The "Swiftboating" of Ron Paul

[curtisag]

The official attack phase of the campaign has definitely started. The newest attack strategy being used is the current "civil war" issue that Tim Russert brought up in the MTP interview. They tried briefly with the "earmark" strategy, but that fizzled pretty quickly. This new attack is coming from all directions in the media, because they've found something they think can really work to smear Ron Paul like they did to Buchanan in '96 and Perot in '92. Anyone who challenges the mainstream left/right paradigm or the status quo and suggests real change, well, they predictably come under attack once they grow strong enough politically to threaten the status quo.

The official campaign knew the attacks were coming, but MSM is starting earlier than expected. They're not going to wait for him to place 3rd or better in Iowa, or 1st or 2nd in New Hampshire. We have to actively refute the things being said about Dr. Paul to avoid letting what happened to previous politicians happen to Ron Paul. Ron Paul has been fighting this the only way he can, he refutes the negative rhetoric and squeezes in his message along with it. They know he is an honest man, so their strategy of tying him to certain earmarks failed.

The media tried to ignore us for as long as possible. Now the pundits are pouncing on him and going for the jugular early, because this is an accelerated Presidential Primary season now. They have to hit him early and hard. Glenn Beck attempted to do this at the end of his interview, and Russert is doing what Russert does best, try to pick away at politicians. We have the amazing tool of the internet, I suggest we use it however we can to best help Dr. Paul refute these attacks and simultaneously spread the the message of peace, prosperity, and freedom.

LETS DO IT!

[goRPaul]

I welcome the attacks. They attack Paul out of fear; Paul attacks no one because he fears no one.

[forsmant]

The civil war is over, so Paul's handling of it is irrelevant.

[curtisag]

I welcome the attacks. They attack Paul out of fear; Paul attacks no one because he fears no one.

You can't ignore attacks, you have to respond to them in a strong and resolute way.

[UCFGavin]

i am so glad that the phoniness of the civil war is finally out in the open. i studied the civil war for an entire year when i was in elementary school and the real reasons were never even brought up.

[Thom1776]

This won't be a "swiftboat".

Big deal over nothing.

[Micahyah]

this is basically all they have.

Tim Russert was the end of the line. They dug and dug and that's what they found to work with.

There won't be anything new coming. Their last chance is to portray Paul has a racist

[DetroitLion]

Could we please not use the word 'swiftboat' to describe the attacks on Paul.

The Swiftboat veterans were rightly bringing to light the shameful tactics of John Kerry during Vietnam.

If anything a positive conotation should be given to the term 'swiftboat' not negative so let's not use that term in relation to what they are doing to Ron Paul.

What they're doing to Ron Paul is disgraceful calumny and outright lies at times. That's not what 'swifboating' is, however.

[BeFranklin]

The civil war is over, so Paul's handling of it is irrelevant.

Obviously, this is pretty boring to most people.

[ChickenHawk]

Could we please not use the word 'swiftboat' to describe the attacks on Paul.

The Swiftboat veterans were rightly bringing to light the shameful tactics of John Kerry during Vietnam.

If anything a positive conotation should be given to the term 'swiftboat' not negative so let's not use that term in relation to what they are doing to Ron Paul.

What they're doing to Ron Paul is disgraceful calumny and outright lies at times. That's not what 'swifboating' is, however.


+1

It's Hucky that's gettin' Swiftboated.

[curtisag]

Could we please not use the word 'swiftboat' to describe the attacks on Paul.

The Swiftboat veterans were rightly bringing to light the shameful tactics of John Kerry during Vietnam.

If anything a positive conotation should be given to the term 'swiftboat' not negative so let's not use that term in relation to what they are doing to Ron Paul.

What they're doing to Ron Paul is disgraceful calumny and outright lies at times. That's not what 'swifboating' is, however.

I think you're right, but the reason I used swiftboating as the example is because of how effective it was. I also used it because that's the way the MSM has framed it. They were trying their damnest at the time to get John Kerry elected President, and most journalists came out against the swiftboat campaign. I don't want what happened to Kerry to happen to Dr. Paul.

[Cindy]

An upside is that this has been happening during the busy holiday week and much fewer have been watching the news.

Beyond that, whoever doesn't bother to realize that Paul just staying consistant with honoring his oath to defend states rights, (doing the job he is paid too) then, they wouldn't have looked into him or voted for him anyway.

I don't see any losses coming from this lame ass attempt at a smear. It could bring about possible gains if it causes people to look into him further for the first time.


Voters want to know what is going to be done about the war, economy and rip off health care situtation in the U.S.

Rehashing a decision made by Lincoln to keep the Union in tact, seems far removed from what anyone gives a crap about today.

Paul has repeatedly said that he believes in individual and equal rights, freedom and liberty for all. He be;leives those rights were given to us by our creator, and that no man should take them away from us.

If I were a youtube video making master, I would set about creating a video made up of a collaboration of bits where Paul has said the above, as well as him talking about supporting and admiring the actions of people like Dr. Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks. Title it Ron Paul Is A Racist.

People googling him looking for evidence of it with this bogus stretch of a misleading and lame smear attempt, will find that video and learn otherwise. Egg will be on the face of the shameless media and anyone spouting mistruths about Paul.

If anyone can make such a video, please do it and quickly, just to piss off the media trying to smear him. Ask for help with finding clips to use for it.

[ChristopherBearkat]

This civil war story has no legs, it'll cycle out of the news cycle soon enough. There's not much relevancy today. The next big media wave will be the primary results. Anyone who finishes less than third (or maybe not even that) will be asked "Are you going to drop out?" at the end of every interview. After New Hampshire, it will be even worse. And South Carolina, even worse beyond imagination.

[Energy]

Reminds me of this relevant post:

"Our Success is Maneuverability"

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=28132

[AdoubleR]

In the words of Eminem "Contraversy Sells"... I'm all for Ron speaking his mind so long as he doesn't BYAAHHH! on a mic connected to an amp... LOL...

[WebFX]

Reminds me of this relevant post:

"Our Success is Maneuverability"

http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?t=28132

Really interesting post -- For a long time I've been interested in the implications of John Boyd's OODA loops (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act) as applied to grassroots movements and specifically strategy and tactics that allow a smaller but more maneuverable movement to fight a much larger adversary. (MSM control, bureaucratic corporatism, military industrial prison complex, what have you)

OODA loops are a warfare model by one of the most famous military strategists in recent history, similar in a lot of ways to Sun Tzu. The basic idea is the smaller combatant can outmaneuver a stronger or dominant adversary if it can run through its OODA loops more quickly than it's opponent.

The Ron Paul Revolution has been rocking these loops faster than ever before in the history of politics, because of the decentralized nature of the internets and our ability to communicate more effectively and with a lower operational cost than at any time in history. That means the highest quality signals and messages are free to more quickly go viral in the marketplace of ideas among those who are connected. Combine that with the fact that it is a case of the right man, with the right message, at the right time, and you have a winning dynamic.

The Ron Paul grassroots is incredible. Everybody is observing, orienting, deciding and acting all the time!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/OODA.gif


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/honkywill/happycatrp2.gif

[daviddee]

...

[stewie3128]

Everyone that reads Kos is under the impression that he's a racist though - and they're going to stick by that. I worry that the strong negative feelings of the socialist lefties could poison the warm reaction Paul tends to elicit from independents especially on first impression.

[devil21]

They are quickly running out of attacks. The South knows. The rest of the country doesn't care. All that Lincoln thing did was raise awareness of Ron Paul in the deep south. AOL's own poll shows that deeply southern states agree with RP.

[user]

Everyone that reads Kos is under the impression that he's a racist though - and they're going to stick by that. I worry that the strong negative feelings of the socialist lefties could poison the warm reaction Paul tends to elicit from independents especially on first impression.
Don't worry about the Kos people. As I said in the other thread, they are a minority with little influence. How else can we explain Kucinich's campaign never taking off and their hatred of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton?

[Oliver]

The civil war is over, so Paul's handling of it is irrelevant.

Exactly - plus Ron's stance on it is "undebunkable" anyway.
So it's a point for us anyway - there is no way to spin it
without making oneself looking like an idiot.

[Dan Klaus]

TRUE!! The last minute attacks have begun with various articles about Dr. Paul's positions which are logical and sound. However, they are being slanted in a manner to marginalize Dr. Paul and I fear ignorant Americans are still listening to pundits and allowing themselves to be brainwashed into believing anything they happen to spew forth. Just check huffpost in the political section if you need a reminder of what is happening. In the end however, Dr. Paul will prevail and I honestly believe he will triumph over this as usual.

[stewie3128]

Don't worry about the Kos people. As I said in the other thread, they are a minority with little influence. How else can we explain Kucinich's campaign never taking off and their hatred of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton?

That's actually quite comforting... as long as we do well in IA and NH. :)