US News
Ron Paul supporters not quitting, online campaign donations increase
By Karyn Chenoweth Sep 29, 2007, 21:43 GMT
Republican Candidate for United States President Representative Ron Paul responds to a question during a debate held at the University of New Hampshire in Durham New Hampshire USA, 05 September 2007. EPA/CJ GUNTHER
Ron Paul's quixotic campaign may be lurking in the shadows of American mainstream media, but his supporters are still rabidly holding on to the idea their candidate for the United States Presidency may pull an eleventh-hour surprise.
Paul stands for little government involvement and even smaller foreign intervention in matters overseas. He wants an immediate pullout from Iraq, and he also is anti-abortion in his personal stance, drawing conservatives, liberals and moderates alike.
The Committee to elect Ron Paul reports that $852,000 was raised online for the Ron Paul presidential campaign. Their original goal was $500,000, but the organizers claim they "blazed" past that amount in just a couple of days.
Now, Paul is said to be near the $1,000,000 mark and counting.
Controversial television personality Bill Maher gave his nod on CNN, when put on the spot to ask who his favorite Republican candidate was.
"Ron Paul, he's the only one of them that is different," Maher said.
The Hill newspaper, a publication in Washington read by many political insiders has reported on Paul's fundraising success.
The Ron Paul Revolution has exceeded the McCain drive in numbers and money raised.
Most media outlets dismiss Paul's support as "just the Internet" yet continually and in a steady stream thousands of people from Manchester to Pasadena are keeping with Ron Paul's campaign for president with hard-earned money, the average donations are $5 to $100 from working and professional people.
Ron Paul expressed a message online to his supporters, "You and I are engaged in an historic enterprise."
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Older Talkback
page: 1
I hope the amount of money the Ron Paul group raised will exceed the media's expectations and put him up there near Fred Thompson.
Up near Thompson????
He has more money than Thompson already...always has. LOL
Great read! Can't wait to see what the Q3 numbers will be ;). First it was his 1787 donation during Constitution Week, then it was a 500K fundraiser that was achieved in 2 days and a half, now it's 1million which he is about to break even a day early. 1million dollars in 6 days - dang good job he is doing.
Wow... just wow. Time for me to get involved too. I can't sit back while this is happening anymore. Finally! Finally!!!
Just a small point of clarification. The $852,000 (now well over $900,000 as I write this) is what has been raised in the last 5 or 6 days, not over the entire quarter. Pretty good for someone who is 'a longshot' :) I think Paul will really surprise some folks with his fundraising numbers from this quarter.
Brent makes a good point. This is not a million dollars for the quarter. It is a million dollars for the week.
Ron Paul's odds on Sportsbook, for him winning the Republican nomination are now 4:1, vs 7:1 earier in the week, and vs 200:1 just a few months ago.
The latest total is for only the last 7 days of the quarter!
After handily surpassing a targeted 1,787 online donations the week of September 17th in celebration of the 220th anniversary of the Constitution, GOP presidential candidate Congressman Ron Paul of Texas announced a new effort to bring in a targeted $1,000,000 in online contributions for the last seven days of 3rd quarter fundraising.
Progress is tracked through a real-time contribution thermometer displayed on Ron Paul's official campaign website, encouraging visitors to do their part and see their names displayed up on the big board.
Overtaking progress made in similar efforts launched by the John Edwards and Bill Richardson campaigns, Paul has raised over $900,000 towards the $1,000,000 goal with well over a day remaining.
With the success of these efforts, Paul is flexing the fundraising muscle of his powerful nation-wide volunteer network, and blowing away fundraising totals of second-tier candidates such as Huckabee and Tancredo.
Um, sir/ma'am, have you lost your mind? 'Eleventh hour'?
History lesson: Bobby Kennedy did not announce his candidacy until after the New Hampshire primary. You are calling this election a little early.
(Just had to chime in here; i'll read the rest of your article now)
Ron Paul contimues to prove the controlled media to be wrong. They can ignore him as much as they want. We,the People, will not ignore him. We are supposed to own this country and are demonstrating, through the support of Ron Pauls bid for president of the United States, that we in fact do. I've personally donated $1,400.00 to his campaign. I look at this as a small investment. When Ron Paul eliminates the IRS, through the downsizing of our bloated government, we won't need the IRS. This has been true for a long time now. Ron Paul is giving us the long awaited truth. When I don't have to allow the government to extort my money, form my paycheck, my return on this investment will be huge.
kucinich is the one they are really afraid of, they are terrified! if democrats found out that the only real liberal democrat is kucinich who works in the best interests of the people the race is over! still as a democrat i would vote for Ron Paul he seems consistant based on his votes in the house rather than what he says at speeches
John Cox's campaign is 'quixotic'.
Ron Paul is a ten-term Congressman with the best voting record in Congress and a record of unshakable integrity. He's what the American people have been waiting for all their lives, if they can just find out about him over the media blackout....
I was there today. That hour-long stump speech was quite possibly the only hour within the past month that I've felt any hope at all for the future.
One other important point: I would venture to say that fewer than 5% of Ron Paul supporters would vote for Rudy Giuliani if he turns out to be the Republican nominee. If Giuliani is elected president in 2008, I will probably renounce my US citizenship and move to Canada.
I have good reason to believe that the 'just the internet' argument for ignoring Ron Paul is wrong and high confidence that time will prove me right. But in addition to being wrong, it is troubling in its logic. The logic appears to be that minorities may be ignored by media. It is from minorities that new and constructive ideas arise. If minorities had been ignored, we would still believe the majority view that the world is, obviously, flat.
The following text from columnist Dorothy Thompson, writing way back in the 1940s, about the fascist threat to America that was getting started back then, are enormously relevant to the Ron Paul campaign and its companion anti Ron Paul campaign.
'... let us not be confused by the words `liberal' and `conservative,' or misled into thinking that the expressed will of the majority is the essence of democracy. … The essence of democracy is the protection of minorities. Nor has a majority of this generation the right to mortgage the majority of the next.'
“The repeated assertion of the Administration and its apologists that it `has a mandate is typical ... By hook or by crook, through the democratic instrument or by coercion, one gets majority. One then uses the power that that majority gives to destroy the minority and make it impossible for the minority ever again to become the majority. ... This is, of course, not democracy. It is the modern technique of usurpation.'
'Once upon a time we had parliamentary government, the essence of which is reflection, consultation, deliberation. Now we have bills which are, in effect, decrees, issued from the White House, and addressed, not to the elected legislators, but to the population at large, which is then whipped up into action through ... government propaganda and the personal influence of the President. … That, my friends, is government by fiat. That is the kind of government that you have in Nazi Germany.”
The entire Thompson essay can be read in the critical essays section of the Editor Select List at CreativeSedition.com. You may find it uncanny in that everything it says can about government in the 1940s, can be said equally of today's government in America.
Quixotic? Ron Paul is not tilting at windmills. He is going up against real monsters that are on the verge of bankrupting this country, both fiscally and morally.
GO RON PAUL! GO RON PAUL! GOD BLESS RON PAUL!
RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2008!
'None are more enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.'
-- Goethe
'Ron Paul supporters not quitting,' 'his supporters are still rabidly holding on to the idea' ?
Yeah, I'm frothing at the mouth over him. And only a nut like me would do so, since all the normals quit 2 weeks ago.
Idiot.
I am fully behind Ron Paul all the way and campaign in the streets of MS! The thing about it is, I KNOW this is who America needs in my heart as well as my head. I've done extensive research into it all. We all have.. just think about what we all know to be true deep down as we've lived our lives. Ron Paul can take the lead now to positive change for the whole world. As you are probably aware of by now, mainstream media is not out for the best interest for you and your family. We must overcome this in our world as much as possible. Please give Ron Paul's message of real hope a chance if you haven't yet, and understand that there are many serious, passionate Americans that are strongly behind Ron Paul. Me and a lot of other people in this country are tired of the same old failing politics. I hold up signs with some of them a couple times a month. I get everything from car horns honked with thumbs up, to people who are interested in the literature I hand out because they want to learn more, to rich brainwashed pricks flipping me off as they drive by. Understand that it matters not what party you like, Ron Paul is the man for this job. If for some reason, you cannot agree with something Ron Paul is fighting for, I only wonder where we are about to go when we elect one of the other band-wagon candidates who we all know is just about the same thing as we got, or much worse. It's just that I know that many people have lost there faith in our electoral process because they never have anything real to vote for. If you do agree, please help spread the word and also help us get more people to vote in our country. Our country is not perfect and yes we make mistakes, but we cannot afford to just let all this keep going. If you don't agree, please understand I am trying as hard as I can to do the right thing and I mean no harm trying to 'spam' anyone! I have never felt so strongly about an election in all my life.
Respectfully,
-Michael Atkinson, US ARMY RET
He just passed that $1 million mark with a full day left to go! Go Ron Paul!
Hey, read the original article at ronpaul2007.com
I look forward to voting Ron Paul in 2008!
We watched the numbers click over $1 million, and they still haven't slowed down. (right now it's $1,018,964,75!) People from all over the USA. It's incredible how many people he has reached, especially when you consider the sparse media coverage. I think he really resonates with people because he is consistent, you never see him with a finger out trying to determine which way the wind is blowing. His views are based on the Constitution not the poll numbers so you know what you are getting. I intend to fly back to the USA to vote in the primary and if he wins, I'll probably move back permanently. He is the ONLY candidate offering something different from the status quo. America was based on great principles. It's time to return to them.
Not only did Ron Paul and the American people raise a million in six days.. but they beat Barack Obama doing so! Check Obama's website. He also was trying to raise 500k, yet Ron beat him to it soundly. The Democratic front runner's campaighn took down their counter, and so far has never said a peep about shooting for one million.
Ron 1 Barack 0
It's clear Dr. Ron Paul is a front-runner and a true American who needs to be elected. Will it happen? It's up to us to do something about it and give him the exposure he needs. It won't happen solely on the internet so get up Americans and tell 3 people a day about him.
Just donated to Ron Paul 2008! But how can this be! Will Hannity blame the spamming interneters...oh wait.
People trust Ron Paul because he speaks logic, truth, and reason with passion. American people can feel it resonating off him and are spreading the word. For Freedom, For Liberty, For Ron Paul!
$1,028,630 and rising...watch out CFR!!!!
The Constitution hangs by a few threads. The Iran war will chop off a few more threads; another false flag like 9-11 will take off a few more threads. It is time for us to pray to God that as He sent the Founding Fathers in 1770s to create the Constitution; He will send modern Patriots today to save her. Each Ron supporter needs to contribute each month a couple of bucks; plus, and this is key, they need to make up their own brochure, make copies, and walk their own Voting District.
What is clear is that there is an orchestrated campaign in this very posts claiming to be a sort of spontaneous chain of reactions following the lead article .Nice try .But ok then,let's hear is opinion on health care for startes?Anything more than above bragging to offer ?Give us something more than idolatry please.
And what about global warming,one man-one vote,what about education,etc,etc....All key issues during the next election.
Abe: First, while I appreciate your diligent effort to find a conspiracy in every corner, you seriously underestimate the enthusiasm Dr. Paul has garnered. I search Google News every day or two for articles, that's why I'm here; I have no doubt that the other commentators arrived via similar means. There is no orchestration, there doesn't need to be.
Ron Paul's platform rests primarily on a few key issues. Foremost among them is that the Federal government should be scaled back to only the duties which are explicitly outlined for it in the Constitution, rather than expanding to anything not explicitly forbidden. Everything else should be left to the jurisdiction of the states, so that government duties and policies can be adjusted to local needs.
This policy has countless side-effects. The rules of the game change such that status-quo issues become nonsensical. With the Federal government trimmed to a fraction of its current state, many taxes could be eliminated, providing more money both to the individual States, and to every one of us. This means more local money for health care and education (issues you asked about), among other things.
(As an aside: many remember and compare to 'trickle-down' economics, but this isn't the same thing. This is fortification of the base, not the top, by removing the channels by which money swiftly rises in today's America. Remember that subsidies to corporate entities are among the Federal programs which would get the axe.)
I'm not sure what you mean by 'one man one vote,' because last I checked, we have that system. If you mean the dissolution of the Electoral College in favor of direct Presidential election, I believe Paul is against this, though I'm not versed in his reasoning on this issue. It seems pretty minor to me, because States can legislate to translate popular vote directly to their electorate.
Ron Paul has not spoken extensively on environmental issues, but he's made one intriguing comment, invoking property law on the issue... and in the opposite direction from what you may be used to. It boils down to: 'This is my land, and you may not pollute it.'
I don't know if you actually expected an answer, and I don't know if this one satisfies. But I figure it doesn't hurt to try.
So you know where I stand..I am a Libertarian.. have been most of my adult life..met Ayn Rand back when the Nathaniel Brandon Institute was very active.. spent time and money running for the House Of Reps and then the Senate as a Libertarian back in the 80s..running on a platform similar to Mr. Pauls with a few exceptions (and 1 major exception which may prevent me from supporting him right now).
But..I have this piece of advice..if you really want to win..talk to some people (if they are still around) who were involved in the Barry Goldwater campaign for the nomination for President. You need the grass roots capabilities of that campaign to ever hope to take over the National Convention like he did. That was a coup that no one else has ever achieved...and may be your only hope to get Mr. Paul and his message in front of the American People who truly deserve and need to hear his message...it is the Covention that really counts!!!!
JMHO
I just donated to Ron Paul. I encourage you to too! I also give generously of my time in introducing others to Ron Paul... many still haven't heard of him yet.
Vote upon principle, not 'who can win'!
@pagardener
Already done. Barry Goldwater Jr. formally endorses Paul and campaigns for him. (see: dailypaul.com/node/1484)
*yawn*
Yet another article either written by a misinformed person, or written to misinform readers.
If I read the word 'quixotic' one more time in regards to Ron Paul's campaign, I'm going to start flooding online writers with links to online thesaurus sites
Give us a break, and give it a rest.
Ron Paul proves to all of the 90's kids that all that propaganda that we were taught, in American elementary school, is actually true.
Things like the Constitution, speaking out against injustices, and following your dreams...
When a generation speaks, does anyone listen?
www.dovv.net
Daughters of Vietnam Veterans Against the War
Ron Paul = Moonbat velcro
Let's get Ron 1.5 or 2.0
Restore the Republic!!
Bill Mahar wants him???? Whats THAT tell you?
I've given him $1000 so far...
I also volunteer in my meetup group.
WTF do the keyboard warriors do? Blog and make jokes about how Paul supporters are crazy and he has no chance, while the establishment media hypnotizes the American people. Wow, that seems like a lot of work. I don't see them putting their money where their mouth is, I don't see them showing up to events, all is see are Wall Street and the Federal Reserve True Believer Cheerleaders dumping money on neoliberal candidates to keep up the Class War.
It's republican voters.
Nonlinear Sep 30th, 2007 - 18:46:52
I've given him $1000 so far...'
AAAAAHHHHHHA AAAAAAAAHHHHHHaaa!
Try smoking crack! You will get a better return on your investment!
It's not money he needsSep 30th, 2007 - 21:16:48
It's republican voters.
Before he needs voters he needs the delegates to the National Convention and you need to check on state/party requirements. Take over the Convention as Barry Goldwater did and you have it made!!!!!!!!at least until the election
These posts were good for a laugh,I guess what I've learned from the Paul Internet task force is that the quicker you are able to rise money the more you deserve to be a president .Except from a few vague intentions and simple intentions there seems to be no program or measures .I don't care what this guy is thinking and I care even less about his fundamental principles if it does not translate in a program .What exactly is he going to do about global warming,health care,education,it is suspiciously unclear .Only foggy declarations are emanating from his office .Anything more substantial .Exactly how is he going to curb global warming ?With some vague intentions ?It only demonstrated he has not got a clue about the danger looming on short terms at all .Can I ask the supporters so vehemently defnding this guy to get acquainted with some urgent matters ans ask their candidate to answer in concrete terms .We had enough ignorance and failures for eight years to add another four years to that .What is really called for is understanding the menace .Paul has showed nothing to demonstrate he did .Awaiting more concrete proposals urgently,now!
If you're waiting for the mainstream media to, at some point, accurately report Dr. Paul's campaign successes, you wasting your time. To get Dr. Paul nominated will take a massive effort and huge amounts of grassroots controbutions. The last two elections were clearly rigged, so how we can get the great and honorable Dr. Paul elected in the face of such blantant corruption is beyond my imagination. But at least he's one member of congress who hasn't sold his soul to the elite. The evil of people in our government and media these days is like something out of some other country's sordid history. We owe it to our next generations to show the same resolve that our veterans of WWII showed or Civil Rights protesters in 1950s or the patriots during our founding revolution. The stakes are that high and the dangers that great. Self-sacrafice will be the cost for fredom now that our national lack of vigilance has brought this crisis about. Thank you.
The convention no longer is the place where candidates are chosen. Conventions used to be a place where the delegats communicated, but now we have so many other ways to communicate, the convention no longer has the value it once had.
Bill and Hillary are the masters of this. They are, methodically, going from state to state, securing the dem apparatachicks who will end up as nominees, with promises of jobs and money, to secure their votes. Once this is done, and the primaries are finished, it's over.
Ronnie is in the same place. He doesn't realize the others are raising money from the apparatachicks, meaning they have their votes, not just their money.
Paul needs votes, to win primaries, and to secure delegates. He has done none of this.
No he needs a program ,and he has nothing to show for it .Just the usual republican candidate thinking values are a form of government .Well,which is the course of action from this noble candidate steersman to save our future .Eight years of doing nothing at all from his illustrious republican predecessor make me very suspicious of any candidate offering only lip service to solve a problem menacing the future of mankind .Still awaiting a few concrete proposals .Beg your pardon folks from the Paul Internet Task Force ,do you know more about it ?
GW Bush:
Libya - got them to surrender their nuke program
N. Korea - got theem to 6 party talks and the path to de-nuclearization.
Afghanistan - deposed the Taliban
Iraq - deposed Saddam.
US Economy - record employment, low inflation, record tax receipts, historic high household wealth, at least until the dems took over Congress.
I want another President willing to engage the world, not tell me how cool his values are. That's why the two chuckleheads the dems ran are not President now.
GW has shoveled the sh-t he was handed by his predecessor with honors.
I think most of these Paul supporters are democrats. If you want a dem, go vote for one.
Dr. Paul has already made a change in America, he has unleashed a Political Firestorm that only a few believed exsisted. No matter what happens the Alarm clock has sounded! America's sleeping masses are awakening to a new voice, a voice of Hope, a voice of Freedom, a voice of Reason. Thanks to all of you True Patriots who are giving of your time and money, your investment is in your belief that you can make a difference. Those you deny your power will probably not know what hit them when it is unleashed.
Unleash your Power!
Support Ron Paul, and get out there and work!! Now Please.
Has Ron Paul realy unleashed a political firestorm ?Seems more like the start of a sort of political sect .Such hagiographical praize is more apropriate to a religion ,not to a candidate for elctions .It involves blind belief as demonstrated by the Ron Paul Internet Task Force currently at work in trying to inflate an empty windbag without a program into a political balloon .More hot air please or give us a program,what about global warming,education,health care ...well,still waiting ...What about this urgent issues.
I agree that the 'eleventh hour' comment is foolish. Where did Jimmy Carter or Gene McCarthy stand in the polls this far before the first primary?
One of the most interesting elements of the campaign to this point is the utter disdain with which the MSM hold any candidate who isn't an establishment favorite, and I don't only refer to Ron Paul.
It's important to remember that politicians are key sources for reporters, and are therefore treated with inordinate respect. Without inside access to politicians, reporters are lost (or so they think). Reporters are paid to take politicians seriously. Insurgents are as much a threat to the media as they are to the political establishment.
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tom davisSep 29th, 2007 - 22:23:44
Is it possible for a true, Constitutinal conservative to have a real chance to win the Oval Office? Ron Paul and his freedom army are making us believe. Is it possible to dismantle the welfare/warfare state that has become Leviathan on the Potomac, devouring American blood, liberty and treasure? Ron Paul and his freedom army are making us believe. Is there enough people left who desire what our founding fathers wanted: a limited federal government that would be respectful of our liberties at home, and free-traders abroad without entangling us in the internal affairs of foreign countries.
Liberty Must Survive...Ron Paul 2008!
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