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

[Willem de Wit]

Is it three out of every ten Americans who, knowing what they know now, still believe it was a good idea to go into Iraq?

I'm no psychic, but I have a feeling most of those people are Republicans unwilling to face facts. I gave Ron Paul a very slim chance to win the GOP ticket, and contributed both financially and emotionally to his campaign.

I'm happily surprised at the results (I think his message of freedom reached a lot of people, and hope that the movement Paul represents will stay around), though somewhat disappointed to see so many Americans either unwilling or "unready" to make the necessary changes required to right the ship.

[Andy Abang]

There's a slight error in this article. Congressman Ron Paul has not supported a return to the gold standard, but rather a return to sound money and monetary policy.

I understand Ron Paul's refocused campaign, and given that the 10-term congressman has a prior obligation to his constituency, I would expect no less. Ron Paul is a man of principle, and I am happy to have donated to his cause. I hope his son Rand takes his place in the revolution one day - I have read that he is cut from the same cloth, and thus I would gladly support him.

I think the secondary reason (behind the media blacklisting both on television and on the Internet - Google "censorship" "ron paul" and "Digg") for Dr. Paul's lack of success is that he IS so plain-spoken. He doesn't go for the rhetoric, he doesn't act like a typical egotistical politician - what people fail to realize is that a vote for a politician is usually just that: support for a shifting compass driven by popularity. Not a vote for a particular set of ideals or values. And when a rare candidate appears to show us true conviction in the American dream and total respect of the values upon which this country was built, voters simply do not recognize it for what it is.

As I've watched the debates and various other speeches, I've noticed other politicians' trends (on both sides) to shift their campaign focus or re-vamp positions on war, the Constitution, and the economy to more closely align themselves with Dr. Paul's message. This is extremely telling, and I hope it translates into a new political standard. We've sorely needed one.

[Lawrence]

Ron Paul didn't catch on because most Americans don't recognize that their only protection from tyranny, the Constitution, has been shredded. The Constitution has been ignored so gradually and for so long that today's citizens, while loving liberty (paid for by those they disrespect), don't see that the foundation for liberty is being eroded beneath their feet. I voted for Ron Paul as a West Virginia delegate to our State convention and would support him, or anyone of like mind, to the best of my ability. But I am not hopeful.

[April From Phoenix]

Let me first say that the grassroots "R(3V0_|)ULTION" was ignited here in Arizona, home to McCain.... I remember a little over a year ago when the Ron Paul signs started "popping up" EVERYWHERE! Then I saw the film "Freedom to Fascism" by Aaron Russo, (I had never been interested/involved in politics before then because I felt it was a hopeless cause).

Ron Paul appeared in that film and I was so struck by his honesty! And then when I found out he was running for the nomination, I completely jumped in, full force, to support a VOICE who was speaking what the "People" have been thinking for YEARS (This current political "agenda" didn't start with Bush Sr. or Bush Jr. it's been rolling for a LONG TIME, both Dem and Republican, it's just been wrapped up in different packages for us!!!!)

Dr. Ron Paul's "election" campaign is not just about electing a President, it's a MOVEMENT, to STAND UP and SPEAK OUT against a machine that has been well oiled and is primed to run for generations to come.

I cannot in good faith help that machine run! I can, however, sleep easy knowing my Donations to Paul's campaign are and were well spent!

Let the REVOLUTION CONTINUE!

[C. Fountain]

Dear Mr. Malcolm,

Any one reason can be enough for some to choose not to support him (or any other candidate). Some have pointed to his age. Some have pointed to his relation, however tangential, to those nasty old newsletters. Some think his suggestions are too extreme ("What, no income tax? How would the government run?"). I truly think many are afraid of 'too much freedom' which, of course, comes with 'too much responsibility' for some to handle. He has admited on several ocassions that he is not the best messenger for such a great message. He is not 'polished' enough. I am not saying any or all of these are legitimate, but I am saying I've heard or read every single one of them from detractors.
Of course, the biggest issue holding him back is that the GOP has become the SOP: Scared Ol' Party. Many Republicans are simultaneously scared of a terrorist attack and are willing to attack someone, anyone, who they think might make them feel better about it. It is sad, but true: the Republicans view mindless aggression as a higher virtue than the considerable wisdom that Dr. Paul offers. His strength is his foreign policy, yet that is what he is too often derided for.
Longer term, I hope that he is a Goldwater-esque figure, that lays the groundwork for a true conservative revival. Already a crop of Ron Paul candidates is appearing, that we hope to be able to vote for and put into Congress (http://www.paulcongress.com/Candidates.html).

Peace be with you.

[Jim Clark]

It's not that Ron Paul's message has been heard and rejected, but rather left unheard. So many people that I have talked to (including those that consider themselves politically savvy) do not even know who Ron Paul is. Could it be that the corporate media has done their best to sell their candidates and ignore Ron Paul? With very few exceptions, I find it easy to convert votes to Ron Paul after exposing them to Ron Paul's message. Truly the vast majority of our electorate remain ignorant and apathetic. They are easily controlled through the media.

Many Ron Paul supporters, especially those that have know of him through is writings for years (I count myself among them), we understand that this movement is much larger than Ron Paul. We are so very thankful to this man for sticking his neck out there and starting the fire for freedom that is now sweeping this nation. True, the fire may not be large enough yet to win this election, but we know that true change doesn't happen from the top-down, but rather from the bottom-up. Expect Congress to be changed before the presidency.

The internet is the other reason the fire is blazing. Unlike the media which shapes the news, the internet provides a vast competitive marketplace of ideas, just like the old media used to before it was owned by six major corporations. The old media will continue to decrease and the internet increase.

[Paul]

I am proud to have donated to his campaign. The media treated him very badly and did their best to make him look silly. People who believe in self reliance and freedom are a dieing breed in this socialist nation. Unfortunately for many Americans, freedom is frightening.

[JimBo]

Why didn't Ron Paul gain more traction?

Maybe people have their heads in the sand. Maybe people only like the IDEA of change but are afraid of it. I spoke with many people about Ron Paul and almost everyone said the same thing. "I like Ron Pauls Ideals but i dont want to waste my vote"

In my opinion a vote for McCain, Obama or Hillary is just a waste. I think this election is a perfect year to vote for None of the Above.......

[Yani Shlomo]

Didn't you hear, John McCain has all ready won. It's time for you to start writing your kind words about him.

[Charlie Campbell]

Actually Ron has done a great service to the Libertarian cause. I wondered why he was running as a Republican and not as a Libertarian. I have been a Libertarian since the 90's and one problem the party has always had is being a little bit of a late starter. By the time they started talking politics people were generally burnt out. However now that Ron has stoked the flames I only hope the passion will carry over to the Libertarian movement and whoever we nominate at our convention. Remember we are a party of ideas not personality. Maybe we will win but most likely we will lose but the important thing of keeping the flame going will be accomplished. One other item for all you Ron Paul supporters never let ANYONE tell you you are throwing your vote away. I have heard that for years and my response has been and will always be,"IT"S MY VOTE". Better to vote for what you truly believe in than what is politcially expedient

[Zack]

Ron Paul did not catch on (as much as he might have) because the media did not give him fair coverage. They wrot e him off as un-electable and a crank from the beginning, and created that attitude amongst millions of voters. When I talk to people that are unfamiliar with RP, about his positions (ending the war, spending the $$$ in the US instead of overseas, ending the IRS), they are overwhelmingly positive. They often say "but he can't win" - the message of corrupt media.

[Chris]

I think the biggest terrorist threat to the American people comes from Washington itself, anyone who supports the Patriot act is anything but a patriot. Remember this type of fixed election is one of the many things that made the Nazis and Soviets so evil and corrupt... it's finally becoming evident at home. Whatever happened to Freedom and Liberty?

[Tonewah]

I just can't, in good conscience, vote for any of the people being shoved down my throat as Presidential candidates. McCain is completely clueless, Huckabee is Jimmy Carter with a coat of red paint, Obama's change sounds like the 're-form' argument the gubernatorial challenger made in 'O, Brother, where art thou?', and Hillary is scarier than Vlad Lenin.

The only one with principle is Ron Paul. If I have to write his name in on the ballot in the general election, I'll do it.

[Jessica Logsdon]

Kansas City, MO
Unfortunately, the numbers there for the primary were not great, but thousands of people there support Ron Paul and we will be at the march on Washington forRon Pual!

Damn this corrupt media.

Jessica Logsdon
www.JessicaLogsdon.com

[Stephen]

I'll tell you what is hopless. It's the sad attempt to silence the number of growing supporters for Dr. Paul. Wait until we march on DC. Hopless Haaa. I am full of more hope than I have been in a long while. RON PAUL CURED MY APATHY.

[m]

Misleading Story Line, great example of LA Times Propaganda Parading as Journalism. Ron Paul represents True Conservatism. The LA Times represents a disingenuous media dinosaur's left wing irrelevant attempt to thwart Ron Paul's influence. It'll be a happy day when the LA Times shuts down.

[Brent]

I think Ron Paul's campaign didn't catch on more among Republicans because of his anti-war stance. I know lots of conservative republicans (including myself) who pretty much agree with Ron Paul on everything domestically. It was just his "irresponsible" foreign policy views that made many feel they couldn't vote for him.

[Matt]

I think with a 21% vote in Washington (less than 5% behind the winner) maybe the message was getting through.

The handwriting is on the wall...at 72 Paul will probably not make another run at age 76, and there's nobody on the horizon to replace his clear thinking and honesty.

We should thank the Texans who re-elected him 9 times despite the fact he was a Republican in Democratic territory, so that he could become (in my view) the conscience of the House . It suggests that Americans are not as dumb as our leaders, particularly Party leaders, think.

Just look at what our campaigns have become....it's not just slogans anymore but words. "Change" shout the placards and posters from virtually all the candidates. Nobody explains much anymore, and even the debates have become opportunities for canned responses rather than meaningful exchange of ideas and positions. Special thanks to Jay Leno for putting Ron on his show after Fox decided he didn't qualify for the debates. (Fox is the network which blatantly promoted Giuliani as "America' Mayor" over and over and over again. So much for "balanced")(If you want a view of Giuliani's standing in New York, read the NY Times' endorsement of McCain in which they explain why they turned against Rudi).

Ultimately the candidate's character is what counts. He (she) hasn't the vaguest notion of what problems will arise once in office. Decisions will have to made with different knowledge and circumstances. I could care less where a candidate stands on abortion, for instance, but I would expect an elected official to consider both sides of the issue and give a reasoned decision if needed.

If there is one way to continue Ron Paul's legacy, it might be to not elect any incumbents. It would almost bring down the parties by crippling the machines and certainly bring in fresh blood.

NO MORE INCUMBENTS

(Sorry Ron, that goes for Texas too)

[yancy]

Unfortunate that he puts the good of the "republican" party
above the good of the country. Right or wrong he'll probably
be lumped with Perot. But at least Perot got back in. Also in one breath he doesn't back McCain, and in another breath he doesn't won't to take votes away from him by going 3rd party. I liked his ideas, but ultimately a leopard can't change its spots. We need someone who hasn't been in DC for 10 terms.

[BigDog]

I suggest that we wage the largest write in vote for Ron Paul in our country's history.

Rock 'em and shock 'em.

GO RON GO!

[MC]

5 Boards of Directors control more than 95% of all the non-internet media. Mainstream media has proven it's worth amongst the friends of those Boards. Money will keep flowing unless the Americans demand their country back.
Do not believe everything you hear, lest the sheeple shall remain under control of these evil "shepherds" of media who are required by law to provide value to their shareholders. The system is flawed until we make change happen.
Watch these films:
-Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media
-America: Freedom to Fascism
-The Corporation

[Jason]

Ron Paul should join up with Mike Huckabee and both should then run as a 3rd party Independent Candidate Ticket. I will never vote for John "RINO" McCain or either Clinton or Obama. A Huckabee-Paul Libertarian or Reform Party Ticket would have my vote. Anything else and I am staying home on Election Day.

[Jim]

I'm a disabled Veteran of the Vietnam War (2 time)
I support Ron Paul absolutely.

Tell me something. When did the League of Women Voters, and other sponsors of debates bow to the Faux, CBS, NBC, ABC neocons?
Since when is it the "media's" business to select the candidate for supreme mullah of Amerika?
Do you think I'm kidding? The supreme mullahs of the supreme court decides cases depending on "foreign law" then what do we need them? How are they Constitutional? How is Boosh Constitutional via his "signings" and giving himself powers by executive orders and privilege? Who are these people that have no need for the Constitution and since the "decider" has said "it's only a piece of GD paper"?
Ron Paul is a Constitutionalist.....there isn't another in the feral goobermnt and that encourages the local and state (Texas and pRick Perry) and the necons that are in league with china.
The love of money is the root of all evil, and this feral goobermnt has a lot of roots....

Ron Paul is the ONLY one I would vote for, and if not the nominee, I will write him in.

Molon labe

Jim

[Cee M.]

I think the reason Ron Paul had trouble attracting more voters is because he told us his end goals and his end goals seem impossible. When I first heard him that's what I thought, I laughed and said yeah right, like we could ever get back to that. Unfortunately, his campaign has not been as effective about getting out that he has a plan to get there. Announcing his end goals without getting a chance to explain the plan allowed the media and the other candidates to dismiss him. Even so, I would prefer his honest talk to some of what the other candidates dish out while they pander to the media and voters. It is sad that more Americans won't get a chance to hear his plans and his real message because if they had perhaps there would be some "Hope for America".

[Worker]

Contribution to RP is an investment in the future.

He alone among candidates has been pointing to the lunacy of the federal reserve system, under Greenspan created the ridiculous housing bubble. Now we have faux populists like Hillary claiming we need to bail out the perpetrators of this fraud with tax dollars.

Given the importance of Ohio and Florida in the general election, we may very likely have competitive bi-partisan pandering to see who can offer the most of other peoples money to the least responsible (uber-borrowers) and least deserving (big banks) among us.

Someone needed to state the truth about the bubble and provide some alternative to constant cycle of bubbles and bailouts that enrich wall street at the citizens' expense.

Washington and the Citibanks of the Wall Street world are both about spending other people's money and using the political system to protect themselves from competition. Bring them both down!