# Ron Paul: Why/how is he snapping up delegates? To what purpose? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 7, 2012, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182 "2012-05-07T15:42:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/81 "2012-06-04T00:35:12Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > OK, let’s take careful notes. What the Ronulans are doing here is called [entryism](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entryism) – sneak into an established organization and take it over – a tactic generally associated with Trotskyite socialists, but I doubt they invented it, it’s got to be as old as any politics more complicated than “Do what the King says.” (But the Trots have never been able to apply it with much success.) Only time I can think of when it has worked in America was when the Religious Right won a lot of low-profile **local** elections in the 1980s by running its candidates “under the radar,” usually as Republicans, dissembling their real agenda and priorities, and the RR built up from that base and thereby became a major power within the GOP. And as an honest lefty, I’d rather have nothing to do with that, thank you. AFAICT, the Rondroids are practicing open entryism. Secret entryism doesn’t win open respect as the LaRouchites have discovered. Open entryism is almost observationally equivalent with concerned citizenry. That said, I should add that careful notetakers may indeed discover that the fanaticism of Ron’s supporters make his strategies ill-suited for the left, who would be less constrained by inclinations to follow politically professional authority figures. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2012, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/82 "2012-06-04T00:42:05Z")
Do these Paul nuts really think they are gaining anything? Every time I hear about the party platform I laugh , what percent of voters know what is in the platform? For some reason the media like to talk about the platform but other than policy geeks nobody cares about it. I like politics and have been voting since 1980 but I have never read a platform for any party. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 6:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/83 "2012-06-05T06:57:52Z")
[Louisiana GOP spirals into chaos as Ron Paul delegates injured, arrested](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/06/04/louisiana-gop-spirals-into-chaos-as-ron-paul-delegates-injured-arrested/). Cops break one RP delegate’s hand. Ron Paul HQ tries to calm down their supporters: huddles with Romney. Message to the Rondroid Rubes: [Chill out](http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/0604/Does-Ron-Paul-want-his-supporters-to-cool-it). In other news, former Governor Gary Johnson was nominated by the Libertarian Party early last month. [He just received his first tranche of matching federal funds](http://newmexico.watchdog.org/13717/gary-johnson-qualifies-for-matching-funds-will-get-100000-to-start/), amounting to $100,000. Can Gary keep the momentum, momenting? ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2012, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/84 "2012-06-05T15:18:46Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > [Louisiana GOP spirals into chaos as Ron Paul delegates injured, arrested](http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/06/04/louisiana-gop-spirals-into-chaos-as-ron-paul-delegates-injured-arrested/). Cops break one RP delegate’s hand. Ron Paul HQ tries to calm down their supporters: huddles with Romney. Message to the Rondroid Rubes: [Chill out](http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/0604/Does-Ron-Paul-want-his-supporters-to-cool-it). Can you provide a single quote from the Paul campaign that backs up your claim: “Ron Paul HQ tries to calm down their supporters: huddles with Romney. Message to the Rondroid Rubes: Chill Out”? Your second cite is nothing but speculation on the part of a hit-starved blogger. Also, nothing in either of your cites suggests that the Ron Paul delegates were in the wrong. For example in Louisiana: > [@](#): > > It all transpired as as the crowd chanted: “The chairman must remove! The chairman must remove!” > > That’s when the convention split. > > Paul delegates moved to request more information on the chairman’s decision, but he continued as if they weren’t present. So, they decided then and there to elect a new chairman, picking state central committeeman Henry Herford Jr., a Paul supporter, to lead the party. > > When Villere refused to acknowledge the vote, Paul’s delegates picked up their chairs and turned away from him, forming a new convention on the spot and passing a microphone to their new chairman. > > Moments later, Herford, too, was seized by police. Camera-wielding Paul supporters surrounded the fracas as Herford pleaded with officers to be gentle due to his prosthetic hip. “I have a handicap! I’m handicapped!” he said as they pulled him to the ground. Could you provide any evidence of Paul supporters doing anything against the rules? ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/85 "2012-06-06T02:07:59Z")
> [@bdgr](#): > > [http://www.ktbs.com/news/Breaking-Ron-Paul-supporters-takeover-Louisiana-Republican-State-Convention/-/144844/14439858/-/2c86yt/-/index.html](http://www.ktbs.com/news/Breaking-Ron-Paul-supporters-takeover-Louisiana-Republican-State-Convention/-/144844/14439858/-/2c86yt/-/index.html) > > So now Louisiana has two sets of delegates…this is going to be interesting. Now **that** sounds like Chicago in '68! ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/86 "2012-06-06T02:09:02Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > In other news, former Governor Gary Johnson was nominated by the Libertarian Party early last month. [He just received his first tranche of matching federal funds](http://newmexico.watchdog.org/13717/gary-johnson-qualifies-for-matching-funds-will-get-100000-to-start/), amounting to $100,000. Can Gary keep the momentum, momenting? I dunno, but he’s gonna be on _The Daily Show_ tonight. (Unfortunately, there’s no Stewart Bump, that’s Colbert’s thing . . .) ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/87 "2012-06-06T04:51:14Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > Can you provide a single quote from the Paul campaign that backs up your claim: “Ron Paul HQ tries to calm down their supporters: huddles with Romney. Message to the Rondroid Rubes: Chill Out”? Sure. Check out the 2nd paragraph. “Establishment Republicans sometimes claim that Ron Paul supporters occasionally get out-of-hand. This has been true, and to the extent that some Paul supporters have exhibited poor behavior [it] not only reflects badly on the individuals involved, but Dr. Paul,” wrote Paul campaign blogger Jack Hunter on June 2. For the original quote see [ronpaul2012.com](http://www.ronpaul2012.com/2012/06/02/thoughts-on-louisiana-civility-and-winning/). > [@](#): > > Also, nothing in either of your cites suggests that the Ron Paul delegates were in the wrong. … > Could you provide any evidence of Paul supporters doing anything against the rules? Did I imply otherwise? I searched google news and couldn’t get a sense of whether Louisiana GOP insiders were railroading the proceedings or whether RP supporters were making mountains out of squirrely loopholes. All the reporting has been he said-she said, which is unfortunate. I don’t know what happened. The biggest insight I got was from the You-tube video. To wit: screw the rules. If you want to win, just keep control of the lectern. And make sure the local muscle is on your side. What are your opponents going to do, vote for Gary Johnson? Modern conservatives are _way_ too authoritarian for that, even if the election is stolen from under their feet. Hypothetically. For those keeping score, one Ron Paul supporter reportedly suffered a dislocated prosthetic hip, while another broke his hand. What’s the message that the Louisiana GOP is trying to send? Mr. Herford – you are causing my employer some discomfort. And so my employer has me to make clear to you his position. His position is as follows. If you were a publisher my employer would destroy your presses. Since you are merely a typist and it would not be persuasive to destroy your keyboard, my employer has asked me to make it plain to you that every time you secure an additional delegate for Ron Paul – you shall lose one of your fingers. _Krakk_. With apologies to Frank Miller. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2012, 5:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/88 "2012-06-06T05:50:54Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > Sure. Check out the 2nd paragraph. “Establishment Republicans sometimes claim that Ron Paul supporters occasionally get out-of-hand. This has been true, and to the extent that some Paul supporters have exhibited poor behavior [it] not only reflects badly on the individuals involved, but Dr. Paul,” wrote Paul campaign blogger Jack Hunter on June 2. For the original quote see [ronpaul2012.com](http://www.ronpaul2012.com/2012/06/02/thoughts-on-louisiana-civility-and-winning/). How does that back up your claim or the claim of the author? It reads more like a washing of he hands than a directive. Where exactly does the “cuddling” with Romney come into this? If anyone needs to chill out its the establishment Republicans who have resorted to strong arm tactics in order to save Romney embarrassment. I doubt such a request will come from that campaign considering the character of its candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/89 "2012-06-07T04:53:36Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > How does that back up your claim or the claim of the author? It reads more like a washing of he hands than a directive. Let’s take this slowly. Ron Paul met with Mitt Romney in a closed door meeting a couple of weeks ago: presumably they came to some arrangement. [Cite.](http://rt.com/usa/news/paul-party-romney-rand-521/) The article speculates that they discussed Rand Paul, but I find that dubious. Anyway, it’s clear that Ron Paul wants his followers to cool it. I quote again: Establishment Republicans sometimes claim that Ron Paul supporters occasionally get out-of-hand. This has been true, and to the extent that some Paul supporters have exhibited poor behavior [it] not only reflects badly on the individuals involved, but Dr. Paul… I don’t see how you can read that in any way as a washing of the hands. RP is attempting to level up: the fringe wackos will only get you so far. So calls for calm -even in the face of what might be strongarm tactics- earn him points with GOP circles. > [@](#): > > If anyone needs to chill out its the establishment Republicans who have resorted to strong arm tactics in order to save Romney embarrassment. I doubt such a request will come from that campaign considering the character of its candidate. Like I said, I don’t know what happened. But if the Ron Paul supporters acted in an above board fashion, the problem is with the Louisiana GOP, and not with the Romney campaign. Or so I guess: I figure that Romney has the nomination in the bag and doesn’t need to call out the dogs – and if he did we’d see him do it in more than one state. Anyway, when there’s violence and altercation with the cops, everyone involved looks bad, whether that’s fair or not. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182/90 "2012-06-07T16:17:15Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Unfortunately you need to watch the video [on this page](http://www.fox19.com/story/18305604/reality-check-why-all-rnc-delegates-are-free-agents-and-unbound) but it is interesting. It makes the case that delegates to the RNC convention are unbound and free to vote for whoever they want. I don’t see why they have to look for loopholes in the rules. If a majority of the delegates want Romney as the nominee, then even if they change the rules, they’ll vote for him, and that’s that. If a majority of the delegates don’t want Romney as the nominee, why can’t they change the rules of the Convention in a vote on the floor to unbind all of the delegates? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ron-paul-why-how-is-he-snapping-up-delegates-to-what-purpose/621182.md?page=4)