Mitt Romney becoming more like Ron Paul is *EXTREMELY* dangerous to our campaign

[Xhin]

Hi all. Long time lurker, first time (well sort of) poster.

A couple of posts here and some of the news has brought me to the attention that Mitt Romney is beginning to flip-flop closer towards Ron Paul's viewpoints. It's a slow gradual change, but it could spell disaster for our campaign if it isn't dealt with.

Right now our main selling point is how completely different Ron Paul's positions are from all the other candidates. I've seen it said a lot that our campaign would gain a huge boost if we are seen as the Anti-Romney. Romney adopting Ron Paul's viewpoints changes all this -- suddenly the voters who would vote for us only because they're anti-romney would instead shift their votes to Romney, who they see as more electable and now more in tune with their own opinions. The Establishment vote could likely shift to another candidate (for example Newt), which would hurt Romney, but would keep more Establishment candidates in play, which is what we're trying to avoid. Ron Paul is being taken a lot more seriously right now because other candidates (besides Romney) haven't had any major upswings. Furthermore, some Ron Paul supporters (not us, surely!) would be willing to side with Romney if it looked like his campaign was listening to Ron Paul. Look at how the Tea Party got hijacked.

This would be an absolute disaster for the campaign. We know full well that even if Mitt Romney became a Ron Paul clone, he would fail to deliver. Even aside from Romney's rampant flip-flopping, it's very clear that Obama has failed to live up to the promises that got him elected. We cannot trust the Establishment to deliver on the promises they make in order to get elected.

If this situation arises (and it inevitably will as Ron Paul's popularity continues to soar and endorsements start coming in), we need to make sure we stress Ron Paul's political consistency and personal honesty. The fact that he doesn't see himself in the White House is actually a selling point, because it shows he places more emphasis on the issues at stake rather than his own position of power. We have to show how Romney is backed by major corporations, while we're funded by individuals and the military. All of this in an effort to let our supporters (especially the ones who haven't fully been converted) know that a Ron Paulian Romney presidency will be full of broken promises and small concessions to our beliefs.

We can't let what happened to the Tea Party happen to this movement as well. Ron Paul or No One at all.

[Edward]

Lip service to smaller government isn't the same as adopting RP's views.

(BTW: Welcome!)

[Nubraskan]

Romney can't sell himself as a Libertarian-leaning Republican. Nobody will buy that. Furthermore, most Paul supporters already know he's not trustworthy to carry out our ideals.

[happyphilter]

I agree but what sets Ron Paul apart is his record.

[AhuwaleKaNaneHuna]

Some others forgot to mention in the other "Romney ripped off Paul at the Huck forum" post, that Romney also said,

"Obama is trying to fundamentally change our country. We are trying to Restore America."

That is Ron Pauls slogan. It's on our RP bumber stickers and T-shirts.

It's getting ridiculous.

[archangel689]

I wouldn't worry about it. Once the ankle biters are out of the race we can go scorched earth on him. He'll be recognized for what he is, his father was and painted as the "moderate to liberal" he is.

Gingrich is pulling punches because he's got his own bag of $#@! to carry around that makes him similar to romney. We'll let those two duke it out for a while.

Ron has so much ammo to use on this guy, though, it's going to be a Hiroshima x 1000. Come on.

[Tyler_Durden]

Is Romney Ron Pauling again?

[Paul or not at all]

He better put Ron on his ticket if he gets the nod, but my guess is he is trying to be in Ron's good graces because he knows that the nominee will be one of them.

[AhuwaleKaNaneHuna]

The concern with Romney grabbing A LOT of Paul one liners and slogans is that, if people just associate a positive impression they got with a slogan or one liner , given by Paul or a Paul supporter after an "education on the message", they may later space the messenger and start thinking it was Mitt who gave them that postive impression when they hear the one liner or slogan again coming out of his mouth.

I wouldn't call it extremley dangerous to Pauls campaign though.

It's more like obnoxious right now.

[Kluge]

It's *****. Romney needs Paul's supporters, who are the most committed of any candidate. Romney can't smear Paul or he'll definitely lose the GE, but if Romney's too friendly, he may not win the GOP nomination.

[Scott_in_PA]

This does stink because every time I see Paulbot now I'm going to think of mittens.

[yesman]

eh, next week hell be ginrich and the week after that hell be santorum. you have to remember, this is romney were talking about

[Xhin]

I wouldn't call it extremley dangerous to Pauls campaign though.

Well obviously not now. It's a gradual change anyway. It needs to be thought about however, in case hesitant RP supporters start drifting towards Romney.

eh, next week hell be ginrich and the week after that hell be santorum. you have to remember, this is romney were talking about

Romney's campaign isn't stupid. It's painfully obvious that there's something to the whole Ron Paul thing, since his beliefs are so radically different to the GOP but his support is rapidly rising. Romney already has enough of a lead to not place a priority on snatching up supporters from non-RP candidates.

It's also a mistake to assume that those under the Ron Paul banner are unified and immovable. In 2008 they would have been, however the campaign has reached out now beyond the libertarian fringe. I'm not trying to be cynical here, I still see the status quo as evil and us as the good guys restoring america, I'm just worried that we may not have the unity to pull off a NOBP campaign if Romney continues to concede to some of Paul's viewpoints.

I do think that those who have actually researched Paul's positions and support him because of that ARE immovable, the problem is that as this campaign gains more steam, not all Ron Paul supporters will be supporting him because of the conviction everyone here has. Yet we can't move slowly either or we'll never take the nomination.

[thoughtomator]

I wouldn't be all that terribly surprised if Romney comes to realize that Ron Paul is the better man of the two and support him. He may be being exposed to a consistent, non-despotic philosophy of government for the first time in his life.

[Xhin]

Hahahaa, that would be awesome.

[blamx8]

If this situation arises... we need to make sure we stress Ron Paul's political consistency and personal honesty.

^ This. You answered your question within the question itself. Romney has no leg to stand on if this is the issue. It ends up being pretty easy to see the fake.

[clint4liberty]

I have always believed in taking the offensive in political campaigns. I believe we should take away any advantages or good talking points/issues away from
other campaigns. If we agree on any issue, talking point, or policy we should seize it. Our campaign is all about issues and policies.

[Jamesiv1]

I wouldn't worry about it. Once the ankle biters are out of the race we can go scorched earth on him. He'll be recognized for what he is, his father was and painted as the "moderate to liberal" he is.

Gingrich is pulling punches because he's got his own bag of $#@! to carry around that makes him similar to romney. We'll let those two duke it out for a while.

Ron has so much ammo to use on this guy, though, it's going to be a Hiroshima x 1000. Come on.

^^this

[Xhin]

You answered your question within the question itself. Romney has no leg to stand on if this is the issue. It ends up being pretty easy to see the fake.

For us, yes, but as Ron Paul gains popularity, not all ron paul supporters are going to be devoted or well-researched enough to see behind the lies of another candidate.

Our campaign is all about issues and policies.

Yes, but it's also about making sure we elect people who would actually make decisions based on those issues and policies. Long-term we don't necessarily have to vote for Ron Paul himself, but we need to make sure we're not voting for someone who only parrots his positions to get into office.

[Xhin]

Again, look at what happened to the Tea Party. How is it that a movement started by Ron Paul would prefer Romney over its patron saint?

[papitosabe]

Is Romney Ron Pauling again?

lmao...

[sailingaway]

They've all been parroting Ron, but only Ron has the record to back it up.

[Kuthreck]

This is a bogus thread.

Rhetoric does not = record.

You can not change the Fact that Ron Paul is bigger then just WORDS, he is Action.

[blamx8]

For us, yes, but as Ron Paul gains popularity, not all ron paul supporters are going to be devoted or well-researched enough to see behind the lies of another candidate.

This is where we, and the official campaign, focus on Romney's record. I'm sure that ad's highlighting his changing rhetoric will be a major staple. If he changes because he is converted, it's wonderful. But without the history to show that his change is sincere, he will be an easy target.

[Paul4Prez]

They can duplicate Ron Paul's message, but they will never duplicate Ron Paul's credibility.

[LibertasPraesidium]

While I would love to believe people are smarter than this, Romney is leading in the polls still. If he parrots just enough he can get people to "believe" he likes limited government. Do not forget that he is the flip-flopper king. Because people are, and I hate to use this term nowadays but some people are sheep, and when they here freedom and limited government they stick like flies to ..... well you know. The problem is without people actually checking Romney's record, or seeing that he is a lying sack of ... also well-known, it will be difficult for us to identify the soft supporters of Ron that are just waiting to jump ship. (very unlikely but not all 100% of RP's supporters are hard core) I for one will never, but I also joined No one but Paul on FB. We do have a chance as Ron sits by and watches all the other candidates fall in line by attacking Romney. Justice will be served, and it will be remarkable to be a part of. :-)

[kill the banks]

restore america now ... I'm mitt romney and Goldman Sachs approves this message

[Dsylexic]

romney says he will double military spending (which is today 700 billion) and STILL balance the budget.let us call him out for the blatant lies he is peddling.doublign the military budget will increase our deficit by 50%. he is a liar.he has not spoken of ONE significant cut. ron paul/audience should question him WHAT specific major cut he will propose.paul is taking a sledgehammer and still needs 3 years to balance.romney will start BY DOUBLING SPENDING and will balance the budget? romney cant see the lies he is peddling in his self contradictory statement. REVPAC AD Please

[Dsylexic]

BTW.can we have a NONBP facebook page? .if we hit 500000 on it,establishment will $#@! bricks

[KingRobbStark]

I hope the other canditates vanish after SC, so we can focus on Romney. The rest are just a nuisance.