What I learned in New Hampshire working this weekend - *warning* divisive

[DrNoZone]

Concord and Manchester.

If people are smart enough to understand Paul's points about freedoms, they are smart enough to know how to sell his message and the responsibility that goes along with freedom.

When I see these kinds of things going on I try to suggest to them "What would Ron Paul do?"

www.wwrpd.org

 

[DrNoZone]

I don't know what is worse, an unkempt "ungroomed" individual who truly cares about the country and where it is headed, that has a few tattoos or the "nice and neat" supporter who has their head so far up their ass that they are voting based on a candidates religious preferences.


Besides, don't republicans support the troops? I'd say at least 8/10 Marines here have tattoos Does that make us unprofessional?

Amen brother. I am heavily tattooed, though I do cover them up when I think it's appropriate for the occasion.

 

[Apparition]

I used to say the same things about Church. When I was a kid (I'm only 40, it wasn't that long ago), people would wear their "Sunday Best" to Church. Then they started going in jeans and flip flops, and I stopped going as a result. People have to realize that putting decent clothes on is a measure of respect, at least in the minds of maybe half of Americans. If you go to the pain of squeezing your feet into uncomfortable shoes, choking yourself with a tie, tucking your shirt in, it's a sign of a "mini" sacrifice, and it is something people can relate to. I bet if you kids would put some decent clothes on, or at least wear a dress shirt and a blazer, that we'd go a lot further in persuading people. I know you all may measure sacrifice from all the hard hours you put in, by the bags under your eyes, by all the cold pizzas you eat, which is great, but remember there are a lot of potential voters who judge by a different set of criteria, namely clothing and grooming.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox.

That's great and all.. and don't completely disagree with your points. But image only goes so far.. and we can't break the image barrier until you challenge it, and the only way to challenge it is to be good, respectful people in thought and deed rather than appearances.

Besides.. if you stopped going to church as a result of how people were dressing, then you forgot why you go to church in the first place.

 

[Todd]

Amen brother. I am heavily tattooed, though I do cover them up when I think it's appropriate for the occasion.

Right..No one here cares that we are all different.. Hell I had hair down to my butt in High school, but we are trying to convince people to vote for values we all share and you don't convince someone by shocking the hell out of them.

 

[Caravello]

That's great and all.. and don't completely disagree with your points. But image only goes so far.. and we can't break the image barrier until you challenge it, and the only way to challenge it is to be good, respectful people in thought and deed rather than appearances.

Besides.. if you stopped going to church as a result of how people were dressing, then you forgot why you go to church in the first place.

It's not "image" I am talking about but respect. People can tell if you went out of your way to dress up for the occasion. It comes across pretty readily that here's a kid who was probably a lot more comfortable in jeans but went ahead and put a tie on and dress shirt on. I see your point, but in reality people can tell if someone is dressing up to "convey a superficial image" versus a person who is dressing up out of a sign of respect for the occasion. We older folks are not that blind you know, but then you wouldn't realize that going by whom people vote for, so maybe you have a right to be suspect.

Anyway, a decent shirt and tie never hurts.

As for Church, when the formality left the building I had no use for it, to be blunt. I can just as easy show my allegiance to God by saying a prayer or two and tipping a beer to Him!

 

[aknappjr]

Amen brother. I am heavily tattooed, though I do cover them up when I think it's appropriate for the occasion.

Great response. Perfect.

No I think that's great. Like you implied, display your tats to other marines groups. Just not to little old ladies while canvassing.

 

[Cleaner44]

Who are all of these individuals? Don't they know they should be conforming to collectivist ideas and dresing appropriately?

 

[Apparition]

It's not "image" I am talking about but respect. People can tell if you went out of your way to dress up for the occasion. It comes across pretty readily that here's a kid who was probably a lot more comfortable in jeans but went ahead and put a tie on and dress shirt on. I see your point, but in reality people can tell if someone is dressing up to "convey a superficial image" versus a person who is dressing up out of a sign of respect for the occasion. We older folks are not that blind you know, but then you wouldn't realize that going by whom people vote for, so maybe you have a right to be suspect.

Anyway, a decent shirt and tie never hurts.

As for Church, when the formality left the building I had no use for it, to be blunt. I can just as easy show my allegiance to God by saying a prayer or two and tipping a beer to Him!

Image of respect doesn't equate to respect.. but I do understand what you are trying to say and do agree that making an effort to look nice is definitely the way to go when it's warranted. I just don't think Hannity warrants that kind of respect when he goes out of his way to disrespect a large group of people by smearing them. It's a whole different context.

Shirt and jeans in the streets.. good.
If some of these kids decide to run for office or speak in front of committees or whatever.. then put the effort into image.

 

[LibertyForAll]

A final note. Quit worrying about other supporters. Worry about yourself. Lead by example not by criticizing other's personal appearance. By the way, telling people they are not well groomed or properly dressed is flat out rude. Note that Ron Paul is proud of all of his supporters so long as they share his love for the constitution.

I agree. Your grooming style may be different than mine. This is a movement of all types of people, not just your pre-conceived notion of who the supporters should look like or act like. There are going to be boisterous, vocal, long-haired, supporters, and there are going to be quiet, polite, short-haired supporters, and every mixture in between. I admire the courage of people to get out into the streets and be visible, protesting the injustices. I don't think they took a "grooming poll" at the Boston Tea Party.

 

[pacelli]

1. Chase down TV personalities who have verbally attacked Ron Paul. Curse at them and insult them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9p9uBLqz958

2. Grow your hair long. Longer and more unkempt the better. Republicans listen to you better. Along the same lines, grow the wildest most unkempt beard you can. Visible tattoos also help sell Republicans and undecided indepdendents in New Hampshire. Social conservatives just love those tattoos.

3. You don't need to put a suit on to GOP events - just look like you just put on whatever was laying on your floor and come to that GOP business-attire or formal dinner or bruncheon. Yellowed Ron Paul Revolution t-shirts work well with jeans. It doesn' matter that all the other Republicans are wearing suits - you'll fit in and they'll listen to you anyway.

4. Yell and interrupt all TV news appearances. It especially helps if you yell out things like "the fed is evil" and "abolish the fed". 98% of people already know that the fed causes damage and want it yelled out. Its not necessary to explain yourself in more well-mannered tones and discuss the problems of inflation and printing money and overspending. Yelling "abolish the fed" to voters is enough.

5. It doesn't matter what voters want to hear. What matters is that you say what you want to. Don't use Ron Paul's phrases to promote his message - use your own! Don't use his website, RonPaul2008.com, under Issues, to learn phraseology about how to discuss issues - come up with your own more advanced, radical ones!

6. Spend your time talking to voters who are wearing "Huckabee", "McCain", "Hillary", and "Obama" buttons. Argue with as many Giuliani volunteers as you can. Those are the people you need to convert. Just because they're volunteering for another campaign doesn't mean their minds are made up. Don't bother talking to the 40% who are undecided voters...convert other candidates volunteers!

As Bradley in DC has said months ago, and said several times since, each and every one of us represents the campaign to those that aren't currently Ron Paul supporters. I'm sorry to see the warnings went unheeded. I hope this didn't cost us votes. I'll reserve further opinion about it for now. We still have several states to go.

 

[Caravello]

Image of respect doesn't equate to respect.. but I do understand what you are trying to say and do agree that making an effort to look nice is definitely the way to go when it's warranted. I just don't think Hannity warrants that kind of respect when he goes out of his way to disrespect a large group of people by smearing them. It's a whole different context.

Shirt and jeans in the streets.. good.
If some of these kids decide to run for office or speak in front of committees or whatever.. then put the effort into image.

Oh, I see your point. I don't care what people wear in the streets when holding RP signs, I was more talking about when they have to make televised appearances or there's a good chance they will be caught in a televised shot when hanging around a polling place with CNN and FNC vans outside, etc. Who wants to wear dress shoes in the snow? I'd be in boots and jeans too, but I'm from L.A. so I don't have to worry about that!

 

[santopia]

The individualism is great. However, I can agree that it needs to be toned down in order to change minds and win the election. It's a simple fact that you only get one chance to make a first impression.

 

[colin1]

The best part of this campaign is the range of people that it draws in. I was at the rallies in Pittsburgh and Philly and it was great to see so many different kinds of people standing in the cold for freedom. Did they all look like people I would be friends with? No. Did they all look like people I would have over for dinner? No. But when I looked around I realized that these were my brothers and sisters in the cause of liberty. I'd rather have some unkempt, long haired kid in the street, doing something for our cause, then ten suits typing away on the computer.

 

[Adam Smith]

While I understand what I think some of you are trying to say here about supporter behavior, there's no need to insult supporters' physical appearance, down to the clothes they wear, or the style of their hair.

Doesn’t the GOP want all kinds of people, especially young people, to join the Republican Party? If so, we have to get over the fact that young people don’t dress like what a we think a stereotypical Republican should, i.e. going out for dinner at the country club in a sportcoat and khakis.

No offense to anyone, but I personally dislike that image and see it as elitist and exclusionary. In my opinion that image is dated, and it might be better for the party if we let it die.

 

[sharedvoice]

The best part of this campaign is the range of people that it draws in. I was at the rallies in Pittsburgh and Philly and it was great to see so many different kinds of people standing in the cold for freedom. Did they all look like people I would be friends with? No. Did they all look like people I would have over for dinner? No. But when I looked around I realized that these were my brothers and sisters in the cause of liberty. I'd rather have some unkempt, long haired kid in the street, doing something for our cause, then ten suits typing away on the computer.

Great point.

I was at that Historic Rally.

 

[Apparition]

The individualism is great. However, I can agree that it needs to be toned down in order to change minds and win the election. It's a simple fact that you only get one chance to make a first impression.

This campaign has been all about overcoming the first impressions.. those that the media has deemed Ron Paul crazy and with no shot.
So again.. I think it's a bigger statement when there are a bunch of people fighting tooth and nail to get their candidate exposure as opposed to what they are wearing or worrying about them playing 'nice'.

Not that I'm comparing Ron Paul to Jesus... but even Jesus didn't play nice all of the time. He showed anger and flipped tables over and ran people out of the temple... the key is understanding WHY he is feeling that way.

So I submit again.. these people are not hurting anything. They are giving the 'lost' a reason to talk, and if people are talking about Ron Paul and become more curious, then he will continue to move in a positive direction. There's a bigger picture at stake here than worrying about what Hannity/Fox and the rest of the media has to say about him... so you (the people) might as well have fun while basking in the truth. But again, that notion ends the very moment that someone resorts to violence.

Anyway.

 

[liberty_Forever]

These are all good points.

I agree we have to dress respectable and be polite in general, especially when presenting our message to older groups or when canvassing.

However, I disagree that Sean Hannity is deserving of anyone's respect. Yes , the kids who chased him were not sending the slickest PR message. But you can be sure these kids are now changed forever. This will be important as America slides further into fascism.

As for the primaries, you can be sure the MSM and bankers' worst nightmare is *exactly* what we have created! A popular grassroots movement that supports the US Constitution! Diebold can rig the vote resutls, the MSM can wage information war, but they can't reverse people who have woken up from their coma.

Ron Paul's support is *sticky* , it does not easily reverse because the principles are deep. On the whole, congratulations to everyone, you have all made good points. Let's keep working together.

 

[voiceactivated]

You don't have to wear a suit, but being well-groomed goes a long way. I'm a 57 year old woman and there are lot's of young people are in our Ron Paul meetup group, as well as older folks. The young people do not dress or behave like slobs. They are well spoken, know the issues, and we don't have to cover the children's ears when they speak. You have no idea how impressive these young people are. Please heed the very good advice to clean yourselves up and stop with the four letter words. Take some pride in your appearance and demeanor. It shows respect for yourself and the others around you.

 

[rodo1776]

aknappjr you are right on. What all of us have to understand is that image is important. Why are people out shouting, insulting others throwing snowballs etc when they should be and could be trying to get on a phone where their hair and tattoos dont matter. We can not piss people off. This is not Eugene McCarthy in 68 for Christ sakes. lets be civil, nice and neighborly. that is how you get people to buy into the message.
Thanks aknapperjr for bringing up this point. We shoot ourselves in the foot and then blame the MSM. Never taking responsibility for our own actions.
Lets be civil.

 

[rodo1776]

Throw Voteballs and not Snowballs. That is how we win.