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Ron Paul's Supporters Seek Votes In Spring Hill
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Published: January 8, 2008
SPRING HILL - Some people will drive long and far for a freedom message.
More than 25 people from across the Suncoast converged on the Four Corners intersection Saturday morning to show their support for a presidential candidate whose campaign has centered on ideas of peace, preservation of civil liberties, lowered taxes and free trade.
Such a scattershot platform typically comes from an independent candidate. Instead, it comes from Republican Ron Paul, a Texas congressman who has earned backing from a growing number of voters disgruntled with the current political scene.
Spring Hill resident John Baeza was among those supporters holding signs along the busy intersection. When the retired New York City detective first learned about Paul's candidacy, the father of eight felt a surge of optimism, something he hadn't felt in a long time.
"I felt hope for my children," he said. "I felt hope for my family and hope for the generations after them."
Baeza is the associate organizer for the Hernando County chapter of the Paul campaign. Supporters from Land O' Lakes, Wildwood, Inverness, Lecanto and other regional cities traveled to the corner of Spring Hill Drive and Mariner Boulevard, where they waved signs, passed out literature and answered questions from curious motorists.
"Which party is he?" one driver asked while at a stoplight.
"Republican," yelled one Paul supporter. "He's a true conservative."
"We're getting more beeps, more thumbs up, more positive responses than we've ever had," said Baeza, who has taken part in all of the weekly rallies since they began two months ago. "As we were pulling signs out of the cars, people were beeping their horns."
Paul has appeared on news talks shows such as "Hardball with Chris Matthews," "Tucker," "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," and "The O'Reilly Factor." He also has visited with Jay Leno and Bill Maher, both of whom said they began to pay closer attention to his campaign when they learned of his opposition to the Iraq war.
Even though he has served 10 terms in the House as a Republican, Paul's independent streak made him an appealing choice for libertarians in 1988. That was the year he ran for president as the Libertarian Party's nominee, earning more than 430,000 popular votes, or 0.05 percent.
Because he appeals to so many independents, the Paul campaign has a section on its Web site that enables non-Republicans to register online with the party in time for the elections in closed primary states.
"He speaks the simple truth," said head organizer Dan Prentice. "It's refreshing. He talks substance, not about all the things he's done."
Prentice has long been an independent voter. He was skeptical when asked if Paul's candidacy would have any lasting impact on the GOP.
"I think his message will have a bigger meaning for the nation as a whole than the Republican Party," he said. "It's all about the restoration of our liberties. The message is the bottom line."
Baeza agreed.
"For him to change the party, they have to be willing to change," he said.
Baeza's world view shifted dramatically after one night in Harlem in 1993. He was working undercover when he encountered a gun-wielding drug dealer. He was robbed and nearly killed, he said.
"I realized something was wrong with the world and the war on drugs," he said. "My political views changed overnight."
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