Freedom Message Unites, but RP Campaign Seems to Divide

I'd like to quickly weigh in on this before I get out to lit-dropping today.

This kind of organization is what you need to win the Iowa caucus. And "hiring" is really the wrong word. As far as I know, none of us are paid, I'm certainly not, and I wouldn't want the campaign wasting its money on little me. There may be some confusion by the writer because Iowa, by virtue of its early voting date has been the focus of more effort from the official campaign. While other states have MeetUp groups that do the bulk of the work, our MeetUp leaders are basically deputized into the official campaign as county chairs and precinct captains. The campaign gives us what we need in terms of literature and voter lists and we are responsible for calling and getting the word out.

The only ones paid are the roughly 7 full time staff in the Des Moines and Council Bluffs offices. And Council Bluffs may be just a phone bank run by volunteers, I'm not for sure. As best as I can tell, none of them are "neo-con plants" as some have suggested. Dr. Drew Ivers, the state chair has a great track record of taking grassroots underdogs and wildly exceeding the pundits' expectations. Meghann Walker is a former MeetUp leader from Chicago. Jeff Jared got a remarkable 60,000 votes as a Libertarian in a Washington Senate race. Paul Dorr and Craig Bergmann have extensive experience in local races in Iowa. These people and the others work their butts off and are doing a great job. Of course, we appreciate all the volunteers we've gotten who donate their own time and money to come here and help. The renting of campgrounds and hotel rooms for the college kids has allowed us to fill the gaps in the state where we don't have active county organizations.

While we all have our complaints about the official campaign, even the paid staff have issues they voice their frustration about, everyone is doing the best they can to steal the January 4 headlines with a stronger than expected finish to set us up for our stronger states like New Hampshire and Nevada. And as one staffer told us in a meeting the other day "if this r3volution is real, we'll win." I'd invite everyone who can to get out here to Iowa in the last two weeks and help us to shock the world.

Thanks,
Steve Hoodjer, Butler County Chair, Ron Paul 2008
ButlerCountyForRonPaul@gmail.com

You are talking about one of the brokest group af americans there is...
hence the term "starving college students". They ususally do not have jobs so they can devote more time to studying or if they do have a job it's to make up for tuiton shortfalls and they wouldn't be able to go anyway. Usually they are dependent on mom and dad for food and gas etc...

Bottom line- Thank you for your contribution, I can send you some money to help you out if you need.

Let's not feel divided here. We all suppoert Ron Paul. Without this $$ these students would have no means at all to participate where as we do have a choice.

If someone knew the right thing to do, their candidate would be President. This is why Huckabee's new campaign strategist earns so much -- because the pretends *he* knows... But he doesn't...

So, we lay bets with our money and time and focus.

I know that not every decision that the official RP campaign makes with my heard earned money is ideal. But I have given them money in the hope that they will be fairly clever and prudent. My fingers are crossed.

I am also diversifying my bets by donating directly, for example, to Black advertisments in NH. I think that they are better than the ads that HQ are broadcasting -- but I could be wrong. It's my money and that's how I'm laying my bet.

Pretending to know the future -- that some action will be overall "good" or "bad" -- is just silliness. I urge respectful suggestions to the campaign for alternatives to their current plans. If they take you up on your suggestions, more power to you; I hope they are right for listening to you! If they think their plans are better, accept it; I hope they are right for not agreeing with you.

But you're clever enough to figure out how to lay your bets to more closely match your predictions, without whining at HQ for not seeing the world exactly as you see it.

reLOVEution, Dennis
State education: "The best way to insure implicit obedience is to commence tyranny in nursery." - Disraeli

Ron Paul is fiscally responsible. As stated on Joe Scarborough, his campaign eats in diners, flys southwest and stays at best western. I would only want to trust him with my money. Let's stay focused on the goal - support Ron Paul to Win!!!

No offense to the author, M Raborn, but I don't see how the points in this article are going to help get our Hero elected.

Do we not have TWO campaigns?

HQ doesn't tell us how to run our grassroots campaign, and we shouldn't tell them how to run theirs.

"I rarely visit the "official," web site, but over the week end I noticed they are offering to pay the way and expenses for 150 students to go to Iowa for a Christmas Vacation! What about the people who have already made personal sacrifices and paid their own way there? "
Are you implying that these people cant reply and take part?
Isnt better to have the dedicated folks that made this sacrifice and now
that there is money to add to the overall number canvassing?

"How are they suppose to feel!"
Proud they should feel proud. I dont think these folks made such a sacrifice expecting to get something for it - other than hope for their country get away form its current reckless path.

"What about the heads of households who have taken off from work, some times even forfeiting their salary for a week, to go and help campaign for Dr. Paul and now see that "students" are going to be paid to "vacation" in Iowa."
So these students you haven’t met will all be slackers just looking for a Paid vacation? That isn’t a slight upon them?

"I can't help but wonder if the campaign thinks they will earn bragging rights for getting 150 volunteers to Iowa, when 100s of volunteers have already come on their own."
I haven’t agreed with every campaign decision however I doubt bragging rights are anyone’s objective.

"Or could it be, that if they pay them to come, then they can give them instructions to follow. It seems the campaign resents that they cannot boss the volunteers."
What makes you say this?

"With all the professional and creative talent out there supporting Dr. Paul, there must be someone who can organize an "alternative volunteer campaign."
You are right and they have. This site - the blimp - Operation freedom and over 1300 meet up groups. Some Tea Party thing.

"Instead of sending our money to the "official campaign" and have them spend it against our wishes, (sort of like sending our taxes to the government) can't we organize and fund our own campaign."
Who set the expectation with you that your donations required approval before spending? Do you expect a CapEx to be completed for approval before a media buy?

"All we really need from the "official" campaign is a scheduler who will make sure when we schedule events and interviews for Dr. Paul, that he will be available."
He should be waiting for your call correct?

"If it weren't for our love and respect for Dr. Paul, and for his message of Freedom, I dare say many of us volunteers would have long ago walked away from this campaign and would just sit this election out, for the way we have been treated."
You have clearly been wronged in some way. I regret that you have been made to feel that way. Maybe clearly outlining the wrong and contacting the person who did this and giving them an opportunity to apologize to you would be the best way to proceed.

With all the challenges in Ron Paul’s way this post does not help.

Somehow I don’t believe you intended this post to help.

Liberty = Responsibility

We gave him our contributions because he has demonstrated trustworthiness with not only our vote, but our money. It's GREAT that he is using some of this money to help college students get more involved than they otherwise could. If you or I can also go to Iowa and assist the effort, and pay for it ourself, SO MUCH THE BETTER.

My church sends hundreds of members to Mexico 2-3 times per year to build homes. Those than can pay their way are asked to do so. Those that cannot, but are willing to work too, are covered by the rest of us at the church. We all do what we can, how we can.

You sound like someone that has issues with control. I don't want to offend you more than you already seem to be, but I think that your issue isn't with Dr Paul's Campaign HQ. It's in the mirror.

And, lastly, OF COURSE they want some control over what the canvassers do in Iowa. This is a PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN! This takes a TEAM EFFORT. If you are not a team player your negative effect on the other volunteers could totally offset all of their efforts.

If you trust Dr Paul, then TRUST him. If you don't, then go support someone that you do trust. And saying you trust him, but not his campaign staff, is the same as saying you don't trust him.

Texas Liberty Lady

The woman you are asking if she wants a job and to whom you have been so disrespectul is a 64 year old whose husband and she have supported Ron in ALL his campaigns, not only with money but putting up huge signs in the fields of texas and on the highways. They've organized events for him etc., et.c

Why can't people here say what they think without discrediting someone's motives and being downright ugly in their comments!. There are many, many things that most of you are not privy to and before I got involved in a gang hanging I think I would take into consideration that sometimes people know things that you don't.

I have never met a finer person than Ms.Raborn and NO ONE is more committed to Ron Paul and I'm including you in that statement. I

I think Kent Snyder summed it up best yesterday on Tucker when he said they see the campaign as two-fold...doing what a campaign HQ needs to do by way of advertising and traditional media buys and then staying OUT of the way of the grassroots efforts that have been driving the campaign.

They know who "brung em to the dance," I have no doubt :-)

Are you a SUPPORTER?????

Or a DETRACTOR????

If they are hiring.. and YOU or someone you KNOW is competent for the job... HAVE THEM GET IN TOUCH...

Our advantage has always been those that are so willing to spread the message... no matter the cost no matter the expense...

That continuing is VITAL to our campaign to restore hope to America!!

With the official campaign. Have you sent a resume' yet??

I assure you, it *can* happen. In fact, the RP campaign wisely just snagged our most fanatical guy, Steve, and is now using HIM in Iowa. You're lucky to have him, too.
JMR

Seems to me that the campaign is doing not only the right thing but the smart thing. I have been in a meetup group for awhile now and I have to say that there are a few things I have seen that encourages the use of funds to promote college students attending the Iowa primary, lets go over a few.
1. Allows the future leaders the chance to get involved, some of them would not be able to be involved without this coordinated effort, they deserve it.
2. Gives a chance to allow the Iowa voters to vote, they have done a wonderful job and need the time to vote I expect the lines will be long and busy.
3. Those like myself that can afford the trip should make it, those getting help getting there is a aid to them not to Ron Paul.
Our coordinator for Clarksville Tennessee is a single mom and she spends a lot of time working for the campain, and her words, "it is not for Ron Paul,it is for America" how can you deny that.
The money will be used wisely trust in the message my friend.

That is how you win a normal campaign. All the other candidates who have the money do it. Remember all the videos of other supporters surprised when they found out all of Ron Paul's supporters were volunteers.

It is great that there are a lot of people going to Iowa and NH on there own dime. But that is not enough. The campaign can now afford to house collage kids in bunks and buss them all over Iowa.

BTW, In the DFW area, we are sponsoring several who are going to Iowa and NH. We are helping them with airline tickets, or gas money, what ever they need.

I think that the campaign is trying to do its best, but they are human and make errors. There have been many news bits about how small and low cost the official campaign is compared to the opponents. While that is good for keeping expenditures down, it reduces the number of experienced people available to make good decisions, and has resulted in lots of cases where there is confusion. Unfortunately, as the donations come in at greater rates, the campaign cannot just hire good people from thin air and get them immediately being efficient at running a campaign. Yes, there are times I think the campaign could do a better job, but I know I have 20-20 hindsight.

I for one have driven to Iowa a couple of times to volunteer there, and I am trying to get some of my family that will be around near Christmas to go with me as well. I can afford to go on my own dime, but I do not begrudge those who cannot. Quite frankly, each time I have been out there, I was hoping to see more people show up. Surely, the campaign is hoping that by eliminating some of the financial burden, more will be able to do so as well.

I personally think it is unfortunate that the campaign is probably unable to process all the suggestions coming in from supporters. Certainly being able to pick from more ideas would result in more good decisions and less bad ones. Nevertheless, both the campaign and the supporters need to work towards the common goal whenever possible, but I guess that is fairly obvious.

First let me get this off my chest.....this thread is divisive - in creates controversy where none existed before.

Back to my son. He and 2 of his high school friends are going to travel to Iowa and stay there from the 27th until the 4th of January working for free. To do so they must use their personal vehicle and tread through potentially dangerous snow and ice - a condition hardly encountered in Alabama (this is my biggest concern.)

He will be reimbursed for his gasoline AFTER he is finished with his commitment. He will not be paid a cent for his labor. He will work from dawn to dusk in the cold. He will have to walk up to strangers with the message and possibly meet some not so nice people. He will have to give up the extra hours he would have worked at his job during this time so he will also be close to penniless when xmas break is over. Most importantly, he will be away from his family.

Nobody is forcing him to do this, and he doesn't expect any gratitude or recognition from anyone - it is enough for him to know he is doing the right thing.

With this in mind, please refrain from making something he is extremely excited about and looking forward to in such a negative light.

Thanks.

I guarantee that Ron Paul and the official campaign are extremely grateful and humbly moved by all the volunteer support you guys are providing, and they want you to continue any and all projects you can think of. Unfortunately, as he has mentioned about the tea party, campaign finance law prevents the campaign from coordinating in any way with any independent grassroots operations.

There's one thing that I'd like to interject here, and that is that in politics, most of us (myself included here) are neophytes who don't know the first thing about campaign law. I've learned way more than I ever wanted to know already about the convoluted laws governing presidential campaigns. But Ron Paul will NOT be changed by the campaign. He will remain the honest, straightforward and truthful man that he has always been. And every time I see a thread that criticizes the campaign in any way at all, I always remember this: We are talking about a man who has run 10 SUCCESSFUL congressional campaigns already! He has defeated INCUMBENTS TWICE. He knows how to do it. We must do our thing, and he will do his. If we are successful, you can believe that we will ALL get WAY more than we put into this, no matter how hard we work or what sacrifices we make.
www.paulforronpaul.com

...that it's not true what www.votefraud.org is saying about the official campaign possibly being staffed with neo-con infiltrators. The site claims the official campaign staff said the Iowa straw poll was "in the open" to the public, when it was actually closed off to independent vote counting. The site also claims campaign staff is discouraging independent volunteers from verifying accurate vote count for the primaries.

Look, this is just what I read, I'm not going to say it's true or false. But I'd like a direct answer. Dr. Paul, if you're reading this, I want to ask you directly: Do you feel your staff is trustworthy? If not, what are your plans to correct the situation? Can anyone in Dr. Paul's family answer this if he is not available for comment?

I think we are all just nervous. This is really a very nerve racking business with the unreasonable control that the establishment has on the presidential campaign. I'll never forget how extremely confident and relaxed George Bush was as he was running. I kept thinking he sure knows something I don't know.

It isn't the media we need. We need to redirect our focus off the media and get it onto mass education of Dr. Paul's true positions. Many people do not know him, or they think he is a peacenik-weak on military, won't defend our country, they think he doesn't know how to handle terrorists, they think he cannot put the government back in the box or that we have outgrown that box. Or they think that not getting government handouts would just be terrible, whatever would we do.

Instead of talking about media, or things we cannot do anything about, we need to keep our sites on the prize and think about what we can do to get it and nothing else. Everything we say and do should be weighed against the goal.

There is some problem with the main campaign and the grassroots campaign wanting recognition for success, wanting control, wanting the power or whatever, but actually we are not going to be perfect and neither are they. I think Dr. Paul is in charge of the main campaign, so I assume they are doing what he wants and that is good enough for me, if it is good enough for him. Far be it from me to tell him how to run his business. I know he wants in as badly as I do and will do everything he can to get it. Mostly, in the end, I haven't been certain criticism of headquarters has been justified-suspicious, but not necessarily justified.

Keep your eye on the goal.

I was a student pretty recently, and I accept that now I am not a student, I don't get all the nice breaks and free rides that are given to students.
I'm seriously considering going to New Hampshire, and if I have to pay my own way, so be it. But it makes sense to in effect "hire" college students since they are the ones with guaranteed free time (Christmas break), and are usually able to be more mobile than everyone else.

I know these college kids are making a lot of sacrifices too -- giving up their break, going to pretty much the coldest places in the country (arguably), no drinking on New Year's Eve (campaign regulations -- if you go, you can't drink). So, I wouldn't blame the campaign for this decision.

If I'm not mistaken, these 150 people had a website saying they were students, etc and had the time but not the money to go to NH to campaign for Dr. Paul. There were soliciting donations to cover travel and lodging expenses in NH so I suppose the campaign heard of it and... I don't blame them.

Texas Liberty Lady

on beating up on people with out considering why they feel the way they do. This woman has worked for Dr. Paul for many, many years and has made many sacrifices. That doesn't mean she is right but everyone deserves some respect. If you have difference of opinion, why not discuss a topic with the mutual respect we should all have for each other. We are a "family" to some extent and no matter how vehemently you disagree with what she said, you make yourselves looks far more stupid than you accuse her of being by your comments..

I will be one of the "winter vacationers". I can frankly say that I could not afford to be in Iowa otherwise, and I'm not sure I'd trust sleeping with strangers for nine nights if the event hadn't been vetted by the campaign. I'm sorry if this offends some people.

What the hell is wrong with the campaign paying to put up students who volunteer their time to canvas? If some people pay their own way, somehow it's an insult for the campaign to use donations to get additional people who can't afford to? What kind of reasoning is that? If they want to hire people with iowa political experience to work the "likely republican caucus goers" in iowa, how does that detract from the grassroots efforts getting the people who respond to home made freeway banners and anti-establishment rhetoric? I'm sure not everything the campaign does is perfect and efficient, but the stuff you bring up sounds pretty good to me. We're trying to win a party nomination here. The grassroots isn't going to court the GOP insiders, let the campaign deal with that stuff and be glad *someone* is doing it. Making a statement is good, but making policy is better.

Unfortunately, there are federal regulations that must be followed and I believe keeping to the letter of the law has caused some of the frustrations in the dealings between the official campaign and volunteers.

I have experienced this myself. I wanted to do some things on a voluntary basis in dealing with my county's board of elections and I was told by both the county and the campaign that I was not allowed. The reason being election laws required a paid member of a candidate's staff to do these things. That may very well be the reason for hiring paid county coordinators in Iowa. They may have to do the same thing in Pennsylvania.

I also know from experience that our former state coordinator, who I believe was doing that voluntarily, was one of the hardest working and devoted supporters of the message of freedom that I have ever met. As such he was doing everything he could to support Ron Paul. If the campaign decided to put him on the payroll it would be very well deserved. He got the job by working hard as a volunteer and setting up successful events and being noticed by the official campaign. I have to believe that every single county coordinator in Iowa has been found the same way. From the ranks of hard working volunteers. And you can be sure that the paychecks that anyone associated with the campaign are getting can better be described as "meager" rather than "hefty".

This is the first I've heard of the student volunteers having their expenses paid to go to Iowa on their Christmas vacation. Rest assured, these kids won't be sitting around by the fire drinking egg nog at a luxury resort. They'll be working their rears off day and night and getting good educational experience from it as well. And I'm sure it will be just like with the county coordinators; these 150 students will be chosen from the ranks of the hardest working volunteers.

We have to remember that due to federal election laws the official campaign can not tell volunteers what to do in many situations. This leads to frustration on both sides. You can be sure that the official campaign wishes they could work closer with volunteers than they are allowed. And with the growing success of the movement the people at the official campaign are being pushed beyond their limits so we have to take that into consideration. Kind of like retail employees in a busy store right before Christmas. They don't mean to be surly, but sometimes they come across that way.

The great thing about the campaign is there are plenty of ways for people to help both in conjunction with and apart from the official campaign. The Blimp, the advertisements in The Shotgun News and High Times and the organization of the Money Bombs are great examples of independant action in support of our message of freedom. Funding our own campaign, well we've really been doing that from the beginning.

Volunteers are doing a great job and will continue to do so, Ron Paul supporters are self-starters and do not wait to be told what to do when they know what to do, BUT organization is necessary, AND perfection will always be a goal to be attained. We are united in one common goal:serve the best interest of our country electing Dr. Paul President. The members of the campaign are also doing a good job. Let,s continue to do our best and not forget the reason for our struggle. United we win, divided we loose. We can improve our performance with analysis and constructive suggestions.

for the campaign to do is say, YOU PUT THE EFFORT, WE PROVIDE THE MATERIALS.

So anybody who puts up time and work, can get all the slim jims and signs they need. That'll help a long way.

but certainly the campaign doesn't know best, that's why we need to work together.

If you're unhappy about those who are paid and assisted to go to Iowa compared to those who've made sacrifices, you must be REALLY outraged for people who've maxed out $2300 and people who can't even give $100 on money bomb day. As niether of these people get anything in return.

You can cry all you want, but it comes down to whether you want to waste your time arguing who's done right, or just move on and get your part done.

I think the campaign is doing a great job.
No one in the campaign is trying to stop you so get on with what ever it is you want to do.

While we should try to stay positive for everything that's been accomplished and in the same way Ron Paul was positive even when freedom wasn't popular, I think there is something to be discussed here.

Instead of producing and airing boring videos, they should look at some of the new ideas presented on Ron Paul Forums everyday. We need some shock value for our 18mil, not the same tired campaign videos that everyone else puts out. We need someone like aravoth producing RP's videos. Someone that knows how to put some emotion into it. Now is the time to take some chances. This money should not be spent playing it safe!

I respectfully disagree. I don't have the experience to know whether the official campaign or the grassroots are doing everything right, but things look like they are going in the right direction to me. It's obvious that the campaign would be nowhere without the grassroots, which has been phenomenal, but I think it's unfair to assume that the official campaign hasn't also been effective.

In particular, I don't see a problem with hiring the county coordinators in Iowa. It doesn't get in the way of grassroots volunteer efforts. I have never sensed from the campaign that they resent that they "cannot boss the volunteers." On the contrary, whenever I have attended events, I have seen nothing but total gratitude and appreciation from the official campaign staff for everything the grassroots is doing. Even the wacky stuff.

I have nothing but hope and optimism for Ron Paul's campaign, and I'm thrilled to be a part of it in any official or unofficial capacity. Go Ron Paul!

And his campaign can and should do with it as they please once it's left our hands. We on the other hand have much more say over what's done with OUR money and time, and I believe that's where the emphasis should be placed.

.....but thoughtless posts like this on the day following so many successes and with many new visitors to this site seek to divide. Shame on you and particularly for posting this twice. Constructive criticism is one thing...this is something else. Let this thread die.

Most of us are 100% for Ron Paul and therefore back the staff he selected while knowing that we have been given unprecedented room for expression and creativity. If we see a gap...we fill it. If we see a great grassroot idea...we back it. Your last statement is ludicrous. I don'[t care if you have been here 48 weeks...doesn't sound like you've learned much or gained any inspiration.