Still in the Fight

Results are now in from the primaries in Kansas, Maryland, Virginia and elsewhere. Paul finished in third place in Kansas, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He finished in fourth place in Louisiana and Maryland. Those primaries and caucuses were held on Feb. 9, save for those in Maryland, D.C., and Virginia which occurred on Feb. 12.

The roving rumors of Dr. Ron Paul's withdrawal from the presidential race have been greatly exaggerated. Paul is most definitely still in the fight. What an impressive showing Paul has had already; he entered the race with the media painting him as a crackpot long shot, went on to win every Republican debate, and continues to campaign after the departures of sure bet neo-con favorites like Rudolph "9/11" Giuliani and Mitt "See you in 2012" Romney.

Candidates such as these (i.e. everyone running but Paul) thrive on connotations with the military. This connection stirs a patriotic fervor in the bowels of God-fearing Americans. Nearly every politician enjoying substantial news-cycle face time employs red-white-and-blue rhetoric and tiny American flag lapel pins to convey the image of "patriotism" in the minds of the voting public. McCain has the added edge of having spent time as a prisoner of war, which goes along way in this climate of identification with the nation-state elevated to a new fanaticism.

The Republicans and neo-cons who promote a foreign policy of war without end profess to speak for the troops, who apparently want nothing more than to rain death and destruction on a patch of dry earth full of brown people. Yet when members of the military voice their policy opinions through donations to political campaigns, they put their support behind the one candidate with a radically different foreign policy: Ron Paul.

Last week the Paul camp issued a statement touting that the top three contributors to the Paul presidential campaign are members of the United States Army, Navy and Air Force. Campaign staffers attributed the information to www.opensecrets.org, a Web site operated by the Center for Responsive Politics that publishes campaign finance figures for greater political transparency. Visitors to the site can track finance information by industry, candidate, and geographical region.

From the press release:

“No matter how you measure it, Dr. Paul has the support of our nation’s brave servicemen and women,” said Kent Snyder, Ron Paul 2008 campaign chairman. “His message of a strong national defense, and only going to war with a declaration of war – as mandated by the Constitution – resonates with those who risk their lives to defend that Constitution.”

Here's a campaign trail update from ConnieTalk with more information what Paul and the other White House hopefuls have been up to.

Until next time, keep going for The Gold!