He may have come in third in Iowa and second in New Hampshire, but he is first in passion. One CNN pundit compared Paul’s supporters to the Postal Service: “they’re going to come out—hail, sleet, snow, wind, straw polls, Internet chat rooms—they’re there for him.”
But what creates Paul’s pied-piper appeal is not just consistency and authenticity. What really makes people follow Paul—whether they know it or not—is that he has a pretty empowering message: common sense prevails. If a guy who started out delivering babies can figure out what needs to be done to resolve the financial crisis, he seems to be saying, voters can too. He leads with explanations instead of orders, with straightforward logic instead of high-minded policy solutions.
This faith in common sense is what anchors Paul’s leadership, and is what makes him patient and trusting that both the system—and the voters—will ultimately come around to his truth telling. It’s often said Paul’s popularity comes from the fact that his followers trust him. But perhaps more important, he makes them feel like he trusts them.
Paul’s ability to inspire enthusiastic loyalty could help him were he to be elected president—an unlikely outcome given his quite radical views, which include everything from ending the Federal Reserve and stopping all foreign aid. But if he were, such passion could help him pull together a galvanized team of staffers and motivated network of supporters lined up behind a common cause.
But I'm not so sure about the "Imperial March" as the musical theme.
"But I'm not so sure about the "Imperial March" as the musical theme."
If it's going to be John Williams music, it should be either the Superman Theme or The March from Midway.
Posted by: Eric Parks | 01/13/2012 at 03:16 PM
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Exactly. Associate him with a super-hero or a remarkable victory—not with Darth Vader…
Posted by: Laura Ebke | 01/13/2012 at 03:51 PM
Nothing like bringing down the empire. I loved the music. But then again, sort of a Star Wars guy...
Posted by: Eric Larson | 01/13/2012 at 11:06 PM
I'm a star Wars guy too. The Imperial March music represents the empire in the movies. Paul certainly isn't for that. He risks losing the Star Wars vote.
Posted by: Eric Parks | 01/14/2012 at 09:24 AM