thread under the "campaign suggestion box" in which I suggested that Ron Paul has to get more aggressive in exposing/attacking the phonies and the need for him to self promote. Maybe we should ask that Wead and others go on the offensive. RP may not approve but it doesnt have to be very aggressive either. They/we could just start a "rhetoric vs. record" meme, although the campaign has already put out a few videos to that effect, I think it has to start coming from the man himself:

 

[BUSHLIED]

Start a campaign suggestion thread and get people to bump it with support...try to get a lot of people endorsing your suggestions.

 

[Muttley]

I think you're on to something. I've noticed recently that either Ron is in-fact reading these forums, or someone is for him and relaying our input. At this moment I can't cite an exact thing he said, but I've noticed a few times now where we have been talking about a particular area to clear up on XXX position and he specifically mentions it in his next appearance...so don't think your sentiments are falling on deaf ears, or blind eyes.

I do think we should step up the attacks on Obama just with things of more substance like the NDAA and whatnot which Ron already mentions. I think the attacks should be harsher is all.

 

[Feeding the Abscess]

The problem is that the right is just as much to blame as the left.

 

[maxxgraphix]

I tend to agree that Paul should attack Obama more. Keep with his typical points, but then use Obama as an example of what is wrong. I have noticed that when Paul get's more excited and puts forth a good line, his poll numbers go up. Talk about freedom and liberty, then NDAA provision and tie that into Obama's violation of the Constitution. but save some talking points for the actual Paul vs Obama general election. We don't want to let team Obama prepare for everything.

 

[Publicani]

We've discussed exactly this issue yesterday on RonPaulRadio.

http://www.ronpaulradio.com/station/archives/213

If you care, click on The Maymin Show - 2/9/12 and wait 5 minutes before the show start (a technical problem)