Ron Paul Says He Won’t Go 3rd Party
By Justin Gardner | Related entries in 2008 Election, 3rd Party, Ron PaulYep, if he doesn’t win the highly skewed GOP nomination, he’s not going to keep going.
DURHAM, N.H. — Texas Congressman Ron Paul said he is “not interested” in a third party run for president if he is unable to win the Republican presidential nomination next year.“I have no intention of doing that,” Paul told local reporters. “This country is not very democratic and only allows for two parties.”
In 1988, Paul ran for president as the nominee for the Libertarian Party. He said that experience showed him a third party run would be futile.
Yeah, um, did he have ANY support back then? Does he not understand what $4.3 million in one day means?
If his campaign had taken place in the pre-Internet era, it might have gone the way of his 1988 Libertarian campaign for president, as a footnote to history. But because of the Internet’s low-cost ability to connect grass-roots supporters with one another — in this case, largely iconoclastic white men — Mr. Paul’s once-solo quest has taken on a life of its own. It is evolving from a figment of cyberspace into a traditional campaign, with yard signs, direct mail and old-fashioned rallies, like one here on Saturday attended by a few thousand people under cold, gray skies. Mr. Paul said it was his biggest rally so far. He said it proved his campaign was more than “a few spammers†and called it a “gigantic opportunity†to establish credibility.
Folks, maybe he isn’t ready to be Prez. Seriously. If he’s going to give up on all of you so easily maybe he doesn’t deserve your support either.
This entry was posted on Sunday, November 11th, 2007 and is filed under 2008 Election, 3rd Party, Ron Paul. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
November 11th, 2007 at 12:43 pm
“Folks, maybe he isn’t ready to be Prez. Seriously. If he’s going to give up on all of you so easily maybe he doesn’t deserve your support either.”
I lost you there Justin….. Are you trying to say someone who wants to run for smaller government and limited power doesn’t deserve to be president? I don’t understand you comment. I mean it’s not much of a field running on either side. You have a crew of hubris empire supporters that are zapping the strength out of the country. I do not agree with all of Paul’s issues but am delighted he is bring real issues to the surface. When the traders on the CME erupts in a cheer when Paul takes Bernake to the wood shed it is interesting. Paul has my vote..
November 11th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
The Paul campaign is on fire. There are several other candidates who will be forced to call it quits long before Paul. His chances of receiving the nomination are getting better every day.
http://www.truthalert.net/Republican%20Presidential%20Candidate%20Rankings.htm
November 11th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
I understand what you are saying – however I think its important to realize that Paul’s comments are more than skin deep. As the media noise increases, so will the volume of Paul’s detractors.
Admitting to being open to running a 3rd party camp will be misconstrued in the media as someone looking to be a “spoiler” for the GOP – and result in blowback in the form of less primary votes.
It isn’t that hard to see, is it?
I initially had the same feeling when I heard Paul say he wouldn’t consider it. I’m not much of a conspiracy guy, but when there is a common thread in media interviews (the 3rd party question), doesn’t it seem as if they are trying to put the candidate in a very tough position?
Its easy to see that if Paul does not make a run in Iowa, NH, or SC, he will certainly re-consider a 3rd party run.
Side note: is it really third party if it is the Libertarian, Constitution, and the anti-war vote?
November 11th, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Justin,
reading is fundamental. He keeps saying that he has “no intention” of doing it. In code speak, this means “I want to win the GOP Nomination, but if the campaign keeps gaining as much support as it is, then maybe, just maybe, I’ll do it.”
November 11th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
reading is fundamental…
To your point. Toe tapping Larry Craig “intended” to resign as Senator by the end of September.
November 11th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
Folks, maybe he isn’t ready to be Prez. Seriously. If he’s going to give up on all of you so easily maybe he doesn’t deserve your support either.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ So what kind of a political game are YOU playing, Justin? Of all the candidates, Ron Paul is the idealist, yet also a pragmatist. If he cannot make the cut by mid February, say, then a third party candidacy will not fly either. He knows this, just as all the rest of us who live in the real world do.
If, not when, he concedes, he still has more options to be an agent for change from within the Republican Party & the government in general. His endorsement of other candidates (if he chooses to do so), as a Republican, will carry a lot more clout with the electorate, not only for national candidates but for the more local races also. His campaign fueled by the grass roots shows Joe or Jane Voter that THEY (WE) can make a difference. For the first time in decades, we have reason to be optimistic. Just the fact that he is running so strongly w/o a dime from any special interest groups gives us great reason for hope.
You consistently fail to talk about another truth in politics. A successful movement, or political party, ALWAYS starts at the local level, never from the top. One only needs to realize that the most recent new prominent political party is the 150+ year old Republican Party, which came into being years before Lincoln became their standard bearer, to realize the truth of this statement. As it stands, Paul’s candidacy reflects a ‘cult of personality’ at this point in the mind of the general public. Whether or not he wins, what we are now witnessing may well evolve into a real, lasting political movement as long as he stands by his stated beliefs & previous pronouncements.
This campaign is not all about him & whether he wins or loses. It is about the idea of a return to Constitutional governance in which, though the leader, he is only a small part. In other words, it is all about the ideal winning, not him. Paul has the humility & integrity to pursue the movement regardless of the outcome for him, personally. If he ran on a minor party ticket after months of saying he would not, it would destroy his credibility & reputation of honesty, & tank the movement.
Remembering all the posts you have written urging Ron Paul to run on what inevitably would be a losing third party platform tells me there is something about him you find threatening. So, tell us, Justin. What is it?
November 11th, 2007 at 3:35 pm
God bless Dr. Paul. He is right about the dollar. He is right about unneccessay wars. He is right about the 1st, 2nd, and 4th Ammendmets and their abuses. He is doing his part. All we need now is to spread the word fast enough, educate people fast enough, and see if Americans truly want to be free like their forefathers intended. Or if most Americans would rather be safe serfs, as we are now becoming.
November 11th, 2007 at 4:02 pm
If he cannot win the nomination, he will not be able to win the general as a third party – it would be even more difficult. It sure would be nice to have him on the ballot to vote for, but if he gets the kind of support that would be required for a 3rd party win, he’ll be winning the R nomination anyway.
Also remember he’ll be gunning for the house again if he fails.
November 11th, 2007 at 5:56 pm
He Has said this since the first days and i believe before he started his candidacy for president.
November 11th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
There hasn’t been a successful 3rd party candidate in a very long time – if ever. I remember Congressman John Anderson (5% of the vote) against Reagan and Carter. Perot (19%) against Clinton and B41. In each case there was an incumbent who lost – but still the 3rd party finished 3rd.
Clinton would have never won if Perot hadn’t run – in retrospect we really haven’t had a good President in atleast 50 years (please don’t post about Reagan or Clinton – one was impeached and the other should have been). No great thinkers, no visionaries, a whole lot of empty suits really – good sound bites though.
These times are vastly different over anything I have seen since the 70’s. There seems to be a real belief by so many Americans that it isn’t a question of party politics anymore – it’s simply those in power and the majority of the population that just isn’t paying attention. Death by apathy, fear based politics to go along with the fear based life. Fear of losing our job, fear of not having enough health care, fear we won’t have enough money to can’t put our kids through college – fear keeps the populace pliable…where have I heard that level of cynicism before?
A good 3rd party would need to lead a revolution – things really do need to change, the whole process truly is sick. The “powers that be” will bribe, persuade and cajole any elected member into their way of thinking, if not those individuals are marked for removal next election or removed / minimal zed. It scares me and sickens me as to what has become of the process and so many of the people that get involved in it.
The blowhards on TV (making millions but providing no real political discourse) say that guys like Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich are “fringe”, or that they are nuts…or just plain wrong. It’s sad since these gentlemen seem to be the only one’s saying anything concrete, with substance, and passion (whether you like them or not). The majority of the others say nothing that can’t be transitioned into a sound bite.
The average voting American will never remember anything substantial – they think politics is a spectator sport like a football or hockey game – they don’t realize it isn’t a game. Or maybe they do, but the reality of the situation is so terrifying to them that they just want someone else to worry about it because their fear based life forces them too. Their political intelligence only goes so far. They only remember who was for or against Muslims, gay people, immigrants, or any other multitude of nationally unimportant issues. They won’t remember who was anti-war, anti-free trade, anti-worker, anti-infrastructure development, anti-universal health care, or how taxes should be levied, why 50% of the HS graduates have no idea who the “allies” were in WW2 – I could go on but I think you get my point.
It’s almost too late – Rome is burning – the barbarians are at the gate – and unfortunately there are no good candidates out there because the best one’s are sickened by a process so completely devoid of intelligence, common sense, and decency. The best Republicans and the best Democrats won’t get the nomination because they aren’t allowed to tell the truth, they aren’t allowed to engage in political discourse and a free form of ideas without one side or the other trying to destroy them. The populace is spoon fed the BS issues – and the real life impacting issues are marginalized. I sure wish a good 3rd party candidate would step forward – the country really needs it and I fear a revolution at that level is the only way to change things. C’mon Ron, Al, Mike B, anyone listening……….
November 12th, 2007 at 12:09 am
You’re asking for it, J.G.
Lets see how well he does in the primary. He should be able to pull at least 3rd if he is a viable third party candidate. however, if he gets less than 5% of the primary votes, as he currelntly gets in polls, he doesn’t deserve anything, regardless of his desire.
November 13th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Running third party is pointless, because as far as the majority of voters are concerned, we have a two party system.
His job is to get the republicans back on track, out of the hands of special interests, and hopefully distinguishable from the democrats. His job is to get them to get serious about reform, fiscal responsibility, and end the desire to play TEAM AMERICA World Police.
He’s can’t win as a third party, probably won’t win as a republican, but running as a republican he can do us all a favor and provide those idiots a healthy dose of conservatism. They’ve been drinking the dems koolaid for the better part of a decade now…
November 17th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Ron Paul won’t win. I’m not going to analyze it, I’m not going to justify it, I’m not going to spend a thousand words on it. It won’t happen.
Besides, even if he does go third party, he will only spoil the democrats chances, not republicans.