The case for and against Jesse Benton's professional campaign involvement

[specsaregood]

Can you not see you've sold out to the very.same.mindset that we're all here to work against? That's what makes you so frustrating!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narcissistic_personality_disorder

Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) is a Cluster B personality disorder[1] in which a person is excessively preoccupied with personal adequacy, power, prestige and vanity, mentally unable to see the destructive damage they are causing to themselves and to others in the process.

Symptoms
People who are diagnosed with a narcissistic personality disorder are characterized by exaggerated feelings of self-importance. They have a sense of entitlement and demonstrate grandiosity in their beliefs and behavior. They have a strong need for admiration, but lack feelings of empathy.

B. Pathological personality traits in the following domain:
1.Antagonism, characterized by:
a. Grandiosity: Feelings of entitlement, either overt or covert; self-centeredness; firmly holding to the belief that one is better than others; condescending toward others.
b. Attention seeking: Excessive attempts to attract and be the focus of the attention of others; admiration seeking.

Symptoms of this disorder, as defined by the DSM-IV-TR, include:[1]
Expects to be recognized as superior and special, without superior accomplishments
Expects constant attention, admiration and positive reinforcement from others
Envies others and believes others envy him/her
Is preoccupied with thoughts and fantasies of great success, enormous attractiveness, power, intelligence
Lacks the ability to empathize with the feelings or desires of others
Is arrogant in attitudes and behavior
Has expectations of special treatment that are unrealistic

Treatment
It is unusual for people to seek therapy for NPD. This is partly due to the NPD sufferers’ not believing they have a problem. Most, if not all, are unable to see the destructive damage they are causing to themselves and to others and usually only seek treatment at the insistence of relatives and friends.

 

[jmdrake]

Rand Paul dropped Chris Hightower in 2009 for less. See: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/72823-the-ugly-paper-trail-of-rand-pauls-spokesman I honestly can't see Jesse having any significant role at this point. When the campaign staff become part of the news cycle, that's a problem. And Benton is already part of the news cycle.

 

[Bryan]

We need to stop talking about Tom Woods. We are supposed to be talking about Jesse Benton and how Jesse Benton handled the situation.

FWIW, I do remember Tom posting a video that was critical of the campaign (IIRC) to which he pulled within hours. That said, Crashland is right, what would be relevant here is how Jesse managed any such situation. For the record, I am a huge Tom Woods supporter.

 

[jjdoyle]

FWIW, I do remember Tom posting a video that was critical of the campaign (IIRC) to which he pulled within hours. That said, Crashland is right, what would be relevant here is how Jesse managed any such situation. For the record, I am a huge Tom Woods supporter.

Well, I would imagine there would have been a forum thread started with it in it at the time, and a time stamp would be on it and even if the video was pulled the embed of it would still show up and just display something like, "Video no longer available". Unless of course that thread was deleted.

I did a google search, and found one RPF thread that Matt Collins had actually started in regards to some Tom Woods stuff, but it wasn't about this. It was actually just a regular thread about another post/topic by Tom Woods.

For the record, are you a Jesse Benton supporter?

 

[ghengis86]

Again, another ESTABLISHMENT tactic.

It's ok for Jesse to air grievances about Tom because Jesse is "on the inside". Just like it's ok for the establishment to hate the grassroots and publish their grievances, but the grassroots are expected to hold their tongue because "the democrat is worse".

Can you not see you've sold out to the very.same.mindset that we're all here to work against? That's what makes you so frustrating!

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...-was-finally-coming-out&p=5702602#post5702602

Matt and Jesse's definition of winning and what one must do to 'win' is exactly opposite of what the grassroot's definition of 'winning' is and what one must do to 'win'

I think that is the root of the issue and why there will never be reconciliation between the 'official campaigns' and the grassroots, no matter how many Benton's and Collins' and FEC investigations come and go. The seeds were most likely sewn between 2008 and 2010, as the power of the grassroots was too much for the establishment types to let alone, as they sought to co-opt that power and attempt to use it to further their own ends. I can be honest to myself and just deal with it, so long as the Ron Paul Inc. people are honest too and not try to be something their not.

 

[green73]

I've been told that a post of mine has been deleted in this thread. Is this true?

 

[newbitech]

Jesse Benton has contributed financially to Ted Cruz for 1000 in 2012.


Search for Benton, Jesse

http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/tr/tr_MG_indivdonor.aspx?td=1_0

 

[Bryan]

Well, I would imagine there would have been a forum thread started with it in it at the time, and a time stamp would be on it and even if the video was pulled the embed of it would still show up and just display something like, "Video no longer available". Unless of course that thread was deleted.

I did a google search, and found one RPF thread that Matt Collins had actually started in regards to some Tom Woods stuff, but it wasn't about this. It was actually just a regular thread about another post/topic by Tom Woods.

Good point, I did some searching and didn't find anything. I should qualify that I don't remember when this was, but I do remember it. I don't remember if he called anyone out by name.

For the record, are you a Jesse Benton supporter?

I have not invested time to draw any serious conclusions but I understand a lot of the criticism. I avoid drawing conclusions unless there is a specific and functional reason to do so as conclusions require lots of data and are drawn to support a specific decision at a specific time. That said, I do not think his text message to Peter Schiff regarding Paul Fest was appropriate. I did briefly talk with Jesse in 2008 a day or two before the RFTR but it was pretty inconsequential.

I've been told that a post of mine has been deleted in this thread. Is this true?

Let's please keep things on-topic. From the OP:

Discussion ground rules:
* The site guidelines apply, please re-read them: http://www.ronpaulforums.com/content.php?1989
* On-topic discussion is strictly limited to positives and negatives to Jesse Benton's professional services and his performance history. Off-topic comments will be deleted.
* Any attacks against Jesse's character are not allowed, stick to issues of Jesse's professional performance. Anything that can be legally viewed as slander or a false attack on Jesse's reputation will not be tolerated.
* Cite sources for all information. If the information is just that "someone told me", that's fine, but state it as such. Discussion on the validity of sources is on-topic.
* Let people draw their own conclusions, there is no value in trying to force yours on others. You must educate people to that point.

Thank you.

 

[newbitech]

I've heard these things.

Benton was never a part of any campaign until he hooked up with Ron Paul's granddaughter.

supposedly Kent Snyder said of hiring Benton in 2007,

"He had no knowledge of Ron Paul, he was unemployed and affordable."

http://www.scribd.com/doc/93961174/Who-is-Jesse-Benton

 

[CPUd]

Jesse Benton has contributed financially to Ted Cruz for 1000 in 2012.


Search for Benton, Jesse

http://www.politicalmoneyline.com/tr/tr_MG_indivdonor.aspx?td=1_0

This would be during the time when Ron Paul endorsed Cruz over Dewhurst.

 

[newbitech]

anyone want to bump this? http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showth...der-Low-Moore-Jesse-Benton-Joe-Seehusen-et-al

It's probably relevant somehow to this discussion since Benton is credited for his work with online grassroots.

 

[invisible]

I have not invested time to draw any serious conclusions but I understand a lot of the criticism. I avoid drawing conclusions unless there is a specific and functional reason to do so as conclusions require lots of data and are drawn to support a specific decision at a specific time. That said, I do not think his text message to Peter Schiff regarding Paul Fest was appropriate. I did briefly talk with Jesse in 2008 a day or two before the RFTR but it was pretty inconsequential.

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one who has remained neutral, and feels that they don't have all of the required data to reach a conclusion. As I've said, the argument against benton is pretty convincing, but I still have yet to hear any sort of logical argument in favor of him - that doesn't mean one does not exist, though, since it obviously does (as indicated by his continued involvement since 2008).

 

[Champ]

Jesse Benton on Rand Paul 2016 campaign staff? Please, don't do it.

If you want to pit Tom Woods integrity and transparency against Jesse Benton, I will take Tom Woods 100 times out of 100.

Anyone that was paying even a small amount of attention during 2011 and 2012 knows what Jesse Benton is.

 

[Demigod]

Lets play a game, I'll go first:

Add something to this list that you don't like about Jesse Benton

1) He's Facing Federal Election Fraud Charges
2) He's defended by Matt Collins.
3.Born in 1977 ,Benton's political career began in 2000 when he worked with the Republican National Committee.Basically straight from college into politics not a single day of work.And he earns paychecks in the 100K range from family members campaign funds on merit alone of course.

Because nothing says fiscal conservative as much as nepotism.

 

[Jeremy]

What if he manages the Senate campaign? Someone has to do that.

 

[newbitech]

What if he manages the Senate campaign? Someone has to do that.

parallel campaigns headquartered in Louisville is already going to be controversial. May as well let Benton march on over there with Aqua Buddha in one hand a confederate flag in the other, some freshly printed newsletters tucked under arm, quoting the entire next season of house of cards in his arrival speech while offering Nascar drivers $10,000 every time they mention Stand with Rand on tv.

 

[acptulsa]

Perhaps Matt Collins can PM the screenshots to someone like Gunny with the understanding that they won't be posted publicly.

Why?

Tom isn't applying for any jobs.

Just because Collins is trying to make this thread about Tom Woods doesn't mean his name is in the thread title. We all know Collins would deflect if he had to deflect the blame onto his own man. He doesn't seem to be able to refrain from deflecting. But about all that Top Secret Ancient History that Collins alleges he has will tell us is whether Benton failed to make a molehill out of a mountain or succeeded in making a mountain out of a molehill.

 

[Matt Collins]

Anyway, every candidate gets reams and reams of unsolicited public criticism all the time from people who don't know what they are talking about, from random people online, to talking heads on TV, and from supporters and detractors.

That's fine and is to be expected, but when someone who is seen as a leader of the movement (Tom) openly and publicly criticizes the campaign it actively undermines the campaign effort. Plus it is in poor taste and rude.

Also, just because someone does not do something for a living doesn't mean that every opinion they have about that thing is automatically invalid.

As I have written before, some of the things Tom suggested was pretty good, some were outright childish. But why didn't Tom just pick up the phone and talk to Ron about it instead of going public? Not only was it arrogant but it was insulting too.

Again, I am sure when you are in a position like Benton's, you receive all sorts of unsolicited criticism all the time, and some of it is bound to be bad criticism and some of it is bound to be good criticism. It's not a black and white issue. But I would bet a lot of money that in 2016, there is going to be a hell of a lot more unsolicited criticism to the Rand Paul campaign. Do we really want Benton handling it the same way he did in Ron Paul 2012?

Nothing wrong with criticism (although people who don't know what they are talking about shouldn't offer it), but when it is from someone on our own team, it should be kept private and not posted all over the Internet for everyone to see.

 

[Matt Collins]

Did Tom attack the candidate?

How in the world was a possible attack against Jesse Benton (not substantiated) damaging to anyone except Jesse Benton?

Because undermining the campaign hurts the candidate. Duh...

 

[Matt Collins]

It's ok for Jesse to air grievances about Tom because Jesse is "on the inside".

Did Jesse air grievances publicly about Tom Woods? I don't recall that he did.

Just like it's ok for the establishment to hate the grassroots and publish their grievances, but the grassroots are expected to hold their tongue because "the democrat is worse".

Uh no, that's not how it works, nice try.