Chelsea-ites rally around Ron Paul for president

Supporters of U.S. presidential candidate Ron Paul painting a giant “Google Ron Paul” sign on a New York City rooftop in July

By Zeb Esselstyn

Two hundred supporters of darkhorse presidential candidate Ron Paul partied at their Chelsea Meet Up headquarters a few weekends ago, in anticipation of the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party the next day, when the Paul faithful planned to explode an Internet “money bomb”—shorthand for kicking off a massive one-day fundraising drive.

The campaign raised more than $6 million that Sunday, Dec. 16, the largest single-day fundraising effort in presidential primary history. Just over 59,000 people gave an average of $102.22 to the Website www.teaparty07.com. And Ron Paul had nothing to do with it.

The record fundraising effort, like most things Ron Paul, was a grassroots initiative by one of his ardent supporters: in this case, Trevor Lyman, who has temporarily relocated to New Hampshire from Florida to work for the campaign. Paul’s supporters are committed, optimistic and creative, akin to the Dawg Pound of the Cleveland Browns—a wildly passionate group who are crazy for their team, regardless of the chances for victory.

U.S. presidential candidate Ron Paul outside the set of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” in June

And who is Ron Paul, anyway?

He is a Houston-based obstetrician/gynecologist currently serving his 10th term in congress. Paul previously ran for president on the libertarian ticket in 1988—and his message is resonating with a new generation of libertarian-leaning voters. He believes in limited government, calling for the elimination of the Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Homeland Security for starters. He is anti-abortion, supports drug legalization, wants us back on the gold standard and wants to abolish the income tax. He thinks the U.S. should leave Iraq and withdraw its military presence from Germany, Korea and other countries where the U.S. has long-established military bases. Paul claims he is not an isolationist, but insists trade is the best way to create peace.

“It’s the message that sells, not the campaign,” said Avery Knapp, 28, a chief radiology resident at Lenox Hill Hospital and life-long Republican, who founded the Chelsea Ron Paul Meet Up group last May. Knapp had never been involved in a campaign before but felt inspired to do something for Dr. Paul’s election.

Knapp says that 70 to 80 percent of the 1,100 people in the Meet Up group have never been involved in a political campaign, but were inspired by Paul’s message. The Chelsea Meet Up group skews toward the young: Although the group ranges in age from 17 to 65, most are in their 20s, said Knapp. The campaign, meanwhile, has been quirky and off-beat, initially known for its hand-painted signs and Internet presence. Now it is known for its money bombs and creative marketing. Last summer, Knapp and other supporters painted an East Village rooftop in four-foot letters alerting airline passengers to “GOOGLE RON PAUL” (a video of the sign is currently on You Tube). And recently supporters raised money for a Ron Paul blimp to fly up the east coast.

But while Paul’s message and unconventional outreach have had an effect, it is the medium that has propelled him most.

“The Internet is an avenue of expression that is not finding a place in the mainstream media,” said Kate Rick, state media coordinator in New Hampshire for the Ron Paul campaign. “Our grassroots is all over the Internet.” Indeed, Paul’s You Tube channel views have skyrocketed in the past months to more than 2 million. The next closest candidate is just under 200,000. Until now, the mainstream media has been confused by Paul and largely ignored him.

“We often hear we are just an Internet campaign,” said Rick. “But we are the loudest and best represented at [New Hampshire] events. And they are not avatars; they are real people.”

On the Upper East Side last month, many of Paul’s supporters filled the audience for a simulated debate at the Metropolitan Republican Club. Young stand-ins for each candidate answered questions, ranging from the war on terror to tax cuts to a woman’s right to choose. Knapp represented Ron Paul and won the post-debate straw poll, just ahead of Rudy Giuliani.

Meanwhile, Paul’s campaign is becoming a bit more mainstream as the candidate picks up steam.

“Politics often attracts fringe people,” says Knapp. “Very odd people…and they get involved for various reasons. But Dr. Paul’s campaign is getting less and less freaks now.”

Knapp has been attending Young Republican events around the city over the last six months and has found many attendees are fed up with the candidates, and some are turning to Paul. He says Paul’s message is particularly attractive to home-schooler’s, Second Amendment and limited-government advocates, as well as anti-abortionists, Christians, Catholics and anarchists—and his band of followers is growing.

In July, there were about 500 Ron Paul Meet Up groups nationwide. Today, there are more than 1,200. In the Greater New York area alone, there are 36. (Hillary Clinton has two Meet Up groups in the area, and Rudy Giuliani has one, though admittedly, these frontrunners appear to be taking a different strategy to muster support.) The Chelsea Ron Paul Meet Up, which gathers at a gallery space on W. 29th St., has held 132 events and often holds parties where all are welcome. The next Internet “money bomb” is scheduled for Jan. 21, Martin Luther King Day, when Paul’s supporters hope to raise more than $10 million.

Paul has developed his momentum mostly without the help of the mainstream media. And most recently, Fox News declared they did not have room for Paul at the upcoming New Hampshire Republican debate. Paul’s supporters are upset.

But as Knapp writes, “The campaign is putting pressure on Fox to get Paul in the debate. I suspect they will be successful after Paul comes in third or fourth in Iowa.”