Could you imagine any of these folks warming up to Ron Paul and his followers during the campaign? Further evidence of why it was so important for John McCain and the GOP to get their ass kicked. I hope Katon Dawson means what he says here, as the GOP has been a single-issue party for years now. Here’s a reminder. Writes WSJ’s Susan Davis:
“For much of the 2008 campaign, Texas lawmaker and Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul and his supporters served as a thorn in the side—or a punching bag—for the mainstream GOP establishment.
Yet today, the six men vying to run the Republican National Committee praised the grassroots enthusiasm Paul tapped into during his campaign—and discussed how they would like to capture that enthusiasm to expand the party’s appeal.
“Ron Paul certainly brought a whole new generation of voters and I think it’s important going forward that we recognize the strengths and the attributes of these individuals who are out there actively building the party and building a movement, a consensus if you will, on certain issues. We can’t look that in the eye and say ‘No, we don’t want that,’” said former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, adding that the RNC needs to find “creative ways” to work with candidates supported by Paul and his followers, and to work with Paul directly to that end.
“I think, at this stage at this party, everyone who can help us should be brought into the room to help us,” Steele said.
South Carolina Republican Party Chairman Katon Dawson recalled memories of Paul’s supporters campaigning during his state’s early primary.
“I witnessed early on the Ron Paul army in South Carolina,” Dawson said, stressing the importance of building new coalitions. “I want people involved in my party that will hang off bridges and paint on their cars and make up t-shirts. There was a passion that I saw of those people for him and his ideas. Do we agree with all of them? No, but we are a party that has to embrace differences.”
15 Comments
They’re opportunists. They’ll say anything.
The same Mr. Steele that said he was done with Ron Paul on national TV after Dr. Paul cleaned Rudy’s 9/11’s clock. The GOP will say anything to save there sinking ship.
“There was a passion that I saw of those people for him and his ideas. Do we agree with all of them? No, but we are a party that has to embrace differences.”
Yeah that’ll make a great t-shirt:
“I don’t agree with you and you don’t agree with me. Vote for me.”
Quit pandering and stand up for something, people will flock around good ideas as Ron Paul proved.
The Democratic and Republican parties are jointly and alternately driving our country into ruin. Their pleasant talk belies their deceitful, arrogant true nature. We are doomed under these two partties and their culture of lies.
Ron Paul is still the only hope for America.
Kill the Fed !!
Ron Paul supporters don’t really care whether these neo-cons want to praise what Ron Paul did. The Republican party will eventually be replace by a new and truly conservative party that will save our country and earth from the evil powers that now dictate both parties.
–“Ron Paul certainly brought a whole new generation of voters and I think it’s important going forward that we recognize the strengths and the attributes of these individuals who are out there actively building the party and building a movement, a consensus if you will, on certain issues. We can’t look that in the eye and say ‘No, we don’t want that,’” said former Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele
lol Sorry Steele; you already DID say “No we dont want that.” It was during the presidential election…remember? I believe it was right around one of the first debates when Paul had just mopped the floor with Giuliani and taken almost half the votes in Fox’s post-debate viewer opinion poll. You were up there with Sean Hannity and spitting forth the same nonsense that another Fox hack Michelle Malkin would go on to say later that week…that Paul’s ideas had no business in the sociopolitical dialogue and that the viewer poll meant nothing at all.
Now, almost two years later, when its finally become clear to even idiots like this that the Republican party is absolutely VOID of anyone that stirs up the least bit of excitement or enthusiasm besides RP…suddenly they’re interested in Ron Paul and he’s a valuable asset.
I trust ron paul more than Mccain and the rnc. I wouldn’t worry about Paul selling us out which is something mccain and the RNC would do.
Don’t knock the RNC Chair candidates too hard about now praising Ron Paul. I think they probably learned something from the axe whuppin’ they took after dissing the good doctor.
If they can steer the Republican Party even a single degree back towards its roots, defending the US Constitution and protecting our rights, then the world will be a better place.
And if they want Ron Paul’s passionate followers, they have to adopt Ron Paul’s principles to get them.
One can only hope these people “get it”. I just had a meeting with an executive director last night. He DOES NOT GET IT.
“I want people involved in my party that will hang off bridges and paint on their cars and make up t-shirts.”
If you want that, you damn well better get a message that excites people. Liberty is the message, and it is quite exciting.
Secondly, you need a messenger with integrity who embodies the principles of the message. One of the biggest reasons people are so excited about this movement is that Ron Paul doesn’t just talk the talk when it is convenient politically. He has stood by them for many, many years. He walks the walk.
This coming from the same jerks that shut down conventions when it was evident Paul was going to win. The same jerks that kept Paul off of the Natl Convention floor but allowed Lieberman to speak. The same jerks that called us Paultards, and did not welcome us into the Republican county, state and Natl Conventions. Perhaps Ron Paul should lead the RNC and if they accepted the RP platform we would come back. As it stands now with these failures, it will never happen.
Ron Paul is the only one who stands for true Republican beliefs. He should be the Republican National Committee chairman. I just don’t trust any of these guys.
Joe:
And don’t forget everyone’s favorite 2nd place pick, Saulius “Saul” Anuzis, the failed chair of the Michigan GOP, who did Steele one better and circulated a petition to ban Paul from further debates.
Yeah gotta love how these guys can lie and stab you in the back with a straight face.
The Republican Party and it’s pundits still don’t get it. The believer’s of Dr. Paul’s message aren’t begging to come home to the RNC. They are begging us to come home to them.