Ron Paul Cult Leader?
Great testimonial. Like him or not, and there is a lot I disagree with Ron Paul about, there is something fascinating about the man. This video captures it. Part of the attraction is obviously about contrast; he speaks like a human being; making reasonable points about America’s obvious aggression and the inevitable reaction. When all the other candidates in the US election are ignoring this Paul’s stance is like water in a desert. But Angel’s testimonial suggests that Paul has something of the cult leader about him … I don’t mean that in a pejorative way. Some people have this ‘thing’ that’s born out of their own intensity and conviction and is very attractive to others. Obama had some of this and, mixed with being young, gifted, (tall, handsome) and black, it created a certain glamour … Paul does not have these advantages. There’s a sense you’re getting the pure stuff.
3 thoughts on “Ron Paul Cult Leader?”
For someone you don’t like you sepnd a lot of time supporting him.
I know that many of Ron Paul’s positions are philosophically flawed or questionable and should be questioned. I admit that I find his speeches much more engaging and entertaining than those of his fellow candidates. I am fascinated by the buzz he creates, the sense of a narrative that people can latch on to. It is remarkable from the perspective of a ‘good story’ that the oldest candidate gets his greatest support from the young, that despite accusations of racism, he is better liked by black people than any of the other Republican candidates, that he gets more donations from military personnel than any of the other candidates or Obama.
Someone like Angel, in the video, is obviously a PR dream for RP but when have you heard anyone talk this way about a political candidate? Surely this reaction is noteworthy. Noteworthy too is the way the mainstream media have attempted to marginalise him. I would speculate that the pro and anti reactions to Paul are very similar to the pro and anti reactions to the Occupy Movement. They both relate to deliberately a dumbed down America beginning to question itself. From this perspective both are cultural phenomena worthy of attention.
Apart from my entertainment by an interesting political narrative, we know that US global policy is absolutely murderous. The recent image of US marines pissing on dead Taliban fighters is perfectly symbolic of the US pissing on the poorer countries of the world. Ron Paul is uniquely and unequivocally clear that this policy is wrong. He is the only candidate, including Obama, who is not threatening Iran with extinction, who admits that the imposition of sanctions is an act of war and who understands or acknowledges the history between the US and Iran. There is little chance of Ron Paul gaining the Republican nomination and becoming president, the powers that be need their empire and wars to keep enriching themselves. But as long as he keeps hammering in the message that US foreign policy stinks and is not helping ordinary Americans, Ron Paul is doing a great job as a teacher and deserves attention.
Webster Tarpley’s critique of Ron Paul’s Austerity Plan is about as devastating as it gets. A lot of idealistic young people like Angel in the video are attracted by Paul’s apparent integrity and his anti war stance .. as I was. I could see that Paul’s domestic policies were flawed but did not understand how deeply. I’ve only just heard this audio .. but it has certainly adjusted my attitude towards Ron Paul.