The Real Ron Paul Revolution

The Nation: Republican's Money Bombs Could Change The Face of Grassroots Politics

(The Nation)  Move over John Kerry, the best single-day primary fundraising record no longer belongs to the prodigious money-collecting machine of the man who won the 2004 nomination.

Ron Paul is now the champ.

Kerry collected $5.7 million on one day in 2004.

Paul collected more than $6 million Sunday. And, unlike Kerry who raised his money from big donors on the day after he won the key primaries that secured him the Democratic nod, Paul is raising his money when it could actually help his quest for the Republican nomination.

Where the senator from Massachusetts was the insider collecting money from donors to rival candidates who now wanted to get on board with his already successful campaign, the congressman from Texas is a classic insurgent who is still dismissed by party leaders and media elites.

And Paul is continuing to raise money - largely small contributions from individuals who in many cases have never before given money to a campaign - at a remarkable rate.

The congressman's campaign is dramatically exceeding fundraising expectations in the current quarter. The campaign's unreasonable goal of $12 million has been exceeded by more than 50 percent already and there is every reason to believe that Paul will almost certainly finish the quarter with more than $20 million raised.

Paul could well end up raising more than any of the other Republican contenders and providing the only serious competition for Democratic money leaders Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

But what is really fascinating about Paul's enormous haul of December 16 - in an effort organized by music promoter Trevor Lyman, a Paul enthusiast with no previous political experience - is that it drew 24,940 new donors to the campaign in a single day.
What's the trick?

Lyman, who raised more than $4.3 million for Paul on a single day in November, times his "money bomb" appeals to days that have deep historical resonance for those who fancy themselves insurgents against the current order.

The November appeal came on November 5, the anniversary of attempt by Guy Fawkes to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London.

Sunday's appeal was timed to coincide with the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party.

Paul now has enough money to be a serious presence in the caucuses and primaries through the winter - he's currently tied with John McCain in Iowa and posting credible numbers in New Hampshire - and into the spring.

That means that Lyman may have an opportunity to make an appeal on April 19, the anniversary of "the shot heard round the world" skirmishes at Lexington and Concord that anticipated the American Revolution.

Paul's campaign refers to itself as "The Ron Paul Revolution" and there can be no doubt any longer that it is revolutionizing the way in which grassroots fundraising plays out in American presidential campaigns. Now, the question is whether Paul's crusade can revolutionize the campaign game itself by using the money to upset the political order. Even those who do not share his "Old Right" libertarian views - which tend to be throwbacks to the stay-out-of-trouble abroad and keep-government-small at home positions espoused by Republican Senator Robert Taft in the 1940s and 1950s - can and should be encouraged by the fact that a candidate is breaking the rules and getting a resounding response from grassroots donors.

If Republican primary voters follow - even in reasonable numbers - then Ron Paul's campaign really will be a revolution. And he will be the 2008 candidate who is remembered for doing something that can matter more than winning a party nomination or a November election, and that is changing the politics of a country that needs every new approach to altering a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo.

[ramos937]

Even if Paul is not the GOP nominee, he has brought some important messages to the forefront. The chief one is that ordinary common every day folks want us out of Iraq ASAP. Another, is that we need to butt out of other country''s affairs.

Both parties ignore these - and other messages - at their peril.

[lsj256go]

Thank you CBS for reporting the news, instead of bias attack on Ron Paul like many other media outlet have done. I am one of those disenchanted republican who left the party in 2004. When I was watching the debate, Ron Paul was the only person that made any sense and made me a believer in our system of government. He is not perfect and I don''t agree with all of his views. But his integrity for standing up for the truth instead of caving to political pressure has made me to donate to any politician for the first time in my life. I''m meeting people in my neighborhood who feel the same way. 2008 will be an exciting year!

[Razzl]

Paul, and all of the other Republicans, are raising their money from the same shrinking pool of Republican voters. While the money will help, it''s still being raised from among the 25% of the electorate who are still willing to buy into what the Republican party has become. The Evangelicals can tithe for a candidate but it still wouldn''t change their numbers at the polls. The 2004 Democrats raised their funds from a broad population including Republican moderates who are changing their registration and independents who are disgusted with right-wing ideology. Which revolution has the best chance of bringing what kind of change? The Huckabees and Pauls only guarantee the end of the GOP will be honest and dignified rather than a cynical Rove-driven affair; but they won''t prevail by a long shot...

[trillion1]

The GOP can ignore him all they want but he is the only Republican we would vote for in the last 15 years.

[bigal321321]

Okay, here''s the way it works for me. Of all the Democratic contenders my vote goes to John Edwards. Simply because I''m a Democrat but if John doesn''t get the nomination then it''s my choice to vote for whoever I think is the best man for the job. I don''t agree with everything that Ron Paul says but I to appreciate his standing up to his own party and giving them the raspberries. Libertarian or not he has some of the best ideas out there among all the candidates. Ron Paul could be the guy who turns this country around unless, of course he gets pounded by K street, which is likely. Everyman (or women) has a price. Let''s see if Ron can hang on to his ideals and morals.

[thirty3na3rd]

Thank you for the great report, John. I have to admit being very hesitant to follow a news link to this site since so many news stories about Ron Paul here have been in the category of yellow journalism. I am pleased to see that you have done an admirable job of keeping it fair and balanced.

[tennvoter]

I don''t refer to myself as a part of any revolution, I''m just an ordinary American citizen with kids and grandkids who has never voted in my whole life. I have never wanted to vote before because there has never been a candidate I liked or believed in. Now there is. Ron Paul''s ideas and belief''s may seem unbelievable to some but on the other hand, some of our greatest people in history were called kooks and crazy. Think of how many things we enjoy today that wouldn''t be here if not for some crazy ancestors who didn''t give up just because someone thought their belief''s were impossible and crazy. Ron Paul gets my vote this election and he should get yours. If you have any iota of self control left in you, go read up on him. Don''t just sit in front of a TV and let the media vote for you because they aren''t giving you the whole story and they don''t care about your kids or grandkids. Only you can make the right choice ! Take the time to investigate for yourself. Then you can make an informed vote.

[brettrix]

Ron Paul is honest and speaks the truth. Look at our currency and economy and why does no other candidate talk about that problem?
If you love liberty and believe in the Free and the Brave - please research Ron Paul and god willing, vote for this man in the primaries. we need everyone''s vote... tell your elders about ROn Paul and that he won''t drop them from medicare or social security = but he will push for my generation to opt-out of this unconsitutional dependancy

Thanks,
brettris
ronpaul.meetup.com/941

[greginclovis]

Thank you for the article. Ron Paul has my support. I am 44 years of age, married with two children. I am not a kook, I am not a radical, I am not a racist and neither are any of the Ron Paul supporters I have met here in Central California. I have donated and voted for the Republican party all my life. My Republican party is making a mistake by ignoring and criticizing us. Ron Paul has awakened us and changed us forever.

[greginclovis]

Thank you for the article. Ron Paul has my support. I am 44 years of age, married with two children. I am not a kook, I am not a radical, I am not a racist and neither are any of the Ron Paul supporters I have met here in Central California. I have donated to and voted for the Republican party all my life. My Republican party is making a mistake by ignoring and criticizing us. Ron Paul has awakened us and changed us forever.

[greginclovis]

Thank you for the article. Ron Paul has my support. I am 44 years of age, married with two children. I am not a kook, I am not a radical, I am not a racist and neither are any of the Ron Paul supporters I have met here in Central California. I have donated to and voted for the Republican party all my life. My Republican party is making a mistake by ignoring and criticizing us. Ron Paul has awakened us and changed us forever.

[colihondro-2009]

Well I am glad CBS reprinted this article, but it still doesn''t get them back in my good graces with all the other news they have totally blacked out about Ron Paul!

RON PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2008!!!

[jatcagirl]

it''s very satisfying to read an article like this. (i had to double-check that this was from CBS.) good job!! now please, please get this story on the air :-)

[jatcagirl]

it''s very satisfying to read an article like this. (i had to double-check that this was from CBS.) good job!! now please, please get this story on the air :-)

[aleblanc14]

Fantastic article!

[chip8989]

Wonderful article! It pleases me to see Ron Paul''s campaign getting the attention it deserves for the amazing things it is making happen.

[jatcagirl]

it''s very satisfying to read an article like this. (i had to double-check that this was from CBS.) good job!! now please, please get this story on the air :-)

[jatcagirl]

it''s very satisfying to read an article like this. (i had to double-check that this was from CBS.) good job!! now please, please get this story on the air :-)

[michelle279]

Thank you for the wonderful article! Just for the record, I am not a lunatic, fanatic, racist, pot smoking nut. I am a 35 year old mother of two who was registered democrat until I learned about Ron Paul. I switched party affiliation so that I could vote for him in the primaries. This is a real revolution and it feels SO GOOD to be a part of it. I can''t wait to see the results in Iowa and New Hampshire. THEN, maybe Ron Paul won''t be ignored any longer.

[hedge-fund]

Ron Paul is the only GOP candidate that speaks truth and doesn''t pander to special interest groups. There is a reason why his followers are fervent supporters.

Restore the Republic and the Constitution!

[jatcagirl]

it''s very satisfying to read an article like this. (i had to double-check that this was from CBS.) good job!! now please, please get this story on the air :-)

[ebinrock]

Shykk,

Why vote for "the lesser of two evils"? Vote for the best person for America, that''s RON PAUL!

[greginclovis]

Thank you for the article. Ron Paul has my support. I am 44 years of age, married with two children. I am not a kook, I am not a radical, I am not a racist and neither are any of the Ron Paul supporters I have met here in Central California. I have donated to and voted for the Republican party all my life. My Republican party is making a mistake by ignoring and criticizing us. Ron Paul has awakened us and changed us forever.

[seanone23]

Awesome article. Ron Paul is the only clear choice for the Republican Nomination. He will have the funds needed, and if it isnt clear already, he has the support of this country. I have never voted before, and I just registered (R) to vote Ron Paul in the primaries. The people have spoken. How much longer can the mainstream media ignore him and his massive following? We will see after New Hampshire and Iowa are won. Who wouldnt vote for Ron Paul? Its time for change, join the rEVOLution!!!!

[missykender]

If you want to get a good idea of how a president would run his fiscal policy while in the White House, take a look at how they are currently managing the finances in their campaigns at http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/index.asp?cycle=2008. In line with his policy of low government spending, and voting ONLY for a managed budget throughout his congressional career, Ron Paul has ZERO campaign debts, while Mitt Romney has "loaned" his campaign millions of money from his own pockets, and McCain, Clinton, and Obama also have campaign debts in the 7-digit figures.

Ron Paul is the frugal guy who used to fly commercial planes to get to campaign stops, and buy his office supplies from Sam''s Club. Now he can afford to spend some of his influx of cash to introduce himself to the millions of people who''ve never heard of him: Here''s hoping we see a Superbowl ad or two!

[clestes-2009]

Another sign that the reps are in trouble. If an outsider like Ron Paul is gathering that many reps to his cause, it means the rep population doesn''t like any the whitebread bushies candidates. They want serious change.

I like Ron Paul. He owes nothing to big business, big oil, defense contractors or lobbiests. He would preside using the Constitution as his guide and frankly we have gotten to far away from it.

You go Ron!

[taxguydave]

Ron Paul may not be K Street''s man, but he sure is Wall Street''s man!

Not only does he want to privatize Social Security (and hand your money over to Wall Street), he also wants to give the wealthy in America their biggest tax cut ever, while giving the poor their biggest tax increase ever.

Way to go! If you earn less than $200,000 a year, though, you may want to rethink your support for this guy.

[pollroller1]

I would love to see this man become president, but it will never happen. For one thing, the news media will never ever give him the exposure that the other candidates get.

[johng29]

I do have reservations about Paul. Like most libertarians, he is much weaker on environmental issues than I would like. But I support him anyway because he is right on everything else. We have an annual federal deficit of $500 billion, funded by Japanese, Chinese, and Saudis. Nobody else is even talking about this, never mind proposing a solution. Ending the empire will save about $400 billion a year, so by bringing *all* the troops home the deficit can be shrunk to $100 billion. Do we really need the Department of Education? It didn''t even exist when I went to high school, and public schools were better then than they are now. So Paul is right -- zero out the DOE and save another $55 billion. Cut out a few tens of billions more here and there and we''ll finally have a balanced budget.

Every other politician wants us to collapse into debt slavery.

[rastice-2009]

Welcome to the Revolution CBS! We thought we were being quite clear. "Money Bombs", "Guy Fawkes", "Tea Parties" in a city called Boston, Ron Paul Revolutionary Radio (rrpr.com), blimps. This is a virtual revolution. Group think mainstream media is finally starting to get it that the internet is changing everything. We can now get our information unfiltered and raw. "We, the people" can now choose our own leaders instead of having them chosen for us. We choose Ron Paul. Thanks for the article, it was nicely done. Viva la Revolution!

Dr. Ron Paul''s foundation for the way this country should be is the constitution. Don''t you remember being taught in school how wonderful our constitution is because its the only one in the world like it? America is the most free country in the world they taught us. But now, half of the Bill of Rights have been violated and Americans are NOT ok with that. You can''t just fix one amendment and leave the other out to dry like what other politians might suggest. Dr. Paul wants our free nation back, restore ALL civil liberties, limit the government''s wasteful spending, and allow Americans a better life by allowing them to be FREE!
-Remember the elderly of this nation facing Nazi Germany and the Japanese during WW2?
-Remember our soldiers from Vietnam and Korea?
-Remember Samuel Adams?
%u201CA general dissolution of principles and manners will more surely overthrow the liberties of America than the whole force of the common enemy. While the people are virtuous they cannot be subdued; but when once they lose their virtue then will be ready to surrender their liberties to the first external or internal invader.%u201D

-Samuel Adams

[dredre2k]

"I would love to see this man become president, but it will never happen. For one thing, the news media will never ever give him the exposure that the other candidates get"---pollroller1

Well stated... it seems like the media doesn''t even give him the time of day. He has a lot more supporters than the media is admitting. It seems like someone encouraged the media to start propping up "Hucka-butt" a few weeks ago and now they won''t stop showing him.

While I don''t agree with some of Ron Paul''s positions, I believe Ron Paul would take this country in a fresh direction. He supports ending the war and cutting the power of the federal reserve in the creation (and waste) of money.Would love to see Paul become the Republican nominee ... although MY money is on Hillary or Obama for president!
Go Paul!

[john2741]

This was a fair article, so thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[john2741]

This was a fair article, so thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[john2741]

This was a fair article, so thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[john2741]

This was a fair article, so thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[john2741]

This was a fair article, so thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[john2741]

This was a fair article, thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[taxguydave]

"Do we really need the Department of Education? It didn''''t even exist when I went to high school, and public schools were better then than they are now."

WOW! You must be REALLY frikkin'' old! The Department of Education was established in 1867 by (Republican) President U.S. Grant.

Libertarians just want to destroy public education, Social Security and Medicare because they think that they themselves will never be among the needy, so screw everyone else.

[linuxman2]

The Ron Paul Revolution is gaining momentum...It''s time to take America back!

http://www.prezronpaul.com

[trans-mutant]

Refreshing to see coverage by ABC that''s not twisted. Maybe this is the cue for other main-stream media to drop the campaign and get honest about covering Ron Paul.

[caloyd74]

Thank you so much for the exposure that Dr.Ron Paul deserves. Face it, we can not afford our current foreign policy. Will any of the other candidates do the right thing? History has shown otherwise. Ron Paul the saviour of our Constitution!

[zombywoof1bd]

BEAUTIFUL ARTICLE!!! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! CBS and The Nation for acknowledging what is going on and the forces that are driving what will eventual make Ron Paul our next president - for he is the last great and only hope to save our country.

[ronatpegasus]

Great article for a change. Like the little engine who thought he could, we - Paulites - need to realize that not only do we "think" we can - WE CAN Win! It may be an uphill battle and and "untelevised revolution" but it can succeed. Tell all your friends to read about Ron and decide for themselves. We don''t have to sell Ron - we simply have to get the word out that there is an HONEST man running for the office. The message will sell itself! Go Ron!

[ronatpegasus]

Great article for a change. Like the little engine who thought he could, we - Paulites - need to realize that not only do we "think" we can - WE CAN Win! It may be an uphill battle and and "untelevised revolution" but it can succeed. Tell all your friends to read about Ron and decide for themselves. We don''t have to sell Ron - we simply have to get the word out that there is an HONEST man running for the office. The message will sell itself! Go Ron!

[bkusz]

We do not ask for glowing BS positive reports for our candidate, we are just asking for fair and balanced reporting. That was a truly fair and balanced article. Thank you CBS!

[john2741]

This was a fair article, thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[john2741]

This was a fair article, thanks to John Nichols!

This line caught my attention, "a corrupt and dysfunctional status quo."
We are tired of the corrupt system and fake non-choices of depublican vs. remocrat. Their difference is how much more they are going to tax/spend and fight overseas.

Dr. Ron Paul is a change, and we are ready for change. We may not agree with everything Dr. ROn Paul says, but we agree that federal government is too big and the problems start there. Everyone ready to try something different?

[speron1]

Taxguydave, you are slightly misinformed about the Department of Education. While the original department was formed in 1867, it was radically changed after WW2 and the cabinet level Department of Education was formed by Congress in 1980. The current DoE is far far different than the STATE based department of 1867 which collected basic INFORMATION to assist schools in meeting eduational needs.

[drarchitect]

JFK issued currency in 1963 under Executive order 11110.

This order allows the US to print money without having to pay interest to the Federal Reserve.

Within months of printing this money, JFK was assassinated.

JFK was the only the second president to print money using Executive Order 11110, the other was Lincoln. John Wilkes Booth testified before he was hanged that the international bankers paid him to shoot Lincoln. International bankers are primary owners of the Federal Reserve.



WHY ARE WE PAYING THE FEDERAL RESERVE INTEREST ON THE MONEY IT CREATES OUT OF THIN AIR WHEN THE US GOVERNMENT HAS THE CONSTITUTIONAL POWER TO ISSUE CURRENCY WITHOUT DEBT ATTACHED TO IT? WHY?

Ron paul will Pull the curtain back and save our country from ''interest on the national debt''.

Incidentally, the interest the US pays to the Federal Reserve equals the money collected from the IRS. the FED and the IRS were enacted the same year...

Now you know why Ron Paul collected record amounts on the anniversary of the Boston tea party - protesting against unfair taxes. People are waking up and want a return to constitution government.

here''s a starting point for this story: h ttp://video.google. com/videoplay?docid=5232639329002339531 (remove spaces)