Jesse Irwin’s a known commodity in certain circles of St. Louis, Missouri. For most folks, he’s most thought of as the singer/guitarist of the Dock Ellis Band, a group committed to both classic country songs and the showmanship needed to really bring them to life. It’s not for nothing that the local alt-weekly, The Riverfront Times, recently referred to his “1,000-megawatt smile and a magnetic, charismatic personality.” He’s charmer, humorous and witty, with a comeback for any occasion.
He’s maintained his busy career as a night-owl musician, while earning an MA at Webster University… and, while he’s working at the same school in business development. Between all those responsibilities, he’s also found time to rally around the cause of erstwhile Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul. So much so that he’s became a delegate for the Missouri State Republican Convention, where he and other Paul devotees fought to keep their candidates’ name and mission alive.
It’s reasonable to believe that many of Irwin’s musical and cultural peers have tended towards the Democratic side of aisle over their years (if not this year), but Irwin’s never been one to run with the pack. This past spring, he was organizing Paul fundraisers at clubs that wouldn’t normally host, or toast, Republican electoral events, and he’s still fired up about the Paul message.
This past weekend, Irwin was busy in his hometown of DeSoto, Missouri, dealing with a wedding and all the fun that comes with one. (No worries, ladies, it wasn’t his wedding.) But Irwin still found time to answer some questions about his political awakening in ’08 and the man that he still hopes has a future on the national political stage.
What about Ron Paul’s candidacy did you find attractive?
He was the only guy willing to tell the truth in the debates, even though he got booed off the stage a couple of times. You can tell Ron Paul is sincere. It’s a shame that makes it hard to get elected...
Since you organized events around his campaign, what made you more than just a simple supporter of the candidate?
I have bitched about politics for years. All of a sudden a politician comes along that I agree with almost one hundred percent of the time. I figure if I can't get it up for that guy, I need to shut my mouth or move to Mexico.
When you talked to other folks about the Ron Paul campaign, did they share stories similar to yours?
Not at all. Ron Paul supporters are from all classes, races and educational backgrounds. The thing we have in common is the belief that our government has gone too far in spying on us, fighting aggressive foreign wars, taxing us and telling us how to live.
How do you think the media handled his run?
I don’t think they handled it as much as dropped it. I got really sick of the mocking, marginalization and outright exclusion from the press. The good thing is that every time he was mistreated we gave more money, got madder and worked harder.
When it was apparent that he couldn’t capture the Republican nomination, do you think he could have, or should have, taken any different approaches?
Nope. I think working to clean out a corrupt Republican Party is the best approach. It’s too hard to run as a third party candidate. You waste most of your time and money just getting on the ballot. Railing against the establishment only alienates people. Ron Paul did the best he could – now it’s our job to advance the freedom agenda.
Do you think Ron Paul has a future in the Republican Party?
I sure hope so. He probably won't make any more friends in the establishment but he will establish a legacy, just like Taft and Goldwater. I think he will be remembered as a change agent that moved the party back towards its roots.
How about with the Libertarian Party?
I doubt he will have anything else to do with the Libertarian Party. They’ve made some dumb choices (like Bob Barr) and they’re doing a lot to alienate Ron Paul's supporters – potentially their biggest ever influx in membership.
How many young people did you see energized by Paul’s run?
I just came back from a stadium with 12,000 of his supporters. I’d say half of them were under-30. There are a lot of us.
How do you feel the two main party candidates have done in appealing to 20-something Americans?
Obama seems to be doing very well at this. McCain is not. Republicans aren't attracting young voters and instead of trying to bring Ron Paul’s fanatical young following into the fold, they are fighting the change tooth-and-nail. They are old, though and will not be able to fight us for long. I was a delegate at the Missouri State Republican Convention. I saw lots of walkers and oxygen tanks.
Among your friends and peers, especially, in the music and arts world, what types of issues are most important to them during this 2008 race?
Getting out of Iraq, inflation / the rising prices that come with it, repealing stupid drug laws and keeping people from telling us how to live. Oh yeah, and windmills. Those are awesome.
For more on Jesse, here’s a magazine feature from late 2006, from Sauce Magazine:
http://www.saucemagazine.com/article/9/17
And another from early 2007, compliments of St. Louis Magazine:
http://www.stlmag.com/media/St-Louis-Magazine/May-2007/For-Love-of-Country/