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GOP Indifference Toward Ron Paul Is Short-Sighted

The RNC should be embracing, not squashing, libertarianism

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Yes, he should be allowed to speak. When the GOP wraps itself in the flag of patriotism, it should allow someone like Ron Paul who has a libertarian idealism exercise his freedom of speech. The party who prides itself on respecting constitutional freedoms should start practicing it in its own backyard.

Dee Stein of OR 8:04PM August 25, 2012

Taking power is never easy. The Republican establishment isn't "indifferent" to Paul's movement; they are threatened and openly hostile. Let's be honest, Jamie!

I'm glad they're not simply paying lip service to placate us, because we're not going to "play ball" and become absorbed into the Republican establishment; the one that believes in an expanding state apparatus, fiscal and monetary policies that are anathema to free market principles, and civil liberties that are subordinate to their other interests. We have some very different ideas about what it means to be Republican and those ideas are a threat to the people currently in charge. We will never compromise our principles and they will not accede easily.

The battle for control of the Republican Party will continue after Tampa and after Ron Paul. Ron has only shown us the door. Now we must walk through it. Tampa 2012 is just the next chapter is a long, but very worthwhile struggle.

Grant of PA 6:00AM August 22, 2012

Down with the Union then. I rather see my state free than part of a Union controlled by religion, socialism or crazy people. Once these people got the power they wanted more and don't want to give it up because they need save our souls. I hate how we are willing to sacrifice freedom for security. no person will tell me Benjamin Franklin was wrong.

Cyberblunt of FL 4:34AM August 22, 2012

SADLY, GOP CANNOT ACCOMODATE PAUL

In the not-so-long-ago good ole days, the Big Tent of the Grand Old Party could readily accomodate a broad coalition of people, including, especially, Libertarians like Ron Paul. The Party easily accomodated Nelson Rockefeller and Barry Goldwater, Edward Brooke and Strom Thurmond.

But the GOP today is so different from the pary just 60 years ago. Today, extemism has, indeed, become a virtue and moderation has become a vice. Today, not only is there little room for a Libertarian like Ron Paul, but there is also little room for lots of other people: gays, women's rights backers, many minorities, etc.

The GOP is becoming a narrowly defined party of caucasian men, more concentrated in the south and the midwest, with a leaning towards Christian fundamentalist beliefs, and a bias against science. (For example, they believe: it's not clear the earth is more than 6-10,000 years old; evolution is just a theory; global warming is a myth; in a "legitimate" rape, women can marshall abilities to not get pregnant, et. al.).

As Blacks and Hispanics inexorably become more and more a plurality of the US population, the Republican Party will more and more become an anachronism.

The wonder is that Republicans just can't see this... (or that they believe in the stuff that they say they believe in, for that matter).

stevchipmunk of PA 8:55PM August 21, 2012