Why are all the Ron Paul supporters fanatics?

Question

I don't mean this as an attack, but it seems that all the Ron Paul supporters have kind of a political tunnel vision and refuse to acknowledge other options.

I have seen people marching around campus with Ron Paul signs or writing "Paul '08" in chalk on the sidewalks since September.

People who support other candidates seem perfectly happy to accept that someone else might become president, and to be honest, I know nothing about him, and the fans are scaring me away from trying to learn.

My question is this: what makes his supporters so loyal? What has he done to earn it?

Again, I mean no offense.

I don't care enough about politics to be a fanatic of anyone, only enough to try and learn enough to vote properly, and I would hardly call this a rant. I meant this as a serious question to learn about this candidate to make a more educated decision as to who gets my vote.

I also want to guage whether he does indeed have the majority of the vote, or if, as I guess, there seem to be far more than there are because they are so outspoken.

Answer 1

I am not a fanatic of Ron Paul but I do support him. Paul's fanatics have many different reasons to be excited about him. I've heard everything from these "fanatics" as he's pro-life, to free-Internet (not as in money but the gov't keeping their grubby hands out of it) anti-Iraq. But I think at the core of this fanaticism is the man simply isn't fake. Candidates and presidents of the last 20 years have seemed awfully fake. That their words were not their own, that someone fed them a script and they just memorized and read it. Comparing Paul's speeches vs other speeches of the 08' candidates , he just seems real. Where as the other's just spit out the same old rhetoric that has been said for eons. I know it maybe scary when the general American public gets a fire under their ****, but since when have you seen Americans so fanatic about any candidate? I surely cannot remember. Some people poke fun at Paul's supporters but to retort those who do so: What has your candidate done to light a fire under the general American populace's ****? That's what I thought.

Answer 2

I am a strong supporter of Ron Paul and I understand what you mean.. Since i live in NYC I really have to show people I have an open mind, but I still don't see why some people have to act so closeminded, after all its not as if people who support a democrat don't wanna bring troops home from Iraq, so I'm saying I think there is nothing wrong with Ron Paul supporters finding common ground with supporters of other candidates...

Answer 3

Our nation went to war against Britain (twice!) over the same principles that Paul espouses. When people talk about the soldiers who fought and died for your freedoms, these are those freedoms. Although the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have absolutely nothing to do with our freedom, Ron Paul's candidacy does. He is truly the ONLY one of the Republocrat candidates who believes in roughly the same ideals as those on which our nation was founded. If some people are willing to give up their lives to protect the right of everyone else to live free, is it so surprising that even more people will get excited and wave signs?

When I enlisted in the Air Force 20 years ago, I did so, because I believed in the things John Locke wrote and that Thomas Jefferson helped codify. I used to cry at the national anthem out of pride and joy in my country. Then I served under George I and under Bill Clinton, and I learned what today's America is really all about. When was the last time you read the Colonies' indictment of King George and compared it with the abuses of our Presidents?

Sometimes I still cry at the national anthem, but there is no pride and joy left. It's only sorrow for a nation that only ever existed in my idealistic dreams. After years of trying, I gave up on the political system to effect any real change. The nation was mortally sick and there was nothing left but to watch it die. So when someone like Ron Paul comes along, who preaches a little hope that maybe something of the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave might still be recovered, you'd better believe I'll get a little fanatical. I see one last chance for something good to be saved from the cancerous entitlement and busibody attitudes that have turned our nation into an authoritarian Mommy State.

-yk

Answer 4

Paul has seemingly tapped into ideas that our founding fathers had which were designed almost solely to protect those who aren't professional politicians or party pundits with slick hair and a good presentation, I support Ron Paul because instead of saying or implying he supports one group or another...... He supports the individual, which is the smallest minority out there. It doesn't help that alot of misinformation is being spread about what he believes and that causes the sort of irrational fervor you see...... because it seems like other party interests, do not respect him, or even acknowledge that he at least brings a fresh view to the table. One thing that makes me loyal( i wouldn't say fanatic, but i believe in his message) is i started watching and reading interviews in depth and reading his ideology and realized, he is very educated about the history of our country and others, and he is a Very rational person who has stuck with his beliefs, and doesn't sugar coat the truth.......... He's basically a politician who doesn't play the politician game, and i can see why that would turn some people off........ but alot of people see that in simple form, and i think it makes him trustworthy..........that and his congressional record also backs him up.

An old Taoist philosophy implies

If someone speaks to you with anger, try to look past the tone and harshness for any truth that might be in their words.

Answer 5

Although I think some would take issue with the word "fanatics," I will just say that there are three reasons for this degree of loyalty.

The first is that he is somewhat of an ideologue. Despite running as a Republican, he is a libertarian, which means he is opposed to almost all things that would enlarge the federal government. He would abolish or severely curtail the majority of federal agencies and regulatory schemes, including the income tax. Many Republicans talk about smaller government, but in fact all mainstream candidates would maintain things like Social Security and so forth, and many other aspects of big government, such as corporate subsidies. Paul is against all of these things on an across-the-board basis, is a very strong gun-rights advocate, and staunchly supports states rights in almost every case. Being ideologically pure, he is going to have a strong appeal to those who believe in this ideology. They are a minority, but a significant one.

Another reason for this degree of loyalty is that, in taking these stances, or combination of stances, he is pretty far away from any other Republican or Democrat. No matter which Democrat or which Republican you might favor, there is another one whose positions will significantly overlap with that candidate's. (Guiliani's social liberalism plus economic/foreign policy conservatism is a little different from the others, but not radically so.) Paul, though he may not be to everyone's liking, is different enough from the others that his strongest supporters probably have no other obvious place to go.

Finally, Paul is perceived by his supporters, and probably by many of his detractors as well, as a straight shooter, one who is not tailoring his message for a particular audience. Since other candidates are frequently criticized for a lack of consistency, obviously this is something that appeals to many people. I didn't originally include this as a third reason, because it is very much tied into the other reasons. His unwillingness to cater his message to a target audience is a by-product of his strong commitment to the libertarian ideology, and also makes him stand out further from the other candidates.

The reality of the American winner-take-all electoral system favors pragmatism and compromise over ideological purity, but the latter is very attractive. By being out of the mainstream, Paul's politics may not please most voters, but will more strongly appeal to those who tend to agree with him.

Answer 6

Democrats fear him because he wants smaller government. Republicans call him a loon because he wants to pull out of Iraq and supports smaller government.
I'm honestly proud to see so many Americans still give a damn about the constitution and what this country once stood for.
Ron Paul happens to be THE only candidate who has never voted to infringe upon any constitutional rights his entire time in office and is the only Candidate promising to shrink the bloated mess we call a government in D.C.

Answer 7

I support Dr. Paul and don't consider myself a fanatic. I am loyal to him because of his dedication to the Constitution. I don't get crazy when I hear of someone disagreeing with his views or (heavens forbid) are supporting another candidate. However, I think a lot of the radical behavior comes from his naysayers posting crazy accusations about him and some feel it is best to respond with a mile long post that consists of a 100 point list about why the accusation isn't true.Of course it isn't best....I must say that it saddens me that you are wary of educating yourself about him because of this and I hope you consider doing so just the same.

Answer 8

Ron Paul for a Free AMerica

Answer 9

I would say typing a huge Rant about another candidate's supporters being fanatics, would constitute fanaticism.

Answer 10

Uh, because they are Ron Paul supporters...I mean he's a little on the 'looney' side, what would you expect?

Count the thumbs down.