An article in the New Republic investigates the "Ron Paul newsletter" controversy again (link below). I point this out not to promote the New Republic (ugh) or to offer any defense of Paul. Rather this should be an opportunity for us to learn that anything is fair game - especially a newsletter that has your name on it. As we have more success and become viable candidates your words and actions become more relevant to the media. My take is that this story actually means the media ia paying attention to Paul's campaign - if he were a non-factor this would be a non-story. Based on the limited info I have and his record I seriously doubt that Paul is racist or anti-semitic. It is clear that his PR management skills during this period left much to be desired. He probably never thought that he would someday have this kind of stage. That's why we need to prepare EXPECTING to have the attention - and the scrutiny - of the media and public. It's a good problem to have.
I'd be interested to hear your take, but please no conspiracy theories. Remember it's time to grow up....
http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e2f15397-a3c7-4720-ac15-4532a7da84ca
My take,
Its an intresting article but a non issue. It is a non issue and so will the views of libratain party continue to be until the party can produce a lagitamate leader and take the next step into national politics by droping the tag of "grass roots". All parties started out as "grass roots" but matured to the nationsl stage. The lybratairan party has failed to do so. Theres pride in the grass roots network that the Lib party can boast but its all for nothing if we dont win elections. I've found that though the parties ideals seem to be shared buy alot of americans, no one is going to side with the loosing team. This year has proven, with disgust to the media, that there is a lagitmante grass roots support for these ideals. This support will continue to be silent (via the vote) until the party can organize and mature to be a more significant player. Elections must be won at the local level across the nation before we should attempt a move into the national level or we have failed before we even get started. Ron Paul could not have been as succesfull as he has been without switching to a more widely accepted party. The party must grow before it can make a national diffrence and it must build its foundation at the local level. Though it was encouraging to see a canidate on the national level with a Libratian background and beliefs it is counter productive to run and loose. now he, and the views he holds, will be catigorized with the Pero's and other 'shoot for the moon' candidates that have come and inevitably gone down in flames, leaving a sour tast in the mouth to be remembered my future voters when a Lybratain rises again. Its not a good problem to have. We can not look at ourselves as grass root to be taken serouisly, the messege we cary is far from grass roots but unfortunalty our organization is not. Local success with persistant longterm oranization can give us a sold base to stand on and make a diffrence nationaly, which is the altimate goal. If we continue to view areselves as the "alternative" party we will remain the "other guy" and not a lagitamate choice.
Well said Rob.
Curbe27 - I agree with much of what you said in your post. I'm not sure what you are advocating. It sounds like you think the LP needs to win local/state elections before we can be successful at a higher level. I agree - and we are winning those elections. We have elected officials in this state and across the nation. Unless there is a crisis of major proportions (in reality there is but the perception of most voters is different) then this is an incremental movement. We are making progress - just not as fast as anyone would like.