Republican Ron Paul predicts a President Obama come January

Rep. Ron Paul, the House member from Texas who technically remains in the race for the Republican Party's presidential nomination against Sen. John McCain, predicts that Democratic Sen. Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States.

According to the campus newspaper of Maryland's Goucher College, the 72-year-old Paul made the surprising statement during campaign remarks Thursday at a school presidential forum.

The newspaper report said the auditorium was overflowing with students and parents, who interrupted the congressman with applause nearly two dozen times during his speech.

Paul was very successful in political fundraising during the past year, amassing more than $34 million, more than twice the amount collected by more prominent candidates such as ex-Gov. Mike Huckabee.

But Paul, whose views often run counter to standard Republican policies, had very disapppointing showings in party primary elections, with a couple of second-place caucus results but mainly third-, fourth- and fifth-place finishes in primaries. At one point in New Hampshire,...

...Fox News even excluded him from a nationally-televised GOP debate as politically irrelevant.

Paul has absolutely no chance of turning his handful of delegates into an upset over McCain, who already has sufficient votes to capture the nomination in Minneapolis-St. Paul come September. But he may hope to disrupt the candidate's coronation with platform or floor fights.

But despite the adverse numbers and his professed belief that a Democrat is destined to win on Nov. 4, Paul has continued to campaign sporadically, often on college campuses where he receives large crowds and enthusiastic responses to his message of drastically smaller government and an end to foreign military involvement.

His dedicated followers have scored some recent successes at county GOP conventions that his partisans hope will boost the number of delegates pledged to Paul at the national convention.

Paul, a former ob-gyn who is unopposed for his 11th House term in November, was the lone Republican presidential candidate to oppose the Iraq war and, as a result, refuses to endorse McCain, a strong proponent of finishing that job without a precipitous withdrawal.

As reported in The Ticket, Paul is also traveling to promote his new book, which was released this week and, propelled by the eager purchases of his dedicated followers, immediately soared to No. 1 on the Amazon.com bestseller list.

According to the Goucher paper, The Quindecim, besides his unexpected Obama prediction, in his nearly 40 minutes of remarks Paul touched on his standard strict constitutionalist positions, advocating much less federal involvement in citizens' lives. Many of the students were apparently more curious than they were devoted Paulunteers.

"I told my mom I was coming to see him," said Lindsey Rich, a senior international relations major, "and she was like 'Oh my God, that's the lunatic fringe!' "

-- Andrew Malcolm

                                                                                             Photo Credit: AP

Comments

[Alex]

"We have everything we need, here in the Zone, except a mind of our own."

from "This Perfect Place" : Pink World - Planet P Project

[J Brown]

I like the fact that more curious people are coming to the rally's. Paulunteers are great and all, but it's good that the message is getting out. I wish this article actually had the quote of what Dr. Paul said concerning Senator Obama.

This column has, in the past, been known to poke fun at those adherents to Rep. Paul's message; but it also is one of the most consistent in actual coverage of the campaign. And for that, this Paulunteer is greatful.

[Liberty]

Ru Paul -OOps! Ron Paul--you're such an idiot and loser.
Nothing but losers, backstabbers and wannabes are coming out for a half-American crackhead with a non-American name. LOSERS!

[Leonardo]

Hey Andrew,
From this article, you sound upset at Ron Paul supporters, are you?
You know, smearing the doctor are and still in full swing since day one.
It’s the ONLY way to draw traffics and the good name of this incorruptible man sells!

Let me ask you, is LAT is a limited press, free press or bias?
I've noticed that all Dr. Ron Paul articles from you, all end up in blogs.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2008/05/ronpaulpredicts.html
And your colleague Maeve Reston gets frontal news/nationworld/politics! Hmm..
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/politics/la-na-trailgop2-2008may02,0,5989306.story

And of cause, the other three clowns are favorably front page almost daily but Dr. Ron Paul.
Is it possible that you are “limited” to ONLY blogs on the subject of Dr. Paul?
The only genuine man with ideas and sound solutions for this ailing country? Won’t be a hit title though :(

"In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act." - George Orwell

Bless you Dr. Paul for educating us about our Freedom, Prosperity and Peace.
In my eyes, you've ALREADY WON!

(Well, it's not surprising that what I write appears in the blog because I'm one of the 2 bloggers. That's what we do and where we work. There are blog excerpts published in each Sunday's paper and sometimes they involve Dr. Paul. Glad you're such a regular reader.)

[NH Republican]

the principles of limited (constitutional) government, low taxes, non-interventionist foreign policy and protection of individual rights is supposed to be the heart of the republican platform, as Ron Paul is the one who most closely adheres to these principles how is it that his views "often run counter to standard Republican policies" as the author of this article states? granted they often run counter to the policies of the war-mongering neo-con elitist puppets who have sacked the party and aggressively push the same disastrous policies as the democrats through bought-and-paid-for shills like Bush and John McCain, but there is nothing republican about big government, high taxes, hyper-interventionist foreign policy and the systematic institutionalized destruction of of our constitutional rights, and if anyone deserves to be called lunatics it's those who promote these policies that deserve the title, for they are promoting their own destruction and the destruction of America...

[V]

I think Dr. Paul is correct. If the miracle doesn't happen, this time, that put's Ron Paul in the oval office, then it will most likely be President Obama. That is, of course, assuming Hillary doesn't steal the nomination.

Either way, the ranks of people tired of voting for the evil of two lessers, will continue to grow, especiially as the economy deteriorates. The top three issues in November, are most likely: the economy, foreign policy (Irag war/national security) and health care.

Isn't it intersting that Ron Paul has studied and written books about economics for decades, the same for foreign policy, (advocating the traditional non-interventionist, Republican approach) and has been a practicing Ob-Gyn for four decades. ( a Doctor might be heplful in solving health care problems).

Are we not seeking the most qualified person to lead this country? Is Dr. Paul over-qualified?

Will we all be reading his book by candle-light next year, thinking, "Darn-it, the answers were right there in front of us...... and we made the wrong choice.?"

Go Ron Paul

[Dorian Jepsen]

If Ron Paul made such a prediction, then why doesn't your article back it up with a quote? The answer: Ron Paul never made such a prediction -- not about Obama or any other candidate. Nice effort though at trying to finish what Wolf Blitzer couldn't!

[paul t. burgos]

i am with paul, i think obama will be a winner and also be good for the u.s.a. God Bless the U.S.A

[Samuel]

So, where's his quote predicting Obama will win?

[J. O'Brien]

Andrew Malcolm: Paints One Million Americans and the Founders of the United States “Lunatic Fringe”.

Heaven help us when the founders of the United States are considered “lunatics” and the idea of spending less than you make is considered “extreme”.

Lunatic Fringe: “the members of a usually political or social movement espousing extreme, eccentric, or fanatical views”. You could have chosen a lot of quotes about Ron Paul, yet you chose the one describing Ron Paul supporters as “lunatic fringe”.

I am far from holding “extreme”, “eccentric” or “fanatical” views as a Ron Paul supporter. I run a technology company in Silicon Valley. I run my company in a financially responsible way which is demanded by my shareholders, stakeholders and employees.

How is my personal desire for our country to be run in a financially responsible way (like Ron Paul espouses) an “extreme” or “eccentric” view?

I am done with being a reader of your blog.

[TJ]

So wanting to follow the constitution is being lunatic fringe. Very sad for Lindseys mother.

[Ben]

Congratulations, Mr. Malcom. After your latest hit piece laden with insults, marginalizations, and snide comments, you have lost me as a reader.

I, and most likely others, will not click on your link to see the latest RP smear article. Nor will I click on the links of your advertisers due your complete lack of bias and integrity.

Have a nice life.

[Brian]

He is "campaigning sporadically ( your article would be a lesson on the maximum # of negative adjectives allowable in one short article) because he, unlike the other candidates, actually shows up to do his job still.

You are artful in your use of these negatives adjectives, but no less blatant that a hired gun out to hurt a candidate would be.

His "dedicated followers" were actually all delegates voted on by the people in the conventions you reference.

"Propelled by the purchase of his dedicated followers" - wow - if he has that many followers, shouldn't the GOP listen to his conservative ideals, which Reagan himself said were highly admirable?

Wonderful how you quote one person as saying, "That's the lunatic fringe", but of course fail to admit that it must be lunacy to follow the constitution.

If it is crazy to want to follow the constitution, you can proudly call me nuts.

"McCain, a strong proponent of finishing that job without a precipitous withdrawal." Of course, you are here insiuating that leaving our longest war in our country's history five full years after "Mission accomplished" and by the UN Resolution itself that all measurements have been met (Hillary Clinton said so herself two days ago) would be "precipitous". That's a laugh - 100 years - yeah, let's stay there forever, right?

So, Mr. Malcom - Any plans to actually read his book The Revolution: A Manifesto?

I suggest since you enjoy covering him so much to marginalize and use a lot of slanted words, you could manage to knock out the 167 page masterpiece pretty quickly - then come back here and do a book review for us to show us how much smarter you are on foreign policy, economic policy, monetary policy, civil liberties, and freedom.

I'll check back here tomorrow to see if you have a reply on the book. Unless you bother to educate yourself on his "kooky" ideals, I'll join the many other patriots who no longer read your silly blog.

[Tess]

I believe Ron Paul would make a great President, and he would make the right decisions for our country's economy, and most importantly the right choices regarding our foreign policies.

The fact that Obama says he would bring an end to the war in 2009 if he is elected is a plus, and if I had to choose between McCain, and Obama I would choose Obama. If given the choice between Hillary, and McCain, my vote would NOT go to neither one of these two Washington professionals, I would be writing in Ron Paul, or voting 3rd party. Personally, I see McCain, and Hillary as more of the same type of government that we have had over the past 20 plus years. McCain is another Bush, and Hillary is just another Clinton. One thing people forget is that WE THE PEOPLE are the deciders, and the government that we elect are voted in to serve us, not the other way around.

Another thing people forget is that these United States are a Republic. Obama's socialist tendencies do scare me, and I do not believe WE THE PEOPLE can really afford all the social programs he would want to continue, or add to our taxpayers. I say let's get rid of the welfare system, force those people to work in the fields, or do the work that immigrants would normally do, this would also solve our immigration problem as well.

America is broke, and we can no longer support deadbeats, we need to start cleaning up America before we truly become a third world country.

[BuckBurris]

I see also that Paul likes Obama's foreign policy. I thought he would.. It is the same as Paul's on most points. Obama will bnring us back the rerspect Bush and Clinton have lost for us. He'll be a great president.

[Tomás Engle]

Andrew, Thanks again for the fair article on Ron Paul, all real journalists should aspire to follow your lead. I would've liked to see the actual quote that RP made in re: to Obama though.

[Joe]

I wonder when the Ron Paul people are going to wake up to Andrew? He is just an extension of the print and TV media bias. Paul did not get hardly any TV coverage and when he did, most every story always reinforced how he couldn't win or what a kook he was. His wife of 50 years or his family never received any media attention. Nothing but negative stories or hit pieces designed to block his rise. Old stories of 25 year old news letters right before the New Hampshire primary and a media blackout in a major Fox debate, sure that’s fair reporting. I guess anyone who wants a decrease in federal spending, a balanced budget, less gov't, sound money back by something real, or more freedom is now the "lunatic fridge". Here's how the "lunatic fringe" fights back. Cancel your cable and never buy a copy of the LA Times or any MSM paper. Why read or listen to there lies?

[Tannim]

"Paul has absolutely no chance of turning his handful of delegates into an upset over McCain, who already has sufficient votes to capture the nomination in Minneapolis-St. Paul come September."

Come again? Greenpapers, and the state convention activities by Paulunteers and shenangians by the GOP leaderhsip and the McNuts say otherwise. Only in the MSM Fantasy League is McSame the nominee.

And quoting some uninformed voter as calling Dr. Paul lunatics fringe? Well, so then was Jefferson, Madison, Washington, Sam Adams, John Adams, Franklin, Paine, Locke, Adam Smith, etc...

Nah, Andrew, you do a fine job of reporting, then go off and pull boneheads like these? You can (and should) do better.

Yeah, the reality is that the nomination and White House are both Obama's to lose. And so far, he's soing a good job in losing them both, to both Hillarious and Dr. Paul.

McCain has no support in the GOP. He's being thrown under the bus, and he doesn't even know it! When the Black Mesa scandal hits and McCain is accused of Navajo genocide, he's done.

[Jerry Scott]

We have a choice! We can continue the failed politics of the recent past or we can revert to the principals of the founding lunatics. The choice will soon be made! I will write Ron Paul in as I prefer the founding lunatic’s thoughts about how America should be run. You know such idiots as Thomas Jefferson. Ron Paul is a man of vision. He says things that make sense and he talks about real issues. Go back to sleep now!

[Crow]

'"I told my mom I was coming to see him," said Lindsey Rich, a senior international relations major, "and she was like 'Oh my God, that's the lunatic fringe!''

This adds nothing to the article. It does sound like Rich's mother is the lunatic fringe, what with her total affective aversion to the US Constitution.

[NH]

Lindsey's mom is the 'lunatic fringe'. You can tell her I said so Lindsey. I'm older than she is.

Also, this was funny "...Fox News even excluded him from a nationally-televised GOP debate as politically irrelevant." FOX's attempt to marginalize RP did not work.

Because in NH we considered that 'round table' to be politically irrelevant -- I mean every one watched the REAL debate that went on the next day in which he was included as he was at all the others. And the NH GOP scorned FOX and withdrew their name from the round table debate which was not really a debate at all. So it made no difference whatsoever and you have overblown the significance of it. It did NOT make Ron politically irrelevant in any way..

But I see you forgot to include that information.
We in NH at the GOP take Ron Paul very seriously and this 'lunatic' crap -- well that is what we apply to McCain, Obama, and Hillary. If you could see some of their supporters you'd know why.

A good thing that happened was, true conservatives saw that FOX News is a phony conservative station working for the CFR just like the Democrats. The sooner people know this the sooner they will know why they have been brainwashed like Lindsey's mom to thinking anyone who goes against the agenda is supposedly lunatic.

Ron Paul was the only candidate who MADE SENSE.

[NH]

I love how the papers spin it to say RP is "coming out for" someone -- HE DID NOT SAY THAT. He just said the stupid people are going for this Hussein guy...not that he LIKES IT, Liberty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jennifer]

"Beware the streamlined men who think in slogans and talk in bullets" Orwell

These are exactly the people who are left in the race, with the exception of Ron Paul. This statement was not an endorsement. Don't expect people to just "fall in line" behind any of the other candidates , as that would be a compromise of liberty and principles that the Ron Paul campaign has revived. I refuse to waste my vote.

[1440 minutes]

The neocons are in denial, and Ron Paul is right. We could have had a real conservative in the White House, but the neocons screwed it up so badly that Obama probably will win. I don't think Obama will do much to change our foreign policy, much less restore the Constitution or save the government from bankruptcy. And 100-years-war McCain is itching to start the Clash of Civilizations -- another World War. Hopefully, the Ron Paul supporters will make big inroads asap...

[dave]

president (-to-be) RON PAUL probably never said it that way; so this is no news. and if he made some remark that the general bias of the censored media presentation of the respective election campaigns suggests that obama might be the favored candidate of the corporate elites, respectively their 'bosses' - well, he only stated the obvious. as he has been doing all along. and it's a good thing that so many young (as well as older) people are curious about his message, because it is then, after they listen to him and understand that his message is right at the CORE of the constitutional spirit of the american republic, and that the present neocon and neodem fascistoid corporate and bank-dictated corrupt socialist policies are really way off-center and extremely fringe, and set on self-destruct. and as much as they will admire RON PAUL's integrity and consistent, clearly focused dedication to his cause, they won't create a cult about his person, but will be persuaded and enthused by his example; and will emulate it voluntarily, to support the common cause of common sense: for liberty, prosperity and peace.