Correcting Misconceptions

[zjaws88]

I was blogging today at Reddit when it came to my attention--again--that there exist an incredible amount of misconceptions regarding Ron Paul and his political platform. Many people are incredibly misinformed regarding the differences between RP's personal, and political beliefs. Whats worse, the large media organizations do nothing to stem the tide of this disinformation, and sadly fuel the flames so to speak.

In this light I think it is not to early to assume that in the coming weeks and months, RP is going to be getting a lot more attention casting him in a negative light. As supporters we should begin brainstorming ways in which we can get the message out to correctly inform 'on-the-fence' voters who could be easily swayed by false information re: Ron Paul. Here is an example of my response to a poster at Reddit regarding RP's position on Abortion, Gay Marriage, and his opposition to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of the 1960's:

@James,

I think you've fallen into the same trap as a majority of the voting public in that you've misconstrued RP's personal beliefs and have made an assumption that as President, he would work to force his personal/moral beliefs on the public. RP is absolutely pro-life, and for that matter he also believes that marriage should be between a man and a women. I absolutely do not agree with these ideas, but hey, this is America.. To each his own.

However, his extreme Libertarianism, coupled with his steadfast constitutionalism forbids him from taking ANY steps to force his beliefs on anyone else. In this sense, RP holds true to his political philosophy and would disallow the federal government from making any overarching decisions as to how Americans live their lives. He IS in favor of designating such choices to the individual states. Thus, if one state is more liberal or more conservative than the next, than they can have their cake and eat it too. He believes, rightly, that the Fed has no authority to make such determinations. Just as you are so adamantly against anyone forcing women to be pro-life, any social conservative would be just as livid to have legalized abortions shoved down their throats. (this is the issue with Public tax dollars going to fund Planned Parenthood).

On the issue of Civil Rights/Voting rights of the 60s, you are again regurgitating the words of the large media outlets who are out to demonize paul and his beliefs. His stance on that had NOTHING to do with segregation, and forced-integration, but with private property rights. The federal government in that instance, overstepped its boundaries tremendously in dictating that private companies had to force integration within their places of businesses (on their buses) etc... In fact, Paul correctly concludes that forced integration actually did MORE to incite racial tensions in the 1960s as anyone with a valid history book would concede. We can ask what if's till we are blue in the face, but ultimately I think we would agree that racism was largely a social/moral issue which needed to be resolved in the hearts and minds of Americans and not by the Federal government. Thus, the issue of segregation probably would have been resolved without intervention as more and more people began to wake up to the needlessness of inequality.

In any case, I am not trying to pick on you, or outwardly support Paul or the Libertarians, but set the record straight. Feel free to respond on any of these points and correct me if I am wrong..

On the point at hand, Jon Stewart is obviously pointing out what we all already know. The media was designed to be the watchdogs of government, sadly over the years they have become the gatekeepers, designating who can and will be heard, and who will be fazed out completely. RP's stance on the countless wars we are engaged in is certainly noble, however I doubt this is why he is not receiving coverage by the media (as most Americans now disagree with the US's foreign policy).. He is most probably being fazed out because of his views on auditing and ultimately ending the Federal Reserve system--a conglomerate of private banks that probably plays the largest, most dominant role in government and lobbying.

I have ordered and distributed much of RP's paraphernalia from his website, including issue cards, bumper stickers, etc.. However, I think we should start brain storming our own "issue cards" aimed at rectifying people's misconceptions regarding RP.

I think we should come up with bullet points of where people are most LIKELY to disagree with Paul on incorrect issues; I.E. his stance on the CRA and VRA of the 60's being a PROPERTY rights issue, and not one fueled by racism. That his personal views on Abortion, Gay Rights, Evolution etc.. in no way translate to a political platform... ETC...

In essence, we need to try to educate the average voters as to the realities of RP's position. I agree with another thread on the forums where someone said, "Everyone knows who he is now, its not 2007 anymore"... Its true, everyone knows who he is now.. but for the most part they are so misinformed by large media organizations who completely manipulate his platform..


Any suggestions? Comments, Lets start working together to create something here for mass distribution (locally)... Lets create a flyer that individuals can print and send out.


All the Best,

Zach from Buffalo

[PhoebeMichelle]

I like your idea. I'm constantly trying to explain to people I talk to, that RP has his own personal beliefs, but that he is not interested in forcing those beliefs on anyone else, most especially from the White House. (This is also my defense of Libertarians in general.) You can't really blame the general public for not being able to separate the two, though. Their entire lives have been marked by politicians trying to run their lives based on their own views of morality. They just don't know any different. I think it's insanely important to make this distinction both to people who are socially right leaning and left leaning. I for one, believe THIS is exactly what makes RP "THE CANDIDATE" to beat O. (Actually, I think Johnson could too, but I digress.) I often explain it to people by referencing their 4th grade civics class, "You know how the govt is supposed to have a 'separation of powers'? Well, true lovers of liberty have a 'separation of politics'... you have to be able to separate your personal desires/moral convictions from that of the freedom of others to have their own."

[zjaws88]

Thanks for your comments!

I think we should start by bullet pointing RP's specific positions on each issue, especially social issue's where he is bound to be most misunderstood, and misstated. Generally, we will find that across the board RP's positions reflect one of state v. federal power. The idea is to take any subject, or anyone of his platforms, highlight his personal beliefs, his POLITICAL position, and then quickly explain why his position is good for both Dems/Reps. or conservatives and liberals. I.E.

Social Issues

Same-sex Marriage:
RPs views defined above

Same-Sex Adoption:
defined above

Abortion:
defined above

"Dont Ask Dont Tell": RP follows the witty words of Barry Goldwater: "I doesn't matter if you are straight, only that you can SHOOT straight"

Stem-Cell Research:

Capital-Punishment:

-----------------

Federal Bureaucracies

In this section we should attempt to explain WHY these various regulatory institutions are unconstitutional, and how they have all (ie DOE, DEA, EPA, FEC etc) ironically led to the degradation of the numerous sectors they have been designed to regulate. Furthermore, we should explain what existed BEFORE these regulatory agencies, and how their responsibilities could be better handled by an HONEST and legitimate free market/private sector. The idea here would be to correct misconceptions that RP's policies would put the US back into the stone age. We would need to explain how and why it is in everyone's best interest.

Foreign Policy

We must correct the misconceptions regarding RP's stances on foreign policy. We need to explain--till we are blue in the face--the difference between Isolationism and Non-Interventionism. This will be an enormous point to make as in the coming months RP will be defined by the Dems as an Isolationist whose mentality 'was responsible for WWI' etcc.. "trade with all, alliances with none".. We need to bullet point the enormous amount of positive impacts this will have.

Economy

Here we need to bullet point the incredible ramifications the federal reserve has had on the stature of the dollar and the American economy as a whole. Here we need to explain how the system worked Before the FED, how the FED came to be, and what will exist following the FED. We will also need to discuss RP's position on the return to the Gold Standard and the revitalization of the US dollar. I doubt RP will get much heat on his economics, most have realized that he had been predicting and warning of our current economic conditions for decades. What will be important here is to define his solutions.


And of course the hardest part! To summarize all of this into a small leaflet! This is of course just a brainstorm of what needs to be said, and the various areas where many of Americans are still confused about RP and his ideas. I will of course be working on summarizing all of this into a smaller, more accurate, and more concise leaflet, but Everyone is welcome to work on it with me! It would be great to find quotes of RP throughout his tenure in congress that define his positions.

In any case, I will put it out to all of you! RP is in NH now, and as I am in NY, the closer he gets to the East Coast, the more we must raise positive, accurate exposure of OUR candidate!

Lets all work together and give our neighbors and communities an ACCURATE, HONEST portrayal of Ron Paul!

Best,

Zach from Buffalo

[KhunJean]

Have a look at one of my ideas for a website post.
http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthr...pport-Ron-Paul.
I would like some input on those and one of the website idea is exactly how to present the issues and Pauls stand on them. It can be used to centralize information that can be used to explain Pauls ideas and as a source for when material is needed to win someone over.
I could use some input on that.