Liberty Maven

Browsing the issues pages of all the presidential candidates last year revealed a glaring omission. Sure there were taxes, foreign policy, Iraq war, health care, immigration, and a slew of others, but probably the most important was not listed. “Has a chance to win” is the unmentionable issue yet it is the response many give as to the reason they chose not to vote for Ron Paul. “I’d vote for him, but he doesn’t have a chance,” goes the mantra. It trumps, “He’s crazy”, or “His views are too extreme.” Indeed, if “has a chance” never was, then Ron Paul would be the Republican nominee.

Of course, there is no way to necessarily prove this assertion, but the larger question is why “has a chance” is even an issue in the first place? In most other areas people love the underdog, but in politics the underdog is usually treated unfairly by the establishment (especially in primary contests) and belittled as “unelectable” by the media and therefore the masses.

So far over a million people voted for Ron Paul in spite of the “has a chance” factor. Many in the neo-conservative GOP establishment had thought that Ron Paul’s support would mimic Tom Tancredo’s or Duncan Hunter’s support, but it has proven to be far more than that. Lately there has been a series of main stream news stories talking about how Ron Paul is a thorn in John McCain’s side. This infuriates the establishment and leaves the Paul faithful overjoyed. Mind you not as overjoyed as they’d be if he was actually the GOP nominee.

Ron Paul’s campaign is one of ideas. Some get them, some don’t. Those that get them can’t fathom the reason anyone doesn’t. Those that don’t, either buy in to the “can’t win” mindset without even investigating his positions or they genuinely believe Paul’s views are extreme (or both).

Trying to make a write-in campaign work for Ron Paul in the general election is doomed to failure because in many states a write-in vote is not binding. Earning delegates at conventions across the country is much more effective, but it has certainly proven to alienate much of the GOP base. The hard truth is Ron Paul is not going to be President. Even if McCain were to turn pale and die, well he’s already pale and he speaks like he’s a neo-conservative marionette, Ron Paul would still not be the choice of the establishment Republicans.

A friend voted for Ron Paul in the primary but says he will vote for John McCain in the general because of the candidates that are left who can win he agrees with McCain the most. I asked, “What if there was a candidate on the ballot who you agreed with 90% of the time but didn’t have a realistic shot of winning, in your view, and you know you only agree with McCain 60% of the time, would you still vote for McCain?” He answered, “yes”. No argument could win him over. This typifies one thing third parties, independents, and media labeled kooks within the main parties are up against.

How do you fight this? How do you win them over? Saying, “Why aren’t you voting for the candidate most in line with your beliefs on the issues?” only yields the redundant answer, “Because the candidate I agree with doesn’t have a chance.” And so it goes.

Thus far the only answer I have is to move on to the next person who may be more open to voting based on campaign positions rather than poll positions.

Maybe the best thing for this country in the long term is to experience a greater depression than the 1930’s. Desperate times call for desperate measures. If the masses were desperate maybe they’d realize the red and blue duopoly parties are really just a purple mish-mash monopoly leading to the same dead end.

Maybe then a Congressman Ron Paul can become a President Ron Paul.