"He'll never win," goes the chorus of news anchors, journalists, pundits and radio talk show hosts, yet Libertarian Ron Paul has led a remarkable if not unlikely campaign thus far for the Reblican Nomination for President in 2008.
Unusual indeed, for the unlikeliest of candidates provided the major highlight of the first Republican debate, squaring off against front-runner Rudy Guiliani on the biggest issue in American politics: the terrorist threat.
Hilariously, when Paul won the post-debate polls, Sean Hannity became the conspiracy theorist, accusing Paul supporters of rigging the results. With all the putdowns from the media and the establishment within the Republican party (one need only think of the President of the Michigan Republican Party trying to throw Paul out of future debates), it's hard to read Paul's candidacy as anything other than the will of the people versus that of the Establishment.
In the last quarter, the texas congressman has raised an impressive $5 million, more money than John McCain, the man whom George W. Bush defeated to become nominee in 2000. Single handedly, Paul has turned once monotous debates about who had the holiest soul and was most hawkish on national security into true clashes of ideas, promoting and defending libertarian values against the establishment within the Republican Party and the mass media.
Now, as far as how the mainstream press is portraying Paul, I'm not surprised -- they have always, from my recollection, dismissed non-establishment candidates, particularly if they have stimulating and innovative ideas. A little more surprising and perhaps more interesting is how the new media has reacted. And it is their opinion with which I'm more concerned, as the Drive-Bys have discredited themselves long ago.
If we begin with Drudge, we see a somewhat muted response, which might not be what one would have expected considering Drudge agrees with many of Paul's ideas. In fact, on one of Drudge's radio programs, he stated how he agreed with Paul on all the major issues down the list, but ended his monologue exclaiming: "He can't lead!" On a later program, after taking down another poll that had Paul winning, Drudge mentioned that he was receiving threats from Paul supporters, so perhaps this is a factor as well.
Early in the primary season, Rush Limbaugh stated outright on his radio program that Paul was hardly worth considering by virtue of the fact that "he'll never win!" Since then he's only mentioned Paul on his show to ridicule him, whether it be a story on "Strippers for Ron Paul," or ridiculing a caller who asked Rush to speak more about him. I suspect the main reason for this is Paul's firm anti-war stance, which is complete opposition to Limbaugh's opinion on Iraq..
Self-proclaimed Libertarian Democrat Camille Paglia has said little to nothing about Paul in her monthly column in Salon, and was supporting John Edwards as recently as a few months ago (link). To Paglia I have to ask: what leadership qualities does Edwards display when you see him talk? His rhetoric is empty and manipulative -- this was clearly demonstrated so when he attacked Cheney's daughter for being gay in the vice-president's debate last election. Edwards also has a socialist agenda, which includes free health care and university education for every citizen. Libertarian Democrat...? Hmm...
George Noory, host of Coast to Coast AM has interviewed Paul on his nightly show and has spoken fairly positive about him, sharing many of his libertarian views, particularly when it comes to the War on Drugs and taxes, both of which Paul is very much against. Formner host, Art Bell, now retired, went public a few years ago, becoming an all-out member of the Libertarian party.
Conspiracy theorist and New World Order gadfly Alex Jones has claimed to have known Ron Paul for years and even mentioned on Coast to Coat AM that they recently had lunch. Oddly enough, it is Jones whom Paul most reminds one of when Paul talks about the Federal Reserve in the debates, though Paul doesn't tend to reach such extreme conclusions on the New World Order.
With the race heating up this winter, it'll be interesting to see where Paul ends up. We'll keep you informed...
Copyright © 2007 Adrian Pocobelli
