These days, it seems like the electronic landscape is crowded with Ron Paul fans.  They’re like sweaty, jumpy, un-chained backstage band groupies looking to rub shoulders and whatever else.  On the real, it can be a bit overwhelming and amusing all at once.  On a personal note: I’m finding myself selectively deleting MySpace comments from an avid Paul supporter who posts about the near-GOP exile incessantly; it’s not that I’ve got anything against Paul, it’s just that I don’t want my page populated with so much e-lit on the Congressman that peeps start thinking I’m pimping Paul’s ride, too. 

Still, there’s nothing wrong with a little space for Paul every now and then.  The web is infinite, so on with it. Do your thing. You can’t get mad like RedState.com and suddenly ban Paul net-supporters altogether from your site; that only fuels the libertarian rage.  But, seriously, these cats are really going to have to turn it down a level if they want their candidate to transition from choir-preaching to mass appeal. 

Off that note, it’s also a bit worrisome of what Paul’s net-nami and blow-your-mind online fundraising numbers may reflect.  While everybody is hyping up Ron Paul, too few in the larger media want to talk about his views as it relates to civil rights issues (i.e., affirmative action, federal intervention and states rights, etc.).  Whenever a Southern elected official starts ranting on about the need for states’ rights, there is another segment of the population which starts thinking about the days when we had quite a bit of that and a certain group of people were being treated like farm animals.  He doesn’t get any points in this age of the Jena 6.  His views on eliminating federal intervention in a wide range of policy matters (then why run for President???) don’t exactly excite the many who recall why federal help was needed when states’ rights kept something called Jim Crow going.   Doesn’t exactly help his cause when several White supremacist groups dig his vibe and go so far as to “unofficially” campaign for him.  And, it’s a bit unnerving that he seems to fumble on explanations regarding his refusal to vote for a Rosa Parks Congressional Medal of Honor (the [para-phrasing here] “I don’t want to use taxpayer money to pay for a medal” line just doesn’t work) and recent comments in a campaign newsletter about Black men and crime. 

Still, for some reason, I’m predicting a Paul win (at least 2nd placing behind McCain) in New Hampshire.  Hey - you said the same thing about Pat Buchanan, but look what happened? Does that say anything about New Hampshire voters?  You didn’t hear it from me … 

Interesting note: there are crowds of anonymous peeps on the net who, apparently, love the Paul message.  They swim in the Paul Kool Aid.  They cheer when he talks about how race doesn’t matter, when - last we checked - it, unfortunately, does. It shouldn’t matter, he’s right, but let’s not fake the funk and move on.  Another baffling note: A recent Rasmussen Reports polls shows Paul’s gaining the most likely African American voters among GOP candidates.  This despite the questioning platforms on issues important to that same group.  Perhaps it’s Paul’s maverick style and ability to “keep it real” on the debate stage (whether you agree with him or not) that attracts Black voters who grow tired of the same stale arguments. 

Here we link this excitement surrounding Ron Paul, especially his fantastic rise with the netroots, to a general mood that there is a growing amount of racial hostility out there these days (increased hate crimes and more reports of hate symbols).  Could Ron Paul’s Movement be a reflection of that? Not saying he’s a racist (I don’t think he is - but, he’s definitely got his kitchen table views like everyone else), but is Ron Paul’s candidacy and message resonating with or attracting the more bigoted elements of the population?    Â

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