Boston Daily Loves Ron Paul. There, We Said It
In every political campaign we fall in love with an outsider who doesn’t have much of a shot at winning. Because he or she isn’t micromanaged by a fussy staff, and thus can make jokes off the cuff and run advertisements that amuse us. While critics of this blog probably think we’re going to endorse Dennis Kucinich for the position, they’re wrong.
That’s why we’re for Ron Paul as Fringe Candidate for President.*
After an online push timed to coincide with Guy Fawkes Day, Paul beat the one-day fundraising record for Republicans by raising $4 million yesterday to beat Mitt Romney’s old record of $3.1 million. Paul still trails the $6.2 million Hillary Clinton raised in one day, but his numbers show he has significant grassroots support. Which we already knew.
We also like that Paul actually says something instead of trying to have it both ways. For example, he wants to be a conservative in fiscal sense as well as morally:
Working Americans like lower taxes. So do I. Lower taxes benefit all of us, creating jobs and allowing us to make more decisions for ourselves about our lives. . . . Real conservatives have always supported low taxes and low spending.
It’s like he read our minds. We can’t stand the conservatives who claim they want small government but then tax the bejesus out of us. Paul also tells us about things we didn’t even know we should be upset about, like limits to our “Health Freedom.“
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in order to comply with standards dictated by supra-national organizations such as the UN‘s World Food Code (CODEX), NAFTA, and CAFTA, has been assuming greater control over nutrients, vitamins and natural health care providers to restrict your right to choose the manner in which you manage your health and nutritional needs.
Hmm. We didn’t hear Barack Obama say anything about the FDA tinkering with our One-A-Days. It’s nice to know someone in Washington cares about our supplements.
Paul’s gruff demeanor has endeared him to us further. In this era of politicians who never leave the house without a flag on their lapel, and who perform in Vaseline-smeared television spots, it’s nice to have a grizzled old man talking tough. His YouTube channel is full of low-budget radio and television spots that make us giggle. This spot that aired in New Hampshire is particularly great. It features all the stereotypes of New Hampshire residents, from two bearded guys sitting on a porch to a group of stoner college students, talking about Paul’s deep understanding of the issues.
We hope that the Paul campaign’s increased war chest doesn’t change the things we like about him most. Keep talking about less sexy issues like home schooling and health freedom in your cheesy advertisements. It’s what we and the rest of your supporters love about you, Ron.
*This pronouncement does not reflect the opinions of the editorial staff of Boston magazine. In fact, we’re pretty sure we’re going to get a talking-to about this.
November 6th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Surprisingly, Chris Matthews, who’s about as liberal as they come, is a huge fan of Ron Paul’s. But the guy is a total nut. I’d like to see him wrestle Kucinich to decide who’s the bigger fringe candidate. Winner gets your endorsement. Loser has to flee to Canada.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:10 pm
“total nut”?
You do not have the slightest clue what you are talking about.
If you actually took 2 seconds to read some of Dr. Paul’s stand on issues, you would quickly realize he is right (Constitutionally) on every single issue.
I would love to hear a list of things that make Dr. Paul a “nut”…
November 6th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Matthews is liberal (he did after all work for Jimmy Carter and Tip O’Neil), but I’d hardly say he’s “as liberal as they come.” He’s dropped plenty of criticism on the Dems over the last few years. As for the Paul/Kooch faceoff, I’m not sure who to lay money on. Paul’s definitely bigger, but I can see the wily, tiny Kucinich burrowing into Paul’s neck flesh and laying some insanity eggs.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
Boston Magazine, thanks for providing a very fair report of Dr. Paul. As a supporter of an “underdog” candidate, it’s tough to watch the media write him off as a waste of money and time. I’m glad you actually looked at his issues and honesty rather than attacking him. It looks like you guys actually have some REAL journalists as opposed to some of the lazy reporters over at CNN, NYTimes, Fox, etc.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:18 pm
There is a reason that Dr. Paul gets more money from the military and ex-military than any other candidate, and it not because he is “nuts” and certainly not because we are “nuts.” It is because he speaks truth about the war and our misguided foreign policy.
I am a career Naval officer who has been politically neutral for my entire life, but voting for Ron Paul is about voting for America and our Constitution, which I took an oath to preserve. I am now supporting Congressman Paul with my wallet–and my heart.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
“That’s why we’re for Ron Paul as Fringe Candidate for President.”
Problem is, fringe doesn’t break fundraising records; we’re going to win this in spite of degenerate big media.
November 6th, 2007 at 3:41 pm
For those who might like more info:
(0 Troop support) http://www.ronpaul2008.com/states/iowa/#military
(1. straw polls) http://www.ronpaul2008.com/straw-poll-results
(2. Ron Paul: A New Hope) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA
(3. National Threat) http://www.ronpaulnation.com/tv.html#controller_general_david_walker
November 6th, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Scoreboard!
November 6th, 2007 at 4:57 pm
Ron Paul has proven, time and time again, that he can no longer be considered a “fringe” candidate. You drastically underestimate his support, as well as the state of the US.
November 6th, 2007 at 5:42 pm
Good choice Boston Mag. Go Ron Paul!
November 8th, 2007 at 11:15 am
If Ron Paul only has 5% percent of the GOP vote (which isn’t true since MOST Paul supporters are technocrats & never answer a landline in the rare event they even pay for a landline in addition to their cell phones) which the text message polls dispute, then 95% of the GOP must think like this:
“70% percent of the voters in the General eletion next year are vehemently opposed to both the IRAQ war and any attack on IRAN. THEREFORE we must ridicule the only republican who can beat Hillary Clinton in a General election. THAT WAY we can be sure to hand the election to an authoritarian socialist BACKED by a democratic congress. We’ll never become the former soviet union if we don’t SMEAR Ron Paul and try to marginalize him by calling him nuts.”
November 8th, 2007 at 12:41 pm
Ron Paul, America’s last hope and last chance to be relevant. Without Ron, then dollar will inflate into dust and our standard of living will evaporate.
November 8th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Ron Paul is going to surprise everyone in NH.
Come up North a few miles to the Free State with no income tax or sales tax.
Ron is doing better every day up here.
The big news out of NH is going to be Ron Paul.
November 8th, 2007 at 4:27 pm
Watch this Nashua Telegraph interview of Ron Paul for a wonderful education! Nut??? You’ve GOT to be kidding!!
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071108/NEWS08/311080111
November 9th, 2007 at 11:54 am
Let’s tackle one of Paul’s “kookiest” proposals right head-on: Eliminating the IRS.
Sound crazy? It is not as out-of-the-mainstream as it might seem. Carla Howell’s proposal to eliminate the Mass. state income tax received 45% of the vote just 2(?) years ago, and the bill will be on your state ballot once more.
Those of us just to the north of you are the last state in the union without a sales OR income tax (or adult seat belt law, or…). Even the Dems up here can’t propose a broad-based tax without suffering the fate of Marc Fernald (losing badly… Really, really, badly). Even this “fringe” idea is likely to have great appeal in the Granite State. We’re also the ones with the 1st in the nation primary.
As Ron Paul said in NH this week: “[NH} is a wonderful state… But what are you doing with my motto on your license plates?”
JM
November 9th, 2007 at 10:14 pm
I’m glad to hear someone talk about Ron Paul’s fight for our health freedom and you’re right - most people don’t know it is something we should be upset about. As someone who got sicker and sicker in the mainstream medical system and subsequently found complete recovery in alternative medicine, I can tell you that this is a pretty important issue. There is a real effort (pushed by Big Pharma) to restrict access to medical alternatives and supplements which have helped so many that couldn’t find help in the system. If you are not familiar with this, go to Healthfreedomusa.org. Ron Paul is fighting to protect our ability to choose the form of healthcare that is best for us. He introduced the Healthcare Freedom Protection Act.