Ron Paul's Loyal Student Surrogates

The New Republic: Texas Congressman Gains Voter Attention With A Batch Of Young Volunteers

(The New Republic)  This column was written by Eve Fairbanks.

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I get to Ron Paul's headquarters in Des Moines just as an army of student volunteers is surging out of the doors, yelling and clutching signs. "This is the herd we can't contain!" one staffer laughs. ABC's Jake Tapper is taping a live segment in front of Mike Huckabee's neighboring headquarters, and it's time to make some mischief. The volunteers conform to a Washington reporter's expectations about Ron Paul youth - almost all boys, rowdy, eager to disrupt - until they don't.

The ABC guys are clearly charmed by the volunteers' enthusiasm, but they're also worried the kids will mess up the sound for the shot. As soon as the thirty or so volunteers figure this out, they politely troop back across Locust Street, gather in a neat clump on the corner, and fall silent. When Paul fans driving by honk at the crowd, this doesn't elicit a single happy "Woo!" from the now eerily well-behaved volunteers while the cameras are rolling. "McCain wants Huckabee to beat Romney, Huckabee wants McCain to beat Romney ... David?" Tapper is saying into the lens. Behind him, dozens of Ron Paul signs bob furiously and silently, giving the scene from the camera's perspective a ridiculous quality; I imagine it's something like watching a naval reporter talk about the positioning of two warships off-screen while, in the water behind him, dozens of frantic but polite shipwreck victims try to get the world's attention without shouting.

These volunteers' whole idea is to get the world's attention without shouting. They're the closest thing this race has to the Deaniacs of '04: Hundreds of young volunteers, who have traveled to Iowa on their own dime to knock on doors and make pleading phone calls. But where the Deaniacs got a reputation for being revved-up and angry, the Paul guys are pacific. At Paul's headquarters, they hesitate to bash other candidates, even when I goad them. They are unfailingly courteous, holding doors and always referring to their candidate as "Dr. Paul." They pepper me with curious questions. ("Are the police in Washington D.C. under federal or local authority?") After the taping, when the ABC cameraman observes to nobody in particular that "they remind me of Howard Dean's people," several of the volunteers urge him, "Don't say that!" as much to dissociate themselves from the Dean people's wildness as from Dean himself. "I know you meant it as a compliment," one especially young-looking volunteer in a pageboy cap reassures the cameraman, gently.

Paul's youth volunteer project, called "Ron Paul's Christmas Vacation" to entice students, was the brainchild of National Youth Coordinator Jeff Frazee, a low-key, 24-year-old Texas A&M grad whose swept blond hairdo makes him look more likely to pull out a skateboard than your typical campaign functionary. After getting themselves to Iowa, the students are given free bunks in one of seven camps spread over the state -- the Boone location, at a YMCA camp near Des Moines, has 70 Paulites; the Floyd camp, in the north, has 25; Cedar Rapids, 50; etc -- as well as cereal breakfasts, a $50 American Express debit card to buy lunches, and simple dinner catered by the Hy-Vee supermarket.

The volunteers posted at the Boone camp are the elect. They get to ride to and from camp in a red school bus called the "Constitution Coach," whose donor, a die-hard supporter, pre-decorated the sides with what look like the lyrics to a minstrel ballad to Ron Paul: "He is called Dr. No ... No U.N. No ICC." A special mix CD plays on the bus, with Ron Paul country, Ron Paul rap, even a take-off of Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" called "Ron Paul, Ron Paul." "Some of it is dumb, but the rap is the best," says Brittney Lowry, an accounting major from the University of Houston whose trip out here with her new husband, Adam Weibling, constitutes "kind of a honeymoon."

I follow the Constitution Coach out to the Boone camp for purposes of seeing what the Ron Paul youth are like when they're not putting on a show for Jake Tapper. I don't know what I was expecting. Or I do, but I'm embarrassed to say it now that I saw the reality of the Ron Paul youth camps. Let's just say that alcohol and all controlled substances are strictly prohibited for the entirety of Ron Paul's Christmas Vacation. "I tell them the party is January 3," says Frazee. To amuse themselves after an evening of phone-banking, they play Scrabble and Yahtzee.

Working the phones, the Boone volunteers have been assigned a list of independents. This means people who can be marked down as "YCs" - "Yes Caucus" - are few and far between, but they don't seem at all worried or discouraged. Barack Obama supporters are the easiest to "convert," they report. They're especially proud of the "mobile phone bank" they're using, a fleet of 225 go-phones purchased for the amazing deal of $50 each, 1,000 free minutes included. Despite Paul's sudden richesse - he's expected to have raised the most money of any GOP candidate in the fourth quarter - deals are very important to the Paul guys. Somebody at the camp calculated that riding the Constitution Coach rather than in cars is saving them $4,000 in gas. "Ron Paul runs his campaign like he might run his administration," an Arkansan named Nickel, who drives the coach, explains.

[slpdisk]

I find it interesting corporate media doesn''t want to touch Ron Paul. The only stories even CBS covers either start off with defamation or talk about Obama and Hilary under Ron Pauls CBS profile. Talk about biased censorship,
Get you news from the government and collect your paychecks. Don''t follow the real stories. . Once the rest of the world realizes you are bought and paid for what will become of your jobs,reputation,morals.Awwh why would you care as long as you get your paycheck let someone else do your job.

[mksaunders]

I am 57. I braved the registration here. Usually I do not. Some Ron Paul supporters in Oregon are as restrained as the ones described in this article. Some are not. The ones who are not really do not have another place to go, I think. This campaign is about liberty, and diversity is welcomed. Of course, we do not all agree on everything. We do agree on the toxicity of corruption and the necessity of beginning to deal with it. I am reminded of an outlook toward so-called "mental illness" that looks for strengths rather than diagnosis and enabling of weakness. I am also reminded of Paul Hawken''s book Blessed Unrest, which documents how spontaneous will to good can rise when need seems so great. A visiting IT consultant assured me that marches, like the one I participated in on New Year''s Day, are going on all over the country in spite of cold, wind, and rain. It was easy for me to think that this was only happening here on the Upper Left Coast, in a town proudly famous of and for its Weirdness. Thanks for a discovery-outlook on our movement. I am grateful to your editor as well, for allowing you to tell it as you saw it.

[mksaunders]

I am 57. I braved the registration here. Usually I do not. Some Ron Paul supporters in Oregon are as restrained as the ones described in this article. Some are not. The ones who are not really do not have another place to go, I think. This campaign is about liberty, and diversity is welcomed. Of course, we do not all agree on everything. We do agree on the toxicity of corruption and the necessity of beginning to deal with it. I am reminded of an outlook toward so-called "mental illness" that looks for strengths rather than diagnosis and enabling of weakness. I am also reminded of Paul Hawken''s book Blessed Unrest, which documents how spontaneous will to good can rise when need seems so great. A visiting IT consultant assured me that marches, like the one I participated in on New Year''s Day, are going on all over the country in spite of cold, wind, and rain. It was easy for me to think that this was only happening here on the Upper Left Coast, in a town proudly famous of and for its Weirdness. Thanks for a discovery-outlook on our movement. I am grateful to your editor as well, for allowing you to tell it as you saw it.

[tylenol6]

RON PAUL WILL WIN.........GO RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gileadrising]

Ron Paul is a great man but he will not win the Presidency. He will run in the general election as an Independent and may do fairly well. But, we all know the powers that be will never allow a man like Ron Paul to be President.

He has my vote no matter what!

[arthall33]

Thanks for a great article ....Ron Paul IS the only honest candidate that wants to bring this country back to rule of law, our constitution ,not the rule of a few elite.....

[angelgeeks]

As someone who is a 49 year old ''adult'' supporter of Dr. Ron Paul I just want to give a big shout out of "THANK YOU!" to the youth out there who support the message of Dr. Ron Paul. Despite Dr. Ron Paul being a substantive person it his more about his message that is resonating with the intellectuals coming up through the fog of smoke and mirrors that have been put in their way. Please continue on and not let your passion for what is right take a back seat to greed and corruption.
In addition it is somewhat refreshing to read a story from someone in the MSM who isn''t out to do a hit piece. Thank You TOO!

[gmartine1]

What a great article. Great job!

[politiciannc]

Dr. Ron Paul is the only one telling it like it is. for a very very long time 20 plus years ago.
Check this URL: http://forpresidentronpaul.blogspot.com/

This is my opinion as to why this is happening...
Young Americans from all parts of this beautiful country are awakening; he is the only one delivering the message that is reaching all three views, Republican, Democrats and Independents.
Do you know why? Well I do not claim to know all the variables that play into this but I bet the following has a big role and that is "We the People" are getting tired of manipulations, young Americans sees what is going on with their grandparents, where Medicare is a mess, social security is gone or running out and medication is to the roof, education is at all time high. In addition they see their parents struggling to pay the bills and getting by week by week. In the mean time the Goverment engage in undeclare Wars (Unconstitutional). We need to be aware of who is going to start to put an end to this otherwise we will end up like many other great countries from the past (Example: Rome, England, Spain, Greece).
Back then they were called Empires and they ended up bankrupt due to bad policies and many, many of their people suffered.

[liberteebell]

Thank you for a wonderful article! Freedom is popular AND infectious!

As for the Ron Paul "adults", there are a lot of us and we too, revere the Constitution and the American ideal. As you discovered, although we love the "righteous grandfather" or "rock star" Ron Paul is, it is indeed the message that has sparked this revolution and united so many people from so many backgrounds. These people are Americans who love America and what it''s supposed to stand for. My meetup group consists of 300+ people from every age (17 to 76), background, race and political philosophy imaginable. It''s incredible and I marvel at this every day!

When people stand on street corners waving home-made signs on a Friday night or choose The Federalist Papers for light reading, you know something special is going on.

I believe that when the votes come in, Ron Paul is going to surprise a lot of people. Regardless, the genie is out of the bottle and it''s out to stay. This is just the beginning...

[robertkjjj]

Student surrogates? Ha! More like legions of mindless naive robots. We are fast approaching Paul''s speedy return to anonymity. After he gets only 3-4 % of the vote in the first 2-3 states, he''ll drop out and go off to a very nice retirement home to spend all the millions that his little robots gave him , and spend the next 15 years boring all the other geriatrics with tales of "the days when I was almost President". When he finally croaks, he''ll be the answer to a trivia question: who was crazier than Ross Perot?

[standlee5]

Ron Paul is the best presidential candidate we''ve seen in decades. He''d return the country to sanity.

[daws711]

Ron Paul is awesome. If anyone saw the Wolf Blitzer interview yesterday, you would vote for Dr. Paul too. The guy is honest, and he wants to stop government waste, make the dollar strong again, bring home all troops & take care of own people first. What a refreshing change !!! America has been needing this guy as President for a LONG time.

[liberteebell]

Thank you for a wonderful article! Freedom is popular AND infectious!

As for the Ron Paul "adults", there are a lot of us and we too, revere the Constitution and the American ideal. As you discovered, although we love the "righteous grandfather" or "rock star" Ron Paul is, it is indeed the message that has sparked this revolution and united so many people from so many backgrounds. These people are Americans who love America and what it''s supposed to stand for. My meetup group consists of 300+ people from every age (17 to 76), background, race and political philosophy imaginable. It''s incredible and I marvel at this every day!

When people stand on street corners waving home-made signs on a Friday night or choose The Federalist Papers for light reading, you know something special is going on.

I believe that when the votes come in, Ron Paul is going to surprise a lot of people. Regardless, the genie is out of the bottle and it''s out to stay. This is just the beginning...

[liberteebell]

Thank you for a wonderful article! Freedom is popular AND infectious!

As for the Ron Paul "adults", there are a lot of us and we too, revere the Constitution and the American ideal. As you discovered, although we love the "righteous grandfather" or "rock star" Ron Paul is, it is indeed the message that has sparked this revolution and united so many people from so many backgrounds. These people are Americans who love America and what it''s supposed to stand for. My meetup group consists of 300+ people from every age (17 to 76), background, race and political philosophy imaginable. It''s incredible and I marvel at this every day!

When people stand on street corners waving home-made signs on a Friday night or choose The Federalist Papers for light reading, you know something special is going on.

I believe that when the votes come in, Ron Paul is going to surprise a lot of people. Regardless, the genie is out of the bottle and it''s out to stay. This is just the beginning...

[cfin5]

NonUSA,.......Thank you very much for your wonderful compliment!

[NonUSAObserver]

How lovely to read this uplifting article, I am not an American but I feel you Americans should feel proud that you have fostered a young generation who are not apathetic and who take an interest in their future! These enthusiastic Dr. Ron Paul supporters are setting a wonderful example of being responsible citizens to young and old world wide. Thank you for covering this event and being of service to all of us who wish to see the youth of today grow up in a world where good sound principles and values reign.

[mickrussom]

Ron Paul isnt about students, its about liberty, and everyone finds liberty far more uniting than the identity politics of the lame stream media and the military industrial complex.

[foolprophet]

"The volunteers conform to a Washington reporter''s expectations about Ron Paul youth - almost all boys, rowdy, eager to disrupt - until they don''t."

The key phrase here is "-until they don''t" Translation: they disrupted until they realized the reporter was a Ron Paul supporter.

Their real purpose is to execute disruption right out of Carl Rove''s play book for GW Bush''s election:

These squads should be instructed always to look for demonstrators or detractors. The rally squad''''s task is to use their signs and banners as shields between the demonstrators and the main press platform. If the demonstrators are yelling, rally squads can begin and lead supportive chants to drown out the protestors (USA!,USA!,USA!). The rally squads can include, but are not limited to, college/young republican organizations, local athletic teams, and fraternities/sororities.

[jdweymouth]

All the liberals here who are salivating over Ron Paul do realize, I hope, that he is indeed a conservative?

I desperately want him to be president, but liberals seem to be lost in la-la land in regards to Iraq and I do want to make clear that there is more to a candidate then his/her stance on Iraq.