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Ron Paul: Surviving the Media Backlash |
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Monday, 19 November 2007 |
The Difference Between Individualism and Populism
...And why it fundamentally doesn't matter who his supporters are. Unable to find logical arguments to support the status quo of ignoring the constitution (ESPECIALLY the 10th amendment), quite a few media and web publishing outlets have found a new way to attack Ron Paul: Attack his supporters. And considering Ron Paul's broadbased appeal, this hasn't been very hard to accomplish. He brings in the anti-war left and he brings in die-hard fiscal conservatives - he's even taken flak for being simultaneously supported by Jews, Muslims, and neo-nazis. But why do so many groups of radically opposite ideology support Ron Paul's campaign, and what's the lesson here? Well, Ron Paul rejects the populist theory of competing group interests. He hasn't promised anything to the Zionists, and this makes Muslims happy. But he hasn't promised anything to the Muslims OR Zionists, so this makes neo-nazis happy. Of course, he hasn't promised anything to the neo-nazis either, because he isn't in the business of pandering to group-think.
In place of this populist idea that society is only composed of minority groups of varying political and economic power, Ron Paul's message speaks to individualism. No, he isn't promising special rights or funding to homosexuals, Christians, or any other "group:" He's promising basic human rights in accordance with the vision outlined in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. The thing is, you either support Ron Paul's ideas of freedom and constitutionally limited government, or you don't. His campaign isn't looking for donors who will expect to be repaid through increased federal funding and contracts, because anyone supporting his campaign knows that finding new ways to spend tax-payer money is not part of his plan. Andrew Sullivan rightly points out the hypocrisy of those who dig up dirt on Ron Paul's financial supporters: You simply can't compare an unsolicited $500 donation from a guy who has disgusting opinions to the fact that the Giuliani and Clinton campaigns are actively working with suspected and convicted felons. The media takes have been undeniably weak and filled with logical fallacies. At The Agitator, Radley Balko soundly refutes a recent column that has been syndicated at CBS, Yahoo, and other online outlets. This exchange is a premium example of the decline of modern mainstream media. At the "official level" of news, we have become innundated with hyperbole, name-calling, and unsubstantiated attacks. The fact is, Ron Paul's candidacy is inclusive for all minorities. No Republican candidate has created such a diverse following, perhaps ever. This is sort of contrary to the conventional political wisdom, because he hasn't said anything or promised anything to those groups, other than promising to abide by the rule of law and treat people like inherently free individuals.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 April 2008 )
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