Ron Paul supporters' magical disappearing act

Ron Paul, the Texas congressman who unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination for president, has been said to resemble Gandalf, the magician from the movie version of "The Lord of the Rings."

Republican officials seemed to make Paul's supporters magically disappear during Wednesday night's roll call vote, in which the GOP convention officially nominated John McCain as the party's presidential candidate.

During the hour-and-a-half voting procedure, convention Secretary Jean Inman recorded each state's votes. Even though several states cast a portion of their votes for Ron Paul (among them Alaska, Oregon, Washington and West Virginia), none of those votes were repeated aloud by the secretary, and therefore they were not confirmed by the chair.

According to the Oklahoman newspaper, two delegates from Oklahoma also cast their ballots for Paul, but the microphone was cut off before their votes could be recorded.

The result of the roll call vote -- before it was made unanimous by acclamation -- recorded five votes for Paul, while a news reporter counted at least 15.

"There were several discrepancies," said Drew Ivers, Paul's delegate coordinator. "The RNC was roughshod, a little careless. They weren't as respectful as they could have been. I don't think that's very professional, and it's not a good reflection.

"They had five ladies keeping the score, plus the chairman, so they had six people and still couldn't get the numbers right."

The convention did not reject all dissenters to McCain's nomination. Two votes that the Utah delegation cast for Mitt Romney, the former Massachusetts governor, were promptly repeated and recorded in the final tally.

-- Ole Jann

Photos: Supporters of Ron Paul, right, disappeared as if by the magic of Gandalf from "The Lord of the Rings," played by Ian McKellen, left. Credits: New Line Productions; Todd Goodrich / Associated Press

Comments

[Brent Burk]

The democrats had the balls to count the vote. Even when someone said Dennis Kucinich, I believe, they counted that vote. Republicans, man, let's just say Paul and co are going to have a lot of trouble taking the party back.

[Pablo Escobar]

You've seen what the party hacks do to marginalise those they disagree with. Now do you trust your government to do the right thing on other issues, like Iraq, healthcare, or education?

Vote Libertarian to cut down on the power of the Republican and Democratic party machinery.

Imagine what a third-party president could do to restore honesty to the political system. Imagine a Libertarian president against a Democratic-controlled Congress in 2009.

[Chris]

Nah,
In the U.S.A.?
That could never happen here.
This is a free country. Right?
The people would never allow something like that to happen, would they?

[Liah]

"Magical disappearing act "

We all know that there is a lots, lots of CORRUPTION with the Republican Party.

Disappearing Votes for Ron Paul,

Disappearing Votes for Al Gore in past elections,

Exaggerated count of votes and supporters for the Republican Party.

Just look at the GOP Convention assistance about 20,000 and
Democrats Convention assistance 82,000
Can this give us any clue ??

[dave]

while the whole charade of these elections might not seem to make this come as a big surprise, it is still disappointing:
that the neocon hijackers of the party would not refrain from illegal and criminal means to achieve their goals, was to be expected.
that the delegates in their majority did not protest against these illegal machinations, that make them look like traitors to their country,
the constitution and their conscience, cannot be easily explained, and by no means excused.
they were informed, and chose corruption and perversion, over integrity and responsibility.
however, this is not the end but the beginning of the rEVOLution, and those who like RON PAUL strive for liberty,
will not go away. they are awake and see the obligation this entails, and they cannot be bought and sold.

[John]

That is a shame that the votes were not read aloud by the speaker.

[MrPitchfork]

Its too bad that they didn't have a Paul/Palin ticket. That would have been something to see. Talk about "gittin 'er done"...

[Lee]

This is disgusting. The RNC wants me to vote for their candidate, but then treats people's voices like they don't matter. Why are they so afraid of Ron Paul...oh wait...it's because he is a better candidate than McCain.well, this is one registered republican who is sick of the Republican's who try to control everything, even whether or not my voice is heard. There is no way I'm voting for McCain.

[Matthew]

I have no words for the stupidity of this report's opening comments.

[L. Step]

Anyone who has dealt with the cold zealots of the Republican neoconned right wing know that they have a way of making ideas and people disappear. Many years ago I was a member of the InterCollegiate Society of Individualists (I.S.I.) When Bill Buckley and his Young Americans for Fascism (Y.A.F.) took over the society, it was magically transformed into the InterCollegiate Studies Institute... keeping the same initials but radically inverting the original ideas of the I.S.I. The glassy-eyed gang of nationalists (a.k.a. "patriots") at the RNC are but the children of Buckley's I.S.I. -- and, as he feared would finally happen, they now have but one collective mind, and it is focused only upon more power and more money -- and it doesn't fear having a war to get what it wants. Well, in any case, Ron Paul in 2009!

[rokdevil]

And all that the RNC accomplishes with this kind of machine-party politics is to make us (paultards if you will) more determined than ever to see the regime crumble into the compost that it truly is.

[Cadavre]

This is a welcome sign from the MSM facts! Not only did they not read out the votes, it was also reported the McCain delegates were attempting to separate Paul delegates from their credentials with tactics like borrowing passes to go to the bathroom. It was also reported that Paul delegates were being searched and having their Paul paraphernalia confiscated by security, and even by the secret service. The so called secret service could have faux secret service (SS?) like the ruses pretending to be SS traveling with Romney during the primaries (still makes me giggle - talk about "padding your box"). Paul supporters had a legitimate right as republican delegates to be at the convention with any and all of any Paul "paraphernalia" (buttons, hats and posters) they had on their person.

It looks like the inadequacies of the less likely to be "chosen" really began to fade when it was learned that Paul's revolution packed in a sold out house of 18,000. And like any creature with an inferiority complex they began to bark and howl like dogs in the back of the catcher's truck.

Thanks and a tip of the hat to this LAT writer for not baiting with a headline to sell clicks to more rumor mongering!

[bill moore]

I'm so glad that us taxpayers paid for these conventions. It goes to show how the government truly stffles competition.

How much did fedgov pay toward the LP convention or Ron Paul's 15000 plus convention?

[Wolf Barger]

McMoron wants nothing to do with Paul after he got schooled by Paul in the debates. All the Neo-conservative ticket can do now is to save face .

[ron moss]

Magic cannot erase the effect Ron Paul has had on this country. Constitutional education for our nationall school system will reflect the Bil of Rights that was first agreed to prior to excepting the entire agreement. What agreement? The one we suposedly limited, the newly formed federal agency, that was supposed to be established, to represent our common interest, defense trade, and not to include royalty or nobility from our royal ancestors. Remember that? The government needs to be lawful to satisfy their part of that agreement.

[Paul Lucero]

Quote:
In a last-minute show of unity, Bay State Ron Paul supporters decided to throw their votes behind Sen. John McCain last night.

About a dozen Massachusetts supporters of the Texas Congressman and GOP upstart decided to back McCain only an hour before the delegates began to cast votes for the presidential pick.

“We decided the best course of action was to give a little to get a lot,” said Chris Blanc, a Cambridge resident who supports Paul. “The Massachusetts GOP really wanted to show unanimous support.”

Paul, shunned by the Republican convention because he wouldn’t endorse McCain, has been holding daily “counter rallies” in Minnesota where devoted supporters hiss when McCain’s name is uttered.

Rep. Paul Loscocco (R-Holliston) worked with Paul sympathizers to join the delegation so all 43 delegate votes would go to McCain.

“He really worked well behind the scenes to come to this agreement,” said McCain delegate Jack Roy.

[BrewCrew]

meh, par for the course.

[Marcello]

Diebold eats votes... why not the GOP?

[Fed Fraud]

I've about had it with my own republican party. I will not vote for McBama, as I can not support either of them. I hope Ron Paul runs for election anyway. I'm switching to the libertarian party. Are my candidates destined to loose? Yes, 100%, but its still the right thing to do, and I can sleep at night knowing that.

[Rahn]

I wish RP would just go independent. His association with the sad state of the GOP just brings him down.

GOP, Hypocrisy and hubris @ its finest.

[PainfullyAware]

Fools And Their Rights Are Soon Parted.

To Assume Benevolence Is Foolish.

The Media Has Chosen Either Socialism (Dem) Or Fascism (Rep) For America. The Money Party Continues (Both)

Wish More People Had Debated Ron Paul Rather Than Dismissed Him. Debate Is The Distillation Of Reality.

Things Are Bleak And The Media IS Complicit.

[spinnikerca]

Thanks for covering this. It is frustrating. All the same, it was a great rally! Did you get a chance to see his speech?

This is just Ron Paul's entrance to the rally: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfnD1Y-gLCY

[Dave]

"We have a greater moral responsibility to act than those who live in ignorance. Once you become knowledgeable you have an obligation to do something about it." -Ron Paul

[T Party]

They corrupt pieces of crap call themselves republicans, LOL! What a joke, they can't even count the votes right! They are scum of the establishment and traitors to the constitution!

[althusius]

McCain says he is going to fix Washington. He allows the RNC to hold a sham roll call vote.

Why should you believe McCain? Sounds like the same old bs.