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.

---

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.

[moralright]

Thanks for one of the few articles that truly captures the Ron Paul Revolution

[moostraks-2009]

Thank you for such a well spoken article. I am glad to see the youth of the freedom movement so accurately described. I am also glad to see the accuracy in reporting the excitement towards the message. Dr.Paul happens to be the brave man who has stepped forward to carry the torch.

Ron Paul 2008!!!!!

Thank you so much for posting this informative article on the hundreds of college volunteers giving up their winter break to canvas for Congressman Paul.

I''ve been really surprised by not hearing much about Paul on CBS lately (particularly in the lists of things asked of the ''top ten'' candidates by Katie Couric). So thank you CBS for posting some news about him. Plenty of indicators (straw polls, fundraising [especially in terms of sheer numbers of unique voters donating], post-debate cell-phone polls make Paul a stand-out, top-tier candidate.

I will certainly be voting for him on February 5th!

[okcitykid]

Great article, thank you so much CBS.

Great article! Not just because I''m a Ron Paul supporter but also because I enjoy good writing skills.

Looking forward to reading more of this kind of good old fashined new reporting!

Look out FOX News! The Sheriff (CBS) is back in town!

[jeffndallas]

Yes, "this" is our future...under a Ron Paul Presidency.

[toosense1]

I''m almost convinced journalism isn''t extinct... almost. Great article.

[caloyd74]

Thank you for the article!
Sincerely
a Dr.Ron Paul supporter

[vtelles2]

Thank you for the TRUTH!!!!

[fitzonetj]

Nice article. It is rare to see an article that involves actual reporting. Most of them seem to just take whatever message a campaign puts out and runs with it. I knew there were a lot of young people supporting Ron Paul, but this article is eye opening. These are well informed, educated, intelligent ''kids'' that seem to be doing great work to advance the cause of the Ron Paul campaign.

I can''t wait for real votes to be cast so I can see just how real this Ron Paul Revolution has become.
I will be voting for him, that much I know for sure.

[truth1776]

Thanks so much for the great article about the Christmas Vacation volunteers. I was a volunteer the first week in Iowa and you described the volunteers very accurately. The only radicalization in the group is a bunch of people talking about the constitution and the bills that have been passed that threaten our liberties. We talked about history, we talked about other governments and what worked and didn''t work, we talked about authors that we liked and we talked about what we were going to do. The boys outnumbered the girls when I was there but the girls knew their stuff better than the guys. The nice thing about meeting other ROn Paul supporters your age is that you have so many different ideas, so many different opinions yet the common thread is the preservation of our liberties and we could always find common ground in that. Some people may think that is pretty radical. Go Ron Paul.

[blakmira]

Thank you for the article!!

Here''s why I don''t believe in polls and why you
shouldn''t either:

The GOP Straw Poll has removed all 10,651+ of
Ron Paul''s votes formerly found in archive. He''s now
been TOTALLY removed from the list of candidates.

See the 21,219 ballots cast on archived page versus
10,433 ballots cast 4 months later -- they deleted all
10,651 of Ron Paul''s votes (plus apparently 135 more
votes since archive date, if you do the math)

Aug 23, 2007 page:
http://web.archive.org/web/20070629032832/www.gopstrawpolls.com/pollresults.php

January 2, 2008 page:
http://www.gopstrawpolls.com/pollresults.php

The Height of Irony? -- The GOP is selling a book
called "Caucus of Corruption: The Truth about the New
Democratic Majority" on this website -- when their own
Republican poll on this page is corrupt!

Ron Paul''s historical fundraising and hordes of
supporters growing daily speaks loud and clear. Don''t
let the "polls" keep you from voting for Ron Paul
because you think he ''doesn''t have a chance.''

[janet0116]

Wonderful article. Writing style is top-notch. This analogy is pure poetry, and describes the whole Ron Paul movement better than I have seen anywhere else.

"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."

[tnx4realnews]

I''ve never signed up for a site just to add a comment before but the honesty and character of this article deserved the effort. If CBS makes it a point to put real journalism like this front and center I''ll make it a point to support CBS. Just when I was about to cancel my cable TV subscription and give up on the media as being sold out completely this gem shines through.

This was an amazingly well written article. Journalism at it''s best, I mean that. I haven''t seen a great "Look behind the scenes" article in awhile. It''s great when you see groups going the extra distance to find out what''s really going on. I have been finding myself discouraged my much of of the media over these past few months with this election cycle, and I think CBS just gained a new viewer.

Thank you again for the great coverage.

[bejeezus-2009]

I''m not a student of a young age, but a student of many things, nevertheless. I''m a self-employed businessman well past 50.

Though I can''t say I will ever trust CBS, I can honestly say I''m inspired by the veracity of this article writer''s observations of the Paul volunteers in Iowa.

It is, after all, these young people who give me the greatest ''hope for America'' - as does the candidate they so nobly represent.

From my own personal observation... ''we, the people'' will never go quietly into the night... and CBS News honchos can take that one to the bank!

Unlike all the other candidates'' campaigns in this election cycle, ''our'' movement springs from a groundswell of alert, informed supporters... growing by leaps and bounds... on a minute-by-minute basis.

So much so, in fact, that no matter the results of this grossly-manipulated election, I foresee a time... very soon... when millions of like-minded, patriotic, and freedom-loving Americans... from across the phony divisions which weaken us... will unite... as the new 21st century ''minutemen.''

And I would welcome this reporter to join us... in a heartbeat!

"Freedom is popular!" - Ron Paul

[jj11123]

Great article! CBS News is earning some respect from me!

For all the readers who do not know much about Ron Paul''s positions, simply Google "Ron Paul 2008" or YouTube "Ron Paul".

Support the Constitution and the Bill of Rights!
Support Ron Paul 2008!

[d_fens_65]

While Fox excludes CBS is fair and balanced. I''ll remeber this.

[USAF Vet Dan]

BRAVO! Wonderful article! ...and I say that not because it lacked the usual anti-Paul bias, but it was factual and simply a great piece of journalism.

On your question as to whether or not older RP supporters were as astute on the issues, Constitution, etc., as these young volunteers, let me assure you that we are. The fact that Ron Paul lacks the plastic "Joe Isuzu" persona leads to the real reasons he has so much diverse support: his platform and his honesty / trustworthiness.

At first glance of the RP platform, those who are uneducated about the Constitution and have come to accept foreign aid, nation building, high taxes, cradle-to-grave government programs, etc., see it as "extreme". Many Americans have been gradually lulled into accepting "unconstitutional government actions as "normal". But now the dollar is in a rapid decline, almost 4,000 American soldiers have been killed in Iraq - an occupation (not a war) into which we were all duped, and the Patriot Act has destroyed our rights to privacy, due process, and habeas corpus. These issues have caused many, many Americans to waking up. Ron Paul says what they have been thinking.

Too bad Fox News has decided to stifle Ron Paul''s message by excluding him from their upcoming presidential forum. I guess there are those who don''t want people to hear the "truth". At least Eve Fairbanks still knows what good journalism is all about. THANK YOU!

[fairandbal]

''ronpaulbots'' is a better term.

[cbranalli]

thank you Eve Fairbanks for a truly delightful piece of journalism. after all the muck and manipulation we have put up with from murdoch''s fox news o''reilly hannity malkin etc this is such a blessing.
and may God bless you my dear
charles ranalli
albuquerque new mexico

[cbranalli]

thank you Eve Fairbanks for a truly delightful piece of journalism. after all the muck and manipulation we have put up with from murdoch''s fox news o''reilly hannity malkin etc this is such a blessing.
and may God bless you my dear
charles ranalli
albuquerque new mexico

[brettrix]

I will keep reading CBS News website and TV programs - i appreciate honest reporting on an interesting movement here in America.

Good Job

[collin28-2009]

The greatest feat in Dr. Paul%u2019s amazing performances may not be what has been witnessed by the masses, but what has been hidden from them. For this record breaking candidate has attained this profound notoriety while being virtually censored by every major news establishment, including the Republican party.
Ron Paul is certainly the most magical presidential candidate in the race by far. Yet, he owes his accomplishments to genuine transparency and honesty, not sleight of hand. If he fails to produce a top tier finish right before your very eyes, it will only demonstrate that the prodigious conjuring of the American media has trumped him with a spellbinding illusion that he was simply no match for. Wake up America%u2026..
Take the poll%u2026Is Fox fair and balanced?

http://surveyg2.pollingpoint.com/v3r7RgTsGXrhg8

Dr. Paul should be included in all debates PERIOD%u2026

Dr. Ron Paul in 2008

[myidoncbs]

Some RP fan said:

"Here''s why I don''t believe in polls and why you
shouldn''t either:

The GOP Straw Poll has removed all 10,651+ of
Ron Paul''s votes formerly found in archive. He''s now
been TOTALLY removed from the list of candidates."

If this is true, then RP has no chance of winning the nomination, no matter what you people do or say. RP is running as a Republican. If the GOP (Republican party) is censoring his votes, then how can you expect him to win the Republican nomination? Your votes will not be counted. Finis.

[mikeketcher]

Ron Paul will go the distance. People are disgusted with politics as usual and want someone with honesty, integrity, and authenticity. For a great satire on the president, the mainstream media, and the war on terror, see this YouTube music video from the international award-winning zombie musical feature film, "Song of the Dead." It'' stars horror movie veteran Reggie Bannister (Phantasm, Wishmaster, Bubba Ho-tep) as the president of the U.S. The filmmaker, Chip Gubera, is giving a share of his profits from DVD sales to the Ron Paul campaign. Go to:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=qQmkkoxSKYw

[mammawtex]

Thanks Eve Fairbanks for this wonderful article. And I want to thank these young people for what they are doing. I''m a grandmother caring for 3 young children so I''m not able to be there to help, but I want you to know that I deeply appreciate it.

[cs4466]

Ron who?

[lawyertom1]

Ron is a nice nut. His policies are crazy and bizarre. Great for the 18th Century, but not for today. I can only explain his widespread student support with three words: booze and drugs.

[siempre33]

mketcher:
what straw poll are you referring to?
not that I doubt the validity [or definite possibility] of your claim, esp. after seeing the rigged AOL poll,
and the FoxNews poll, which was pulled before many even had a chance to see it....Dr. Paul won it, of course, and I think his grassroots popularity is spreading rapidly...yes, like a California wildfire...

[singletax]

Just want to thank you for a good article on the Dr. Paul campaign. It is possible for a MSM type to actually do the job in a professional manner.

Regarding those who think Ron Pauls'' ideas are from the 18th Century, I would say they originated at that time but they remain true to this day. Liberty and Freedom.

The other Republican opponents, all NEOCONs, grasp their ideas from the 12th Century when the crusades took place. Fear and perpetual war.

I''ll take the "age of enlightenment" over "religious barbarism" any day of the week.

Go Ron Paul. Happy New Year.

[random_radar]

I''ll take 18th century liberty over 21st century totalitarianism any day. I wish I lived in a free country!

[thewump-2009]

Good God, this article is epic. Thanks for taking time to get into the fray.

[macusweil]

LawyerTom1 you are the one who is out of touch or maybe just behind the curve. Sorry to say but the business as usual days of selling the wolf in sheep''s clothing to the disaffected youth of America are over.

In the immortal words of Twisted Sister~

"we''ve Got The Right To Choose And
there Ain''t No Way We''ll Lose It
this Is Our Life, This Is Our Song
we''ll Fight The Powers That Be Just
don''t Pick Our Destiny ''cause
you Don''t Know Us, You Don''t Belong

oh We''re Not Gonna Take It
no, We Ain''t Gonna Take It
oh We''re Not Gonna Take It Anymore"

I''m not a youth anymore but have always been an "A" student in history and Ron Paul has it right.

The noble Congressman from Texas will have my vote Feb 5th in the New York state GOP primary.

Long live Ron Paul!!

[idlepugilist]

So Paul supporters report the Barack supporters are the easiest to "convert". Impressionable youth, those of us who have Lived through many elections salute your energy for Ron Paul. I''m glad you''re active and eager to participate in the big vote next November.
However, it''s going to take more than utopian ideals to gain traction in the big race. If you''re disgusted with "politics as usual", you''ll have to realize that observers of Ron Paul easily categorize him into "politics as usual". Every campaign has someone who wants to change America. Jimmy Carter was that guy after the Nixon/Ford years, but his intellect was delivered as arrogance and ignorance of how to gain support across the aisles. Experienced voters know Ron Paul''s type, and we like to read what he has to say to spur conversation. In the end, you can be "sick" about Huck and Obama all you want, but you''ve probably blinded yourselves to what they are really saying.

[idlepugilist]

Go Huck! Go Hillary! We''re already over 20 years behind Great Britain in having a woman leader, and Muslims would suddenly go blind worldwide as they roll their eyes back into their heads knowing the most powerful figure in the world is a woman. Too many men are still afraid of this.

[idlepugilist]

So a Paul supporter believes he knows, as a 21 year old, better than everyone else why America got into WWII. John McCain tied Ron Paul into Isolationist views similar to Republicans of the late ''30''s. Everything I''ve read about Ron Paul validates McCain. It would be interesting to know if these youthful supporters of Paul know the pact Japan and Germany had, or about blockades of oil to Japan for attacking China. But that''s trivia, and Paul supporters need to buck up on what Isolationism really means. Ron Paul words are lively, good intentioned, isolationist, and wouldn''t know how to handle the EPA tussle with California.

[macusweil]

IdlePugilist as stated before good students of history agree with Ron Paul. Sad to say and you and McCain apparently were both rolling phat ones in the boys room during American history 101. The treaty that ended World War I and a global depression started World War II not the US Republican party of the 1030''s. LOL

Google "Treaty of Versailles" then twist up another one and go vote for Hillary or McCain if you love BIG government and the military industrial complex which is bankrupting America. Soon the Arabs and Chinese will own you.

[macusweil]

meant GOP of 1930''s

[tquigly]

Thank you for this Absolutely Wonder-full article !!
At points, reading about the respect, consideration, dedication, education and intelligence of these young people brought me close to the cliff of tears.
The times they are a changin''
RonPaul2008 !!

[foolprophet]

That wasn''t a show of manners, The kids are Ron Paul Zombies

Thank you for this Absolutely Worthless !!
At points, reading about the sheep intelligence of these young people brought me close to jumping off a cliff. Barf.

[bejeezus-2009]

I''m not a student of a young age, but a student of many things, nevertheless. I''m a self-employed businessman well past 50.

Though I can''t say I will ever trust CBS, I can honestly say I''m inspired by the veracity of this article writer''s observations of the Paul volunteers in Iowa.

It is, after all, these young people who give me the greatest ''hope for America'' - as does the candidate they so nobly represent.

From my own personal observation... ''we, the people'' will never go quietly into the night... and CBS News honchos can take that one to the bank!

Unlike all the other candidates'' campaigns in this election cycle, ''our'' movement springs from a groundswell of alert, informed supporters... growing by leaps and bounds... on a minute-by-minute basis.

So much so, in fact, that no matter the results of this grossly-manipulated election, I foresee a time... very soon... when millions of like-minded, patriotic, and freedom-loving Americans... from across the phony divisions which weaken us... will unite... as the new 21st century ''minutemen.''

And I would welcome this reporter to join us... in a heartbeat!

"Freedom is popular!" - Ron Paul

[tquigly]

Contrasting ''foolprophet''s disrespect-full and ignorant ''barf'' comment, to the ChristmasVacation volunteers'' manners, and discussions of history and politics, demonstrates perfectly the difference between Ron Paul''s supporters vs. his detractors.

[coldbum]

Way to go CBS! Lets get this story on the evening news!

[cfin5]

John McCain, U.S. Senator

%u201CYou%u2019re working for the most honest man ( Ron Paul ) in Congress.%u201D
As told to Kent Snyder, Phoenix, AZ, 1988.

[cfin5]

Dr. Walter E. Williams, Department of Economics, George Mason University; Guest Host, Rush Limbaugh Talk Radio Program

%u201CIf the Framers of the Constitution were somehow to come back, Ron Paul is one of possibly only three people in Congress that they%u2019d even talk to.%u201D

[david1776]

Thank you very much for this article. I have been convinced for sometime that there is a real american inside of everyone who lives on the earth no matter where they are. The American Indian Spirit of freedom and respect for our land is the strongest energy on the earth. CBS has renewed my faith in this belief. Your reporter now feels what all of us who understand the truth of Dr. Paul words that has captured the hearts and minds of so many people in our land. With more articles like this and a Dr. Paul win in Iowa today, freedom is that much closer for all of us. Thank you so very much.

[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.

[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.

[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.