REPORT: OREGON VOTER'S GUIDE FOLLOWUP

An Open Letter to Ron Paul Grassroots Volunteers

Many revolutionary volunteers around Oregon are EXTREMELY dissatisfied and disappointed over the failure of the campaign to ensure Ron Paul was included in the Oregon Voter's Guide.

The Oregon Voter's Guide is received by all voters throughout the state. It is printed by the Secretary of State, Elections Division. It costs $1,000 to submit a candidate statement. It is an uncensored opportunity to share and spread the Revolution's message statewide. It's an opportunity to show Ron Paul is still in the race, even though the mainstream media has largely ignored him.

Most of all. It's an opportunity for the grassroots volunteer effort to carry the promotional ball, even if the campaign chooses not to do so.

Leadership is Earned

We need to recognize effective leaders. We all must encourage responsible action on behalf of the grassroots movement as a whole. Sometimes, we need to identify areas of responsibility that require our collective attention. No one should corner the market on information or make unilateral decisions that effect us all.

It was an egregious oversight on the part of the Ron Paul campaign to ignore this opportunity or fail to consider the effects of this decision. Local leaders, identified on the Ron Paul 2008 Web site, include: Jamie Jackson, Salem; Terry Hamel, Salem; and Renee Kimball, Portland. They should have been notified of all campaign decisions effecting Oregon. They, in turn, should be open to this critique. The Voter's Guide is one of the more obvious opportunities for candidates.

We need to bring this information to everyone's attention, without taking away from the accomplishments of any volunteers -- including the many accomplishments of Jamie Jackson, Terry Hamel and Renee Kimball. 

It's time for the grassroots to form strong, independent associations that freely share and distribute information and announce decisions. We cannot limit communications with the national campaign to a small cadre of campaign-appointed leaders who make important decisions -- or non-decisions -- in the future. We have worked too hard.

Liberty isn't a mindset. Liberty is a methodology. Let's do liberty . . . and demand freedom. Many of us didn't act because we understood the campaign knew about this issue and would act. I can only rely on the word of other people. If I have been mislead, I apologize for forwarding any errors on to you. I'm happy to distribute any corrections, for the record.

For the Record

I spoke with the Secretary of State's office. I was told the Ron Paul Presidential Campaign Committee, with an address on Washington Boulevard in Arlington, VA, received a request for a Voter's Guide filing and the Ron Paul national contacts never wrote back.

Kevin Goodrich of the Medford Ron Paul Meetup has confirmed this information. Kevin reported that a source named Fernando at the Ron Paul national campaign headquarters said the decision not to file a candidate's statement with the Oregon Voter's Guide was a national decision.

Dee Lopez, Douglas County coordinator, said she personally spoke with grassroots coordinators about the March 13 Voter's Guide filing deadline. She stated she was willing to assist when she made her own filing as a congressional candidate. Dee Lopez said Jamie Jackson indicated this filing would be completed.

On a side note:

The McCain campaign wrote back to the Secretary of State, Elections Division office, but they declined to file as well. The Secretary of State's office also contacted GOP Headquarters in Salem. They declined any filing for republican candidates.

Prior to sending this message, I requested a response to these concerns from our state coordinators. I asked them to respond within a 24-hour period. Their responses -- with limited editing -- follow in alphabetical order:

TERRY HAMEL

I too was surprised and frustrated Ron was not profiled in the Oregon Voter's Pamphlet.  However, you have erroneously concluded I was at fault because you assume it was my responsibility.  I can't even tell you whose responsibility it is because I don't know.  I am just a guy who talked to campaign several months ago to find out how they are handling Oregon, was asked to send in a resume (for what?), and was then assigned more access to their website.  I was never informed in any manner why I was assigned and what duties would be expected.  

However, I did take it upon myself to try to do something with the extra access, particularly the data of registered voters in Oregon.  That's where I found Ron Paul supporters and called to ask people to become county leaders - a suggestion that originated from Maureen during the initial conference call.   Jamie setup the gmail account at my request to keep campaign related email separate our own and that's where I sent out notices and customized voter spreadsheets to each county leader.  I'm not even sure I'm expected to do these things, but I volunteered because no one else was doing it.

This isn't a matter of incompetence because that requires informed consent, responsibility and a failure to perform.  I have none of those.  My only goal is to organize my county, but I am also assisting statewide efforts because I was given the tools and no one else was doing it.  I don't have a playbook, a set of duties or even experience - I'm just one guy trying to make a difference the best way I can figure out.  

If you do go public with faulty information, assumptions, dashed to taste with opinion, you will only expose yourself.   You can publish this email far and wide and I'd ask anyone wanting to discuss it to contact me, particularly if you are willing to help.

-Terry
503.302.4884

JAMIE JACKSON -- Via an e-mail addressed to ronpaul-416

We're looking into it and lots of people are discussing it.  From what I've gathered so far, Ron definitely *should* have been in there, and the fact that he's not is puzzling.  Don't know about McCain; I'd assume that if that campaign intentionally decided not to put anything in, it's due to simple overconfidence -- but there's also that !!!MCCAIN!!!-Feingold FEC spending cap stuff, which may have had something to do with it (LOL).  In any case, yes, it's a missed opportunity for us, and we're not happy about it.  Not sure yet what can be done; that may depend partly on whether there's a receipt for payment for inclusion, which I don't know at this time.

At this point this one is in my "WTF?" category (with apologies if that acronym offends anyone); of all the things to worry about, this wasn't on my list, since I've never heard of it happening before.

RENEE KIMBALL
 
There are two State Pamphlet - mandatory printing - cost for President $1,000 (must pay for each separately = primary and general election).

County Pamphlet - optional and at the discretion of each county - federal offices cannot pay to be in this pamphlet.
 
Yes this was a missed opportunity to not be in the pamphlet.  Yes, they did send ONE letter to the campaign early February (right in the middle of a LOT of major primaries) and then made a follow-up to the Republican Party in Oregon (fat chance THEY would have done anything).  However, did anyone find out if Ron Paul was in any of the OTHER state primary pamphlets?
 
The REAL question is "Will it matter?" - probably not.  99% of the people don't read it and those who do are looking to see their own face, name and comments or those of their favorite candidate.
 
As for pointing fingers . . . why didn't YOU open your mouth and remind someone about it.  Rather than worrying about us DROPPING the ball, when do you ever intend on PICKING IT UP!
 
. . . Once this campaign is over, you will have nothing and no one to needle and complain about because the real freedom fighters will move on and, by necessity, exclude you from any serious work in the future.

This is the end of my open letter and report. If you have any questions about what is written here, please contact me:

[address removed]
Tel. [number removed]

You may telephone or leave a message. This is a business number. Thank you for your courtesy and consideration.

I am solely responsible for the content of this message, but it was written in consultation with grassroots volunteers associated with the Oregon-based Roseburg and Medford Ron Paul Meetup groups. I have also noted interest and concern in other Meetup groups around the state.

Please resend this to general distribution. It is a learning opportunity and a chance to move the Oregon-based Revolution forward as an effective effort to promote constitutional liberty. Thank you Rep. Ron Paul, (R-TX) for inspiring us. Now we continue the fight to defend our freedoms at the county, state and federal level.