To Ron Paul Supporters:

I believe that your place in this party is important. You are key in helping to steer the GOP towards the right direction. I hope that all of you will continue to be a positive influence on the Party; but I have to point something out:

I have in the past made the point that the issue with the Ron Paul campaign is one of marketing.

Now, with Romney as the de facto nominee, I understand that some of you have thrown in your support behind him (albeit reluctantly… but then, no one is asking you to be enthusiastic). However, in the name of “helping to steer the party in the right direction” many of you have continued to post negatively about him. This is your right and I believe that a number of the points you make are valid. Although, I want to talk about how this comes across.

The tone exuded from such posts is that of a group of sore losers, and is instantly tuned out by your audience (the rest of the GOP). Before you immediately say that’s their problem and not yours, think about what a better effect you could have if you rethought your tone. I’m not saying that you should say you agree with something you do not, or even refrain from criticism. Rather I’m saying that you ought to find a more effective way to express your concern. That sort of behavior is and always has been the main reason why Ron Paul’s supporters have been branded (incorrectly) as nothing more than cooks and fanatics. A better presentation would carry your message deeper into the hearts of the GOP instead of being deflected.

Much like a spaceship reentering the atmosphere, a frontal approach disintegrates before even making an impact, while an oblique one is more likely to reach its target. Any group which successfully integrates itself into another will undoubtedly change the other. But integration can never occur while an “us and them” mentality persists on either side. But when one [integrates] before [trying to change] the other, it speeds the process on both sides. Hopefully we can achieve that.

Sincerely, ~Diego Carrión

Postscript:

(August 28, 2012)

Recently a good friend of mine shared something on Facebook pertaining to his support for Ron Paul & how he cannot support Mitt Romney. He is by and large my favorite Ron Paul supporter because he and I can always have conversations about the hot button issues that exist between Libertarians and the rest of the Republican coalition, rhetoric free. So when he made the post I felt comfortable posting a long and frank reply. Here is what he shared, followed by my reply:

My Friend:

I like Mitt Romney as a person. I think he’s a great individual. I also think he has done some good things in the past as governor of Massachusetts. Overall, I think he would be a better president than President Obama. Nevertheless, I will not endorse Mitt Romney for president; this is because of the Republican Party’s perpetual efforts to undermine Congressman Paul’s influence in the party and the undermining of the efforts of his supporters in the delegate processes around the country this year. Also having taken a very passionate anti-war stance this past year, I cannot whole-heartedly endorse someone who thinks it is necessary to out militarize President Obama. Perhaps I may indeed vote for Romney out of sympathy for my party in November, but count me out on any campaign trips. Lest some think I am trying to create division, let it be said I love my fellow Republicans and still seek to be your ally in our quest for limited government and liberty.

My Reply:

“I like Ron Paul as a person. I think he’s a great individual. I also think he has done some good things in the past as a congressman from Texas. Overall, I think he would be a better president than President Obama. Nevertheless, I will not support Ron Paul for president; this is because of the Paul camp’s perpetual efforts which undermine the conservative agenda through it’s “all or nothing” approach to public policy.

Also having taken a very passionate anti-Obama stance this past… ever, I cannot whole-heartedly endorse someone who thinks it is necessary to put ideology before country. Perhaps I may indeed concede that Paul has made contributions to the overall direction of the party out of sympathy for my fellow party members’ efforts, but count me out on any campaign rallies.

Lest some think I am trying to create division, let it be said I love my fellow Libertarians and still seek to be your ally in our quest for limited government and liberty.”

— — — — — — 

This is how the rhetoric of the Ron Paul Campaign sounds to the rest of the party.

Adoption of several points brought forward by Rand Paul, into the Party Platform, despite simultaneously failing to garner any significant fraction of support from the American people does not constitute a concerted stifling of a campaign.

I personally appreciate much of what the Paul supporters bring to the table and hope that many of their ideas (such as those from Rand Paul which were implemented into the platform) are brought into the Republican conversation. However that will not continue so long as the Paul campaign continues to project a “If we don’t play what I want to play I’m taking my ball and going home” image. I understand that is not what they would like to convey but it is still how they present themselves.

The old saying goes that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, but having been in many a car with with squeaky ‘everything’, I know that if the wheel is too squeaky it eventually just gets ignored until it can be replaced. I hope this is not the future of the Libertarian wing of the party but it is a reality they must face.

A battle cry of “We’re here to change the Republican Party” does not resonate well when it comes from a small minority, any better than does a door approach of “We’re here to make you change” from two young men on your porch. No matter how true your message may be, that sort of approach doesn’t usually go very far.

Now I understand that Ron Paul is acting in what he believes is the best interest of the country, despite the fact I cannot support his decisions. And if Paul supporters choose not to vote for Gov. Romney, that is their right, and no one can take it away from them. But it will appear as prideful and petty to the rest of the party no matter how pure their intentions may be.

I want to see the gap between the Libertarians and the rest of the party bridged. But the diatribe from both sides has to be quelled.

For the good of the nation.