The Revolution Continues: United We Stand

Posted by Isaac Mass September 4, 2008 11:13 AM at Boston.com
In 1976 outsiders started a Revolution that took over the Republican Party. It was called the Reagan Revolution. In 2008, Ron Paul supporters see themselves in a similar position. Instead of fighting the machine, supporters of Dr. No are trying hard to turn the machine in a direction that favors constitutional rights and traditional conservative values. In Massachusetts, the Paul supporters are having a big impact.

It is no secret at the convention that Tuesday's hottest tickets were for the Ron Paul rally. It was not just Ron Paul supporters who went from MA. Notably there was State Sen. Bob Hedlund from the Plymouth and Norfolk district who is the highest elected member of the MA delegation. By Wednesday night, the unity between the delegations was so strong that Paul some supporters were sporting Sarah Palin buttons and MA Republican Party Executive Director Rob Willington was wearing a sporty Ron Paul button.

Over three days, the Paul supporters, who are about a third of the delegation, have been talking about not only helping defeat Barrack Obama in November, but continuing to build the party from the inside after the election. They plan to run for local and state office (some already are), they plan to run for vacant seats on the Republican State Committee and rebuild there Republican Town Committees. Over the last three days Paul supporters who came to the convention as outsiders after credentials challenges and snide comments have largely been accepted as good Republicans who care about their country, their party and the Constitution of the United States. They have been embraced as much as any other wing of the party.

The MA Paul supporters proved their political prowess and mettle as well by shining light on National Convention Secretary Jean Inman, by delivering all 43 MA votes to Sen. John McCain and Gov. Sarah Palin. If the Paul supporters started like the minutemen with riffles behind trees, they come home from the convention with experience lieutenants who have been able to bring new cannons to the fight.