Michael Phelps: A Member of the Ron Paul Revolution?

Everyday I’m amazed at how many people I come across who say “Oh, Ron Paul. I like what he stands for.” Today’s great discovery is from the Baltimore Sun. According to this February 19, 2008 post, record breaking Olympian, Michael Phelps, is being recruited to join the Ron Paul Revolution. His training partner, Erik Vendt, is already a dedicated follower of liberty, a $200 donor to the Ron Paul campaign (on December 16th no less), and doing his best to convince Phelps that freedom works. Anyone know Michael Phelps and/or Erik Vendt? We’d be happy to invite them and their team as special guests to the Rally for the Republic.

Vendt and Phelps are an interesting yin and yang as training partners. Vendt is a voracious reader, a student of history, an outdoors enthusiast and a political junkie. He and Bowman traded friendly barbs during the build-up to the New Hampshire primary, with Bowman supporting John McCain and Vendt supporting Ron Paul.

“Ron Paul is my guy,” said Vendt, who describes himself as a libertarian ideologically. “It’s really frustrating the way the mainstream media just ignored him and acted like he was a fringe candidate without doing any research at all. I think he’s really what the country needs. … I’m definitely not a fan of the huge tentacle-like arms of the federal government invading everything in our lives.”

Vendt said he’s almost been able to convince Phelps to join the Paul Revolution.

“Michael is a big online poker guy, and that’s one of Paul’s issues, legalizing online gambling,” Vendt said.

Vendt says he could see himself possibly getting involved in politics someday.

“People joke around and talk about running for office, and I say ‘OK, if you do, I’ll run your campaign,” Vendt said. “But it’s definitely something I’m interested in.”