Targeting the Motorcycling Community

[ksuguy]

In the News from Iowa thread , (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=1016&page=3), I brought up the possibility of reaching out to bikers and the motorcycling community. Since a few people liked the idea, I thought I would make a separate thread about it here.

I think we could get a lot of support from this group of people. Millions of Americans ride motorcycles, and I have noticed that they tend to be freedom oriented people on average. I'm relatively new to motorcycling myself since I just started within the last year, but I would gladly help out with it.

Here are a few ideas, feel free to brainstorm and add your own.

1. We need a Bikers for Ron Paul website. On it we could have a calendar of upcoming motorcycle rallies and information on how people can attend them and get the word out. Also information on Ron's positions, and photos of Ron Paul supporters on their bikes or at motorcycle events. If anybody can get a picture of Ron on a bike that would be great! :) I can help with the website design and programming. I'm not a professional, but I can do something basic. However, I would need a server for hosting the site.

2. We should have a presence at the big rally in Sturgis. http://www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com/ Over a hundred thousand people attend this thing every year and it would be a great event to get the word out. I browsed around on their website and determined that it will probably cost a couple thousand bucks to set up a booth there. Obviously the bigger and fancier the booth, the more expensive. I've never been there, so I don't know where the best locations would be and the best way to appeal to the crowd there. We would need stuff like t-shirts, bandanas, fliers, and stickers to hand out. Maybe we could coordinate this with any Ron Paul supporters that live in South Dakota. The event is held in early August so we would have to get the space reserved and all the planning done within the next month.

[Razmear]

I posted this in another thread a while back, pasting here in case it helps:


I think we need to tap into our bkier population. I am trying to get Ron Paul to speak at Biketoberfest while in town for the debates in Orlando.


Google ABATE
There are orgs in every state and each seems to have their own web address.
Here is California's:
http://www.abate.org/

The state ABATE orgs seem to be independent with the same goals for Biker's Rights.
ABATE stands for:
American Bikers Aimed Toward Education or
A Brotherhood for Awareness, Training and Education or
A Brotherhood Against Totalitarian Enactments
Depending on what state you visit, but they all share the same goals.

eb

[ksuguy]

Yeah I agree, Abate would be helpful. I always wear my helmet and safety gear when riding, but I understand that others might not want to.

Another idea I thought of is smaller bumper stickers. I'd like to put a sticker on my bike since I take it to work every day and leave it parked in a conspicuous location by the building. A standard sticker will be too big though. I'm thinking maybe something the size of stickers the NRA mails out, and it should glow in the dark too.

[Gun24]

Besides setting up a booth and banner could set up some sort of stand up comedy followed by a short pro-Ron Q&A session afterwards in one of the local bars. Got to have the comedian tie in or could end up with an angry drunken mob for whatever reason. Believe laughter would help the cause more than considerably. This should remain a separate idea from the booth as if you find a celeb like...eg.Ron White ;p.. doing so for free and fun would basically work itself out. Can have the booth attendants there for a round of applause, but shouldn't be involved with the Q&A as a group if that route is taken. One man, one mic, and maybe 2 planned questions. Needless to say this could be another great youtube upload. Greatest we could hope for would probably be Pauly Shore (http://news.aol.com/entertainment/articles/_a/pauly-shore-punch-video-appears-to-be/20061212091509990001) unless you have a popular community service funnyman in mind who shares our love for Dr. Paul. For a huge event like this it's good to make a big impact.

Aside from that expensive hope soapbox. How about "Vote Ron Paul" helmet stickers in two sizes? One for as a strip and one block form. Only a tiny handful would wear the t-shirts on the road while this could be seen as neat and only viewable on the road.

[ksuguy]

I could go for that. Currently I've got a strip of reflective tape on the back of my helmet.

I don't know of any celebrities we could get to promote Ron Paul. There are lots of radio shows that broadcast from Sturgis though, might be able to get some exposure that way. Kansas City has a morning comedy radio show with a guy called Johnny Dare that goes up to Sturgis every year. They used to syndicate the show here in Wichita, but they stopped that about 3 or 4 years ago. He seems like the kind of guy that would get on board. Here is his website http://www.corporateradiosucksass.com/

[lonestarguy]

The annual Republic of Texas (R.O.T.) motorcycle rally just concluded today, 3 June, in Austin, Tx. 50,000 bikers spent time and big money, estimated economic activity in the several dozens of millions.

We have people in the Austin biker community who are big supporters of RP. As a matter of fact, RP had a motorcycle escort thru Austin on his way to the 19 May fundraiser here at the Texas State Museum.

Lessons learned over the just concluded ROT rally and other observations:

--As is the story across the nation, RP name recognition is low. Not insurmountable, but it's something you'll be dealing with. To be sure, there are factions within the biker community that are familiar with RP and are with the movement. But it appears small, so there is huge room for improvement.

--We deployed large 4x8' RP for president signs and Ron Paul Revolution Banners along the Friday nite parade route that in the downtown area upwards of 200,000 people congregated. The question we most encountered over the weekend was, "who is Ron Paul?"

--What is of great help in talking with bikers, so many of who are former military is that RP is a Vietnam era Flight Surgeon. So, boom, right off the bat, there can be an instant bond. I'm an ol' air force guy myself, so at the rally I sought out other vets, heck the bikers leather vests and/or T-shirt are often dead giveaways as to who is a vet.

I offer this lead-in after extending my hand and saying, 'hey, your a marine veteran, I'm Mr. air force." (Very short chit-chat, you served where?) Then I'd say "I got a couple of questions for ya and want your opinion. How would you feel if the feds came out with a national mandatory helmut law, because they thought it was in your best interest and that of the children? You'd prefer personal choice in the matter (nod), wouldn't ya? (nearly 100% reply, personal choice indeed. Then I'd launch into.) Sir, in my mind, there is only one Presidential candidate who identifies with the open road, personal freedom philosophy of the biker community. His name, is Ron Paul. Former air force veteran and 9-term congressman from Texas. He is a huge supporter of the military veteran community. And a huge supporter of you living your life as you see fit, not as some bureaucrat in DC. (I'd hand him a flyer or whatever material one has available during these brief 'personal evangelism' situations). I'd shake his hand firmly, answer any questions, thank him for his/her time, emphasize RP now more than ever , that he needs us and we need him.......... next!

--In a perfect world, we would have had one of the bikers best friends, the proverbial red oil rag overprinted with Ron Paul, a pithy comment about Freedom of the Open Road.......All roads lead to www.RonPaul2008.com We could of handed those out like hot cakes. I got one of the rags that the CMA (Christian Motorcycle Association) hands out at these rallies. Great for creating an instant brief bond and conversation starter by handing a biker something functional he/she can use.

--Set up a table inside at the best strategic location you can find, with quality campaign material geared toward the biker community, flyers, dvds, overprinted oil rags to hand out. Deploy a quality sign with RP for President and/or banner or some such that quickly makes the point of how RP's message meshes with that of the lifestyle of the biker community, "Freedom and the Open Road lead to RonPaul2008.com" etc, etc

--Place Signage along the heavily traveled thoroughfares that the bikers use.

--When you hear people say, 'its a biker rally' as if bikers only purpose is to rally for beer and xxx, just let it roll off your back. Because there's always a small few no matter what. I mean, the biker community really grew up and coalesced around state helmut laws that they've been fighting and organizing against for years. I heard the, 'its a biker rally shriek a few times as we paraded our 4x8 signs through the crowds and our yard signs on ax handles, whooping it up for RP. We got some eyeballs on those signs no doubt.

--Your always gonna encounter a certain percentage across any group who are just gungho when the troops are in the field as ours is across the globe. I waste little time with those people. Hey, give it a try, maybe you can turn one. But even within the biker community, many realize they'v e been bamboozled by W.

--Now truly, in a perfect world, we would have large teams of RP supporters following around the biker rallys all over the country. They are prime pickin', no doubt. Get those rags, flyers and dvd's (freedom to fascism) handed out.



--For the truly wealthy and wealthy adventourous, follow these massive rallies, and the balloonists amongst us, get your balloon to read " RON PAUL for PRESIDENT That would get some attention. And for the puddle jumpers, pull a Ron Paul banner behind your single or double engine plane and orbit these rallies.



--What is also definitely needed is people who understand the biker community to write articles to hard copy biker magazines and online biker mags about how the ideals of the biker commuity mesh so well with Ron Paul. Some even have a letter from readers section that we should utilize to emphasize Ron Paul.

It truly is fun mixing it up with these fellow Americans, the average age group of the biker is definitely in the mid-forties. I can't wait to hear how others fare with this group.

[ksuguy]

You have some good points there. Especially about talking to the veteran bikers. However, I think that tactic probably works better for you than it would for me. I'm 27 and I have never been in the military. I just would not feel comfortable trying to talk to a vietnam veteran about the war issue.

I've noticed this phenomenon on the various internet firearm forums. If someone that is not a veteran tries to discuss military issues, they are usually shouted down by the people that are.

I'm going to start working on a website this weekend and I'll post it for comments. I don't think I'll be able to handle all the planning for Sturgis or similar events, but I would be willing to ride up there this summer and work at the booth if someone else wants to take on the planning and organization.

[Gun24]

If we can't organize to the needed group status, mind you I couldn't make it if I tried, one guy can sit on the back of his truck parked off the interstate with ad products.
If you have the bike connections send some emails to those groups and hear their ideas. I'll sit here and add my ammo. ;)
Ok, have helmet stickers, as for the strips make those reflective and readable.
How about we have the opposite with patches/buttons/iron-ons/whatever stating "Caps off for Ron Paul" for those who wish not to wear helmets. Iron-on "Who the fuck is Ron Paul?" on a bandana brought me a small chuckle. Then thought of how many of the bikers might be Canadian... Nevermind that, how about leather gloves with all but the middle finger sleave cut off printed with "This poll is for Bush!" or the likes for funding? :cool:

[BLS]

I'm a long time rider from MN. I know ALOT of people that head out to Sturgis every year, but myself have never been. I don't know what I can do to help out honestly.

I managed to 'find' my way into this thread because I brought up the idea of making a 'roaring' impression at the Iowa Straw Polls by giving the good Dr. a 200+ bike 'escort' into the grounds. I just thought that would be a fantastic way to get everybody's attention. KSUGUY...you say you are working on a website?

Let me know when you've got something ready. I am a computer network engineer...and I think I could probably find a server somewhere to slap that bad boy on. Get ahold of me (chris at startech-comp dot com).