Topic: The Revolution
The Paul Revolution: Here to Stay "You look around and the Ron Paul people are still here and they're here to stay>--Erik Iversonby rtbohan
(libertarian)
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Erik Iverson, the chairman of the Republican Party of Montana, looks on the presence of the Paul supporters at the stae convention and in positions in the Party as vindication of his promise to bring youth and diversity to the partty.
There were some limited signs of diversity. Two Republican candidates for Senator--the party's official candidate, Bob Keleher, and Steven Lange, who lost the primary but is running a write-in campaign--were allowed space to meet their supporters, but neither was allowed to address the convention. On the other hand, Ron Paul, having ended his campaign for the nomination, was allowed to address the convention. ([link edited for length]). This was an opportunity which was denied at the Republican conventions in Minnesota and Texas.
The message Paul brought was the one he has brought to people across the country: abolish the income tax; end the Federal Reserve system; return to limited government. He also brought a message about his supporters: "The young people that have joined our campaign are rallying to the cry of self reliance and getting their independence back" Mr. Iverson seems to have missed that part of the speech.
The convention was orderly and the appearance of fairness was maintained. When the official nominating list was put out for delegates to the national covention, there were both a McCain list and a Paul list on the ballot: But the McCain delegates were on the front of the ballot, and the Paul delegates on the back. Since the lists were not given a title, many of the delegaes did not find the names of the Paul delegates. This was compounded by the fact that the candidates for delegate to the national convention were allowed to speak, but the microphone for the McCain delegates was at the front of the hall, and that for the Paul delegates well off to the side. The resullt was that none of the Paul delegates were selected for the National Convention. If Mr. Iverson wants diversity in the country, he apparently doen't want the National Party to know about it.
John Hart, the organizer of the Paul campaign in Montana said after the convention that he appreciated the party leadeship allowing Representative Paul to speak, and the fact that the Paul delegates were treated with respect. On the other hand, he was not satisfied with the bias shown in the selection of delegates. There was no indication that the Paul forces had any intention of abandoning their position in the party, but there were indications that they are in the part to change it, to bring it back to its principles and that effort will go on.
Diversity in politics, unlike diversity in social events, does not mean just diversity of age or sex or race. It means diversity of ideas. And when the ideas are about the basic message and program of the party, that means conflict. The conflict can be conducted politely, it must be conducted within the rules and fairly. But it is real. The Paul revolution is inside the Republican Party of Montana and, as Mr. Iverson says, it is here to stay.
The Paul supporters who attended the convention or who gave Representative Paul his second place finish in the caucuses are going to remain in the Republican Party and be loyal to it, just as Representative Paul will. But like Representative Paul, they are not going to be supporters of John McCain. And while those who have taken official positions within the party are not going to work for or endorse another candidate, the twenty-two percent of Republican voters who supported Ron Paul in the primary may very well do both. In Montana, the Bob Barr candidacy remains a real threat to John McCain.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of rtbohan only and do not represent
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The bottom line is that the Republican party is not serious about having a "libertarian" wing in it's tent. I remember reading about the budget for bringing libertarians into the party several years ago was all of something like $18,000 a year, which is just enough for ONE part time worker. Don't be fooled by the neo-con controlled Republican party. Vote for the Libertarian Party.
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