Why did Rand Paul forsake his dad Ron Paul for Mitt Romney?

Well, perhaps “forsake” is too strong a word. We’re not talking about political patricide here, nothing remotely Oedipal. They’re both still on the libertarian fringe of the Republican Party, like-minded on the issues their brand of conservatism cares about.

But Rand Paul, the freshman US Senator from Kentucky, did endorse presumptive GOP presidential nominee Romney over his father, the US Congressman (and party gadfly) from Texas. And it’s caused quite a stir within the Libertarian Party, which laments the younger Paul’s “betrayal” of his father’s principles.

“No true libertarian, no true friend of liberty, and no true blue Tea Partier could possibly even consider, much less actually endorse or approve of, the Father of Obamacare, Big Government tax and spender, Republican Mitt Romney,” the Libertarian Party exclaimed on its website Friday.

Are you a true Ron Paul supporter? Take our quiz!

What really gripes Libertarians is that when he ran for the US Senate, “many of his fund-raising appeals were sent to the donors and supporters of his father…. designed to convince Ron’s supporters that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. That Rand was, like his legendary father, a steadfast champion of liberty.”

Although he’s no longer actively campaigning, Ron Paul emailed supporters this week acknowledging that he won’t have enough delegates to win the nomination. But he has yet to formally pull out of the race, and he still wants to have a presence at the GOP convention in Tampa, Fla., in August – perhaps as a featured speaker or influencing the party's platform. That’s why he continues to gather whatever delegates he can.

Although some of his ardent supporters hold out the possibility of a miracle in Tampa, Rep. Paul has told them to behave there, and he reportedly has a friendly personal relationship with Romney.

So for both Pauls, it makes sense that at some point, Rand Paul was going to have to ease toward the party establishment regarding the presidential race – whether or not his father ever endorses Romney.

Here’s how Sen. Paul put his Romney endorsement on Fox News the other night: “You know, my first choice had always been my father. I campaigned for him when I was 11 years old. He's still my first pick. But you know, now that the nominating process is over, I'm happy to announce that I'm going to be supporting Governor Romney.”

It makes a lot of sense politically.

Ron Paul is nearing the end of what has been a remarkable period representing ideas and issues that don’t generate a lot of consistent enthusiasm among Republican leaders – hammering the Federal Reserve, fighting government intrusion on personal privacy, avoiding virtually all foreign military engagements, denying massive financial support for foreign countries, including Israel.

Rand Paul is at the beginning of what could well be a remarkable career as well, and publicly backing Romney at this point – though it’s left many libertarians steaming – could help him in the long run.

“While Paul is a helpful validator for Romney, endorsing Romney also gives Paul a level of mainstream credibility he lacked during his 2010 Senate campaign,” writes Alexander Burns at Politico.com. “It shows he’s willing to be a team player when it counts, and puts him on the safe side of any speculation over a third-party libertarian push. And that could be crucially important for Paul if he decides to seek the White House himself in 2016 or beyond – as any number of operatives believe he hopes to do.”

As one Republican strategist told Burns: “Rand’s endorsement of GOP nominee Mitt Romney clearly shows that in spite of those who try to marginalize him, he has a keen set of political instincts and is very much aware that a successful national run will require more than just his father’s loyal following.”

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Elections/President/2012/0609/Why-did-Rand-Paul-forsake-his-dad-Ron-Paul-for-Mitt-Romney

Paultards should pay attention to this part.

Although he’s no longer actively campaigning, Ron Paul emailed supporters this week acknowledging that he won’t have enough delegates to win the nomination.

I read somewhere Ron Paul will endorse Romney because he doesn't want to shoot his son in the foot in the future.

Rand is NOT his dad, has his own views and career, makes his own choices. Not always good ones. But Rand is not running for POTUS....his dad is! He's simply playing to the party....something his dad would NEVER do!

RP nor his supporters will EVER endorse Robme! Gary Johnson maybe, but most will write Paul in where that is allowed if he isn't the nominee.

Tampa hasn't happened yet, and Robme is only the "presumptive" nominee till then!

Susan Wallace Mckinney: So very pleased that Rand is making sense. Hopefully the t-party can see that we need to stand together and get Obama out of office. I've always said, I would love to see a Romney/Rand Paul ticket. or maybe even vice verse.

Coleman Langham: I wish these nut jobs would just unsubscribe to the page. Go listen to Alex Jones and eat paint chips. I will not support Mitt, but I'm not going to blast Rand on what could be the most genius strategy to actually win the presidency in 2016. The people on here spewing hateful things about Rand are half the reason Ron did not win. Why? Because you can't even engage in a conversation with some one that disagrees with you without disrespecting them and turning them off. You have to be able to communicate with someone to actually educate them. You guys will hold the movement back with your venomous, spiteful and hateful talk. You guys are like dumb liberals not even knowing you are killing what you are trying to accomplish.

W Guy Finley: Rand did support his dad, his dad lost. His dad didn't win the popular vote in a single state he ran in. Your hopes have been based on a hopeless delegate strategy that will do nothing but make the other delegates plug their ears at the convention. Lending your support while lobbying the nominee to adopt your positions is the best option when you have lost. That's exactly what Rand is doing. Good on you Senator.

http://campaign2012.washingtonexaminer.com/blogs/beltway-confidential/ron-paul-fans-attack-rand-endorsing-romney/588321

Oh Yeah....these neo-con clowns will change my mind!

Ron Paul himself admitted he is not going to win and Romney is the nominee. Guess the laugh is on the Paultards.

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF8&q=%22americans+are+stupid%22

4.3 million hits

http://www.google.com/search?ie=UTF8&q=%22americans+are+brilliant%22

11,900 hits

The smart opinion is not always the popular opinion. I learned more in this single year, simply because I investigated Ron Paul's position on political matters. In fact, and by the end of year, I will have hit my personal limit on campaign contributions because of that research.

Did you know that the term paultard is not an original opinion? In point of fact, it's simple parroting of someone else's opinion, most likely, without any intelligent and open minded research.

This was a smart move on Rands part.

He's always said he would support the GOP nominee, and they want Robme...we'll see if they get him coming out of the convention.

No, he endorsed his dad until he knew the people realized he wasn't gonna win.

The Tea Party is a joke, it should be referred to as the GOP part 2! It was hi-jacked right out of the gate by hard right wingers like Palin and Bachman, two complete wastes of sperm in my view.

You are so full of MSM BS an original thought would put you in a coma!

http://personalliberty.com/2012/06/11/ron-paul-republicans-a-party-anew/?eiid=

So your saying he didn't ever endorse his dad? Your saying Romney isn't the nominee?

The FACT is that Robme is the "presumptive" nominee and will be until the convention. That's a fact he NOR the GOP can change despite any opinion you may have to the contrary.

Rand has always supported his dad, always will, but endorsing Robme was an unavoidable move to retain his status with the GOP and the tea party.....inevitable....as he always stated he would do. The GOP whats everyone to believe Robme is the nominee (which he is not until the votes are counted in Tampa, but it is a general misconception believed by many voters), Rand is simply playing politics, as he does very well.

Had you bothered to follow the link I provided, you may have even gotten a clue before humiliating yourself.