Meeting Ron Paul
By: BJ Lawson
Well, it finally happened. After first learning about Rep. Paul in the South Carolina Republican debate, where his principled and rational stand against Mr. Guiliani cured my political apathy, after weeks of studying his Constitutional philosophy as executed over a twenty year Congressional career, and after months of beginning to get involved in our local grassroots effort here in North Carolina… I finally met Ron Paul.
My wife and I drove down to Columbia, SC last night along with a couple other folks from the Triangle Meetup, and were greeted by the most diverse crowd I’ve seen in one place. Folks of all ages, ethnicities, and economic/social backgrounds were there, all united by one common thread: a respect for individual liberty, and a desire to get our nation moving back towards our Declaration of Independence’s ideals through a federal government that honors its Constitutional contract with the people.
The crowd was warm and inclusive, and striking up a conversation with folks was incredibly easy. We’re all Americans concerned with the future of our country, and the more we talk with each other, the more bridges we can build to heal the wounds that have divided us for so long. It was a chilly evening in Columbia, but as the crowd grew in the amphitheater, a warmth became apparent that can only be ascribed to the flame of liberty in all those people.
Rep. Paul’s speech was the finest I’ve heard (audio here). Perhaps I’m biased since it’s the first one I’ve seen in person, but having seen most available footage on YouTube, I was particularly moved by his passion, sincerity, and openness in discussing the challenges we face. At the close of the speech, the crowd paused momentarily as people realized that we could actually approach the front and meet him. The rush to queue up commenced, and we milled around talking to folks for quite some time waiting our turn. After introducing myself as a fellow Duke Med alum and having Rep. Paul sign my pocket Constitution, a kind soul captured a photograph that will be our Christmas card this year (sorry, kids!):
We then spent some time talking with other folks we’d met, and even checked out a Zap! electric vehicle being sold in South Carolina by a local entrepreneur and campaign volunteer. As we made our way back to the amphitheater, Rep. Paul was preparing to depart but I was able to speak with him one last time about my confusion with some publicly-available personal income tax statistics:
He and his campaign/security detail then made their exit, to cries of “God bless you, Ron Paul!” from waving supporters.
All in all, well worth a four hour drive. Too bad our state’s primary is so late, but tonight really reinforced my desire to help our neighbors in South Carolina mount an excellent campaign to share the unifying message of what America can be. As Morgan Freeman says in this fantastic video, “The real glory of the Declaration of Independence has been our nation’s epic struggle throughout history to close the gap between the ideals of this remarkable document and the sometimes painful realities of American life.”
Thanks to the good folks in South Carolina, and indeed across the nation, I’ve never been more optimistic that our epic struggle will be successful in closing the gap.
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:25 am
I’m still excited about it as well. I noticed on another forum that people were saying his speech wasn’t really that good and he wasn’t connecting with the crowd.
I’m not sure what speech they were watching, I agree that it was his best ever, and I thought the crowd was really into it.
I’m so jealous that you actually talked monetary policy with Ron Paul! That was such a cool moment.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:50 am
I was hoping to make it up that way from the low country here in South Carolina myself but work didn’t allow it. I hope Dr. Paul is able to make a visit down near the Charleston SC area in the near future! That is one of the things I like about the Ron Paul message it gathers a diversity of people that seems to be unheard of in the last few decades. It is not a sporting event but an event to improve this nation and let us all work together towards some common goals. Keep up the great work I enjoyed reading your post and seeing your images.
November 3rd, 2007 at 2:03 pm
Congrats, BJ, on your exciting experience meeting Ron Paul in person! And, thanks for sharing your thoughts, pics via the blog. Best, Jeff J.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:22 pm
Nice article,
I’ll have to say that when Dr Paul signed my pocket constitution last week in Ames all I could manage was. “DDDDr PPPaul YYYYour MMMy hero. PPlease sign my constitution.” Anybody remember the scene in “Waynes World” where they met Alice Cooper and fell to there knees and cried, “We’re not worthy! We’re not worthy!” BTW your video of those actors is very nice but it sad none in that group have the courage to stand up for Dr Paul.
November 3rd, 2007 at 3:51 pm
Congrats!!
Thanks for sharing!
November 3rd, 2007 at 5:43 pm
joeybolz, on ronpaulforpresident2008 there is a clip of mel gibsons father talking about how he is going to tell all his kids to vote for ron paul. somehow i think at least one of these actors will be getting an earful:) here is my thumbs up to famous peoples parents and the reality check!
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:21 pm
Where are all those STARS when Dr. Paul needs them.
We will do it without them. GO RON PAUL!!!!
November 3rd, 2007 at 8:33 pm
Glad you met your idol and someday hope to meet mine - George Bush and with a gun in my hand. (Just kidding secret service!)
For those not following along our latest Ron Paul post…
http://shadowdemocracy.wordpress.com/2007/11/02/more-proof-ron-paul-is-a-racist/
November 3rd, 2007 at 9:34 pm
I, too, had a chance to meet him in Cheyenne (WY) last week. Local media in Colorado covered his talk and presented a great article at
http://www.boulderweekly.com/?site_id=619&page_id=10556&id_sub=10556
Read and share, especially with Republicans…we need their vote first so the rest of America can share in his hope for America, freedom from Federal micromanagement and a sound fiscal policy.
November 3rd, 2007 at 10:26 pm
Glad you had a good experience. I hope I get to meet him someday as well. After all, his son, Rand Paul, practices medicine here in Bowling Green, KY!
November 4th, 2007 at 12:21 am
That’s awesome “Barry”. It is a great article and very inspiring.
I know exactly how your feel. It felt as if you were seeing things through my eyes. I too was amazed when I saw him in the first debates and it light a fire inside me. I have always been a third party kinda guy and now the newest member of the Republican Party…
I know that times are serious now and I know how things can get a lot worse if we don’t stand up now. My cousin is the longest held political prisoner in Cuba in rebellion against Castro’s supposed revolution (I believe Castro is C.F.R. myself, but I digress) My grandfather came here as a political dissident in search of freedom for his children and their children. I am the first born American citizen in my family and I don’t take it lightly.
I honor my grandfather by standing up in defense of our great Constitution and freedoms. I stand in support of the greatest Presidential Candidate in my lifetime. To sit and watch as our freedoms disappear right before our eyes is not an option for me. “If not now… when… if not me… who will stand up?” Is a question I always ask myself.
Anyways, I too met Dr. Paul with my Meet-Up group at USC and he signed my copy of the Constitution as well… he signed it right next to the forefathers as it should be. Check out my slide-show set to the music of Rage Against the Machine - Renegades of Funk.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8d9kcQrmAs
November 5th we roar!
We are the renegades…
We are the people…
With our own philosophies…
We change the course of history..
Everyday people like you and me!
November 4th, 2007 at 12:34 am
I just want to say congratulations on meeting Dr. Paul, and I can completely relate with your story. He too cured my political apathy.
November 4th, 2007 at 5:12 am
Thank you for the marvelous account about your experience! I too am convinced that our next president needs to have a greater respect for the the Constitution, which will help pull us out of the messes we’re getting ourselves into both domestically and abroad. I don’t like to think my retirement savings is being built on a deck of cards, nor do I think that the concept of being “strong on defense” means policing the world - which will eventually bankrupt us. Dr. Paul’s message is resonating, and the proof of his success is that the political opponents’ “dirty tricks” are beginning. I remember how Ross Perot backed out of the ‘92 campaign because of unethical attacks on him. I think Dr. Paul very politically savvy and has been able to ignore these distractions to focus on the message of his campaign. He’s going to surprise a lot of people in the primaries.
November 4th, 2007 at 5:43 am
It looks like James Buchanan is trying to help Dr. Paul and we need to let Dr. Paul’s campaign manager know that it is time to start the National ads NOW like Mr. Buchanan has been saying for the last couple of months.
http://us.altermedia.info/?s=Ron+Paul&submit=Search
We NEED A Doctor To HEAL Our Country,
Freedom4America
November 4th, 2007 at 7:15 am
@FreedomFan, that’s a great interview. Thanks for posting!
November 4th, 2007 at 7:16 am
@Citizen Joe, that’s an amazing story and a great slideshow.
I became especially passionate about the campaign after returning from a few weeks in China this summer. The differences between a “closed” and “open” society are a matter of degree, not absolutes. “Free speech zones”? In America? In the end, China was an amazing place… and I really had to look hard to find any differences between them, and us.
While so many Americans are ready to learn from history, look ahead, and move forward together, we still have to contend with folks like @MJ who speak of “idols” and prefer to toss labels around that divide us among ourselves.
November 4th, 2007 at 10:39 am
Hi BJ,
This is my first time visiting your blog. I will keep an eye out here, now.
I have seen a little of Ron Paul, in various interviews, and have listened closely to those that were in-depth and not just sound-bytes.
I hear many things that interest me, and always hear some positions that are up to 180 degrees from mine.
There are only a couple of others (in both parties) who I am willing to pay attention to, surprisingly more Republicans this year than ever, but many of them are “iffy” as to viability.
I will say that many of the people I am watching and mulling-over are the ones who do their best in this too-”guided” political “game” to really tell-it-like-it-is — the best they can, and to be as personally-honest as they can be in today’s politics.
I hope this campaign will finally ignite the fire in many more people to serve and to participate. As a 61 year old, I’ve seen too many changes in this country (all downward), and I hope the upturn is NOW, before it is really unsalvageable.
I hope that the electorate will really get involved, and that one of these people wins. We need real Change, real Dialogue, real Action, real Service.
We need to involve the Youth, too, in the real, not virtual, world.
Once one of these candidates is elected, I hope they have the courage to insist upon real Campaign Reform and that it will be the top of the agenda, especially in regard to funding elections, length of allowed service and timing of primaries as well as verifiable systems of casting ballots and counting votes. Nothing is “safe” in this country until the Vote is secure. Remember what has happened the last two elections!
And, I think we need to regain our Hope and have more than an empty “Pride”. Being an informed, active citizen is what people like my father fought for us to have the right to be, and I hope to pass along a better America, as my legacy, too.
Get involved. Get others involved. Let there be a real Dialogue this time.
Best to all — Em
http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com
November 4th, 2007 at 2:52 pm
It must have been great to meet Ron! What a great interview, thanks much.
November 4th, 2007 at 3:59 pm
Em — Amen, amen, amen to your comments. The need for acute intervention with the direction of our country has never been greater.
I’ll also say that it took me a lot of life experiences, questions, and study to get to the point where I am now in almost perfect agreement with Rep. Paul’s Constitutional philosophy as articulated in his writings over the past ten years (www.ronpaullibrary.com). I certainly didn’t get there overnight. Economically speaking, it took me years of asking questions and facing cognitive dissonance to get to the point that I really appreciated the power of free people, and free markets… even though so many people still believe it’s preferable to take control away from individuals and give it to governments/bureaucrats.
I only hope that enough folks can “wake up” and learn about this stuff more quickly than I did!
November 4th, 2007 at 6:10 pm
Hi “BHD”,
Thanks for your input. I’ll check out the http://www.ronpaullibrary.com as soon as I can.
I am dismayed at how long the campaigns have become, but with the internet, at least that allows some time to access a site like this sounds and really look at policy and position papers for a candidate.
The media do us all a great disservice with their sound-bytes, both in reporting and in debates.
I have enjoyed the more in-depth interviews on PBS’s News Hour, as an example of the kind of input we each need to pay attention to. I used to watch and read a lot more, but politics is far more influenced now by poll numbers and I am frustrated that it takes so long to ferret out what might be the ‘real’ position on a topic.
Ron Paul seems like a straight-talker — far more than any other politician for quite some time. Libertarians tend to be that way, for as underdogs, they are used to having to use the podium during the election as the usually last chance for exposure for the Ideal.
Paul seems to have flown low on the radar and produced a track record in the fold of the Republicans and yet separate.
We desparately need some viable third and fourth political parties in this country.
I wish the Greens had continued nominating a candidate this year, and where is Perot’s group? If Ron Paul can strengthen the Libertarians, then people will have another chance to think in a new way.
Personal responsibility and independent thinking are the most valuable tools and necessities to keep an electorate really free. Anything less is a sham of sheep shuffling from the sameness to sameness of the LCD of any issue.
I really hope that Ron Paul and a few others will succeed in waking the American Public. Our liberties have been on-the-line for 8+ years, and even though there are brave people to defend them, more and more of our liberties are being lost to indifference, ignorance or cowardice than for any other reason.
Time to rebuild America’s real legacy — and make it one that we can offer as a beacon, again.
Best to all — Em
http://diabetesdietdialogue.wordpress.com
November 5th, 2007 at 1:11 am
It’s going down today people - we’re trying to have the biggest day of campaign donations ever. If you’ve been thinking about doing it, today is the day. Even a little helps. Let’s push his total today high enough that the media has to pay attention to him.
November 5th, 2007 at 2:56 am
hi there…got linked up to this blog through the ron paul website…i live in india and me and two other friends of mine are following dr.paul’s campaign very closely…today is nov 5th and we are glued to his website…its cool that you got to meet RP…must have been a great experience…wish i could meet him too…keep up the awesome grassroots work all you guys…its an inspiration to people all around the world!!!
November 5th, 2007 at 5:40 am
hi barry,
i too have met dr. paul twice and had the opportunity to hang out with him on one of these times in new hampshire.
i can relate totally what it is like to be in the presence of such an honorable man. he takes my breath away. he is my hero!
i am happy for you and your wife for having that opportunity. you both must have gotten a kick out of the duke connection. that’s too cool!
i will never forget the days my boys and i got to meet dr. paul and the photos he so graciously agreed to and, of course, the autographs!
it was a very special day for my family and i know it was for you and your wife too!
god bless,
sunny
ps let’s get this truly great statesman in the white house !!!
November 5th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
My wife showed me your blog; great job!
We have had the chance to mingle and speak with Dr. Paul at some length as he has been in the crucial SC Upstate a good bit. For those of you who don’t know, WYSIWYG! [what you see is what you get]
Dr. Paul is not a phony.
I was at the Clemson rally on Friday and had the chance to speak with a gent from Dr. Paul’s congressional district who was in the overflow crowd. He was on staff or a professor at Clemson I guess. He said and I quote pretty much verbatim:
“You know what would really shock these kids [most of the crowd was Clemson students] is that this is the same speech that he [Ron Paul] has been giving for 30 years.”
Folks this is the real deal; and today is the day.
My advice is to have camera or cameraphone in hand and snap a pic of your own name as it scrolls across the http://www.ronpaul2008.com/ website after you make contribution on this, the day the Paulites fire the second “Shot Heard ‘Round the World”!
You will have one of the best family treasures anyone can have to show their posterity that when FREEDOM called; you were there!
November 5th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
@bhday 2:05:
Yeah, I had the same problem; the confirmation e-mail will just have to suffice!