– Ron Paul: I won’t be the nominee (Politico, June 6, 2012):
Texas Rep. Ron Paul acknowledged in a message to supporters Wednesday evening that he will not end up with enough delegates to win the Republican presidential nomination — an obvious statement that may still come as a disappointment to the congressman’s hard-core supporters.
Paul urged his backers to use the Republican National Convention in Tampa as an opportunity to advocate for their policy priorities, and pointed to several down-ballot races where like-minded candidates could use support.
“When it is all said and done, we will likely have as many as 500 supporters as delegates on the Convention floor. That is just over 20 percent! And while this total is not enough to win the nomination, it puts us in a tremendous position to grow our movement and shape the future of the GOP!” Paul said in the message. “There are many issues to fight for in Tampa. Also, candidates like Justin Amash, Kurt Bills, and Thomas Massie need your support as we move into the fall.”
Amash, a Michigan congressman, endorsed Paul in the 2012 primaries. Bills is a Minnesota legislator who won the Republican Senate nomination in his state with the help of Paul-aligned activists. Massie’s a Kentucky congressional candidate who won a competitive primary after earning the endorsement of Sen. Rand Paul.
What happens next to Ron Paul and his base of support is anyone’s guess, but the gesture toward those three down-ballot candidates is at least an early indication that he hopes to play some role in channeling libertarian activist energy going forward.
While Paul said his supporters would be “hearing plenty” from him in the run-up to Tampa, he also said they should “be respectful” as they “let the establishment know that we are the future of the Party and of the country.” That sounds like a nod to the wave of disruptions Paul backers have caused at state conventions, such as when they booed one of Mitt Romney’s sons in Arizona last month.
Paul’s full message, which embodies as well as anything the movement-like nature of his campaign, is after the jump.
“I wanted you to get an update from me personally, since we have some great news!
“Due to the smart planning of our campaign and the hard work and diligence of supporters like you, we stand to send nearly 200 bound delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa. This number shatters the predictions of the pundits and talking heads and shows the seriousness of our movement.
“What’s more, we will send several hundred additional supporters to Tampa who, while bound to Romney, believe in our ideas of liberty, constitutional government, and a common-sense foreign policy.
“When it is all said and done, we will likely have as many as 500 supporters as delegates on the Convention floor. That is just over 20 percent!
“And while this total is not enough to win the nomination, it puts us in a tremendous position to grow our movement and shape the future of the GOP!
“I hope every one of you continues the fight we have advanced so well this year. I hope you will finish your local and state conventions, and, if you were selected as a national delegate, that you will head to Tampa in August to force the Republican Party to listen to the voice of liberty.
“We have never had this kind of opportunity. There will be hundreds of your fellow supporters in Tampa who will be ready and willing to push the Republican Party back to its limited government, liberty roots.
“There are many issues to fight for in Tampa. Also, candidates like Justin Amash, Kurt Bills, and Thomas Massie need your support as we move into the fall. Across the country, supporters of liberty have won local office and leadership positions in the GOP, and we need to keep working.
“Our delegates’ presence must be felt both in Tampa and in years to come.
“Stand up for what we believe in. Be respectful. And let the establishment know that we are the future of the Party and of the country.
“Our Revolution is just getting started. You’ll be hearing plenty from me as we approach Tampa and the fall elections. You’ll also be hearing of important developments on Audit the Fed and Campaign for Liberty.
“I hope you’ll continue to stand with me as we go forward. Our Revolution could not have come this far without you.
“For Liberty,
Ron Paul”
Thank goodness. It will save the taxpayer an immense bill for his assassination and subsequent cover up.