June 21, 2007 10:05 AM
Absence makes the fans grow louder
AP photo
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We're not sure what form it's going to take, but trouble could be headed to Des Moines, Iowa, next week.
Why?
Because blogroots darling, Republican Rep. Ron Paul, has been excluded from a candidate forum on June 30 and his fans are burning up "the Internets" pledging to make a show of force.
"Let's make all the news be about Ron Paul so that (the) event is a side note," someone posted at the digg.com entry on the growing brouhaha.
The Des Moines Register's intrepid reporter, Thomas Beaumont, has the story today:
"The decision by a tax watchdog group in Iowa to keep some presidential candidates from attending its political forum in Des Moines next week has led to a barrage of angry responses from supporters of U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, one of the Republicans seeking the GOP nomination."
"Paul, a Texas congressman, will not be among the six GOP candidates scheduled to speak at the June 30 event in Des Moines. The forum at Hy-Vee Hall is jointly sponsored by the Iowa Christian Alliance."
"Officials of Iowans for Tax Relief said the decision not to invite Paul had to do with his scant campaign organization in the state and his low ranking in Iowa polls."
So, who gets to play? Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, former Gov. Tommy Thompson of Wisconsin, Rep. Duncan Hunter of California, and Colorado's entrant in the presidential contest, Rep. Tom Tancredo.
They'll each get 20 minutes for speaches and another 10 minutes to clarify their answers to a questionnaire. Here's the event description via IowaPolitics.com.
Event organizers could not be reached this morning, but Ed Failor of Iowans for Tax Relief told the Register that all "credible" Democratic and Republican presidential candidates were invited. That category did not include Rep. Paul, despite his attention-getting appearances during the recent nationally-televised presidential debates on FoxNews and CNN.
Failor told the newspaper:
"To plan an event of this scope, we invited credible Democratic and credible Republican candidates alike. We had to draw the line somewhere."
To put it mildly, that does not sit well with backers of Paul, who have been on an e-mail and blog-posting rampage trying to get news outlets -- including this one, not to mention THIS ONE -- to take notice of the flap.
This morning, we talked to Paul's campaign chairman, Kent Snyder, who said the campaign feels "insulted" by the apparent snub.
"Any low-tax or no-tax organization in the country knows that Dr. Ron Paul is their best friend. And here's an organization calling itself Iowans for Tax Relief excluding the very candidate that embodies their purpose. So it's bizarre."
Snyder said the campaign was trying to decide what, if anything, they'll do on the day of the event.
At the digg.com posting, various commenters spoke of mounting massive, nonviolent demonstrations outside the events center that night. Meanwhile, there was a lively, online debate in the Paul ranks about whether they should keep trying to contact event organizers at their homes. (The general consensus: No, that's not very professional and it hurts the cause.)
So suddenly, there's drama for an event that otherwise might have been a yawn.
What will the Paul people do? What should they do? We'll have the answer on June 30.
In the meantime, don't miss this blast from the past.***
***UPDATE: Commenter Carl raised a good point that the context was missing in the original intro to the video, so I've revised it and will leave the interpretation to viewers. Regular readers of this site know that I often include old video (or even songs and videos that seem like nonsequiturs at times) to illustrate postings on ALL the candidates, not just Ron Paul. If you want some examples, see the "Back Roads 101" entry from Saturday.
June 24, 2007
2:50 PM
Carl writes:
Sir
I thought you included your e-mail address above so that you could get feedback directly from those who read your articles. Saddly I was wrong. You are a coward like most others in the media - to bad. Although I don't really care for this type of communications (blogs I guess they are called) here is what I wanted to say - Read it if you dare and feel free to respond.
Mr. Sprenglemeyer
Your piece on Ron Paul being excluded from the Iowans for Tax Relief Presidential Candidates forum was interesting to say the least. I couldn't help but notice a bias in your article, which you would be perfectly entitled to if this was an opinion piece, but not so as it was printed in the "News" section. From your opening statement implying something unsavory could take place due to Ron Paul supporters, to the quip about "blogroots darling" but most especially to your inclusion of the Morton Downey Jr. clip and stating that Ron Paul told the speaker "he should lose a few pounds". You obviously did not even watch the clip. What he said was "why don't they put you on a diet, you're a little over weight". Any reasonable person who saw that clip could see Dr. Paul was correct, the person was a little over "ideal" weight. The point he was making was "what is the logical conclusion to your position". If tyrannical methods are condoned in the "War on Drugs" the next step is the "War on being Fat". If you are aware of current trends, and rhetoric that is being heard more frequently in the media, you will know that this is not far from becoming a reality in some form. If you truly are not a media shill - espousing the approved position of you handler - but a reporter in the traditional and honorable sense of the term, you will be reporting about the positions and issues the Candidate stands for. The internet is a vast resource of information, you should use it. But beyond that the Ron Paul campaign Headquarters will tell everything you want to know about him. Do a little investigating and find out the truth.
Sincerely
Carl Cress
June 24, 2007
2:30 PM
Mayah writes:
The journalists that write about Ron Paul all seem to try to interject some kind of negativity, almost like they are all in collusion to make Ron Paul seem not as credible, or make his followers seem strange. I really feel that the media is not free, and I know there has to be journalists who support him, and agree with him, but can not openly. I hope that journalists will unite for the Ron Paul rEVOLution, and thumb their noses at those who keep them in bondage writing their propaganda. It's time to FREE the MEDIA! Come on, unite for freedom, support Ron Paul!
June 24, 2007
1:40 PM
Carl writes:
This is a direct response to genuine ricado
First I'm not sure what the genuine in your monicker refers to unless it is genuinely ignorant .
from Merriam-Websters Online Dictionary:
Main Entry: ig·no·rant
Pronunciation: 'ig-n(&-)r&nt
Function: adjective
1 a : destitute of knowledge or education ; also : lacking knowledge or comprehension of the thing specified b : resulting from or showing lack of knowledge or intelligence
2 : UNAWARE, UNINFORMED
- ig·no·rant·ly adverb
- ig·no·rant·ness noun
(If that is the case your position is understandable and thankfully correctible.)
But if you truly believe that principles that our country was founded on and the people who are working to restore those principles to our goverement are delusional losers than you my friend have defined your own cage. You can choose to let the status quo continue until at last you are safely locked in the prison cell that is planned for you - Governement can take care of you most efficiently then. Ron Paul's meesage is one of freedom and it resonates with many people nation wide. You are right about one thing though we are going to "get off the internet" and bring this movement to public in the coming months
June 23, 2007
6:28 AM
genuine ricardo writes:
thanx derek. i see now. i'm not really angry, i just play an angry person on the internet. -- g.r.
June 22, 2007
8:22 PM
Derek writes:
Uh....
He said "blogroots darling" in reference to Dr. Paul. He is suggesting that the blogosphere is in love with Dr. Paul. I agree with him. And, I'm one of the bloggers that talks about Dr. Paul! Stop being so angry, people!
Also, while the part where Ed Failor is attached to the McCain campaign is significant, it is not as significant as many point out. First, McCain is not appearing. Second, it is completely legal for Ed to support McCain. Now, I agree, there may be a conflict of interest, but the best argument that you're going to find is that the ITR is a 501(c) that is legally obligated to be fair to all candidates. Ron Paul is a candidate that meets any criteria of 'credible' candidates that would not exclude the prior candidates.
Ron Paul is not outspoken for the caretaking of Veterans during these debates because he is focusing on other issues. However, his voting record shows that he is very supportive of legislation that supports Veterans and the current members of the military--especially when you take into account that he is called "Dr. No" http://www.ronpaulforcongress.com/html/veterans.html
Good article, too.
June 22, 2007
7:02 AM
genuine ricardo writes:
Dear Blogsroots Darlings, especially Mr. Trochelman,
How dare you call M.E. "just another media whore." This is an outrage. He chose the sobriquet, "darlings" because he didn't want to come right out and call you what you (likely) are: delusional losers. Get off the internet and get a life. What are all the Ron Paul crazies smoking? Boat? I love his position on the war, but he is totally and irredeemably unelectable.
If you think "the mainstream media" is so corrupt, why are you polluting your purist politics by reading it? M.E. is capable of whoring, but not media whoring. Aiiie?
PS: "Boat" is street slang for cannabis laced with PCP.
June 21, 2007
10:13 PM
Shahzad Sarwar writes:
It does not matter what the media says, it a war between we the people and the Media. I have Ron Paul banner on my two cars and I have a Yard sign that I just got in today. A guy came by my house and took one sign to put in his yard from the street over. The media can demeaning all they want, people power will win this! People are awakening and this train is not going to stop untill it reaches the White House!
June 21, 2007
9:51 PM
M.E. writes:
Thank you for your feedback.
-- The Management
June 21, 2007
9:39 PM
JEFFREY TROCHELMAN writes:
SPRENGELMEYER
" Because blogsroots darlings " Nice little demeaning comment.
Why ? because Sprengelmeyer is yet another media whore. There ya go buddy, hows it feel ?
JS
The only thing I've heard Dr. Paul say about Vets was something to the effect of, why should vets have to wait in line for questionable care at a Va hospital. He is a vet and has had experience with fellow Drs. who also inturned at various VA hospitals. My experience has been the care offered is exceedingly below par from other hospitals. So I know he is aware of the issues.
June 21, 2007
5:13 PM
Roy writes:
The Iowans for Tax Relief are the ones with no credibility...as they obviously don't care about tax releif whatsoever...
June 21, 2007
3:15 PM
Jess writes:
Ed Failor is a senior advisor for the McCain campaign. Ed Failor has contributed a significant sum to McCain's campaign. Ed Failor has been caught lying repeatedly. Ed Failor failed.
June 21, 2007
1:20 PM
john writes:
doesnt this Ed Failor character work with the Mccain campaign. Why does everyone fail to mention this, that seems to be a possible motive for exclusion.
June 21, 2007
1:20 PM
Anonymous writes:
VETERANS healthcare and benefits have for the most part, been left out of the presidential campaign. I hope that candidates at the June 30 candidate forum in Des Moines address these issues and make a committment to put a category for Veterans' Issues on their websites. JS, army vet, West Des Moines, Iowa
June 21, 2007
1:20 PM
Anonymous writes:
VETERANS healthcare and benefits have for the most part, been left out of the presidential campaign. I hope that candidates at the June 30 candidate forum in Des Moines address these issues and make a committment to put a category for Veterans' Issues on their websites. JS, army vet, West Des Moines, Iowa