When you're asked "Who's Ron Paul", what is your opening line?

[BLS]

I ask because yesterday I went on a motorcycle ride with some buddies.

Very first gas station I stopped at (and put in 1 gallon of $3.19 gas), the lady at the checkout counter and another clerk asked me "who's Ron Paul" (I had my black revolution shirt on).

I said "he's a Republican from Texas running for President".
Before I got a chance to say anything she said "why should I vote for him?"

I told her, "he is going to give you your Federal Income taxes back."
The other lady promply replied "where will the government get their money?" (yes, many people are REALLY this uninformed)

I said, the FIT only accounts for 38% (I know it's more now, but whatever) of the annual budget. He wants to end the war in Iraq, bring home troops from nations where they are no longer needed, put them on the US/Mexico border, and use the saved money to pay off the national debt. Once it's paid, he will abolish the IRS.

They both said "I never heard of him" :D

I asked, do you have internet access at home?
Then said goto YouTube and do a search. You can find out anything you want about him. I went to elaborate that I hate politics, and most politicians until I heard him speak, and I was floored by his honesty, enough so that I now am the proud Organizer of my very own Meetup Group (all 3 members of us :D ).

Anyway, I think I converted 2 people, but I'm curious what is your BEST opening line to picque their interests?

Also,...I gotta get some Ron Paul meetup cards made. Anybody know a good place to have it done online?

[Cowlesy]

I've used that he's the only candidates that attracts Conservatives, liberals, Republicans, Democrats --- and then ask the rhetorical, "How many candidates in recent history have you found that actually unites us all?" I usually follow-up with "He's the first candidate that never waivers in his principles, and actually believes that we know what is best for ourselves, not that the government has all the answers."

[specsaregood]

I've got a few responses. Here are some in no particular order:

1. "You're next president!"
2. "A congressman that in 20yrs has NEVER ONCE voted for a tax increase."
3. "An Honest Politician, and I'm not joking."
4. "The only congressman that takes his oath to uphold the constitution seriously."
5. "The only Republican running for President that voted against the Iraq War"

[Buzz]

Around here, you DEFINITELY can't to open with "Republican from Texas." New Yorkers are amazingly prejudiced against southern (especially Texan) republicans. I usually introduce him with something like "He's an anti-neocon libertarian running for president on the republican ticket, born and raised in Pennsylvania and serving his tenth congressional term in Texas."

[RJB]

I usually say he's the only politician I trust.
from there I tailor it to whether I'm talking to a democrat or republican.
I always mention the unconstitutional aspect of both the Iraq and Kosovo invasion, and that we wouldn't be in the mess we're in if we followed the constitution.

[constituent]

no one ever asks me that, but if they did i'd say

"champion of the constitution"

i love that one.

[Madison]

He's a Presidential candidate who wants to abolish the IRS, stop getting into unnecessary foreign conflicts, drastically decrease the size of the federal government and restore freedom to this Republic.

[maiki]

Candidate for president who voted against Patriot Act and Iraq War. Sometimes follow with: is against government subsidies, doesn't get money from congressional pension plan.

[RJB]

Ok. I have to admit. This isn't what I say but sometimes I want to answer, "Are you stupid?"

Then again it's not there fault that the media doesn't inform them. It's our fault for letting the media get away with it.

[andrewgreve]

"He's running for President of the United States."

[Bob Cochran]

I say he's the only politician I know of who has a record that shows true, consistent support for the constitution.

Sadly, very few people I know are even impressed by that.

[RP08]

"The campaign that woke me from a deep sleep of ""more of the same"" politics... Someone I actually believe."

BLS, you're rockin' man. Whatever you're doing, please just keep it up.

[american.swan]

I think my answer to the question would be....

"He's the only politician that is worth voting for and I won't vote for anyone that isn't like him the rest of my life."

wonder what kind of response I would get from that.

[quickmike]

I definitely wouldnt say "he is your next president" That just sounds like youre telling the guy he has no choice in it. Just rubs people the wrong way.

I like-

Hes a republicans congressman from texas that has served 20 years. Wants to get the government out of your life as much as possible. He wants us out of Iraq as soon as possible. Hes was an airforce flight surgeon during Vietnam and obgyn.

Then I usually go off on something more personal depending on what type of person im talking to.

I usually say "Ill tell you one thing, Ive NEVER in my life heard a politician speak with such honesty as he does, and ive followed politics pretty closely since I was 20 yrs old."

Most of the time they say "wow, sounds good but it doesnt sound like somoene like that has much of a chance"

I reply "Hes won every single network poll after the republican debates and raised more money than ANY other candidate from both retired and serving military"

they say "how come ive never heard of him?"

I say "because the media doesnt want someone like him to win because hes actually willing to tell the truth to the average voter............ its sorta the same thing they did to Reagan back in 1980 until they couldnt ignore his support any longer"

they say "sounds like an interesting guy, maybe Ill check him out"

I give them a flyer and if I dont have one I just jot down the website on a piece of paper for them if they really want to go look for themselves.


This is pretty much the same exact conversation and response I get when people ask me who he is, and about 80 percent of the time they like what they hear. The other 20 percent just go "oh ok".............. not negative but not positive either.


between the bumper sticker and the t-shirt Ive been getting quite a few people asking lately. I thnk people are starting to think about the election a little more now than they did before because I hardly ever got people asking "whos Ron Paul?" even one month ago when they saw the shirt or bumper sticker. Id say I get on average one a day asking. That doesnt even include me going door to door on weekends. Thats just out in public or dealing with customers of my business seeing the bumper sticker.

If you dont have a Ron Paul bumper sticker, DEFINITELY GET ONE.



Things are getting interesting.

[EvoPro]

to my friends I say, "haha.. you kidding me, you've never heard of him..." Then I get into it.

To others I say "He's an anti-war republican... " I live in a liberal state though.

[Scribbler de Stebbing]

no one ever asks me that, but if they did . . .

Don't you have a Ron Paul shirt to wear? I wear mine everywhere I go, except when it is not suitable. I have 5, just enough to keep laundered for daily wear. And I do get asked "Who is Ron Paul?" all the time. Wear your shirts, people!

[Scribbler de Stebbing]

I give them a flyer and if I dont have one I just jot down the website on a piece of paper for them if they really want to go look for themselves.

Right. Always carry slim jims too, or at least the biz card size lit in your wallet.

[nayjevin]

Don't you have a Ron Paul shirt to wear? I wear mine everywhere I go, except when it is not suitable. I have 5, just enough to keep laundered for daily wear. And I do get asked "Who is Ron Paul?" all the time. Wear your shirts, people!

if we all did this and only this, it might be enough by itself. this is SO effective

[guntherg16]

He's a 10 term Congressman from Texas who always votes according to the Constitution and is running for President.

[BLS]

Right. Always carry slim jims too, or at least the biz card size lit in your wallet.

Scribbler...I REALLY need some of this stuff.
Where can I get it? I'll pay for it, I just need it because I basically ram RP down everyones throat the minute I hear people complaining about politics, government, etc.

I'm learning that people b1tch about the government more than I ever realized.

[BLS]

"The campaign that woke me from a deep sleep of ""more of the same"" politics... Someone I actually believe."

BLS, you're rockin' man. Whatever you're doing, please just keep it up.

Thanks RP08. I appreciate that, really.

[RP4Life]

"The last exceptional man in American politics."

"The antidote."

"The MAN!"

[katao]

If you know anything about them, you can tailor the answer to their concerns, almost always centered on getting the government out of their life. Business owners want the government to quit strangling them with regulations and taxes. Gun owners want the government to quit treating them like criminals, and so forth.

[1000-points-of-fright]

He's running for president. If he wins he promises to leave you the fuck alone.

[catwoman]

Since you often only have about one line to grab them with I go with:

"He's running for President and he believes in the constitution". That USUALLY grabs people so that I can explain a bit further and then give them a liberty card.

One thing I've found that shouldn't be said is that he's a Republican from Texas. If you say that, you're dead in the water. It won't matter what you say after that, all they hear is Texas Republican which to them, means George Bush.

[BLS]

Since you often only have about one line to grab them with I go with:

"He's running for President and he believes in the constitution". That USUALLY grabs people so that I can explain a bit further and then give them a liberty card.

One thing I've found that shouldn't be said is that he's a Republican from Texas. If you say that, you're dead in the water. It won't matter what you say after that, all they here is Texas Republican which to them, means George Bush.

GOod point.

[SWATH]

the reincarnation of Thomas Jefferson

[catwoman]

the reincarnation of Thomas Jefferson

Never thought of that, but it is VERY GOOD!!! I think I'll try that. Unfortunately I believe there are alot of people who have no idea who Thomas Jefferson is or what he stood for.

[jj111]

He's like a living Thomas Jefferson.

Then,
He's been the most searched for person in the entire internet over the last 4 monhts.

[quickmike]

Never thought of that, but it is VERY GOOD!!! I think I'll try that. Unfortunately I believe there are alot of people who have no idea who Thomas Jefferson is or what he stood for.

Seriously, most people, and I do mean most people, dont know anything more about Thomas Jefferson than the fact that sometimes he wore a powdered wig and "wasnt he one of those guys from a long time ago who started this country or something like that?"

[Scribbler de Stebbing]

Scribbler...I REALLY need some of this stuff.
Where can I get it? I'll pay for it, I just need it because I basically ram RP down everyones throat the minute I hear people complaining about politics, government, etc.

I have slim jims and tshirts in Excelsior, Corey has slim jims, bumper stickers and cards in Eden Prairie, and Bill has slim jims and cards in Fridley. See the supplies thread pinned to the top of our meetup message board. There will undoubtedly be some of everything at the meetup on Thursday. Come by and tell us all what's going on with your sign party.

[SWATH]

Seriously, most people, and I do mean most people, dont know anything more about Thomas Jefferson than the fact that sometimes he wore a powdered wig and "wasnt he one of those guys from a long time ago who started this country or something like that?"

I said the Thomas Jefferson line to a socialist med student I work with and his reply was "Oh so he owns slaves".:mad:

[BLS]

I have slim jims and tshirts in Excelsior, Corey has slim jims, bumper stickers and cards in Eden Prairie, and Bill has slim jims and cards in Fridley. See the supplies thread pinned to the top of our meetup message board. There will undoubtedly be some of everything at the meetup on Thursday. Come by and tell us all what's going on with your sign party.

Cool..Thanks Marianne. I will see you on Thursday.

[catwoman]

I said the Thomas Jefferson line to a socialist med student I work with and his reply was "Oh so he owns slaves".:mad:

If only that med student knew that we are all slaves to the Federal Reserve System.

[SWATH]

If only that med student knew that we are all slaves to the Federal Reserve System.

Trust me, he doesn't. He thinks that we don't pay enough taxes. In my opinion he is too far gone and unsalvageable. Even though he would never ever say it, and he identifies 100% with the democrats, he is also 100% through and through hard core socialist. I don't even waste my time arguing with them anymore, sometimes I am just asked for my opinion on something so I give it, and they are shocked and appalled.

[catwoman]

Trust me, he doesn't. He thinks that we don't pay enough taxes. In my opinion he is too far gone and unsalvageable. Even though he would never ever say it, and he identifies 100% with the democrats, he is also 100% through and through hard core socialist. I don't even waste my time arguing with them anymore, sometimes I am just asked for my opinion on something so I give it, and they are shocked and appalled.


Yes, it is best to move on to those who are at least somewhat receptive. Unfortunately if Ron Paul doesn't get in there to change things, your socialist friend will find out very quickly how wrong he is and how right you are. I'd rather he not ever have to find out that way.

[tekkierich]

Yes I wore my Ron Paul Shirt to a back yard crab feast (that is what we do here in Maryland, hon) today. I think I may have had a few converts. It definitely was a conversation starter. I know one guy was very interested and I think he will be changing his party registration from Independent to Republican so that he can vote for him.

I usually say, he is a Republican, super small government conservative, and wants us out of Iraq. Then if I pique interest I go in to his strict constitutionalist principles.

That is short and sweet and doesn't scare anyone off by talking about getting rid of the IRS or Federal Reserve. If you say that you distract them from the thrust of Ron Paul's arguments.

[jcbraithwaite7]

Yes, it is best to move on to those who are at least somewhat receptive. Unfortunately if Ron Paul doesn't get in there to change things, your socialist friend will find out very quickly how wrong he is and how right you are. I'd rather he not ever have to find out that way.

I bet as soon as he graduates from his residency program and they start taking $5000-$6000 out of his checks each month for taxes he'll start reconsidering. Or when he is a doctor and the government hires some non-medical person to review how he is treating his patients and nagging him to manage length of stay like it is written in stone. If he doesn't care about money then he will rethink socialized medicine when he has to tell the sweet little lady he wants to help that it will be 2 years before she can get a hip replacement but he will get her right on the waitlist. (Canadians go to Cleveland to get hip replacements because the wait is so long.) The VA has a 2 year wait for a sleep study if you have sleep apnea.

I use the analogy of a bakery and medicine. Let's say you are a baker. You studied for years and years to perfect your skills. You open a bakery. You pay thousands and thousands to set it up, get all the paperwork in order etc. It costs $10 to bake a cake. The government comes in and says they will only pay $4 and if their consumers (medicare or medicaid patients or even the people who never pay a dime for your cakes because the government made a law saying you have to give everyone cake even if they can't pay for it) Well if they don't like the cake or disagree with how you frosted it well then you could be sued and lose the bakery. How bad would you want to open a bakery?

[specsaregood]

I definitely wouldnt say "he is your next president" That just sounds like youre telling the guy he has no choice in it. Just rubs people the wrong way.


Them: "Who is Ron Paul?"
Me: "He is the Next President of the United States!"

Have you tried it? I bet not. I say it for the shock factor. I throw it out there, it catches people off guard and it brings them into the conversation. They start questioning YOU, asking YOU to prove this fact to them. It is beautiful, I don't have to try to force people to listen, they start asking for me to tell them.

Sure, I may not say that to some politically-aware pundit, but then again, they probably aren't going to be asking me, "Who is Ron Paul" The people asking that question probably aren't following politics to closely and you have to "hook" them from the get go. It doesn't rub people the wrong way, it peaks their interest.

Before you discount this response, give it a try with the next random person who asks you and report back here.

[krott5333]

I say "hes running for president.. he's all about the constitution, and making government smaller, and he's voted against the war in iraq since day 1"

[catwoman]

Them: "Who is Ron Paul?"
Me: "He is the Next President of the United States!"

Have you tried it? I bet not. I say it for the shock factor. I throw it out there, it catches people off guard and it brings them into the conversation. They start questioning YOU, asking YOU to prove this fact to them. It is beautiful, I don't have to try to force people to listen, they start asking for me to tell them.

Sure, I may not say that to some politically-aware pundit, but then again, they probably aren't going to be asking me, "Who is Ron Paul" The people asking that question probably aren't following politics to closely and you have to "hook" them from the get go. It doesn't rub people the wrong way, it peaks their interest.

Before you discount this response, give it a try with the next random person who asks you and report back here.

Well, it works with sports. Great homerun hitters visualize the ball going out of the park BEFORE they hit it. Basketball players visualize the ball going into the basket BEFORE they shoot. Same with other sports. So it seems that by saying he is the next president that we are in a way helping the people to whom we speak, visualize Ron Paul as the President, not just another guy in a suit running for President.

[quickmike]

Them: "Who is Ron Paul?"
Me: "He is the Next President of the United States!"

Have you tried it? I bet not. I say it for the shock factor. I throw it out there, it catches people off guard and it brings them into the conversation. They start questioning YOU, asking YOU to prove this fact to them. It is beautiful, I don't have to try to force people to listen, they start asking for me to tell them.

Sure, I may not say that to some politically-aware pundit, but then again, they probably aren't going to be asking me, "Who is Ron Paul" The people asking that question probably aren't following politics to closely and you have to "hook" them from the get go. It doesn't rub people the wrong way, it peaks their interest.

Before you discount this response, give it a try with the next random person who asks you and report back here.


Fair enough......... Ill try it once. If it goes well Ill thank you for it.:D

[CasualApathy]

My first line?

"All things good, coated in principle and tempered by decades of fighting evil."

[BLS]

My first line?

"All things good, coated in principle and tempered by decades of fighting evil."

Wow..that's very profound. I like it!

[Sematary]

I ask because yesterday I went on a motorcycle ride with some buddies.

Very first gas station I stopped at (and put in 1 gallon of $3.19 gas), the lady at the checkout counter and another clerk asked me "who's Ron Paul" (I had my black revolution shirt on).

I said "he's a Republican from Texas running for President".
Before I got a chance to say anything she said "why should I vote for him?"

I told her, "he is going to give you your Federal Income taxes back."
The other lady promply replied "where will the government get their money?" (yes, many people are REALLY this uninformed)

I said, the FIT only accounts for 38% (I know it's more now, but whatever) of the annual budget. He wants to end the war in Iraq, bring home troops from nations where they are no longer needed, put them on the US/Mexico border, and use the saved money to pay off the national debt. Once it's paid, he will abolish the IRS.

They both said "I never heard of him" :D

I asked, do you have internet access at home?
Then said goto YouTube and do a search. You can find out anything you want about him. I went to elaborate that I hate politics, and most politicians until I heard him speak, and I was floored by his honesty, enough so that I now am the proud Organizer of my very own Meetup Group (all 3 members of us :D ).

Anyway, I think I converted 2 people, but I'm curious what is your BEST opening line to picque their interests?

Also,...I gotta get some Ron Paul meetup cards made. Anybody know a good place to have it done online?

I hand them a slimjim and a dvd after I say "one sec"

[CasualApathy]

Wow..that's very profound. I like it!

Why... Thank you! :D

[austinphish]

This is a good thread - I don't like most threads on this forum, but I get this question all the time. I have several responses, none any better or much different than prior ones posted here:

"Your next President"
"Freedom Fighter"
"The only man who can save our country"
"Anti-Bush"

I generally avoid saying Republican ever unless they are clearly a conservative. Republican is a very bad word to most people nowadays.

[LibertyBelle]

Never thought of that, but it is VERY GOOD!!! I think I'll try that. Unfortunately I believe there are alot of people who have no idea who Thomas Jefferson is or what he stood for.

LMAO! That was classic. They can't find America on a map either, because many of them don't own maps. :confused:

Who is RP?: A mover and a shaker. He may have 2 first names, but so does Fred Thompson. (I know a guy named Thompson). :D

Seriously: A 10 term Congressman. His nickname in Washington is Dr. No.

That always gets them curious.