Topic: Presidential Campaign 2008
Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, the Economy, and the Pretty Box Pretty boxes don't grow on trees.by John Armstrong
(libertarian)
Monday, January 14, 2008
If you haven't seen this video go check it out before you continue.
I think this video provides insight as to why Mitt Romney is throughly trashing Ron Paul in the polls and in the primaries (so far).
Ron Paul for some reason has a stubborn reluctance to compare and contrast himself to other candidates. He'll gladly talk about ideas, sometimes talk about himself, but almost never compares himself to other candidates the way Romney does in this video. The reason this is important is because it offers the voters a chance to view you as an alternative to the candidate to whom you are comparing yourself. It is possible to do this without smearing another candidate which makes you seem even more likable; Romney did a great job of this in the clip by talking about Ron Paul's credentials as a doctor.
Another thing that seems to be lacking is a way for Dr. Paul to effectively dumb down his message for the masses. If there was a poll about how much time people had actually spent reading about issues and who their candidate of choice was, I feel confident there would be a strong positive correlation between the amount of homework done and the support of Ron Paul. As we have learned already, and should have already known, most people don't do homework or vote on issues. The one time Ron Paul did this masterfully is when he connected his opinion of the Federal Reserve and monetary policy to rising gas prices. The resulting article I wrote about that one comment has been received four times more hits than anything else I've written, and has been reposted nearly 1600 times (with full name intact) on the web.
To help illustrate the effect of these problems, consider the difference in the following responses to the question about whether RP had "any" electability at the Fox News debate.
Ron Paul gave a great answer where he made our foreign policy really seem ridiculous, attacked the D.O.E., mentioned that only a two small primaries had taken place so far, touched on his constitutional voting record, and talked about being a true conservative. He also mentioned that he felt the G.O.P. had lost its way. Most of his supporters couldn't agree with him more. But to the other G.O.P. voters that he should be trying to sway that last comment probably sounds more like something a liberal (enemy) would say than a G.O.P. supporter.
Instead, imagine the following response:
Well, judging from the polls it certainly doesn't seem that I don't have any Chris. Luckily for our campaign, those polls are just numbers that represent real people. And those real people haven't actually voted yet. You see, those people have a contract with their government. In fact, the first three words of that contract are "We the People." That contract is called the Constitution. And for too long now the government hasn't been obeying that contract which hurts the people.
Governor Romney is seen as very electable, and has accomplished great things in business and as a governor. He talks about having experience "doing" and "running" things. Governor Huckabee is seen as being electable. His experience as a pastor and his record as a governor say a lot about his "integrity" and his "concern for people."
For 20 years as a Congressman, I have been the one person with enough "integrity" to "do" the one thing a President is sworn in to do. When you take the Oath of Office you don't swear to show your "concern for people" by trying and solve their's problems.You swear to"preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States" so that the people have the freedom to solve their own problems.
The Constitution is the people's contract with their government, and I have 20 years of voting records to show that I will uphold my end of that contract. I am electable because my concern for the people who have yet to vote isn't shown through empty promises. I don't want to be President so I can "run" things. I want to be President so I can do the job a President is sworn in to do. I am electable because I am the only candidate that has the record to prove he will do that one thing without fail. It seems that people in America want change this election season. I am electable because the change I propose isn't promising to do things I can't, but instead promising to do the one thing I am sworn in to do--honor my Oath of Office to uphold the Constitution like I have for 20 years as a Congresman so the People can Run their own lives and really change this country for the better.
All of that is off the top of my head, but I think you get the point. How many people even know what the Presidential Oath of Office is? How many people understand why it is important? The Constitution for most people brings back bad memories of history class. The Federal Reserve is a sticker they see on the bank door. Everyone knows that politicians are corrupt. What they don't know is what it means to be corrupt is simply that they don't keep their word to uphold the Constitution. And they don't understand that there is a candidate who has a track record to prove he would. I wonder if the reason Ron Paul hasn't defended himself more on these racist allegations stems from the fact that he knows the truth himself and believes so strongly in freedom that he has no problem with other people believing what they want to believe as long as their right to have or state those beliefs as guaranteed by the Constitution are upheld? Just a thought.
Here's another one. Ron Paul is a great man. He is an incredible statesman. After he is elected we may never want to see another politician in this country. But he will never be elected until he becomes a politician. Can someone please get this man a real political advisor before Super Tuesday?
Ever heard that saying about how if you have a piece of "junk" and you put it in a really pretty box and wrap it up with ribbons and bows, it is still just a piece of junk in a pretty box? People in our country usually just pick a box that's pretty and don't worry about unwrapping it. Yet time and time again, when the box is already picked and Christmas (Inauguration) Day comes and the box is finally unwrapped, it ends up being a piece of "junk." We finally have a great present that everyone would love if they'd pick the box and then witness it once it was unwrapped. We just need a prettier box to put it in. Can we use some of our money to get one? Please? I don't want to have to wait 20 years until the dashing, articulate, winsome 15 year old reading this article is old enough to run for President to unwrap that box.
Your fellow American,
John Armstrong
P.S. While we must do all we can to elect Ron Paul, even he would likely say the bigger issue is making people aware of the very real issues we are facing as a nation. Maybe Ron Paul can be our keyword search long after he is gone. I'll let smarter people than I decide that, but we need to stay focused on the issues. If you see an article that makes sense, send it in to your local newspaper. Edit it if you like. Say you wrote it (if it's one of mine, I don't care--I don't do this for money or recognition). Print it and send it to people who don't use email. Make copies for your meetup groups to hand out. Whatever. Just spread the word like some other Patriots spread Thomas Paine's Common Sense pamphlets back in the day.
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Great article! I completely agree. I support Ron Paul's ideas and I think he's a fantastic man, a true example of what our president SHOULD be, but he's not going to get enough votes if he doesn't start, well, getting charismatic! You are right -- he doesn't need to attack the other candidates. He just needs to learn to start speaking like a politician. Yes, I know that one of his most endearing qualities is that he DOESNT speak like a politician, but he can still be charismatic in his own unique way.
It's a shame, but this is a country built on soundbites, and he doesn't fit the mold. I guess he's too busy being honest and having integrity.
Great article. You will notice there has been some change in his style int he debates. I think he looks very handsome, problem is many people still do not know his name and policy. He is more an academic than a charismatic, therefore his support base is more with more "intelligent", thinking people. One cannot and should not change your personality too much. The positive contrasting message is a great point you make. Dr. Paul needs a strong charismatic person that can explain the basic elements in short positively, so that people can also see the advantage above the other candidates. Dr. Paul is not a populist, he needs someone to get the message through to voters with a "different personality". Dr. Paul has perhaps the msot economic knowledge of allt eh candidates. As concrete example, apart from his voting record, he should also show his success in his distict 14. He wants to be humble, and not boast himself: otherwise get someone to campaign strongly with him that will point this out. We need someone like Andrew P. Napolitano, that could eventually be his runningmate also.
Good article. He needs to point out the differences.
For instance Romney likes to think he can "run our economy"
because DADDY left him enough money to play business man.
Ron Paul has written books on economics.
Well Ron Paul should expose Romneys' "logic" and say since DADDY kept Romney out of Vietnam and none of Mittens kids will ever serve in Iraq how is Romney qualified to be our Commander in Chief, and "protect us from evil doers"??
Romney, like his chickhawk buddies, GW Bush and Cheney supports war, yet HE never served, his country club kids will never serve, but YOUR kids will if you are a minority or working class white. Ron Paul needs to expose the hypocrites.
Ron Paul is too nice and needs to take the gloves off.
"We" all know he's right but the average soundbite hearing American doesn't do the research we do...talk to them Ron!
Romney suggests "I have made money... therefore I can be President, and Paul has saved lives... therefore he can not." Sounds real bad when worded out. Winning voters by saying nothing of substance (or, as Romney and Co do - of poisonous substance) is not what a statesman should aim for. Ron Paul has understood that some 30 years ago and that's one of the reasons why he has this support today. Truth wins.
Posted By: Timur Rozenfeld
Date: 2008-01-14 11:01:45
He really needs to start using John McCain's quote that he is the most honest man in Washington all over his commercials. It's a very powerful statement.
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