As this presidential cycle begins to wind towards its conclusion, many have asked if Ron Paul is still in the race. The answer is an emphatic yes, but to ask this question really misses the bigger picture. Dr. Paul has made it clear that he will continue to compete for every delegate in order to wield maximum influence at the convention and to make positive changes in the platform.
The influence that we can have is hardly limited to winning the nomination and there is still much work to do. By putting the maximum number of delegates on the convention floor, we can get our people in the rules committee and the platform committee as well as having a voice in the decision-making that can only be done by delegates. The power of having as many Ron Paul Republicans on the floor as possible — in order to talk to other delegates, make our case, debate, and convince them that our message is a true conservative message — cannot be overstated. Delegates represent the most influential and active members of the party.
Dr. Paul has said from day one that this campaign was not about him, but rather about ideas. He has carrie
d the message with great dignity and clarity. We have listened, acted, and shared those ideas with millions of our fellow Americans. He has infused the national debate with monetary policy, Constitutionalism, non-interventionism, and hope. But changing the national dialogue is only one measure of the success of this movement.
In Alaska, Ron Paul supporters have put forward new planks to the state party platform that will alter the philosophical and policy direction of the party and its candidates. In many states, hundreds of newly-minted Ron Paul Republicans have taken up positions within their local party apparatus, in roles ranging from precinct officers to county and state party leaders. Some have joined Young Republicans and Republican women’s groups; others have made the commitment to run for office at all levels. Have no doubt, the R3volution is in full swing!
Already, commentators have begun to pick up on the actual scope and power of what we are accomplishing. Newsmax has Dr. Paul on the cover with an article that says, in part, that like Goldwater he may change the GOP forever. This is also the prediction of former Bush I advisor Doug Wead, who wrote, “…the words and arguments of Ron Paul are still resonating. They still hang over this election. They are haunting and troubling. They are producing blogs and papers and books and like Goldwater’s revolution they will one day very likely produce their own Ronald Reagan.”
The bottom line is this: This is not Ron Paul’s revolution, it is ours. Dr. Paul has shown us the path, but it is up to us to take it. We must continue to fight to make our voice heard within the GOP by remaining engaged, promoting our ideas and the candidates that embody those ideas. We must keep the issues in the public debate. We must fund, promote, and work tirelessly for the organizations and individuals who have and will emerge as the leadership of our movement in the months and years ahead.
This is not the end, it is only the beginning. GOP dinosaurs roared their frustration that a bunch of previously disengaged citizens would show up at their meetings and caucuses to make their voices heard and demand change in the direction of the party. The old guard believe that they have weathered the storm, beaten back our efforts, and can now return to the business of promoting welfare, warfare, and graft without the light of day being shown on their hypocritical and failing worldview. They are wrong.
We are Ron Paul Republicans. We are Constitutionalists. We are the future and we will not be silenced.
Don Rasmussen
Special Assistant
Ron Paul 2008 PCC
