Texas State GOP head wants to separate Ron Paul Republicans from the "crazies
State GOP head wants to separate Ron Paul Republicans from the "crazies"
The executive director of the Texas Republican Party was in downtown Fort Worth Thursday delivering a speech to a Republican group about the party's strategy heading into the 2010 election cycle.
Eric Opiela told the Republican Forum that the party needs to do more to appeal to Hispanics and young people as well as work at bringing Libertarian voters back to the party. He noted several races in which a Democrat won with a margin smaller than the number of Libertarian votes, including Wendy Davis' recent win over Kim Brimer in last year's Fort Worth State Senate race.
After the presentation, Jim Truitt, former Richland Hills mayor and husband of state Rep. Vicki Truitt of Keller, expressed concern about how Libertarian candidates are affecting the GOP.
"Ron Paul is our biggest obstacle," said Truitt, who is also a candidate for Tarrant County District Clerk. He added that Paul, a Libertarian leaning Houston Congressman, should do more to draw his passionate group of supporters back into the GOP, instead of encouraging them to continue acting as spoilers in so many races.
Opiela said he's talked to Paul about his followers.
"Ron Paul is not the problem," Opiela said. "Paul has true GOP supporters. Then there are the other guys."
Opiela said the "other guys" are using Paul's message and popularity to prop up a movement that Paul doesn't support.
"We have to distill the crazies and...[reclaim] Ron Paul from the true Libertarian Republicans who want to work within the Republican Party system," Opiela said.
-Aman Batheja
Posted at 10:25 AM in Texas politics and government, U.S. politics and government | Permalink
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What "movement" that RP
What "movement" that RP supposedly doesn't support is this author referring to? Far too vague with that comment...
...
WHAT?
Come on. You can't even comment on this weirdoville without a baclground check.
Waste of time.
Actually I agree with him
Actually I agree with him 100%. The problem is most Republican's arent sincere about Individual Liberty and Personal Responsibility, the best thing Republicans can do right now is stop talking about smoke-screen issues such as gay rights, abortion, drugs and stem cells and start talking about limited government (in general), and fiscal responsibility and lower taxes for individuals as well as corporations.
Most of our supporters are 2-3 years past from turning 18 and are still coming to terms with freedom from being told what to do all the time, yet really dont understand the true nature of liberty either.
It doenst matter what you call us. You can call us Independents, you can call us Libertarians, you can call us Republicans. We both need to learn that 80% my friend isnt 20% our enemy, and there are common beliefs that we share and should rally behind.
By the way, our VP candidate, Wayne Allyn Root ALSO believes this.
But make no mistake about it, we arent giving in on our principals. The GOP can have my vote, when it adopts my principals. All of them.
Wayne Allyn Root
is untrustworthy...like Bob Barr. The LP needs to come up with better candidates than these neo-cons in disguise.
That Eric Dondero guy
Fake libertarian is posting over there and trying to discredit Ron Paul again. Should we shred him?
Here's his email if you'd like to give him a piece of your mind
eopiela@texasgop.org
Sent him an email, and can't wait for his response. I'm not holding my breath.
Groucho Marx inspired me when he said
I would never join a club that askes me to be a member.
The club to be in is the BIG Club, and it's not the GOP.
CAGOP is Soooooooooooooooooo corrupt I believe one must be a criminal or nazi (or idiot) to be a member.
GOP ruined CA and that's how the Demsocrats got it. If the GOP was an honest party.. instead, they give America the likes of Nixon and Reagan. And now Arnold Kennedy Schwartzenegger (which is enough right there to not be GOP).
WE ARE GOING TO WIN!
___.---.___
.' ( ) '.
) /)' '( )
',_( ';-;'\_,'
|-|
(")
They are testing the wires!
If you step back for a minute and analyze the trends in the news right now you will realize that an agenda is unfolding. An agenda to co-opt our efforts. Individuals who have been staunch opposition to us appear to be supporting what were considered our extreme views. Based on what? An effort to slowly brings us back into the fold and believing again in a party that never represented our interests. The leaders however, remain to be the same. How many in our movement are in key positions? How have been included other than a request to continue to support the party? This is bait to splinter our numbers and rebuild confidence in people that have no intention in limiting the role of government and the power they desire. The raptors are finding the weaknesses in our fence. They are among us now. Let's make sure these attempts fail and that they understand that we will not compromise.
Watch over 400 Activist-Issue Films Online, www.filmsforaction.org
www.youthforronpaul.com
www.yaliberty.org - Young Americans for Liberty
www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery - Stop Deploying Traumatized Troops
Gee, I guess I'm crazy. With
Gee, I guess I'm crazy. With Dr. Pauls urging I ran for Smith county, Texas GOP Precinct 26 Chair in 2008 and won. I was a delegate to the county and state conventions. At the state convention there were about 5600 delegates. When the vote came up to elect a new state chairman/vice chairman, Paul Perry/Debra Medina, we got 1850 votes which was about 1/3 of the delegates. We have grown stronger and hopefully can get Debra Medina in the Governors Mansion.
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds”
-Sam Adams
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds”
-Sam Adams
I left the Republican party two years ago
I have not looked back. When you are part of that party the pressure is there constantly to compromise. Th compromise they want, is to ignore the Constitution. That to me is being traitor. I will not support traitors any more. They don't begin to understand limited government.
I am in the Constitution party now.
The man is a fool...
the shrinkng republicon party cannot win without us. We bring over a million votes...Think you can win without us? Ha! No way. We have "hand"and we ain't giving in.
Cull the crazies?
Good luck on that.
We can't even do that on the Daily Paul.
Look to Ron Paul's example...
He understands the Republican Party is the best vehicle for Liberty but the GOP has been hijacked by Neo-Con Statist/Elitists. If he felt he could do better registered as something else he would do so. Also, look at our Liberty candidates. They all, including Rand and Adam Kokesh understand the GOP is the closest party to our views and are running under it's banner.
I'm a proud Republican. I'm a Precinct Captain and I volunteer. The local party knows EXACTLY where I stand and I WILL NOT support any RINOS, Statists or any other Republican who does not look to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution first before anything else. I understand how many of you felt after the way we were treated last year but you can't just pick up your ball and go home to pout.
I ask you to follow Ron's, Rand's, Adam's, R.J's, Tom's, Jake's and my example. Go to your monthly GOP meetings. Tell them you'd like to volunteer and then support candidates in your local areas who you feel are closest to your ideals. I, and others in my area have done this and the local Republican Party knows we are some of the hardest working volunteers they have, but they also know we won't do zilch for them if the candidates they put forward are Neo-Cons.
If they wanted RP supporters, why wasn't Ron invited
to speak, the TX GOP would have had a large enthusiastic crowd.
Just remember the Texas Straw Poll
Overwhelmingly Ron Paul. If you just counted the buses in the parking lot adorned with Ron Paul stickers he won in a landslide. then there was the trouble getting inside for busloads of supporters, you probably know the rest.
Just one last kick in the nuts, then a final deathblow
How about fighting to rid
How about fighting to rid the term "crazies" from American politics..I never heard the term thrown around so much ..People have ALWAYS had differing views & splits but this is beyond normal politics ..America does not have "crazies" , we are ALL to be equal, reguardless of affiliation or preference. All of a sudden there are are all kinds of "Conspiracies" ..Are these the new college dictionary words for the year or something ?
Good people do Good deeds
and are no respecter of person
I would beg everyone here to
I would beg everyone here to support Debra Medina in her run for Governor of Texas. If we could get her in the Governors Mansion that would be a major win for us.
http://www.medinafortexas.com/
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds”
-Sam Adams
“It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds”
-Sam Adams
Working within the System
I joined the Republican Party because of Dr. Paul. With the help of many people on this forum I was able to go to the 2008 RNC. I am proud to say that I was able to cast my delegate vote for Dr. Paul. Ron Paul understands that third parties don't have a chance. Unfortunately, the best way to get things done is through the Republican Party. What we need to do is openly and aggressively oppose those people in the party that support unconstitutional wars, central banking, big government, etc.
Get a grip on yourself ..
Get a grip on yourself .. The REP party needs all the help they can muster..This is a ploy by the opposition to disassociate members ..Everyone is an idiot except those deemed normal ..Normal in who's terms...I no longer am a member of the party but I know a rat job when I hear it...Labels are used by Ultra- liberals ..They deem themselves above the rest of the intellectuals..Make you look small so they look bigger..Just handle it , don't play that game.
Good people do Good deeds
and are no respecter of person
When I look at the past republican candidates
John McCain, George W Bush, Bob Dole, George H Bush. Why in the h*ll would I want to join that party? (If I am not mistaken, I heard Bob Dole pimping Obama's health care plan)
Ron Paul is now the most widely known and Respected,,
,,,Republican in the party.
When are these Republican sheeple going to recognize that in order for the whole Republican party to survive they should back//support Dr. Paul and all his proposed legislation, before a totally centralized Marxist type of government makes all the founders blood, sweat, tears, and tribulations become meaningless?
Ron Paul Is Already My President !
beesting
No McCain clones for me
The only thing that made me register in the Republican Party in the first place was Ron Paul's presidential campaign. Happy to be a "crazy".
I agree. I don't care how
I agree. I don't care how much a republican party operative asks me to get behind McCain, Lindsey Graham or some other totally unacceptable republican candidate, I will not do as they say, instead I will back those as close to Ron Paul's views as possible.
As to appealing to hispanics, too many republican party leaders seem to think that means being soft on illegal immigration and supporting amnesty like McCain, to get more hispanic votes. Personally, I feel Ron Paul is right. Be tough on illegal immigration and no amnesty for illegals. Not all hispanics are pro-illegal immigration and amnesty anyway, though they do tilt heavily democrat(as shown in the 2008 election). McCain tried that tactic, be as weak as possible on illegal immigration, support amnesty(aka comprehensive immigration reform coupled with weak and ineffective enforcement against illegal immigration)to try to steal the hispanic vote from obama, but it didn't work, because his campaign went to life support and almost collapsed, then he started talking about securing the border first(then granting amnesty aka path to citizenship) and he made a comeback among republicans, but in the general election Obama got far more of the hispanic vote. Maybe it was because Obama claimed to have marched with La Raza in the pro-illegal immigration/amnesty marches back in 2006 and ended up putting La Raza in a prominent position in his administration after he won, plus supporting driver's licenses for illegal aliens in the debates, and standing against having english as the official language of the U.S.(which McCain and Ron Paul supported).
On a side note, an anti-illegal immigration ballot proposal called prop. 200 in Arizona got 47% of the hispanic vote, so there are still a good chunk of hispanics out there who are opposed to illegal immigration.
Ditto !
Me Too !
beesting
The Spoilers Supported AntiGun McCain and Big Government Romney
Take us back to our roots Ron Paul!
Go Ron, GO!
.
.
Debra Medina for Texas Governor 2010!
Rand Paul for US Senate in Kentucky!
Ron Paul 2012, Join or Die!
DONT TREAD ON ME
AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN - WASHINGTON'S CRUISERS
Ron Paul / Rand Paul ...The Taxpayers' Best Friends!
RESTORE AMERICA NOW
AN APPEAL TO HEAVEN - Washington's Cruisers
http://www3.villanova.edu/centennial/js1g.htm
Leave Us Alone and Bring the Troops Home
All those (R) candidates are welcome to change
into Ron Paul Republicans. Until they do, they don't deserve to win anyway.
in other words...
Shut up and vote for us.
No thanks.
I'll vote for good candidates not for party.
sounds to me
that this person's actual problem is with the voting process which enables candidates to act as spoilers.
they should look into instant-runoff voting. and, if their platform was sound, not even 100 ron paul's could change the outcome of the vote.
The Matrix is a system
The Matrix is a system, Neo. That system is our enemy. But when you're inside, you look around, what do you see? Businessmen, teachers, lawyers, carpenters. The very minds of the people we are trying to save. But until we do, these people are still a part of that system and that makes them our enemy. You have to understand, most of these people are not ready to be unplugged. And many of them are so inured, so hopelessly dependent on the system, that they will fight to protect it.
-Morpheus
----------------
Ron Paul Supporter Since 1997
`Wise people, even though all laws were abolished, would still lead the same life'- Aristophanes -
“We have allowed our nation to be over taxed and over regulated and overrun by bureaucrats, the founders would be ashamed of us for what we're putting up with.” Ron Paul
Is Paul REALLY a Republican?
This person is delusional if they think independents and those that choose to stay away from the party are causing it pains at this time. They are the ones helping to clue them in that they've strayed away from whatever message they might have had at some distant point. Without these people the party would have no compass as to why it keeps losing elections. I guess according to this person people like me aren't a factor to help them win and they would rather I vote for someone else. Apparently because of my influence people vote on principle instead of the next puppet on the assembly line. If you agree with any of this you haven't been paying attention the past couple of years. The Republicans are winning the fight at getting those of you who thought you were awake to back peddle back into the machine. How many more cycles of left vs. right will you participate in before you see the light. Washington was right when he condemned party politics and we all would be wise to follow his example. Use the GOP for what good it has to offer but don't entangle yourself because they'll twist your arm to compromise. I seem to recall fairly vocal RP supporters folding under the pressure just before the November election to vote for McCain, convincing others to do the same. What did it accomplish them? Why should we take them seriously now? In war there are two types of battle buddies. Those that will have your back and lead you to victory and those "*$%#" you over the first sign of trouble. If you choose to pledge your allegiance to the pit of vipers, you're going to get stung. Everything is clearer outside of the two party prison.
Watch over 400 Activist-Issue Films Online, www.filmsforaction.org
www.youthforronpaul.com
www.yaliberty.org - Young Americans for Liberty
www.ivaw.org/operation-recovery - Stop Deploying Traumatized Troops