"Unfortunately, barring something very unforeseen, our delegate total will not be strong enough to win the nomination" - Ron Paul Campaign Chairman, Jesse Benton
Seventeen words was apparently all it took to make quite a few Ron Paul supporters crazy. More than one call for Benton's head was uttered on Facebook and elsewhere but very little analysis of what Benton actually said has been conducted. Here's to a bit of analysis and hopefully calming of nerves.
The timing of this statement was undoubtedly poor given Ron Paul's recent "suspension" of his beauty pageant operation - which would consist of spending millions to woo regular primary sheep who think that they are actually influential in party politics.
In point of fact however, the beauty pageants mean nothing as we've seen so far. In fact, Romney, the media's presumed GOP nominee has yet to win a single state delegation-selecting convention other than North Dakota and Ron Paul has won the rest. Oklahoma is still being contested but in all likelihood, will be Ron Paul's to claim since the convention was improperly adjourned and the die-hard participants, including fair-minded Romney supporters stayed to finish the convention correctly and by the rules. In. The. Parking. Lot.
So we know that Ron Paul did not suspend his campaign.
There were some eight hundred accompanying words to the seventeen that made everyone crazy in Benton's statement, but clearly nobody paid attention to those and instead focused on the sentence that made it seem as if the nomination was being conceded.
This isn't the case. In fact, I would suggest to you that Jesse's seventeen words were totally correct. Barring something very unforeseen, Ron Paul's delegate total will not be strong enough to win the nomination. Duh. My dad's not a phone.
But, if you were to look at what has been accomplished so far with an objective eye, wouldn't you say that what has happened so far is something "very unforeseen?" Certainly by Romney campaigners, GOP establishment types and the media it is.
Think about it. If we manage to pull in Oklahoma, we've dominated 13 state's primary delegate selection processes so far. Not all states have had their final conventions. But in the contests leading up to the state conventions and in some of the final conventions themselves, Ron Paul supporters have completely overturned the old guard and have taken control of the GOP at the highest levels including state party chairman positions in at least 3 of those states. And there are more to come. Without. Any. Media. Coverage.
Do you really think that this was foreseen? Do you also think that this is some small feat that will have no affect on the political landscape in those states? Let that sink in for a moment.
Those Ron Paul supporters who will jump ship over this "gaffe" weren't involved. I haven't seen a single winner of a delegate spot jump ship. Only those who view themselves as capable of running the national campaign better (than anyone apparently) are preaching gloom and doom and making proclamations of "off with his head."
They are more suited to running politics in the Wonderland than in real life however. It is ironic that the majority of political "experts" are not also delegates. Maybe the word coincidence is more apropos. At any rate, the delegate selection process isn't even half-way decided. Two of the biggest states to be decided are Texas and California. And in Texas, an open primary state, Democrats who are disgusted with a "peace" president who has renegged on every significant promise are eligible to cross party lines and support Ron Paul.
Between California and Texas, we're talking almost 400 delegates. If Ron Paul doesn't win the beauty contest, he could still help us win party control. This is what happened in 1980 by the way when Reagan devotees completely dominated the state parties and got their man the nomination and changed GOP politics for the next 2 decades.
And so, Ron Paul supporters, please stop reading more into seventeen words than is there to be read. This fight continues and the prize is the same. You've been challenged to create something "very unforeseen", not challenged to whine and give up the most historic political battle you've ever witnessed.
Either be a part of history or step aside but please stop trying to discourage everyone else because you've decided to put on a long face. Long faces are for horses.
Lastly, what Ron Paul did say was that his focus would be to aid his supporters by speaking at the state conventions. He's scheduled to speak at the Minnesota and Texas state conventions with more to be announced. In Nevada, where he spoke to what was in 2008 a very contentious and jealous establishment crowd, his presence calmed the convention attendees and he walked a way with a staggering eighty-plus percent of the delegates in a state where he lost the beauty contest.
Consider what might have happened had he been a speaker at the Oklahoma convention. If that doesn't give you a better perspective, then you may need to take a few more deep breaths. It will come to you. Certainly what won't happen is that the delegates in states still-to-hold conventions are going to cry in their pillows and stay home. This fight hasn't even begun to take shape though the media has already called it for Romney.
Let them call it. And then let us party in Tampa. And later in November.
Oh by the way.....has anyone seen any Tea Party people at the conventions?
