Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Like father, like son?
Rand Paul is a libertarian leaning Republican contender vying to stake his claim on the nomination next year. His father, Ron Paul, has a sizable and very loyal following of supporters who emphasize civil liberties and small government. Should Rand tap into this resource for his potential Presidential run? Or is it too big of a risk? Some of his father's policy stances are relatively controversial within the Republican voter base, so Rand is going to be walking a policy tightrope to try and garner the support of his father's base without alienating the larger (and electorally more powerful) Republican party base. Comment on the article and relate it to the influence of political parties in America.
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I believe that Rand Paul should not tap into the resources laid out by his father. His father has been criticized for having very controversial, extreme views. According to the article, while these views are good to some, they are not considered “electable.” If Rand Paul were to distance himself from his father’s views and beliefs he would be able to gain more moderate support therefore drawing in more voters. Although, his views are still similar to his father’s, appearing as the more modern interpretation. So having that same base may appeal to the Ron Paul followers because as noted before, Ron Paul’s extreme views are not realistic for the presidential seat. In turn, political parties draw people with similar views together despite the fact that some may be stronger than others. A party just needs a similar base which would then result in compromise and cooperation within a party.
This issue exemplifies the effect of the party image on voters. Rand Paul is using Ron Paul, his father, whose story has electrified the Republican base. Although some still feel his son is a bit more conservative than he was, this move seems to be paying off for Rand; because for every member that feels he lacks some of the positive qualities of his father, there are others who appreciate his more level-head in certain areas, such as foreign policy. Overall, moving under his father's shadow seems to have been a good move for him.
I think Rand paul should not rely on the support of his fathers voters in order to get elected. The republican party is much bigger than the support of his father and in that sense means a whole lot more. With using his father, Rand Paul might get some of his fathers people, but at the same time he wouldn't get all of them. His father "railed against the US Federal Reserve, condemned government spending on both social programmes and the military, and criticised a US foreign policy he sees as overly interventionist." so although the Ron Paul voters would like that, the Republicans would not and in the end he would be losing more than he would gain. The viewpoints are just too different to accommodate both. Political parties play a huge role, because even though he may want to please his dad or do things a certain way, the party would not go for that and would drop him. so they play a huge role. The political parties run the canidate in many ways and alter them to best portray their viewpoints which i think is what Rand Paul will end up doing.
Should Rand tap into this resource for his potential Presidential run? Or is it too big of a risk?
I don’t think that it is too big of a risk to tap into this resource. Although, I think Rand should be careful on how this might make his personal views seem to voters. Using his father’s resources might be telling people that they have the same views, which we can learn from the article, are not entirely the same. I think that Rand has as fair of a chance as anyone, just as long as he makes sure to stress his opinions on what he believes is an important part in a America today and what needs changing. It will be easy for people to accuse him of lying and comparing him to his father, he’s walking on broken glass, but I think everyone does in a Presidential Election.
I believe he shouldn't try and use his fathers voters. In the article some commenters stated that Rand is "more on the conservative side." This demonstration means that he will have a harder time getting the older liberty voters to change with him. It would be a big risk if he pulled voters from his father because he might push them away which could also move to other voters that were considering him as a candidate. Political parties are very broad and this article demonstrates that maybe the views are too broad by showing how some voters think some areas of the government need to be changed while others think they are just fine.
I don't think Rand Paul should rely on his fathers supporters to help him win office, because then he would constantly be modifying his plans to satisfy only this group of supporters, and wouldn't really accomplish what he had in mind. Also, the Republican party is much larger, than his fathers support group. Also Rand Paul and his father do share some similar qualities and many beliefs, to certain extents, this could still potentially earn him the support of some of his fathers supporter. I do not think he should put all of his eggs in a single basket(Ron's supporters)that could cost him the election, if it were to change the way other voters view him.
Although I think that Rand should be able to reference to his father for his potential Presidential run, I think that he should broadcast his own stance on issues; that way, it would not seem like he is just copying everything his father does and will have his own beliefs. It is too big of a risk because it may backfire and voters may not like what his viewpoints are, especially if he is trying to attract the Republicans while his father has some controversial policies from that party. Since he is leading towards Republican and Republicans control both houses, Rand should be clear on which issues he supports so that it won’t seem like he flip-flops between Republican and libertarian. Also, typically the parties choose the electors, who vote for the president in the end. Because of the parties’ influence over the voting process, it is important that Rand distinguishes what party he is running as and what his own beliefs are.
I think Rand Paul should stray clear form his father's laid out resources. The article discusses how Ron Paul's views are extreme and controversial, thus causing many people to criticize him.I think it is a big risk if Rand uses his father's resources. Ron Paul is already criticize for his extreme views and people will begin to think that he believes in his father's views and will pursue it. This will also cause many people to criticize Rand Paul as well, and cause many people to turn for a better candidate. Political parties have the power to pick candidates that is able to run for president, and in order for Rand Paul to take this position, he needs to distinguish his views between his father's.
Rand Paul's attempt to follow after his father and snag his follower base is a rather great idea. With the extremist views his father followed after, there is a chance that this could back fire, but the risk is likely to come with a great reward. It is very tactile to try and obtain the support of his father's supporters as well as express his own ideas to gain the support of some of his father's opposers. With the big role that political parties play in elections, this move may be best for him. Although his father's views were a bit more radical than his own, Rand Paul is still capable of gaining this support that can eventually grow as he expresses his own personal interest outside his father's.
I think Rand Paul shouldn't tap into the resources which he could obtain because of his father. As the article stated many of Ron Paul's policies have been known to be very controversial and this could pose a big issue regarding Rand Paul's policies and what he intends to do for the presidential run. I think it would be wiser for Rand to stand on his own policies and not rely on the help from his father, as a presidential candidate you need to prove to the people that they should pick you based on what you believe and how you can change the lives of the american people. Using his fathers views and beliefs would simply defeat this purpose and then Rand would not have a good chance of winning over the republican voters.
Although his father has loyal supporters, Rand should not tap into this resource because there are going to be people who favor and dislike him either way so Rand should just create his own resource. If Rand had his own individual views not taking into consideration of simply his fathers, it would individualize him and allow him to be more likely in gaining more supporters. The article states from Rand’s father’s points, “those aren't the kind of opinions that will fly with many Republican primary voters”. Therefore, Rand should form his own points instead of his fathers. Ron’s policy stances are controversial and believed to be extreme in “unfortunately in less of an electable way". However, Rand is “a little bit more relaxed on certain issues, drawing in some moderate voters and can be more of a realistic candidate for the White House.” This shows the distinction between the two and indicates that Rand has a chance to gain a larger party base on his own. This relates to the influence of political parties because often times many follow after their father’s footsteps in chance to be a strong candidate. Political parties however, make decisions, which best benefit them and make them stronger. Therefore, Rand should make his own decisions and not worry about following in his father’s footsteps.
I think that Rand Paul should not tap into the resources from his father. I think its too much of a risk, he should let people get their own opinions on him and not what his father has did. Because he could have a different perspective than his father, as explained in the article stating that he was going in the opposite direction of the foreign policy. By branching out on his own, and not under the shadow of his father Rand Paul would be able to prove what he is trying to accomplish if the Republican party, and voters would make decisions off of the representation of Rand Paul and not Ron Paul.
I don't think Rand Paul should rely on Ron Paul's voters to win the election because I think that Rand's view differ from Ron's, and if he relies on those voters, and they realize that he isn't the same as his father, they won't vote for him, and if he identifies that way and the people who didnt agree with his father believe he holds the same views, then he won't get the votes he needs to win, especially considering the amount of voters who don't agree with Ron is much larger. It is simply too big of a risk.
Rand Paul should tap into his father's resources and try to maximize his benefits from it. He can clearly distinguish himself from his father by simply stating that he has different views, especially with foreign affairs. Even though many of the youth chant "ban the fed" along with Ron Paul, many older republicans scowl at the idea. Rand Paul should take a more diplomatic view and work to his advantages and please both age groups. He can capitalize on his father's followers while not being as extreme. The level of extremity of his views is what will make or break his campaign. Although there might be a risk, if Rand Paul plays his cards right, i think it will be a great advantage. Thus, i think he has a better shot if he does use his father's resources.
No I do not think that Rand Paul should tap into those resources or anything pertaining to his father. According to the article and various news report, Ron Paul is not the one to follow. He constantly makes controversial statements. Although his father is well known and could get him plenty of supporters, I think Rand Paul should make his own decisions and start his own beliefs and run a campaign based on that. In the article it also said that some of the statements went against the US Federal Reserve and he wanted to "bring the troops back home and deal with the problems here". Rand Paul should not follow in these beliefs because it goes against the "pro-intervention" primary voters and he could lose a lot of support. Going the way of his father would hurt him more than it would help him. I don't think he should do it because it could risk him his chance and give him a bad name.
I do think that Rand Paul should risk it. I think he should because his fathers supporters are going to be okay with anything Ron Paul does. If Ron Paul campaigns and stuff for his son, he would get a lot of political publicity and he would have a better chance of winning. In the article it said that some of the things that Ron Paul said prior to this were controversial, but I don't think that matters now. The people who supported Ron Paul obviously weren't bothered then by it, so if his son uses some of the same techniques and things from his father, then he may really have a shot at winning. The more supporters the better.
I do not believe that Rand should tap into this resource for his potential Presidential run because many of his views are not a reflection of his father’s views and so this “will put the senator at risk of alienating a larger, more important part of the Republican base.” This would also be considered too big of a risk because Rand Paul would need to distinguish which political party he is a part of in order to gain supporters so that he may run for office and eventually for President. This would also allow Rand to build his own support system rather than using that of his father’s.
I think that Rand Paul should not tap into his fathers laid out resources. It has been said that he has very controversial and extreme views. Based off of the article while these views are good to some, they are not considered “electable.” By making sure that Ronald doesnt follow into his fathers ways, he would be able to gain more moderate support and by this he would be getting more voters. So having that same base may appeal to the Ron Paul followers because as noted before, Ron Paul’s extreme views are not realistic for the presidential seat. In turn, political parties draw people with similar views together despite the fact that some may be stronger than others.
I don’t think Rand Paul should tap into the resources which he could obtain because of his father. In the article it made a good point that many of Ron Paul's policies have been known to be very controversial and this could pose a big issue regarding Rand Paul's policies and what he intends to do for the presidential run. It also states that if he wants a chance in 2016 he should convince his father to zip it. I think it would be best for him to remain on his own and not rely on his father which could end up hurting his election.
After reading the article, I think Rand Paul should not tap into this resource for his potential Presidential run because his ideology is very different from the supporters of his farther. Since the political parties are responsible for picking candidates best representing their ideologies. Rand Paul should stand firm in terms of what he and his party supports, not changing it in order to gain the supporters of his father. His father’s political stances are controversial within the Republican voter base, so it will be big risk if Rand uses this resource because he might alienate the larger party base. But he should stand firm in his own beliefs and what his party support instead of following what his father did to gain those supporters of his father.
I do not believe that Rand Paul should tap into the resources of his father. I personally believe that its too much of a risk. His fathers idea's different slightly. In the article it talks about how his father is more on the conservative side, therefore they are slightly different which is one of the may reason he should try and get his own voters. I also believe that as candidate running you should be able to present your ideas and have people vote for you soley on what you present not based on what others have to say, and by piggy backing off of his father theres almost no point in even running.
Krestina Merko 1B
I feel that if Rand Paul were to tap into his father resources and follow his father's shadow to run for office in that way then it wouldn't be such a bad idea because not only will he gain the support from what his father already has but, he could potentially grab more supporters along the way if he also includes not only his father's views but more so it will be more appealing to those in the republican party which would most likely do more good than bad for Rand Paul but, he also has to be careful because not every republican supported his father so he would have to pick up the slack there a little bit in order to win over more of the republican voters and maybe even more. Overall I think its a good move.
I think that Rand Paul's platform should not include his father at all. I think that this is a bad decision in that his father, fairly or not, is considered a bit of a radical. His father was not successful in the presidential election and in order for Rand to do better he has to understand the flaws in his fathers platform. Rand Paul is trying to win the nomination from the republican party and as such, is trying to appease their agenda. It would be smart for Rand to not necessarily seperate himself completely, but make a name for himself. The supporters of his father are not as large as those of the Republican Party in any way shape or form. The Libertarian party has had very little success in its history. To achieve his goal he must detach himself from all before him and progress forward as a strong new candidate.
It would be in Rand Paul's best intentions to not tap into the resources that his father has established. Over the years, Ron Paul has developed a controversial stance on topics ranging from national security to civil rights and education. Rand Paul should attempt to distance himself politically from his father so that he can attract moderate or left-leaning Republicans, a base that his father opposes. By tapping into his father's following, he may be sending the wrong message--that his views are similar to Ron's. Within the Republican party, Ron's views are even considered controversial. As this party is also responsible for elected Rand, it is important that he try to attract as much support from Republicans as possible. He has the best chance at this if his policies and opinions aren't too controversial.
I think that Rand Paul should tap into his fathers resources but at the same time he should make his ideas clear and earn respect and name for himself as well. He should not completely rely on his father, but make moves to help himself. His father, Ron Paul, appeals to more of the younger crowd and what Rand Paul should do is to broaden Ron Paul's ideas and make it so all different age groups can benefit from it. So he can make a name for himself and at the same time follow on what his dad did.
I think it would be a good idea because Rand Paul could gain his fathers followers with his fathers old ideas but also can modify and bring the the table more ideas of his own and gain his own followers increasing his chances in the election this upcoming year. This could be a bad idea only because his fathers views could seem a bit more extremist then what he preaches to his followers and Paul’s followers may not agree with his fathers ideas which he also encompasses and could turn them off altogether about supporting somewhat of what Rand Paul is bringing to the table.
I believe he should not because he would be criticized for being in his fathers shadow. I feel like the people running will be criticized so I do not think it is a good idea but I don't feel like its to big of a risk. However people may lose trust in him or even say that he is not honest with the people.
I think that Rand Paul should take this as an opportunity to prove that he does not need his father to get the votes. Also, by using his father as a resource, Paul does not put himself on an even playing field as his father is viewed as somewhat of a radical. Rand Paul would benefit the most by forming his own campaign path since his father’s actions are not the best example to follow (he did not win). If he were to favor his father, then he would not be conveying his true intention of attracting less radical Republicans. Rand must carefully navigate his campaign and gain the support of the Republican Party while not insulting the supporters of his father, Ron Paul. By having the Republican Party as a backbone to his campaign, Rand will have a stronger platform for success.
I honestly don’t think that Rand Paul should rely on his father’s voters to support him in his presidential run because it be controversial in the long run. Also, relying on his father for support is not a good look in politician’s views. Using this strategy means he is going after to political parties to try and get votes for his presidential run, which in this case is a bad sign because he will eventually become more focused on the Republican Party and not libertarian since it’s a dominant party in the US. Libertarians and Republicans have two idealistic views, if Paul takes this big risk it could cost him the election.
I think Rand should tap into his father’s resource of voters because it would allow him to expand his number of supporters. Although Ron and Rand have some different views politically, I think these differences will not be significant enough for Rand to lose many of his own supporters or his father’s supporters. With both his and his father’s supporters, I think he will have a better chance at the nomination. Although Ron’s views are seen to be more radical, I think Rand will be able to pull the Republican Party’s votes without being quite as radical.
I do not believe that Rand Paul should tap into this resource for his potential Presidential, just because these people support his father doesn't mean that they are going to support him too. I believe the two parties are to different and his fathers followers aren't going to support his policies. He should also take this time to show the people that he doesn't need his fathers help to win an election. He should just build up his own base of supporters. He needs to separate himself from his father and show the people that they are 2 different people. The article is questioning whether or not the supporters of Ron Paul will also support Rand Paul but I honestly don't think they will because their views are so different.
I don't think it would be beneficial for Rand Paul to tap into his father's resources, it would be more beneficial to distinguish himself as his own candidate with his own views and policies rather than to be tied and held down by those that his father made and held responsible for any controversial thing that Ron Paul says. I think the only thing that Rand can use of his father is the fact that they have the same last name and it would make him more recognizable in the political realm and capture the attention of people but then use that sliver of attention to put his own different policies out there so people know he is radically different from his controversial father and that he can stand on his own without being a puppet for his father, their follower bases are so different I don't think Ron Paul's supporters would flock to support Rand just because Ron shares DNA and a last name with him.
Rand Paul shouldn’t go after and use his father’s resource. Relying towards his father will influence him to do what the people of his father wants and not his own beliefs. Ron Paul’s policies are controversial and merging with Rand Paul’s idea and views can be influenced. Rand should promote his own views instead of his father’s beliefs because he may introduce new ideas that his father never touched. If Rand did follow his father’s footsteps, people would criticize him because as a candidate, it is required for you to have your own personal beliefs.
I believe that Rand shouldn't tap into this resource for his potential Presidential run because people are going to dislike/like you in whatever you're doing so might as well create your own resources for this run. I also believe that he should express his own beliefs and have faith in it so that way he may gain supporters; however, I don't believe it's going to be that big of a risk.
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