Ron Paul's Loyal Student Surrogates

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

(The New Republic)  Actually, if the candidates were judged by the quality of their young supporters, I would now be voting for Ron Paul. Beyond just being polite, the Paul volunteers have an incredible passion for the technical mechanics of the American constitution and body of laws. As I spend time with them, I start to think: I wouldn't want a repairman working on my car who didn't know how it was put together, so why not the same with people who work on my government? (Assuming, that is, that the Paul adults mirror the Paul youth.)

Also, scrambling my assumption that his volunteers would all be computer geeks, most are history or economics majors. One kid, whose computer has apparently broken, walks through the room yelling, "Is anybody a computer science person here?" Nobody speaks up. Not that they're not geeks. Take this one typical conversation from my night at the Boone camp:

MATTHEW TREVATHAN, WITTENBERG UNIVERSITY, HISTORY MAJOR: McCain's comment about [how Paul's brand of isolationism got us into] World War II set me off! I think I'm going to write my senior thesis about it. Nobody understands why we got into World War II.

DAN SELSAM, WESLEYAN, HISTORY MAJOR: I want to write my thesis on Dr. Paul, too.

JOE HILLS, VANDERBILT, AMERICAN HISTORY MAJOR: I feel like it's because nobody understands World War I properly. I want to write a serious graphic history of World War I.

ELI SENTMAN, HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT: I would buy that.

BRITTNEY LOWERY, UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON, ACCOUNTING MAJOR [INTERRUPTING]: Hey guys, it's gone up to 18,983,543 and 66 cents!

"It" is Ron Paul's astonishing fourth-quarter fundraising total. The number updates automatically. When I first got to the camp, I thought everybody was following sports scores on their laptops. They were actually watching the fundraising number reload.


There's something that seems a little tragic about the Paul volunteers' devotion -- they're spending their Christmas vacation in chilly cabins, eating Velveeta potatoes for a week, and their candidate doesn't arrive in Iowa until the day before the caucus - until I see that it's not really about Paul. They almost never mention his biography or his leadership style when talking about their movement, a startling contrast with rival campaigns like Huckabee's or Obama's. I ask Eli, the student who would have bought Joe's graphic history of World War I, whether he thinks Ron Paul has charisma. Eli pauses. "He's so nice," he replies. "He reminds me of your grandpa - your righteous grandpa." A volunteer named Eddie in a tidy checked Oxford shirt says, "He did a rally with us the first night and shook everybody's hand. It was cute."

"I like his aloofness, to be honest," observes Matthew, the World War II buff.

It's not about personality worship for the volunteers, the fetishization of a person's capacity to shine in public or persuade. It's about questions like the purpose of our Federal Reserve, which really piques these volunteers' interest, and which just so happens to get a Texas congressman named Ron Paul going, too. When Nickel muses, "I think centrists are the most extremist, because they don't believe in anything but people," it suddenly seems to make a lot of sense.

In the hands of the volunteers, I'm becoming a Ron Paul convert, and I have to get out. On the way to my car, I take a peek into one of the cabins. There are 17 bunks crammed on the lower floor, boys' stuff scattered everywhere. Posted on the door is the only sign of raucousness I've seen the whole night: a Hillary brochure with little Hitler mustaches doodled onto her pictures. As I examine it, a burst of laughter comes from the cabin's second level. Suddenly it occurs to me: Did I get stuck with the earnest ones over in the main hall, and this is where the wild, blow-up-the-establishment Ron Paul people are?

A few people are shouting at once, and I can't make out what they're talking about. Girls? Nasty gossip about Mitt Romney? Then a phrase rises above the jumble. "That's why the French had mercenaries!"

They're debating the comparative merits of how governments throughout history have spent their revenue.

[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.