Should Ron Paul go to the Occupy Wall Street protests and speak?

[jordie]

It would garner a lot of attention, it would separate him from the other wall street loving Republican candidates (in the eyes of liberals who see Republicans as all the same). He'd get new supporters from there. It'd show him supporting the right to free speech and his opposition to corporatism. I could imagine him giving an amazingly rousing speech. Thoughts?

[zach]

I don't see why not to be honest. A freedom-fighter like Ron Paul knows how to connect to everyone despite their political leanings, but for some reason, we seem to hold this stigma that Dr. Paul shouldn't associate with "Socialists" and "Hipsters" even though these are the people that need a symbolic leader for their "directionless" protesting. A real President for the people would strive to connect to every person down to the protests, not refuse based simply on a different preference on the political spectrum.

"For the people" plays a big part, and when it comes to Wall Street, I'm sure he can garner a lot of support from these groups if he could find a spot that was devoid of chaos.

[Expose The Foes]

i think it would be potentially huge for Ron. Alot of activists that are young are just looking for leadership...and Ron could help lead them.

[69360]

Show up there and throw away all chances of getting the GOP nomination. Like it or not that is reality.

[Expose The Foes]

actually...Ron & The Judge should go speak to these people....the Judge is a great motivational speaker!

[Expose The Foes]

Show up there and throw away all chances of getting the GOP nomination. Like it or not that is reality.

how so? you show up & stick to your principals and tell them the problems we have are due to size of government & tell them you are the only candidate willing to shrink government & end the wars. they can't spin that negatively as long as he sticks to what he's always said

[erowe1]

No.

[idiom]

We had this thread already....

Basically the idea of showing up to look good relies on an honest media. The media will flat out lie so don't give them anything that cant be this easily twisted.

[Pizzo]

how so? you show up & stick to your principals and tell them the problems we have are due to size of government & tell them you are the only candidate willing to shrink government & end the wars. they can't spin that negatively as long as he sticks to what he's always said

The perception is that the protestors there are mainly socialists and communists. Not good to be going there when you are trying to win a GOP nomination. Have we not learned that the media will not report what is fact and that most people do not do their own research to find out the facts? We as individuals should go there to educate, whoever is close enough. But for Ron Paul and the campaign to get involved, that's suicide. It's like when McCain stopped his campaign during the TARP discussions, and people thought he was going to vote against it. He voted for it, and that destroyed any chance he had at winning.

[PaulConventionWV]

how so? you show up & stick to your principals and tell them the problems we have are due to size of government & tell them you are the only candidate willing to shrink government & end the wars. they can't spin that negatively as long as he sticks to what he's always said

They can and they will spin it. You don't want to be encouraging the people who are clogging up the streets of New York. Even if you say the most boring things, that's what the perception is going to be. At any rate, I am confident that Ron Paul is smart enough not to do that, so I'm not worried.

[sailingaway]

No

[69360]

how so? you show up & stick to your principals and tell them the problems we have are due to size of government & tell them you are the only candidate willing to shrink government & end the wars. they can't spin that negatively as long as he sticks to what he's always said

No offense but you are out of touch with reality. RP is trying to win a mainstream GOP primary. Any association with these people will lump him in with them in the msm. It would torpedo the campaign. Especially if/when the situation there devolves into rioting and looting.

[Expose The Foes]

No offense but you are out of touch with reality. RP is trying to win a mainstream GOP primary. Any association with these people will lump him in with them in the msm. It would torpedo the campaign. Especially if/when the situation there devolves into rioting and looting.

that's why leadership is needed. Ron could go talk to these people & tell them to remain peaceful....LEADERSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[civusamericanus]

NO! Ron Paul is running for the GOP primary, as many of us agree Corporate and government collusion is at the root of most of our problems, communist and socialist leaders have already assumed leadership of this movement, and the majority of protesters lean in that direction. Labor Unions are descending on this opportunity, and it would not further our cause of liberty. As another poster mentioned, sure go down there and try to educate, but don't involve Ron Paul. We must pick our battles, and this ain't one of them.

(From activist on htxp://occupywallst.org/forum) You far too orthodox libertarian for this protest and unless you learn to compromise with the left wing social living wage agenda you will never catch speed with this protest movement. I suggest you do some reading about the American labor battles that created the living wage and made the American living standard highest in the world albeit the most ecologically damaging standard of living. Of course we built our society with the wrong energy source.

[69360]

that's why leadership is needed. Ron could go talk to these people & tell them to remain peaceful....LEADERSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You don't get it do you? If you want RP as your president, you have to work within the existing system to make it happen, like it or not.

[ronpaulhawaii]

I went down there to have a gander. It's a friggin circus. Ivy league Trustifarians and union rabble rousers.

One open source guy I know has been down there regularly. His comment, "All complaints - No solutions"

Not my type crowd, at all.

[Expose The Foes]

Look at the big picture here! These people are young americans. When i was younger i thought the democratic view was the correct view! Most young kids do...because they've never had someone explain conservatism to them properly! To them, the face of conservatism is George W. Bush.

Dr. Paul knows how to speak to the youth. He knows how to spread the idea of limited government & freedom. Let this man prove to be a leader! Let him show them the way!

If nothing more Dr. Paul could use his appearance in his favor at a debate by saying "I went and spoke to these young Americans. I am the only candidate on stage who cared enough about them and their concerns. I spoke to them about how our size of government is destroying our country. I told them how these unecessary wars are bankrupting this country..."

This would show that Ron doesn't care about party affiliations...he is just ready to lead all people of America! People would be responsive to this! It would also help shed the viewpoint that liberiarians don't care about others. No other Republican candidate has presented themself as a leader...this could be Ron's chance to shine!!!!

[Pizzo]

Look at the big picture here! These people are young americans. When i was younger i thought the democratic view was the correct view! Most young kids do...because they've never had someone explain conservatism to them properly! To them, the face of conservatism is George W. Bush.

Dr. Paul knows how to speak to the youth. He knows how to spread the idea of limited government & freedom. Let this man prove to be a leader! Let him show them the way!

If nothing more Dr. Paul could use his appearance in his favor at a debate by saying "I went and spoke to these young Americans. I am the only candidate on stage who cared enough about them and their concerns. I spoke to them about how our size of government is destroying our country. I told them how these unecessary wars are bankrupting this country..."

This would show that Ron doesn't care about party affiliations...he is just ready to lead all people of America! People would be responsive to this! It would also help shed the viewpoint that liberiarians don't care about others. No other Republican candidate has presented themself as a leader...this could be Ron's chance to shine!!!!

Less risky to go down there if we already had the Republican nomination. But we don't yet. And going down there would assure he never would.

[zach]

The media is screwing the protests over by not even reporting it. By not reporting Dr. Paul's presence while he is there, even more people will see that the media isn't for the people but for the corporations they are protesting against.

He is against the corporations and is called many names, but does it matter if the media skews it one way or another?

A real politician is there with the people, and that would display a great honesty on his part if he chose to do so.

These people need direction.

[erowe1]

He is against the corporations

Except he isn't.

[Cowlesy]

I went down there to have a gander. It's a friggin circus. Ivy league Trustifarians and union rabble rousers.

One open source guy I know has been down there regularly. His comment, "All complaints - No solutions"

Not my type crowd, at all.

That sounds about right.

http://dealbreaker.com/2011/09/wall-...o-be-arrested/

2002 Home Purchase Price - $350,000
In 2005 refinanced home pulling out equity of $500,000
Used $500,000 to go on numerous vacations, new 750 BMW for him, new Lexus for her, new Cadillac for their son, pay off son's student loans, gift son $50,000, send son on a few vacations, redo house.
Now I'm broke and it's the bank's fault I have no self control.

[zach]

Except he isn't.

Okay, then how so?

Besides my error, the point being that he can provide a voice that can spark the more appropriate thinking of these protestors.

[mport1]

He should go but make clear that he doesn't advocate what many of those socialists want, more government regulation of wall street.

[Expose The Foes]

Ponder this thought...
A true leader doesn't lead based on how they think the media will react. A true leader leads with their heart, doing what is right for their people, regardless of the consequence.

Ron is a compasionate man. He cares about America & the citizens of America. He has always been about spreading the idea of freedom. So, you are basically saying he shouldn't be the guy that we all love & rally around just because the media may slander him? As if they already don't!?!?

[brushfire]

Below the romantic overtones is a socialist/communist driven assault. Some of these protestors may be mislead, but many of them hate capitalism. Really, they should be standing on the steps of the capitol, and not wall street.

I liken these protests to the husband that blames the man for fooling around with his wife - when the wife is the one who he should be holding accountable.

Again, these protests are poison for our cause - I'll stay away, thank you.

[Todd]

The media is screwing the protests over by not even reporting it. By not reporting Dr. Paul's presence while he is there, even more people will see that the media isn't for the people but for the corporations they are protesting against.

He is against the corporations and is called many names, but does it matter if the media skews it one way or another?

A real politician is there with the people, and that would display a great honesty on his part if he chose to do so.

These people need direction.

I guarantee you if he were to show up there, they would report that.

[civusamericanus]

Originally Posted by ronpaulhawaii
I went down there to have a gander. It's a friggin circus. Ivy league Trustifarians and union rabble rousers.

One open source guy I know has been down there regularly. His comment, "All complaints - No solutions"

Not my type crowd, at all.

That sounds about right.

htxp://dealbreaker.com/2011/09/wall-street-protest-2011-how-long-must-a-child-of-parents-with-multiple-degrees-beg-to-be-arrested/

2002 Home Purchase Price - $350,000
In 2005 refinanced home pulling out equity of $500,000
Used $500,000 to go on numerous vacations, new 750 BMW for him, new Lexus for her, new Cadillac for their son, pay off son's student loans, gift son $50,000, send son on a few vacations, redo house.
Now I'm broke and it's the bank's fault I have no self control.

^^I'm with ronpaulhawaii, this isn't his 1st bike ride around New York for the campaign! Our most trusted supporters in New York, are saying stay away. That's the advice I'm sticking with...

[roversaurus]

Why can't he go there and tell them that BIG GOVERNMENT is what is causing the trouble.
Tell them that the free market requires that BIG GOVERNMENT should not bail out Wall Street failures.
Tell the crowd that socialism is a failure and SOCIALISM is what is bailing out Wall Street.

If the crowd boos his free market message, so what? That wins the Republican base.

[Pizzo]

Why can't he go there and tell them that BIG GOVERNMENT is what is causing the trouble.
Tell them that the free market requires that BIG GOVERNMENT should not bail out Wall Street failures.
Tell the crowd that socialism is a failure and SOCIALISM is what is bailing out Wall Street.

If the crowd boos his free market message, so what? That wins the Republican base.

Why redirect the campaign and use resources to go there at all? How many votes does he gain by going there? How many does he lose by going there? How well received would a Republican elected politician be there? We know he is not status quo, but do they? Again, I don't think it is a bad thing at all for individuals to go there to try to educate. But Ron going there is campaign suicide.

[rprprs]

Why redirect the campaign and use resources to go there at all? How many votes does he gain by going there? How many does he lose by going there? How well received would a Republican elected politician be there? We know he is not status quo, but do they? Again, I don't think it is a bad thing at all for individuals to go there to try to educate. But Ron going there is campaign suicide.

^ this.
What's the net gain?
For every potential convert, there's the potential for untold damage to the campaign.
Stay away...far, far away.