Thread: Ron Paul supporter cuts big check to buy straw poll win

September 18, 2011

Ron Paul supporter cuts big check in straw poll win

Ron Paul may have won the California Republican Party's straw poll Saturday, but his votes came at a price: A Paul supporter wrote a check for $26,000 to register Paul supporters and allow them to vote, Flashreport.org publisher Jon Fleischman said this morning.

The Texas congressman won 374 votes, roughly 45 percent of the vote. Registration for each person cost about $100.

Paul's supporters filled the JW Marriott in downtown Los Angeles for Paul's speech here early Saturday, then lined up to vote.

"You stand in line, and everybody waiting to vote is holding an anti-war sign," said Fleischman. a party executive committee member.

He said it is a "legitimate win by Ron Paul under the rules," if not a reflection of the preference of party activists.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, whose supporters also organized a straw poll push, finished second. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney finished third.

Among Republicans statewide, Romney is polling ahead of Perry, far ahead of Paul and the rest of the field.

Fleischman said he didn't know who cut the check for Paul. A party spokesman didn't, either.

Nothing in party rules prohibits such a payment, and registration fees benefit the party.

"It turns out that it costs money to participate in a straw poll," party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro told delegates this morning. "We had a lot of new participants."

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlat ... z1YKGytg58

"It turns out that it costs money to participate in a straw poll," party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro told delegates this morning. "We had a lot of new participants."

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This is the inherent corruption in our present political system of how elected officials are put into power in this country.

Money corrupts, and politicians feed and prosper off of corrupt money.

A vicious cycle that strangles democracy and feeds off its own corruption.

America, 2011

Should be illegal.

Related
Ron Paul Wins California Straw Poll with 44.9%
http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-250301.html

Ron Paul in third place, polls say

Paul was at 13%, displacing Rep. Michele Bachmann, who fell to 5% and into a three-way dead heat with former House speaker Newt Gingrich and businessman Herman Cain.

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-250465.html