Rep. Overstreet endorses Ron Paul for GOP nomination

Written by jared | The Bellingham Herald | February 20, 2012

From Paben

Citing his “unflinching fidelity to the U.S. Constitution,” state Rep. Jason Overstreet, R-Blaine, has endorsed Ron Paul for the party’s nomination for presidential candidate.

Rep. Overstreet

Click here to see the announcement, on Paul’s campaign page.

“As an Army veteran, small business owner, firefighter, and Washington State Representative, it is my privilege to announce that Ron Paul’s unflinching fidelity to the U.S. Constitution has earned him my respect and my endorsement,” Overstreet’s announcement reads in part. “Ron Paul is the defining statesman of our day, willing to stand alone as an outspoken defender of life, liberty and property, time after time, shunning compromise in favor of adherence to the Constitution.”

Overstreet recently sponsored a bill that appeared ‘Paulish.’ Called the Gold and Silver Legal Tender Act, it would give Washingtonians access to gold and silver as a method of payment, rather than our fiat currency, Overstreet said. Click here to see more on it.

He also recently introduced a different bill that would prevent any local or state official from participating in the indefinite detention of citizens and legal residents. Click here to see more on that.

Paul has a significant base of support in Whatcom County. His supporters, like supporters of other Republican candidates, are trying to encourage people to turn out in support of their candidate during the March 3 Republican caucuses. Click here to see a story that published yesterday on the caucuses.

Four years ago, Paul supporters were well organized. Here is a story former Herald reporter Sam Taylor wrote in the run-up to the 2008 caucuses:

Feb. 10, 2008
SAM TAYLOR
THE BELLINGHAM HERALD

In the race for the Republican presidential nomination, Ron Paul isn’t considered a front-runner. He’s not really considered a second-, third- or fourth-runner, either.

But the Republican congressman from Texas has a grassroots campaign that is scaring some members of the Whatcom County Republican Party who are seeing an influx of young, college-age Paul supporters coming to meetings to stump for their candidate.

Many Republicans are having a hard time seeing Paul as a Republican candidate, because of his many Libertarian, or what some are referring to as “Constitutionalist, ” stances on issues. He also once sought the White House as a Libertarian.

In other years, it might not matter that Paul supporters are coming to meetings, said Chet Dow, Whatcom GOP chairman.

This year Republicans can’t coalesce on a favorite candidate, Dow said, and Paul isn’t even close to the top of the list.

“It’s wide open, ” Dow said, which is what could give Paul more local delegates. “There hasn’t been anything like this since 1964.”

That was when a divided Republican Party selected Barry Goldwater to run against incumbent Democrat Lynden Johnson, who smashed Goldwater in the race.

The influx of Paul supporters is being seen by every county GOP group, Dow said, after a recent statewide event he attended.

County GOP Central Committeeman John Robinson is even more concerned about local Paul supporters and Paul’s candidacy.

“In my opinion he’s a Trojan horse, ” Robinson said. “He’s a (Republican in name only). That’s how I feel about that, and I’ll be upfront about it and I don’t care.”

During a recent GOP meeting, about 10 Paul supporters – nearly all college-age -stumped for Paul and offered their services as precinct committee members.

“Some weren’t even registered to vote, ” Robinson said.

Justin McKay, a former Whatcom County Republican Party member now supporting Paul, said the Paul supporters at the meetings are no different from any other Republican candidate’s supporters stumping for their guy at the meetings. And Paul has many conservative stances, he said.

He also sees a benefit to college-age voters attending the meetings to learn about the process.

“I think it’s a good, healthy thing, ” he said.

Robinson said he has no problem with grassroots campaigns, but for him Paul does not represent Republican values. And in many years, he said, not many Republicans come to the local caucuses, which means Paul supporters might be able to take over and send more delegates in favor of Paul to the state convention.

“That should be a red alert to regular Republicans, ” Robinson said. “If you don’t want your party taken over, you better get involved.”