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

[Jason]

Yay I finally don't have to vote for the lesser of two evils!!!

GO Ron Paul!!!

[Kenny]

I'm sorry, my message was meant for zotzabyte, not John Reed.

Anyway, I will vote for Ron Paul because I believe in him.

[Daniel Morin]

An open debate is the worst thing for The Establishment. Those supporting Big Government know they will lose if people start listening to Ron Paul. The only solution to them is to keep Ron Paul silent by trying everything to deny him access to the debates and media coverage. Since the media have to devote him a few minutes, they are likely to ask a question like “Everyone knows you have no chance of winning, what you will do after you lose?". Clearly, such a question has a double meaning: pretending voting for Ron Paul is a “wasted vote”, but far worse, suppressing the message of freedom. Ron Paul has to answer this question, instead of taking about sound money and the War in Iraq.

(Haven't seen Dr. Paul excluded from any debates. How could they? He's getting 8-9-10% in the polls Paul's supporters hate, more than several other GOP candidates. The Des Moines Register excluded Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel from the Democratic one because they did not have offices in Iowa and then added Alan Keyes to the Republican debate because he got 2% in their Nov. poll. But RP was there.)

[The Presidential Candidates]

The American People Have Woken Up And Realized: This is supposed to be a FREE country. Why are no so called "mainstream" candidates really talking about civil liberty? All Americans deserve the right to do whatever they want with their own lives and their own bodies.

[Jeremy Serrao]

This great nation was once a Republic designed to protect the minority from the tyranny inherent in Democracy...now we are occupying foreign countries to "Ensure Democracy"? It is time to reclaim the Republic that was the masterwork of some of the greatest thinkers in recorded history. It is time for Ron Paul

[countsueulaw]

WOW! I may start buying the L.A. Times if the paper at the news stand starts to print ethical articles like this non-circulation internet article.

[Dad]

Was that satire?? Interesting ,to the last sentence. From an writer with two first names.

(Gee, you got it. That's impressive.)

[Mike]

Heh, funny article.

[John KIng]

12-20-07: The ATTACKS ON RON PAUL & his supporters have been (predictably) systemically increasing. The negative slant by the big money pundits (ie: murdock's FOX) have become more venomous; Predictably. Why? They are afraid... afraid of losing their power. The PEOPLE, yes the average American, have found a candidate who doesn't speak with a forked tongue. They found a candidate who represents the people...just as he has faithfully done for the 14th district of Texas for ten terms. Keep it up, pundits... You are crying wolf... we don't believe you anymore. Go ahead and marginalize Dr.Paul's believers. Because it ain't over until the fat lady sings...And she may be singing a tune that you don't want to hear...

[Mike Cohen]

Not a great piece, but at least Dr. Paul is getting mentions...

This link regarding the plan for the (mysterious) NAFTA SUPERHIGHWAY that EXISTS, might've been good to put in:

http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/2760.htm

http://www.infratrans.gov.ab.ca/2760.htm

(Lots of links exist. Doesn't mean they are evil threats to national sovereignity.)

[Joel]

Nice article Andrew. I loved all the subtle insults to the Ron Paul campaigners, so subtle most of them who posted here never felt it.

[Vince]

"However, to use Rudy Giuliani's favorite three words, 'The reality is...'"

I thought Rudy's favorite words were "September 11th!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaCYEEO-58I

[Linda]

If Ron Paul became President of the United States, I would be the happiest person in the WHOLE WORLD. I love him and I love his ideas and belief in our constitution. HE IS THE MAN OF THE CENTURY! I pray every night that he saves our nation from our corrupt government and rapid spiral downhill slide. GO RON PAUL!!!

Linda
Polson, MT

[Kyle]

Hmmm...that's some fair and balanced writing you got there, Andrew...

(Thanks, Kyle, for your insightful comment.)

[none of your business]

Oh scary stuff. Yes , Andrew, you have uncovered a juicy scandel about Ron Paul in this muckraking piece of fluff you call journalism . People who want less government, to stop the endless business of imperialistic wars for "terrorism", while our own borders remain perilously open, an end to fiat money. Crazy stuff, I tell you.

[none of your business]

Heres another zany idea. Drill for oil here and stop this nonsense of being over the middle eastern barrel (pun intended).

[Hojj]

cheeky twat with that comment at the end bout the british... we run this town kid