NH Recounts Threatened

Apparently desperate to alienate further the 90+% of Republicans and independents who dared not vote for Ron Paul, many of his supporters are now demanding recounts in the state. Some of them are even demanding that NH underwrite their recount, because our system isn’t good enough for these folks.

It seems that there was an error in the town of Sutton, which is a small town near the state capital. Apparently, a poll worker in Sutton recorded 0 votes for Ron Paul instead of the 31 that should have been cast. This was found, corrected, and taken to be evidence of statewide voter fraud.

Why, I wonder, would the vast anti-Paul network of powerful vote fraud agents bother with Sutton? Sutton’s population, according to the town’s web site, is less than 1800. When I plot to steal elections, I usually target larger communities. People are less likely to notice that their votes weren’t counted.

Looking at the discussion about a recount, it’s rather enlightening. Freedom-loving Paulites are all set to malign poll workers all over the state because their candidate didn’t do better. If they think that a recount is necessary because of the incident in Sutton, fine. I’m not totally opposed to recounts.

However, I am against this slander against the poll volunteers who worked very hard to get the primary results as efficiently and accurately as possible. I am against a bunch of malcontents demanding that the taxpayers of New Hampshire finance their conspiracy theory. The rules are very simple: if you want a recount, it costs $65,000. The Ron Paul campaign has the money. If it wants a recount, then they know how to do it.

I understand the frustration. I really do. However, we need to understand that just because someone puts a theory on a Ron Paul web site and therefore generates a buzz doesn’t mean that there should be a new rule, obligating the people of New Hampshire to finance the Paul campaign.

I have had just about enough of the arrogance from some Ron Paul supporters. I thought that Paul would do better in NH, too. But that doesn’t mean that I think anything was criminal. I also thought that Giuliani, Thompson, and Huckabee would get higher percentages than they did. I just don’t believe that the problem was corruption.

There is an extent to which the Ron Paul campaign has some out-of-control supporters. Even grassroots efforts should have some leadership, and if Rep. Paul has no interest in reining in some of the arguments, then I’m even less impressed than ever.

Of course, one of the comments in the recount discussion was along the lines of, “They already think we’re crazy, so what do we have to lose?”

My answer to that is: Sometimes, everyone thinks you’re nuts because they lack vision. Other times, everyone thinks you’re nuts because you are.

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