Something I’m not

Boy did I get an interesting e-mail yesterday, thanks to Gail:

I have spoken to many of you personally on this issues (sic) and I appreciate your time and concern on this matter. I ask you to circulate this article from the Boston Globe regard this important matter. Please forward this email and link to let your members know what is happening nationally with the Ron Paul campaign, so they can factor that information into their decision as to who will best represent the Maryland Republican Party in Minneapolis. Thanks again.

The names we have confirmed as Ron Paul supporters are:

Delegates:

David S. Allen, Jacob Bowers, Gary Rumsey

Alternates:

Collins Bailey, Mell Davis, Michael Swartz (all emphasis mine).

This e-mail was from David Hays of the McCain campaign.

The Globe article by Brian C. Mooney talks at some length about the continuing Ron Paul campaign, including some who are bidding to get him a speaking slot at the September GOP convention. Personally, I have no objection to Paul speaking at the convention (after all, we are a “big tent”, aren’t we?) and on many issues I do support Congressman Paul’s stance. In fact, when I did my final summary of how I rated Presidential candidates on the issues, Paul finished two spots ahead of John McCain (although neither were near the top.)

However, there is one non-negotiable portion of Ron Paul’s platform I simply cannot abide and that is his call to withdraw from Iraq prior to victory. No way, no how do I support that position. To me, it is short-sighted to pull back because it would embolden the Islamofascists we’re fighting against and return the Middle East to a state where our foes had free rein. It’s far better to take the fight to them than having the other side take the fight to us, remember 9/11?

So I read the e-mail with amusement until I realized that the original e-mail may have gone out Friday afternoon or evening; a period when I was present at the state convention. And because it was forwarded to me, I had no idea that this e-mail was circulating which gave me no opportunity to refute what was implied about me. For all I know, this misinformation may have cost me a number of votes and possibly a top ten finish in my race.

Granted, I disagree with John McCain on a number of issues and to be honest I’m going to be like the gentleman from Oklahoma mentioned in the Globe article, looking for that number 10 clothespin come November. But if the McCain campaign wanted to get me on their good side misrepresenting my position without simply asking me whether I supported Ron Paul or not is certainly not the way to do it. Furthermore, an apology isn’t going to change the votes that were cast on Saturday. For all I know, lumping me in with the five other Ron Paul supporters may have been why I was with them in the bottom 3 on my side (as were the three Ron Paul-supporting Delegate candidates.)

So consider me another of those disgruntled Republicans. If John McCain and his campaign would fight Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton like they did in sounding the alarm bells for the six people who they deemed to be Ron Paul supporters running for a spot at the convention (I know the other two Alternate candidates were, I can’t speak for the other three) then they might get someplace in the election. Unfortunately, they’re turning the guns on their own to the detriment of our party as a whole.

By the way, if I were a Ron Paul supporter I’d be a little pissed about not being asked to be on the so-called “Unity Team” as well. They picked people from four other failed camapigns but no one from Ron Paul’s. It’s not a surprise of course but food for thought as you finish your lunch.

Author: Michael

It's me from my laptop computer.

4 thoughts on “Something I’m not”

  1. Being a Ron Paul voter (although not of the Joe Arminio type), I see nothing wrong with being lumped in with him. With your misguided views on the war, though, I do see how you may object.:) However, the larger point you make about the McCain campaign is a good one. The public image of McCain is often at odds with the perception of those who have worked with him. In the Senate his reputation among his colleagues is pretty horrible. His petty self-righteousness doesn’t lead to him being Mr. Popularity. It sounds like some of the candidate’s personality has rubbed off on his staff. It’s too bad you had to find this out in the way that you did.

    Bob Barr and the Libertarian Party may be an option you want to explore.

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