Unless we are talking about Santa Claus, a spry geriatric does not seem like the type of man that should inspire a youth revolution. And yet on Friday, Feb. 19, the Marriot ballroom at the Conservative Political Action Conference brimmed with anticipation as thousands of young adults waited eagerly for the arrival of Ron Paul. At the end of the conference, many in the audience were shocked by the results of the presidential preference straw poll that put Paul nine percentage points ahead of the other leading GOP candidate. Watching this electoral anomaly unfold at CPAC prompted me to wonder if 2012 could be the year of the GOP youth revolution? Fixty-six percent of the people who attended the conference were under the age of 26, and there was an excitement surrounding Paul's possible candidacy that could not be quantified even in the straw poll. I was left with the distinct feeling that America's youth is tired of being coddled. It seems that 2012 could very well be the year of Ron Paul.
Paul's message resonates with young members of the GOP, many of whom grew up in the post-Reagan era, never having been exposed to true Republican conservatism. Paul decries government entitlements and foolish spending and has made himself the sworn enemy of the Federal Reserve Board. The most dedicated supporters of Paul have even taken up the mantra "end the Fed." Paul has made it his goal to simplify complex economic messages so that every American can grasp the fundamental fiscal and monetary policies that serve as the basis for America's market economy. On his Web site, Paul chastises members of the Fed for acting as "money elves" that "repeatedly give money to their closest friends." According to Paul, that invariably means "prices are going up because the total amount of money in circulation increases." Paul's economic illustrations appear unorthodox, but the principles behind them are sound and clearly resonate with the electorate.
Young members of the GOP serve as one of Paul's most important constituency bases. The spreading political support for Paul's candidacy is almost viral; as United States Military Academy student Derek Williams commented, "I meet more and more Ron Paulies every month." In the bleak landscape of American politics, Paul stands out as the lone maverick. Unlike most Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, Paul has remained ideologically untainted. Serving more than eleven terms in the House of Representatives, Paul has continually upheld his pledge to "always vote what I have promised, and always vote the Constitution." That said, some of Paul's policy stances on drugs and military isolationism have sparked controversy with socially conservative Republicans. Paul's platform should be respected, however, because unlike most in Washington, his policy decisions actually maintain ideological consistency.
Over the years, Paul has taken a variety of unpopular political stances, but his decisions have often correctly projected the public's latent opinion on the issues. In 2002, Paul voted against the war in Iraq and later opposed the passage of the Patriot Act. Likewise, in 2003 Paul correctly projected the onslaught of the 2007-2008 economic crisis. Paul's growing support within the GOP signals Americans' frustration with Republican progressivism. Third-year College student Jacob Feldman commented, "Youth are frustrated by increasingly 'progressive' behavior exhibited by both Democrats and Republicans. Conservative youth are looking for a candidate who will keep his word to limit government and protect American freedom." Paul appears to be the prospective 2012 candidate that is most likely to uphold that ideal. Paul's dedication to the basic principles of political freedom and liberty even extend to practices with which he may not agree personally.
If the presidential preferences highlighted at CPAC this year hold through to the Republican 2012 primaries, the controversy surrounding Paul's possible candidacy is likely to create a stir equal to the Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton showdown in 2008. Many in the GOP establishment find Paul's nonconformist conservatism alarming. His eccentric dedication to preserving liberty, regardless of the political ramifications, appears to be the reason his message resonates strongly with an increasing number of young American citizens. As Paul said, "prosperity comes from freedom and productivity, and not from the government." Americans want their rights back: both their right to succeed and their right to fail. Citizens are therefore turning to Paul to champion that message. Could Paul be the next Reagan? Right now, that is uncertain. But Paul, like Reagan, has proven that some of the wisest leaders to emerge from the Grand Old Party in the last half century have been tested by time and seasoned with age.
Ginny Robinson is an Opinion Editor for The Cavalier Daily. Her column appears bi-weekly Mondays.
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