Ron Paul’s Nerd Revolution
Time on Rep. Ron Paul’s followers:
“He’s about something that American nerd culture can get on board with: really knowing one subject and going all out on it,” says Ben Darrington, a Ron Paul supporter at Yale. “For some people, it’s Star Wars. For some people, it’s Japanese cartoons. For Ron Paul, it’s free-market commodity money.”
Nothing wrong with geeking out. What troubles me are the loons who are spamming for Paul as well as those who “want to keep our powder dry” and bombard Paul’s campaign with $10 million in donations on 11.05. That happens to be Guy Fawkes Day, remembering the Brit who tried blowing up the House of Parliament. At the minimum that’s creepy.
And I agree with Rick Moran. Paul may be oblivious to the negative actions of a few of his followers:
The question isn’t whether Ron Paul believes in any of these conspiracy theories, although he has said on at least two occassions that he believes the investigation into 9/11 must be reopened to explore “unanswered questions” about the tragedy. It is his apparent pandering to this lunatic fringe that must be explored and reasons for it demanded from the campaign.
I say “apparent” pandering because there is the possibility that Paul is completely clueless that his anti-government rants (a subjective word but apt if you listen to his speeches or watch him in the debates) full of dark hints of conspiracy and wrongdoing by the highest officials in the land, actually ring a Pavlovian bell for the paranoid conspiracy freaks causing them to flock to his banner.
After a surge of media attention Paul can no longer use ignorance as an excuse. The best thing for him would be to to loudly denounce the spammers and internet intimidators. I’m afraid that won’t happen.
[Yes, more Ron Paul commentary. I’ve accepted my plight.]
Disclaimer: I work for Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.
It is opinions like yours that disgust me. I am a 38 year old CIO with a D.Sc in Computer Science. Am I the “geek” type that you describe? One of my best friends, an attorney, happens to also be supporting Ron Paul. In addition, another friend of mine a Dentist also happens to be supporting Ron Paul. I would suggest that before you go writing opinions like this you at least base it on facts. Nice to see you work for “Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc.” — What exactly do you folks do anyway, keep him awake until at least 8 PM?