Ron Paul scales back hopeless effort, refuses to back McCain

He's not really quitting. He's not really suspending his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. He's not promising victory, just to keep on keeping on. But, in effect, Rep. Ron Paul, at 72 the oldest candidate for president and the only GOP candidate to oppose the Iraq war, is facing reality.

In a statement to supporters on his website, first mentioned here early Saturday, Paul admits, "With Romney gone, the chances of a brokered convention are nearly zero. But that does not affect my determination to fight on, in every caucus and primary remaining and at the convention for our ideas, with just as many delegates as I can get." In a new 14-minute campaign video, Paul says he wants to clarify some confusion

His campaign currently claims a total of 42, 1,149 shy of the total to win and some 650 behind the GOP leader, though other estimates give him only 16. He took third in Washington over the weekend and fourth in Kansas behind even Mitt Romney, who'd dropped out. Even if he won every delegate still available, Paul could not capture the party's nomination in September in St. Paul, which is no relation.

Despite ridicule by other GOP candidates, despite getting significantly less time to speak during debates and, in one instance, even being barred from a GOP debate by Fox News although....

he'd collected more votes than those included, Paul repeated his vow not to attempt a third-party bid, which would drain priceless conservative votes from the party's nominee. "I am a Republican," he said, "and I remain a Republican." He did say he'd be reducing staff and offices.

Now, whether the 10-term congressman with the libertarian ideals, actually endorses Sen. John McCain is something else. Paul has said we should bring overseas troops home and invest the saved money in fixing America; McCain has vowed to stay overseas, especially Iraq, as long as it takes for success.

This morning Paul told one of our sister newspapers, "I cannot support anybody with the foreign policy he advocates, you know, perpetual war," said Paul. "That is just so disturbing to me."

In his website statement, Paul then alludes to probably the largest factor for his refocused campaign: He's trying to run simultaneously for president and his House seat in Texas' 14th Congressional District and faces a challenger in the March 4 primary, Chris Peden, a city councilmen from Friendswood. So Paul will be on two ballots that day.

"If I were to lose the primary for my congressional seat," he said, "all our opponents would react with glee, and pretend it was a rejection of our ideas. I cannot and will not let that happen." In a new 14-minute campaign video, Paul says he needs to clarify confusion over his dropping out, that he is just altering his schedule to allow primary campaigning in his home district and he intends to compete fully in all remaining primaries and on to the convention.

Although largely ignored as irrelevant by many media outlets, though not The Ticket, the story of Ron Paul and his thousands of determined, sometimes aggressive, usually good-natured followers is one of the more interesting of the current election season.

Virtually spontaneously, disaffected Democrats, Republicans, Libertarians and newcomers to the political process began gathering around the plain-spoken Paul last summer and with their nearly $20 million in smaller donations turned him into the most successful GOP fundraiser in the last quarter. On one day he raised $6 million online and was the only Republican to increase his contributions in every quarter of 2007.

With some 1,400 meet-up groups across the country, letter-writing and sign-waving campaigns and creative publicity stunts, they helped Paul to some second, fourth and fifth place finishes in states such as Nevada, Montana and Maine. He beat Rudy Giuliani in Iowa and Fred Thompson in New Hampshire and financed an eight-state advertising campaign.

His boosters, who worked the Internet assiduously to right wrongs and make Paul's case, maintain that a corporate-media conspiracy to ignore him prevented the former ob-gyn from getting his less-government message out to most Americans. He certainly was ignored and, only recently, included when providing poll results on TV. But additionally, his strict constitutionalist ideas for reducing the federal government and abolishing the IRS and Federal Reserve Bank and returning to the gold standard may be just too radical for a country today facing international terrorist threats and the current economic uncertainty.

Even the tone of hundreds of comments left here by Paul supporters changed in recent days from aggressive advocacy to reluctant acceptance of the disappointing reality of continued single-digit poll results.

It would be interesting if those supporters took the time here now to leave comments explaining why they think Paul never caught on to a wider audience (we already know about the media conspiracy) and what they think about his refocused campaign and their spent donations.

--Andrew Malcolm

Comments

[Freemarketman]

Remember,

It is not Ron Paul who decides if he must keep on keeping on. It is his supporters.

As long as the money flows in and more people come on board, he will continue delivering the message.

He has and continues stating that the campaign is not about him. It is about the message. He is being the conduit and voice on behalf of the people on the ground.

The goons who continue to attack him are aiming at the wrong target. Every attack against Ron Paul is an attack on the people.

In the process, the MSM and every other establishment sycophant are alienating themselves from a large portion of consumers.

I think it is time that the supporters of the rEVOLution, across the globe, start networking and banding together to form a global rEVOLution.

Let's start voting with our wallets and civil disobedience. Since we are all kooks and happen to be a "little" internet savvy, I'm sure one of "our" geeks gan slap together a website to form a club to boikot our enemies.

For example: The "ACME" network is identified censoring and running down Dr. Paul. Supporters then identify all the advertisers on "ACME". The names of the brands are listed on the site under a "blacklist" and together, the rEVOLution supporters boikot those products.

That's a very rudementary example, but if one of "our" brains can take something like this and create something workable, we might be onto something.

After all, it's a rEVOLution, you know. We need to revolt peacefully instead of throwing our hands up in dispair and crying foul. Let's play "them" at their own game.

Just my two cents :-)

[dave-0]

Right now, you could take ALL the candidates except for Ron Paul, throw them into a hat, stir it around, and any of them would be the same as any other. Doesn't matter, Clinton, Obama, McCain, Huckabee -- they are in the race to get ELECTED. For them, it isn't about any ideals other than how they are going to line their pockets. At least Ron Paul has some ideals. This is one election where I would rather say I had not voted than to help contribute to my own misery.

[Dan]

Dr. Ron Paul's ideas will never die as long as we keep them going. It seems that only 6%-10% of the population understand that the bigger government gets the less freedom we have. The media doesn't want this to change. Where do they get there money from? Advertising from the military, drug companies, etc. Big bucks. Do we need bases in Germany and Korea? No. Those wars ended 50 years ago. They don't need US soldiers there. Why are we focused on Irag? They say Bin Ladin is in Afganistan or Pakistan. Where is the troop surge there?

America is falling apart, just look at all the potholes and falling bridges.
We can't secure our own borders yet we are overseas securing someone elses.
These are facts not the ideas of some crazy old man from Texas.

JFK was right when he said "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."
We sit around waiting for the government to fix our problems by having the Fed. Reserve adjust interest rates, stimulus packages to help people that sign bad mortgages and give them money to buy something else they don't need. Welfare, Social Security, etc.

Where does it stop? Why am I paying into a program that won't be there when it is my turn?

It stops when the sheeple wake up and realize we are now living in the United States of Russia, China, or North Korea. When our freedoms are gone.

We are heading there. It is just a matter of time.

[art]

Ron Paul seems to be the only Republican that reads the Constitution. McCain has broken his vow by limiting Freedom of Speech, Bush has grown govt., spent billions of $$, Clinton waged a useless war in Bosnia. U.S. citizens don't feel represented and if Ron Paul is their only voice, so be it.

[indopus]

About Caucuses and the straw poll:

Here in Colorado at the precinct convention we had a presidential straw poll first. Counted the votes then called them into the county office. After this at least 75% of the people left. Then we nominated and elected county and state delegates. There was not enough people left to even have a vote! So basically you just nominated yourself and you are a delegate. The straw poll really didnt count for anything. It is the delegates that matter! The MSM reported falsely on these caucus states according to the straw poll.

[Teflon Ron]

Revolt against the Federal Reserve April 15th?

March on D.C.?

Revolution Manifesto

Ron Paul, the Revolution of 1776 is still consequential to America.

Go, Ron!

[Donovan]

I am Ron Paul!

[Christine]

I received an email from a friend yesterday asking me to donate to and vote for Barack Obama because he felt he was the most "electable". I wrote back stating I was backing Ron Paul because his stand on the issues was more apt to benefit the country and we needed to at least expose the American public to the truth about the cancerous problems destroying our beloved country. My friend is dear to me but treating the election of our next president like voting for the most popular prom King & Queen is the prevalent attitude of this country. The media proports one person is going to win and suddenly everyone wants to be associated with the winner. We have become a nation of lemmings ready to jump off any cliff we are herded toward. I was taught to question everything. I thank my parents to make me an independent thinker.

[Daniel]

Ron Paul's biggest contribution to our country is that he inspired so many people to become so deeply involved in our political system -- many of whom were previously apathetic or indifferent about politics. These people aren't just going to disappear after the election is over -- they really are dedicated to the concept of limited government. They are going to stay involved, and I expect that many of them will run for political offices at all levels of government. Ron Paul's campaign inspired a whole new generation of activists to get involved, and that will be the campaign's truly lasting effect.

[steven montross]

To Patrick the "mainstream journalist". You say the media does't cover Paul because the media doesn't think he can win. So the media IS deciding early on who the candidates are going to be? And this doesn't sound vaguely conspiratorial?

[James R]

God am I sick of the LA Times. Over and over again you berate this man's candidacy. You call a political movement, "hopeless" when in fact it has reached the other candidates who have already begun talking about scaling down the IRS and Federal Reserve. I've had it with the LA Times and I think anybody who can actually consider this hunk of garbage a legitimate news source ought to stick their head in a garbage disposal. You're a crappy ghost of what used to represent a proud and important part of this nation's founding. People, if you have any decency or respect for what is actual journalism, stop reading this trash and start writing!

[Rusty John]

It is a shame that the congressional primary took Rep. Paul from us just when I feel the campaign was gaining traction. With McCain the front-runner, many in the party are looking for a real conservative and that is Dr. Paul. He had a very strong showing in Washington and many of the undecided delegates are actually Paul supporters- the reasoning for this would take too long to explain here- so there is a chance the Congressman may actually have won Washington. I am a delegate and will still back Rep. Paul at the county caucuses and will write him in for President if he is not the nominee. Sorry Republican Party of the NeoCons- we are not voting for your candidate and we are not going away. We are taking back our party.

[mitch]

Very funny, now that Paul cannot win, we get a Main Stream Media piece that extolls his efforts and virtues. Where have you been for the last year you BOZO?

[bob a]

ron paul's losses in the primaries are due to big money wins

look who owns and controls big media

most people i talked to (sheep) would say they like ron paul's ideas but he has no chance of winning. just look at his poll numbers.

it is sickening

look at the mainstream candidates

john mccain:
enemy collaborator
war mongerer
taxer
open borders
keating five
etc etc etc

hillary clinton:
whitewater
cattle futures
missing files
clinton murders
no real experience (1 term senator )

barak obama:
no experience ( 1 term senator )

he may be the best of the mainstream bunch but if elected will be twisted like a pretzel

big moneyand the cia has been rinning the country since ww2

gee

guess who was involved with the original cia:

prescott bush
averell harriman
dulles brothers

someday the country will never figure it out

[Perplexed in Maryland]

Ron Paul is about substance over style, and politics in the US is the opposite. The majority base their vote on what someone looks like or sounds like, vs. what they actually say. One day when we're all speaking Spanish and worshiping Allah, we'll wish we had listened to Dr. Paul. God bless the man!

[sean truitt]

to andrew and patrick, the poster from above,
thank you for that insight. i must confess, i was of the mind that it was a media conspiracy. you two both injected a huge dose of common sense into this discussion. my tin foil hat is off to you sirs. that said, all paul supporters need to take responsibility and take action. this coming march on washington is our time. it would be nice to see someone from the la times there. . .

[Dave]

Ron speaks the truth. People don't want the truth. People want their ears tickled by leaders who promise them things they can never deliver.

I believe more than ever that people get the leadership they deserve.

God help us.

[Frank A. Leonetti]

Andrew:
It is said that readers are leaders. You must have a tremendous following., or at least the Times. Either way, you and the Times have what so many people would and have diied for, and that is to write or deliver the written word in an expression of free choice.
To have the choice and to act on it, to do what is right is a rare gift. More rare , yet is to be able to print hope, a encouragement in and of itself. This is what the Dr. Ron Paul President 2008 movement is all about.
People being allowed to be , act, choose, think in a way that follows human rights and the scripts of freedom and liberty. This is the Dr. Ron Paul movement.
It is not directly or personally about Dr. Ron Paul, it is the message a huge vast proportion , cutting a broad swath across this great county, are sending to our government THRU Dr. Ron Paul.
His message is an echo of the hearts speaking out.

The campaign is still young yet. There is over 8 months to go. Just look around you, Andrew, and SEE the wonders that abound in just a few months.

You and your paper have what indeed others have died for, and many more are willing to die for. The freedom of choice, the liberty of life and the love to give their life for others to have the same.
Good Luck & Good Press, to you and the TImes.
Peace Out.
Frank A. Leonetti

[Herb]

Ron Paul has my vote no matter what. I don't care to choose from the puppetmasters picks any more.
Right is right and wrong is wrong.

[Citizen Deux]

Why didn't Ron Paul catch on? Frankly because his ideas are so obtuse and disconnected from reality as to be unpalatable to a rational person. Additionally, as one looks deeper into his record, there are disturbing elements for which he has never fully accounted (namely his newsletters and previous writings).

Paul received the appropriate level of attention, given the amount of support he garnered across the nation. It is not a question of his ideals not being embraced by the people - many folks oppose the war, dislike the tax code and endorse stronger guarantees for personal liberty - Paul simply did not offer any compelling (or realistic ideas).

Why aren't Kucinich, Tancredo or Richardson whining about a corporate-media conspiracy? Because there is none. The fact that Paul's supporters cling to this delusional notion is part of the unappealing aspect of his campaign.

To imply that there is some secret cabal running a 14 trillion dollar economy is simply ludicrous. Additionally, to adopt an isolationist approach to foreign policy in an age of accelerating globalization is absurd.

Paul taught us a few things. A lot of money can be garnered from folks who feel disenfranchised. Turning those dollars into support, however, requires a compelling, accurate and inclusive message. Paul had the former but clearly not the latter.

[Beverly Gassen]

Andrew, it sounds like you've written off Ron Paul.
I wouldn't if I were you. Juan Mccain may get the nomination, but he won't get the presidency. We'll have to suffer through 4 years or more of extreme socialism before the people decide to get informed and take action.

[Ace]

Ron Paul's refusal to buy-out to special interest groups, along with his refreshing common-sense approach to what the other politicians convolute and confuse to justify their half-hearted positions, have given him a following of people looking for a REAL change.

The other candidates can all run on change, but four years from now, very little change will have been effected. Ron Paul would not necessarily be able to implement all of his desired changes, but his are undeniably change, where the others are at best, minor adjustments. to a system so broken it needs a major overhaul.

[Sundance]

Why didn't Paul catch on? The answer is sad, and simple. The majority of voters are stupid, and/or ignorant about the Constitution of the United States.

[Jason]

The reason Ron Paul didn't catch on with the majority of the people is for one very simple reason.

The majority of Americans don't understand what he is trying to say.

Perhaps that is a knock at his inability to get his message across in a way that an ever increasingly dumbed down electorate can understand. Or perhaps it is a knock at our dumbed down electorate.

The Federal Reserve is the single biggest reason why our dollar is weak. Why it has decreased in value by more than 95% since the Federal Reserve was established.

People are just too _______ to pay attention to what is happening.

A) Dumb
B) Uninterested
C) Lazy
D) All of the Above

[Mary]

Just wondering...

Was there ever a time someone accused the "American people" of being sheep blindly led, and a citizen reading it though, "oh my gosh, he is so right. I'm such a sheep."?

I really enjoy and agree with Paul on many issues. Perhaps it's not Paul himself that people dislike ---- it's his followers.

But I don't take kindly to citizens with equal rights accusing me of being some sheep herded into the wilderness just because I disagree with Paul on some things.

Jerks.