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.

[macusweil]

Well done. What a great piece thanks! I''ve donated, passed out RP biz cards to everyone I know and have a RP bumper sticker on both cars. You can bet I''m voting for Congressman Ron Paul NOT Rudy G in the NYS Feb 5th GOP Primary.

[mickey112464]

Thank you for the great article John. Thank you for standing up for freedom of the press. Seems like all the other ones in the media are practicing censorship. There%u2019s no freedom there that I see. These are the very freedoms all of us are fighting for. I wonder what%u2019s going to happen to them when President Paul takes office.

Iowa Christians for Ron Paul. Friends and neighbors in Iowa make sure you%u2019re in Walcott or any other precinct in Iowa on January 3rd.

[caravaggio3]

All Ron Paul supporters - remember to register ASAP as republicans if you haven''t already.
Then go vote for him in the primaries, come rain or shine!

[caravaggio3]

Decent article, thanks.
Only a couple faults - why "insurgents"? We are American citizens participating in our government, as is our right. Using that word to describe us is insulting, and maybe even a purposeful attempt to conjure up comparisons to the "insurgents" in Iraq?

[kodachrome1]

what a great article! Informative, fair, and not haughtily dismissive of Dr. Paul or his beliefs. It''s even dosed with an impressive understanding of history! Well done indeed.

RonPaul2008!

[mickrussom]

If you want the standard of living you are used to to exist, and you to be paid in real money, vote for Ron Paul.

If you do not, well, the 1900''s are filled with examples on what a faltering currency and war does to countries.

[mrtracker]

Quatrops:
I see multi posts on CBS more than anywhere, and it''s not just in RP articles. I think it''s just a result of their poor web site design.

And any questions about his level of support will be put to rest in the primaries.

[quatrops]

I suggested earlier that so many of you Paul supporters are doing his candidacy a disservice by posting multiple identical posts. You make it appear as though all his "numbers" are being padded. E.g., the number of "hits" on this (and other) websites, results of telephone polls, etc.

The fact that phone polls can''t be padded is beside the point. Your behavior here (multiple identical posts) will make many readers BELIEVE they are padded, and that his support is much more minimal than it appears ANYWHERE ! Why are you doing this to your candidate?

[sratiug]

Thanks for a positive article, Mr. Nichols, and CBS! America needs to hear the message of Dr. Ron Paul so that we can elect an honest and wise man president. Thank you!

[quote] should be encouraged by the fact that a candidate is breaking the rules and getting a resounding response from grassroots donors [/quote]

Actually it seems that Ron Paul is the only candidate in this presidential race who is actually *following* the rules! Inspiring popular support, respect for the Constitution, honest character, and a decades-long track record of honesty, respect, and outstanding ethics and prudent character and judgement. Ron Paul''s candidacy and popular support is how this political process is *supposed* to work.

[mardeleon]

WOW.....SIMPLY WOW!!!!

Not Wow because this is news to us, Ron Paul''s supporters, but because it gives us so much more hope! There are still journalists out there with values & ethics who are willing to stand up to the rest of their world & FIGHT them in their own way....hmmm sounds familiar----- Oh yeah, thats EXACTLY what Dr. Ron Paul has been doing for 20+ years! Thank you CBS & THANK YOU DR. RON PAUL, WE LOVE YOU! YOU ARE OUR HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!

[mardeleon]

WOW.....SIMPLY WOW!!!!

Not Wow because this is news to us, Ron Paul''s supporters, but because it gives us so much more hope! There are still journalists out there with values & ethics who are willing to stand up to the rest of their world & FIGHT them in their own way....hmmm sounds familiar----- Oh yeah, thats EXACTLY what Dr. Ron Paul has been doing for 20+ years! Thank you CBS & THANK YOU DR. RON PAUL, WE LOVE YOU! YOU ARE OUR HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!

[mardeleon]

WOW.....SIMPLY WOW!!!!

Not Wow because this is news to us, Ron Paul''s supporters, but because it gives us so much more hope! There are still journalists out there with values & ethics who are willing to stand up to the rest of their world & FIGHT them in their own way....hmmm sounds familiar----- Oh yeah, thats EXACTLY what Dr. Ron Paul has been doing for 20+ years! Thank you CBS & THANK YOU DR. RON PAUL, WE LOVE YOU! YOU ARE OUR HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!

[mardeleon]

WOW.....SIMPLY WOW!!!!

Not Wow because this is news to us, Ron Paul''s supporters, but because it gives us so much more hope! There are still journalists out there with values & ethics who are willing to stand up to the rest of their world & FIGHT them in their own way....hmmm sounds familiar----- Oh yeah, thats EXACTLY what Dr. Ron Paul has been doing for 20+ years! Thank you CBS & THANK YOU DR. RON PAUL, WE LOVE YOU! YOU ARE OUR HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOW!

[mvtcwendy]

Thank you CBS for printing this article! The blatant attempt by most of the mainstream media to ignore Ron Paul shows how badly we need a man like Ron Paul as President. This country is heading in the wrong direction, and the media is right in the Bush''s and Clinton''s pockets. Even John McCain stated that Ron Paul is the most honest man in Washington.

[flyboeing-2009]

Ron Paul is a man of principle. He has turned down matching federal campaign funding, because of his stand on obeying the Constitution. He also is a non-participant in the plush elitist congressional retirement plan that our public servants have voted for themselves. And, he has been married to his first wife, now for over 50 years! Is there anyone else in politics who demonstrates this quality of character? Please vote our government back into the constraints of the Constitution, by supporting Ron Paul with your money, AND TIME!!!

[jacobwb7]

Ron Paul --- is the first candidate that I really am proud to say I''m voting for.
God Bless America, and God Bless Ron Paul

[420greg]

Dr. Paul curred my apathy.

[talesin-2009]

Sorry. How many times in your life do you think you will have the opportunity to Vote for such a man?

[talesin-2009]

And if you don''t believe the system can change, feel free to join the crowds who thought the civil rights movement was up against too many entrenched ideas. Teddy Roosevelt was of similar ethics and fought against the corrupt status quo, and he became president despite the fact that the entrenched "powers that be" didn''t want him there. Heck, our country was founded by farmers who fought against the greatest empire of their era and won. Yes, it was hard and they had help eventually, but they did what should have been impossible. So has Ron Paul. He has maintained his integrity in Washington D.C.! Seriously, how many times in your life do you think you will have the opportunity to vote