GOP maverick Paul shunned in Spartanburg

[Kuldebar]

GOP maverick Paul shunned in Spartanburg (http://ronpaul2008nyc.wordpress.com/2007/07/04/gop-maverick-paul-shunned-in-spartanburg/)
July 4, 2007 at 10:35 pm | In News |

http://ronpaul2008nyc.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/beltram.png

Quotes about Ron Paul from: Spartanburg County Republican Party Chairman Rick Beltram:

“He can stay home.”

“Well, the door’s closed for him.”

“I’m not going to extend him an invitation to come here because he has managed to insult and in many ways abuse Republican activists with his strident lingo. When he attacked Bush, that we created 9/11 - that’s an absolute lunatic talking.”

“I can’t put up walls to keep him out, but I don’t have to invite him here to a county function.”

When I read the 07/03/07 Message from Ron Paul on the Daily Update, I was shaking my head when Dr. Paul mentioned this: “And a Republican county chairman in South Carolina said I am unwelcome in his county because of my position on the war. He will help all other candidates, but not me.”

I mean… haven’t we gone through this foolishness already?
So I finally found more information on this.

Spartanburg Herald-Journal (http://www.goupstate.com/article/20070704/NEWS/707040336/-1/LIFE)

“Like a gunslinger from the Old West, Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul hasn’t backed down from a fight - even though the fight, at times, backs down from him…

… But when Spartanburg County Republican Party Chairman Rick Beltram left Columbia that night, he decided he’d heard enough of Paul’s largely libertarian views. He decided to boycott Paul from any future county party events.”

Here is Mr. Beltram’s contact information:

Mr. Rick Beltram
Chairman
725 Black Wolf Run
Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: 864.542.2085
Email: rick.beltram@intedge.com
================================================== ==

[ChrisM]

How about his office information?

PO Box 5475
Spartanburg, SC 29304
864-542-1992 (M-F, 8-5)

[Birdlady]

I emailed Rick yesterday and this is what was sent back to me.

FOLKS:

I certainly appreciate the HUGE number of e-mails from about 8AM yesterday
until 9AM today. I also received a significant number of calls to our Party
HQ! I can easily see that is has been a nation-wide effort to contact me.
Some of you seem to already know me, through family members or my education
background! I thank you for your sincere comments!

I attempted to response to as many as I could before we had our 4th of
July celebration at my home!

Most of your comments were polite and well articulated! Positive dialogue
is very important to all concerned.

As the GOP Chairman of Spartanburg County (since 1999), we have managed to
be the most "high-profile" County GOP organization in the SC! We have
succeeded at the ballot every election cycle over the past 10 years (even in
2006). Since, SC is a early primary state, we are fortunate to receive a
vast amount of national attention. This job is a VOLUNTEER job and many
times takes away from my paying job. (Foodservice equipment manufacturer)

We have had potential or actual 2008 GOP Presidential candidates coming to
our County since February 2005. Many of them SEVERAL times! We have
actually met 9 of the 11 current candidates and two (Frist and Pataki) who
decided not to run! We have shown all of them a FIRST CLASS welcome!

The remaining two (Tommy Thompson and Ron Paul) have not been here even
one time. Since the UPSTATE of SC is the key to the nomination, we are
puzzled! We did contact both of these campaigns and the Thompson campaign
advised us that they were concentrating on Iowa and not to expect them
except for the May debate!

WE ATTEMPTED TO CONTACT THE PAUL campaign numerous with NO RESPONSE. Our
neighbors in Greenville were equally frustrated! We have had huge public
events including a caucus night where we had a LIVE straw poll on "Hannity
and Colmes" 03/01/07). We had no support for Ron Paul.

We then had our County Convention on 04/21/07 and had no response from
the Paul campaign although 7 candidates did come and make a presentation!

The first that MOST of us had any contact with Dr. Paul was at the State
Debate on May 17th.

AND:

What we heard was a complete "slam" at the current administration and
blaming US for the 9/11 horrific acts!
This type of RHETORIC cannot be tolerated! Many of our local activists
called me also during the "wild 4th" and complemented me on my most candid
and accurate comments in the SHJ!

HOWEVER:

Many of YOU felt as if.....WE had completely MISUNDERSTOOD the
comments........

IF SO......we have an opportunity for all of YOU and the NATION as a WHOLE!

CHALLENGE:

We, the Spartanburg County GOP will hold a low cost event (cover charge)
for attendees to have a PUBLIC Q&A with DR. PAUL here in Spartanburg, SC.
NO OTHER CANDIDATES!!

THIS WILL BE YOUR TIME to convince us that have incorrect information
about Dr. Paul's political platform!
This will cost your campaign 0 dollars....except for the cost to get Dr.
Paul to Spartanburg and if any overnight accommodations are needed!

FORMAT:

10 minute opening presentation by Dr. Paul
12 questions from the audience (to be pre-screened by us and your campaign)
Meet and greet
Total: one hour

We would expect huge media coverage as we have gotten plenty of attention
for our prior events and our electorate is a "microcosm" of the RED states!

One stipulation.....we need to do this BEFORE AUGUST 15th.....after that
we have many pre-planned events to include multiple candidates.

[Dan Klaus]

This would make a good follow-up article..particularly the conditions set forth...wow...

[torchbearer]

did someone forward this to the campaign.

[Exponent]

Other threads covering this subject:

South Carolina is sooooo inportant (http://ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=5659)
Thank Mr. Beltram... (http://ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=5644)
Meetup board had this possible good news from Rick Beltram (http://ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=5640)
Say No Thanks To Rick Beltham and Go To Greenville, SC (http://ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=5662)

It does sound like there may be communication going on between the campaign and the Rick Beltram's office, but there still seem to be contradicting reports.