A shocking report: Inside the Ron Paul conspiracy

Maybe you've heard rumors about an explosive newspaper expose on a major political figure that would rock the political world just as the presidential voting is about to begin.

We haven't either.

But we do know that today is when this newspaper blows the top off of the Ron Paul Conspiracy, that vast unorganized protest movement that has silently become one of the more interesting political phenomena of the current election season.

A Times reporter -- we'll call him James Rainey to protect his identity -- has managed to penetrate the Paul presidium.

In his story he recounts for the very first time the shockingly ordinary details of a movement of thousands of disparate, dissatisfied people, some of whom want an end to the Iraq war, an end to gun controls and the IRS, an end to laws banning marijuana and a return to the gold standard, whatever that means.

These Paulites believe the government has been hijacked by a bevy of big interests that threaten the freedoms of ordinary Americans. They're not going to take it anymore. Locally, they're even organizing a re-enactment of a brazenly defiant act, the BostonTea Party, except it'll be in Santa Monica and won't involve tea or white people dressed as Indians. And the protestors promise not to leave anything foreign floating in the water.

These committed partisans, bonded by their suspicion of authority and venal influences like the mainstream media that ignored them until they did something, have united behind a 72-year-old...

Air Force vet and ob-gyn from Texas who has managed to win 10 elections to the House of Representatives as a Republican with two first names and strongly libertarian leanings.

This man believes that U.S. sovereignity is threatened by many things, especially including consistently ignoring the Constitution and by a planned mystery superhighway that would unite with a ribbon of inexorable cement all three North American countries--Mexico, the United States and that other larger one on top that can only afford to have three downs in its football games.

Apparently he's not talking about I-15, which already does that.

"Rainey's" account describes how this man's followers appear to be ordinary citizens with jobs and family by day. But at night they gather openly in chat rooms and living rooms to plot how to promote a tiny unassuming man whom they call reverently Dr. Paul. With little central direction but tons of commitment, idealism and passion, Dr. Paul's followers do everything they can think of to mobilize voter support.

They patrol the internet day and night seeking Paul slights to right. They stand on windy interstate bridges holding inflammatory signs saying: RonPaul2008.com.

Even as you sleep at night some of the 1,200 Paul meet-up groups are handwriting letters to all 700,000 independent Iowa voters urging them to consider their long-shot leader. A couple of weeks ago Paulites raised $4.2 million on the internet in one day, a near-record, and a sum they intend to more than double on Dec. 16, the anniversary of that rebellious tea party. How's that for insignificance?

As one result, the ultra-lean Paul organization has been able to buy advertising in New Hampshire and to pump its poll numbers up near double-digits in some places. Rainey's story describes the commitment of one Ron Paul meet-up group in Southern California and the regular folks who drive it with their political beliefs and energies.

Few professionals -- well, to tell the truth, no one -- actually gives Paul any chance of winning the Republican nomination. But then up until Yorktown back in the 1700s, all the smart Vegas money was on the British.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[wp_rocket]

"Air Force vet and ob-gyn from Texas who has managed to win 10 elections to the House of Representatives as a Republican"

MANAGED to win TEN elections. Funny. I feel the author's despair.

[elvis]

hello if you have the time take a look at the ron paul blimp at www.ronpaulblimp.com or at www.lewisnews.com you also can have a hour ride in this on of a kind blimp .help support mr paul thank you wwelvis,

[Gigi Bowman]

finally, someone that gets it!~

[Michael Toth]

Very well done. Dr. Paul can cure your hopelessness. He did mine.

[Jeugenen]

RON PAUL - that kook, racist, Nazi, xenophobe, ...???

Is he that Libertarian Republican presidential candidate who was first totally ignored, then cruelly ridiculed, and now viciously attacked by the Neo-Con Republican and Neo-Lib Democrat media elite, who regard him with fear and loathing; is he that exceptionally sensible and uncompromisingly honest leader, who has again won the Republican YouTube debate by landslide; that Ron Paul, who the World is cheering onto presidential victory?

Google: "CNN Debate Winner"; "Human Events Ron Paul Interview" and, "Who Would the World Elect"

[Tony]

Does this writing technique have a name? I see CNN using it a lot too. First 90% of the article is critical, biased, and factually wrong, to satisfy the editors, the establishment, and psy-op the folks who only read first few sentences of an article. The ending is then positive (to the subject), to satisfy the rest of us.
In any way, it's better to talk about these things negative, than not at all, as intelligent people will check the facts for themselves.
When will the US media learn that jumping onto the Ron Paul wagon RIGHT NOW might be the same kind of investment as buying Microsoft's stock in 1986? Oh, I forgot...
"The Central Intelligence Agency owns everyone of any significance in the major media."
~William Colby, former CIA Director~

[Amir]

It would do you well to understand the Gold Standard or other commodity backed currency and explain it to people instead of shrugging off economic theory with 'whatever that means'. America's Fiat currency is tantamount to IDOLATRY and the 2nd Commandment warns you of 3 or 4 Generations of Debt.

[Fred Sebastian]

500,000 people die from cancer in the US each year. Only 4,000 died in 9/11. Yet we trust the media and we hand over our Constitution and our rights because we need endless protection without end???

The Bilderbergers are now successfully using the news media, and the public's remaining trust of the news media, to turn public anger toward people who are only interested in protecting the Constitution and what remains of personal freedoms from the elites who have gone crazy with POWER LUST.

[Jody in Houston]

Dr. Paul has my vote and I am trying to spread ther word down here. We NEED a Paul REVOLUTION to save America!!!!!

ronpaul2008.com

[Wallace]

Where or where will all of you people go when Ron Paul doesn't get the nomination? Please tell me it doesn't involve a remote Wyoming location and a giant spaceship.

I shall miss the laughter that you bring.

[Cleaner44]

The Ron Paul Revolution is changing America. He has clearly surpassed John McCain and is now a "top tier" candidate. Ron Paul dominates in straw polls, debate polls, fund raising, web traffic and grass roots networking. I have gathered the evidence and created a website to support this statement.

Please visit www.thecaseforronpaul.com and judge for yourself.

[Wallace]

Hey, I just realized what Ron Paul can do to imnprove his chances: Pick Santa Claus as his running mate. Claus has a great record on international relations, he's got name recognition, and he and Ron Paul have something in common: Most of America doesn't think either one truly exists.

[Kevin C.]

Right on! Thanks for the article.

From yet another ordinary citizen who believes in the values of the founding fathers and supports Ron Paul.

[CCNA Discovery]

Nice article!

[JR Brown]

I'm no this by day / that by night kinda guy.
I'm no fevered supporter, investing my evenings to the cause.
But I'm thinking perhaps I should become one.

thus far - from all I see - Ron's the MAN

[Brian Davis]

I would like to help explain why Paul polls are constantly lower than what his fundraising and supporters would expect.

Most of the media and polling companies get their list of people they call from previous voting years' voter registrations. And if youve been to any of these RP meetups and rallies, youll notice almost none of Ron Pauls supporters were registered voting republicans last voting cycle. We are in for a big suprise soon as these early states' results come in.

[JeffnDallas]

I guess our cover is now blown-- THANKS A LOT, LA Times (lol)!

Though being a Texan I would question "your questioning" of the Super Highway, as even our own Governor has publicly backed the project, but I enjoyed the "angle" of your article. Talk to folks in San Antonio and Austin who stand to lose their homes and businesses with this being planned where their homes and businesses now sit. They don't think it's much of a joke or myth as they've already been notified by the "powers that be" that they need to start looking for new digs.

[LaughingtotheBank]

Ron Paul is like Sanford from Sanford and Son. He tries to get rich on junk. Every few years the good Dr. sets up the structures to have some (he has others that are still full from the last go around, probably) of his coffers filled up to the brim by the unlucky, the wacky, the disenchanted. A compelling cocktail is brewed and wafted through the internet to result in piles of cash for he and his close cronies to enjoy. This is the "real" reason he does not seek matching funds. He would have to account for his money.

I like some of the stuff he says, so he needs to hang around. But watchout to see if he is spending your money or not.

[Matthew]

Thank you for putting the Ron Paul supporters in their true light. It is such a relief to see an article that doesn't accuse us of being terrorists or insane or what ever other shock word du jour that they are having their little fun with. Truly a breath of fresh air.

[Excellent article!]

Ok, because there's always at least one supporter that gets mad if you don't compare Ron Paul to Thomas Jefferson 10 times in a story piece, I implore you to send any hate email you get from this story to me. This was very entertaining. Thank you.

[Josh]

I just want to say to everyone reading this. Look at all of these posts! Does that tell you anything?

[Cory Doctorow]

Hi Andrew. My name is Cory Doctorow and I love Ron Paul. He will finally get rid of the idiotic "floating" system our economy has been ruled by and return it to something that we can all agree is worth value: sweet sweet GOLD. Thank you for the fair, even post -- it's the start of a revPAULution!!!

-Cory

[jay]

u seem a be a little hysterical, Paulities surely are ordinary people, they happen to have the same belief on liberty and freedom, why do u think Paul's supporters voluntarily organize event as an conspiracy? they do what all the other candidates' campaign teams do, why do you do that? you fear the people? or you just cant believe all these "disparate" personnel spontaneously enthusiastically promote a candidate? so r you just jealous of his success?
stop the joke. Ron paul and his supporters is the real deal!

[Mark]

Great article. At least you mentioned some of his platform instead of just insulting his supporters, which most of the media seems to do.

The Ron Paul candidacy will be a success if some of the other candidates start actually talking about the freedom agenda.

And the important thing about the gold standard is not the gold part - it is about preventing governments from printing money to pay for deficits, wars, etc (this is known as "inflation"). Do a bit of wikipedia research on classic inflations in history to see how bad it can get.

[RPS]

Thank you for the positive (and fun) article!
RonPaul2008.com