Ron Paul Disciples Spreading Word In N.H.

Washington Post: Republican Hopeful Looks To Step Into The Spotlight

(Washingtonpost.com)  This story was written by Jose Antonio Vargas.

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There's no mistaking which house on Lake Shore Drive, about 45 minutes northeast of Manchester, is the one full of Paulites -- the intensely loyal, almost fanatical supporters of Rep. Ron Paul. Signs are everywhere. On the back window of a brand new black Toyota, on the bumper of a green Geo, on a white Volvo station wagon that sits beside a beat-up lime green Honda. "Ron Paul 2008."

"We can run the whole New Hampshire campaign right here," says Jim Forsythe, 39, a former Air Force pilot who's on his driveway in jeans, T-shirt and white socks. "We're the hard-core supporters."

Like Paul himself, the Paulites are against the war in Iraq, against the growing federal bureaucracy, against the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Education, the income tax, against, as Forsythe says, "politics as we've known it."

Inside Forsythe's kitchen, snacking on spinach dip, there's Kelly Halldorson, 34, a mother of three whose first presidential vote went to Bill Clinton. And Jane Aitken, 58, a retired art teacher who voted for President Bush in 2000 and 2004. And Will Albenzi, 28, a security guard who's gotten so disillusioned with the Republican and Democratic parties that he belongs to neither.

And this being the Granite State, the first primary state famous for its independent "Live Free or Die" attitude, there's Chris Lawless, a 38-year-old software technician who's followed Paul's career since 1988, when the obstetrician-turned-congressman ran for the White House as the Libertarian Party nominee.

In a state where Patrick Buchanan upset Bob Dole, the front-runner for the GOP nomination, more than a decade ago, anything is possible, says Andrew Smith, a pollster and director of the University of New Hampshire's Survey Center. As of last November, 26 percent of New Hampshire's electorate were registered Democrats and 30 percent were Republicans. But the biggest block of voters -- 44 percent -- were undeclared. Forty percent to 45 percent of those, Smith says, leaned Democrat and 25 percent to 30 percent Republican.

But whatever their backgrounds, the Paulites have catapulted a Republican candidate often described "eccentric," "unknown" and a "long shot" into a spotlight. Paul may be the candidate who has tapped into that independent and frustrated portion of the electorate that in every race is looking for a third way.

This month, the 10-term Texas Republican stunned the GOP field by raising a little more than $5 million in the third quarter, 70 percent of it from online donations; Sen. John McCain, once considered the front-runner for the GOP nomination, and former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, who placed a strong second in the Iowa straw poll in August, raised $6 million and $1 million, respectively. For months now, Paul has been the most popular GOP candidate on the Web, with more supporters on MySpace, Facebook and Meetup than Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson or Mitt Romney, who won the Iowa straw poll and leads in the polls here.

"Everyone -- the staffers in the other campaigns, the bigwig political observers in the state -- is scratching their heads. They don't know what to make of this Ron Paul phenomenon," pollster Smith says. A University of New Hampshire poll last month showed Paul at 4 percent in the state. The most recent Washington Post-ABC News national poll, also from last month, had him at 3 percent. "The other campaigns aren't worried that he'd win the primary. They just don't know who his supporters are and whose support he's taking away," Smith adds. "His poll numbers aren't high now, but it's only October. And they could see him getting 10 percent of the vote here. If you get 10 percent of the vote in a crowded field, well, you might finish third." But the Paulites are aiming for higher than third place.

Last week, they gathered at Forsythe's house to watch the latest GOP presidential debate. Forsythe is the most recent Paulite convert of the bunch. The father of two heard Paul speak in February and remembers how he derided big government and unnecessary wars. Says Forsythe, an aerospace engineer: "That really got me. I fought in Bosnia, Somalia and Iraq, the Iraq before this Iraq war.

"I just couldn't believe a politician was talking about these things," he says. "And the thing is, what's going on with Ron Paul, what he's tapping into, speaks to how much the Republican Party has lost its way."

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Paul isn't using the Internet. The Internet is using him.

Yes, the 72-year-old's main headquarters sits in a nondescript office building in Arlington. But his real headquarters may be on the Web, where Paulites have organized, raised money and created buzz, all independent of the official campaign. Take Meetup. There are 994 Ron Paul Meetup groups, more than all the other candidates in both parties combined, and New Hampshire has four, the largest being Forsythe's. The group's name is HQNH, and its 418 members have their own Web site, where Forsythe is the blogmaster. Kate Rick, one of Paul's four staffers in New Hampshire, says HQNH is the candidate's most effective grass-roots operation, handing out literature at gun shows, holding up signs at fairs and canvassing. Rick should know. She helped start HQNH.

Some quarters of the blogosphere have obsessed over Paul's intense online following, but things kicked up early this month when Paul announced his third-quarter fundraising figures. Unlike the rest of the presidential field, Paul has consistently improved on his money haul, taking in $640,000 in the first quarter, $2.4 million in the second and $5.1 million two weeks ago. At least two-thirds of the donations, his aides say, came from the Internet. New Hampshire gave the most money per capita, according to the campaign, and the most dollars from one area came from Los Angeles County.

"This is the first politician I can truly support, ever," says 53-year-old William D. Johnson, who runs a law firm in downtown L.A. and has donated the maximum, $2,300. A former Democrat, he switched to the GOP because of Paul. "I don't agree with all his positions -- he's not as strong on environmental issues as I'd like -- but because of his record you know that he's a man of utmost integrity."

[jsmith883]

The idea that local government cannot meet the needs of the citizens is justification for a federal system. We need to re-evalulate this. In Hawaii we have mandatory employer mandated health insurance and worker''s compensation. This provides a significant safety net for workers. And its not a federal program but simply state legislation.

[jsmith883]

The mental shift for the past 50 years has been big benevolent federal governance will take care of you, but unfortunately, while there has been some successes, the program has become quite scary and intrusive to our personal liberties. We are essentially tax slaves, ask anyone who works 3 jobs just to make ends meet.

[jsmith883]

I find it strange saying this being a progressive democrat for 20 years, but I use to trust the notion of big benevolent federal government, but unfortunately its not that but big brother federal government that panders to corporate largess. Corporate largess for our pals at Big Pharma and HMOs (doublespeak code: Universal Health Care). I am disturbed that all those baby boomer''s promise of SSN benefits will either bet denied or bankrupt the US, think at least 50 trillion in benefits.

[jsmith883]

Yes, Ron Paul is big change. It''s a redefining of what is being done is America. Is he a neocon? I suppose it depends on your definition of neocon. I would say FAUX News is the proneocon cheerleader. Is it funny that FAUX News hates Ron Paul? Sure is if he was a neocon. But neocons believe in big brother federal government. Think US Patriot Act and squashing of political dissent which it represents. Think pro-Iraq war. Think having to trade your liberties for "security". Strange that all of the democrats legislators: Obama, Hillary, Edwards, Biden support the US Patriot Act and being in Iraq until 2013.

[sftodd]

Paul''s too liberal for my taste...
Posted by Hwy71So at 08:00 AM : Oct 16, 2007

Nancy Reagan is too liberal for your tastes.

[gunownerdan]

Ron Paul doesn''t have tens of millions of dollars. Unfortunately that means he can''t buy his way into the whitehouse the way those "front runners" can.

[bohemianowl]

go back to sleep, SgtRDS

[sgtrds]

(yawn) He has less of a chance of winning then Ralph Nader. He''s a waste of time and effort.......

[bohemianowl]

If you knowingly vote for a member of the TRAITOR organization known as the C.F.R. Council on Foreign Relations, you are killing your country.

Don''t it seem awfully strange that almost all the candidates are CFR members?

We have to stop the CFR!!! All other issues will be a moot point if we fail to get a NON-CFR President!

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!

WAKE UP!!! YOUR COUNTRY IS BEING TAKEN OVER BY TRAITORS!!!!

We need Ron Paul, he is the only NON-CFR running who has the broad base of support to win.

[v_1618]

YEAH RON PAUL IS THE BEST BUT EVEN WITH THE BEST CANDIDATE THE UNITED STATES AND HIS ECONOMY WILL COLAPSE SOON... THAT''S INEVITABLE , THE UNITED STATES ISRAEL FRANCE GERMANY AND BRITAIN ARE IN A DEEP **** PROBLEM IN IRAQ... AGAINST ALL OVER THE WORLD...... THE STUPID GOVERMENTS ARE PUSHING THE ENTIRE WORLD IN A MAYOR WORLD WAR 3 CONFLICT... SO WHO CARES WHO WILL WIN THE ELECTIONS .. THE SITUATION IS IN A ROAD OF NO POINT RETURN...

[gunownerdan]

Dr. Ron Paul is the only anti-war and pro-liberty candidate running for president.
Clinton, Giuliani, Obama, Romney, Edwards, Thompson, McCain, they are all members of the CFR and they will all work to destroy American sovereignty and our constitution.
ronpaul2008.com

[cfin5]

His integrity in following the Constitution of the United States tells me he is indeed a "TRUE CENTRIST". I don''t govern my citizenship on democratic or republican philosophy which "causes" so many fights that amount to nothing more than a "knat straining, camel swallowing contest".......Yep, I''m sticking with the brilliance of our Countries "authors", not what some party says what the authors meant. The words are plain enough.

[hwy71so]

Paul''s too liberal for my taste...

[hwy71so]

Right now we have 5 Democrats leading the race; Clinton, Edwards, Obama, Guiliani, and Romney.

We do need a Republican hopeful. Hunter or Thompson maybe? The rest lean too much on the liberals'' shoulder.

Ron Paul is a Texas doctor. Need I say more?

[terrorislam1]

OUTED

THE LIBERAL MAIN MEDIA AND DEMONIC-RAT BS PROPOGANDA MACHINE

The death knell of your ethics has been enabled by your parent organizations who have chosen to align themselves with political agendas. What is clear to me is that you are perpetuating the corrosive partisan politics that is destroying our country and killing our service members who are at war.
http://www.militaryreporters.org/sanchez_101207.html

Sanchez Blasts Media, But Media Only Highlight His Criticism of Bush
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/brent-baker/2007/10/15/sanchez-blasts-media-media-only-highlight-his-criticism-bush

Sanchez Assaults Drive-By Media
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/home/daily/site_101507/content/01125112.guest.html

Retired general issues sharply worded rebuke of ''unscrupulous reporting''
http://blogs.usatoday.com/ondeadline/2007/10/retired-general.html

Sanchez: Media''s Reporting of Iraq War Endangered Soldiers'' Lives
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,301676,00.html

[goldesprit]

You know how some actors vibes are quite similar?
They don''t have to look all that similar-- but sometimes you''ll find yourself confusing one with another.

I don''t particularly relish pointing this out, but George McGovern-- I mean Ron Paul--- may have a little tiny problem when it comes to actually ending up being the real next President of the United States.

Just a teeny weeny problem.

If you REALLY WANT TO BET YOUR LIFE HE WILL BE PRESIDENT AS OPPOSED TO SIMPLY POINTING OUT THINGS, LIKE GOOD OLD RALPH NADER, WHO HELPED US HAVE BUSH.

[teeky3]

kansas1946 -

"not in a million years"

You fail to understand what this country is about and have apparenvtly bought into popular culture/media about what is right. Think beyond one dimensions and the fact that you simply ''diagree'' with his opinion on abortion and understand that as a constitutionalist (a true american) - his interest is to uphold the constitution by overturning "roe vs wade" and placing the responsibility of abortion legistlation in the hands of the state where it belongs. A little advice - understand the injustice in "roe vs wade" decision and avoid your unnecessary kneejerk reactions brought on by your ignorant understanding of situation.

FYI, I''m absolutely pro-choice - his stance doesn''t concern me one bit as the state is where the responsibility would ultimately fall and subsequently we''d likely find ourselves in basically the same place we are now - minus the federal gov overstepping its bounds. Isn''t that a good thing?

[sftodd]

"He was an unwavering advocate of pro-life and pro-family values."

The above is also from his website -- I have a real problem with the shameless hate-mongering. I don''t know why he isn''t more honest -- why doesn''t he say, "Oh yeah, and I hate g_a_y_s."

[kansas1946]

The right of an innocent, unborn child to life is at the heart of the American ideals of liberty. My professional and legislative record demonstrates my strong commitment to this pro-life principle.

In Congress, I have authored legislation that seeks to define life as beginning at conception, HR 1094.

I am also the prime sponsor of HR 300, which would negate the effect of Roe v Wade by removing the ability of federal courts to interfere with state legislation to protect life. This is a practical, direct approach to ending federal court tyranny which threatens our constitutional republic and has caused the deaths of 45 million of the unborn.

I have also authored HR 1095, which prevents federal funds to be used for so-called %u201Cpopulation control.%u201D

As an OB/GYN doctor, I%u2019ve delivered over 4,000 babies. That experience has made me an unshakable foe of abortion. Many of you may have read my book, Challenge To Liberty, which champions the idea that there cannot be liberty in a society unless the rights of all innocents are protected. Much can be understood about the civility of a society in observing its regard for the dignity of human life.
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The above is straigt from Ron Paul''s own website. Now for someone who is blathering about smaller govenment and personal liberties, I have a real problem with this. He would never have my vote, not in a million years.

[66bill]

Ron Paul wants to have real money. Examine the coins that we have, they are all the same cheap material, an extremely thin sheet of shiny metal on the outside and the center a base metal. The only differance is the size and the image stamped on the coin. There is no monitary value in any of the coins. In the earlier days of our country each coin had a value in the metal of the coin and the coin was worth something. Ron Paul has advocated the return to real money (gold, silver and other valuable metals) and I am with him 100%.