Ron Paul is Why I Like Obama

In Iowa, New Hampshire, and Michigan Ron Paul has garnered 10%, 8%, and 6% of the GOP primary votes respectively. He's polling right around 5% in SC and 7% in Nevada. Its probably a safe bet that Ron Paul is not going to be the next president of the US. But, what is interesting about Ron Paul's results is that he seems to have garnered the support of anywhere from 5-8% of the voting public in most states.

So what is it about Ron Paul, an obvious fringe candidate, that strikes such a chord with such a significant chunk of voters? I think it is his emphasis on individual liberties. The past 7 years have been characterized by diminishing civil liberties. I need not go down the entire list, but a few examples would be warrantless wiretapping, suspension of habeas corpus rights for some US citizens, etc. We all know the overt source of this trend, Rudy Giuliani has even built a presidential campaign around it. But 9/11's impact on US domestic policy is epiphenomenal. The root of the problem is fear, or more particularly, fear-mongering by members of our federal government used to justify further encroachment on our basic civil liberties.

So what does any of this have to do with Obama? Well, I'll tell you.

Most of what Obama has to say about policy is in line with what you would expect someone just slightly left of center to say. But that is not why people like Obama. The common, and I think faulty, consensus on Obama's appeal is charisma and great speeches. It is true that Obama delivers very rousing speeches that pull at the heartstrings of many people. But there is a subtle difference between Obama's message and that of the other Democrats that I think is the real reason people support him. See, Obama's message is not about what he can do as President, it is about what the American people can do to change the course of the country. Obama's message is not one of entitlement, but of empowerment, and that is the most democratic message that I have heard from any candidate.

I think he's on to something. I think that there is a large segment of the American public that is tired of seeing what the government can do and wants the power back in their own hands. Just as Ron Paul appeals to the libertarian right, Obama appeals to the libertarian left. The difference between the two in terms of election results is that there are simply more Americans who find themselves leaning left this time around.