Paul likely won't attend RNC
Posted: Tuesday, September 02, 2008 7:20 PM by Domenico Montanaro
From NBC/NJ's Carrie Dann
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. -- Ron Paul is no "disgruntled loser."
Texas Congressman and grassroots phenom Ron Paul told reporters this morning he is not likely to attend the Republican National Convention taking place this week at St. Paul's Xcel Center. Blaming the RNC Rules Committee for granting him only limited access to the convention floor, Paul said he would prefer to stay away from those who would try to "chaperone" his visit to the convention.
"They've given me a pass that is second class," Paul said. "It's a bit of a slight."
But a Republican in the know said of Paul, “He would have been provided the same pass every Member of Congress received if he had asked. My understanding is that he did not ask.”
Earlier this week, John Tate, the executive director of Paul campaign spinoff Campaign for Liberty, said that Congressman Paul's staff hoped to coordinate a time for him to visit the convention floor at a time that would not be disruptive. Tate noted that an RNC liaison had recently been assigned to coordinate outreach to Paul's supporters.
But the one-time presidential candidate said today the RNC aimed to prevent him from coming and going freely on the floor, as congressional officeholders usually do. He added that organizers have also mandated that he cannot be accompanied by his staff to the convention.
That, he said, might stem from suspicion that the renegade Republican candidate and his supporters could become a distraction to the convention's proceedings.
"I guess if you were a disgruntled loser you would try to do that, and try to disrupt and have people demonstrate and all those kind of things," he said. "Instead we've decided to have a grand and very positive rally."
That celebration, the "Rally for the Republic," taking place this afternoon at the cavernous Target Center in downtown Minneapolis, is a hybrid political speechfest and music concert that will be attended by throngs of Paul's supporters. Speakers will include former Minnesota governor Jesse Ventura, anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist, and former congressman Barry Goldwater Jr.
Congressman Paul himself will speak to the group this evening. But despite access to the listening ears of his supporters tonight, the Galveston congressman said that he will not encourage backers to vote for or against any candidate. That includes Libertarian candidate Bob Barr, whom Paul calls a "good spokesman" for the ideals espoused by the third party group.
Paul has said that he does not intend to endorse John McCain.
"I don't foresee giving any marching orders to the supporters," he said today. "Mainly, it's just not in my nature.”
Paul dismissed the notion that the splintering off of his enthusiastic voting bloc from this week's RNC could prove problematic for a Republican Party already under pressure to coalesce around its nominee. "For every vote that leaves McCain because of what I've said, two will leave Obama," he predicted.
Noting the energetic youth that fuel the grassroots -- and often quirky -- Ron Paul "Revolution," the Congressman also bemoaned what he sees as a missed opportunity by the Republican Party. "I don't understand why they wouldn't welcome us with open arms," he said.
