Tale of a Tandredo volunteer in New Jersey

Jason F. writes:

I am a volunteer for the Tancredo campaign here in the PRNJ (People’s Republic of New Jersey), and it really saddened me that we were unable to get on the ballot. Over the past few weeks I have gone to over 400 homes of registered so called Republicans who vote, and received just 20 signatures. We unfortunately did not get our act together here as quickly as we should have. And we did not have much a ground game. But it amazed me how much in the tank this state is for Rudy RINO. It may be why some campaigns are just not even bothering here. [LA replies: New Jersey, my native state, is an extreme liberal sea, and has no problem with incompetent, immoral, and corrupt Democrats. Look at the jokes of senators and governors they’ve been electing for many years. There hasn’t been a conservative Republican candidate for state-wide office since before historical memory.]

The one candidate who speaks to the safety, sovereignty and security of the USA cannot get any traction. For the life of me I cannot understand why.

As for Ron Paul, his biggest problem in my mind is some of the people who support him. I have acted as a surrogate for Rep. Tancredo and attended events on his behalf. Everywhere I go I find “9/11 was an inside job” and “Loose Change is truth” shirts with Ron Paul buttons on them. Until he disavows people who are convinced that we killed 3000 of our own people, and tells them to get lost, nobody will take him seriously.

- end of initial entry -

Clem writes:

Jason F. writes: “As for Ron Paul, his biggest problem in my mind is some of the people who support him…. Everywhere I go I find “9/11 was an inside job” and “Loose Change is truth” shirts with Ron Paul buttons on them. Until he disavows people who are convinced that we killed 3000 of our own people, and tells them to get lost, nobody will take him seriously.”

This is not about Paul per se but somebody needs to explain the logic in that reasoning? The supporters of all other candidates are trustworthy, loyal, honest, socially acceptable and true blue Americans? Right?

LA replies:

Jason was not saying that Paul supporters are untrustworthy and dishonest, and therefore that the supporters of all other candidates are trustworthy and honest. He’s saying that conspicuously present in the Ron Paul campaign are 9/11 conspiracy mongers, i.e., anti-American crazies. And, yes, the supporters of the other GOP candidates are NOT 9/11 conspiracy mongers and anti-American crazies.

Clem replies:

Conspicuousness being the key word here, not reality. I detest the idea that appearance is what really matters. How about those who are not conspicuous? He is explicitly stating he wouldn’t vote for Paul or any other candidate because of certain supporters. Why not address his planks, record or stated principles? You disagree with his record, war stance or whatever. Now if these were his ONLY supporters maybe so but that is hardly the case and that would apply to all candidates if their only supporters were group a or b. Again how many vile people support the other candidates? If you say it doesn’t matter, why?

My neighbor is a horrible person. He supports Tom Tancredo I will never vote for Tancredo because of that. That has as about as much credence as what he is saying.

BTW to be clear I am a huge Tancredo supporter but I have a real problem with the idea that it is better to look good then be good.

LA replies:

Clem is missing the problem. According to Jason, people are campaigning for Paul, selling campaign materials for Paul, that disseminate 9/11 conspiracy theories. Paul has evidently done nothing to disocciate himself from this and has done nothing to stop it. The issue is not the behavior of certain individuals in Paul’s campaign, but Paul’s stance toward that behavior which is going on in his campaign.

Posted by Lawrence Auster at December 14, 2007 01:06 AM | Send