Ron Paul wins Values Voter Summit straw poll

Ron Paul has won yet another straw poll. Indeed, he delivered a powerful speech before an audience at the Values Voter Summit presidential straw poll. Paul discussed how debt, overspending and economic woes take a toll on the family. He also correctly cited the fact that many military families are broken because soldiers are gravely affected by war psychologically, physically and financially. Underlying this sentiment is Paul's view that many of the wars being fought now are unjust and unnecessary; a sentiment that I endorse. 

Of course, the malcontents are saying that straw polls are irrelevant. Some have even gone far enough to claim that the Paul campaign was too effective at getting supporters to vote therefore something morally wrong must have taken place. 

To my understanding, a straw poll is a simulation designed to gauge the level of support for a candidate in an area and around a time period. The mere fact that supporters would show up to vote in a nonbinding election is indicative of what likely to play out on an actual election day. Moreover, the winner of a straw poll normally gets to dominate the news cycle for a few days or weeks.

It would be mistaken to say that straw polls are useless when the case of Herman Cain winning the Florida straw poll meant more media coverage for him and his subsequent upswing in polls. 

Ron Paul winning the straw poll should mean more positive media coverage. In this sense, winning the poll is vital to a candidate that has few advocates in the mainstream media. 

The critics would argue that the Paul campaign bought the straw poll or they stuffed ballots by busing voters in. All of the foregoing is speculation by incredulous Ron Paul haters. What is fact is that Paul has a high level of support, which translated into actual votes. It matters not how the voters got to the venue; all that matter is that they were there. Ron Paul got values!

Congratulations to Ron Paul and special thanks to those who voted for him.