I saw Ron Paul on TV, and I’m in college!

There is a feeling among many cynics that Ron Paul’s status as a political candidate is inflated by overzealous college students eager to join the next bandwagon. This attempt to discredit Paul’s support by disparaging sheep-like college students commits two errors in reasoning.

First, it implies that Paul’s support is primarily a student-lead movement, which it isn’t. And second, it doesn’t take seriously the position of students in the democratic process. Granted, Paul does have a strong student base, but he appeals to
voters across all demographics.

Consider that Paul receives more donations from members of the military than any other current presidential candidate, including President Barack Obama. Of all military donation received by all presidential candidates in the second quarter of 2011, Paul received 51 percent.

Obama received the second largest percentage of donation at 29 percent. Of all donations received by Republican candidates, Paul received 71 percent of donations from the military.

Of course, this might do nothing to persuade cynics if they also assume all military members are ignorant and simply support Paul because he’s trendy, not because of his common sense, anti-interventionist foreign policy.

Concerning my second point, college students’ support and participation in democracy is just as legitimate as any other age demographic. The enthusiasm among college students during the 2008 election was one of the key factors in Obama’s victory.

Of the 18 to 29 age group, 66 percent voted for Obama, a 34 percent advantage against Republican presidential candidate John McCain. All of the other age groups were divided between John McCain and Obama by no more than 6 percent. Great is the power of the idiot college students!

What bothers me the most about the discrediting of Paul because of the enthusiastic support he receives from college-aged students is the assumption that students’ opinions are somehow worthless.

Attending college is a unique opportunity in that students are in an environment that encourages critical thinking and civic engagement, and political issues are often discussed in class; different campus groups encourage dialogue on issues and policies; students are exposed to different political philosophies, theories and thinkers that aid in the shaping of their own civic consciousness.

All of these opportunities, while available to voters of every age, are more of a reality for the college student, hopefully making he or she a well-informed voter. Paul isn’t just the Dane Cook of politics. He appeals to college students, but he also appeals to voters from every demographic.

Paul is unique among the GOP candidates because of the dedicated enthusiasm of his supporters. Referring to the upcoming Iowa caucus, one Republican insider, well aware of Paul’s loyal supporters, said, “If there is a snowstorm, Paul wins.”

Not bad for a candidate supported by legions of morons.

­— sdance@indiana.edu