Thread: Ron Paul on the Issues

Ron Paul: Solving Detroit's Crisis: A Town Hall (Video)

Submitted by sharpsteve on Mon, 02/27/2012 - 16:01Ron Paul 2012

Little Rock Baptist Church
Woodward Ave Detroit, MI
2/27/2012 11:00am

February 27, 2012 at 1:00 am

Crowds in state give Ron Paul rousing welcome

By Kim Kozlowski
The Detroit News
25 Comments

GOP candidate Ron Paul touted his platform of libertarian values to about 1,300 Sunday at the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville. “You don’t have to give up liberties to be safe,” he said in his speech. (Dale G. Young / The Detroit News)

Hudsonville— Lisa Wallace slipped into a floral print dress, put her two boxers in the car and left her home in the Manistee National Forest on Sunday for the journey of her life.

As a researcher for the Michigan Small Business Owners for Ron Paul and a "big time" supporter, Wallace had been invited to be on stage during the GOP presidential candidate's campaign stop near Grand Rapids.

"I am writing his name in if he doesn't get the nomination," said Wallace, who hoped to shake Paul's hand.

"I love his message of freedom. I'm tired of all the wars, foreign aid, excess spending and restrictions on our personal liberties."

"He's my hero. He's been my hero for over 20 years."

Paul was stumping at the Pinnacle Center, near Grand Rapids. It was his second day of campaigning in Michigan before the state's primary Tuesday, where a recent poll showed him behind the three other Republican candidates.

In his stop here, he touched on familiar libertarian messages: cutting federal spending, ending foreign entanglements and promoting personal liberty.

"We need to mind our own business," he said when he took the stage. "You don't have to give up liberties to be safe."

Hundreds of people lined up for hours to hear the maverick U.S. representative from Texas, and some were turned away. First in line was Erik Varvir, 49, who has been following Paul for 30 years.

"He's real," said Varvir, a resident of Zeeland, south of Grand Rapids. "His integrity is stellar, not only as a congressman but as a man in general. His policies make complete sense for the present and the future of this country."

Before his speech, Grand Rapids resident Laural Meyerholtz made sure to stock up on facial tissues.

"I'd better bring some Kleenex because I'm going to cry when I see him," said Meyerholtz, 58. "I love him. I just do."

About 1,300 people crowded into the conference center. Most stood. Pop singer Aimee Allen's "Ron Paul Revolution Theme Song" rang out before Paul entered the room.

"I am so glad to see so many of you," Paul said as he took the stage. To get the nation back on track, the government has to change on many levels, he said. But the people have to change, too.

"We have to change people's attitudes about what the role of government is," said Paul.

Paul spoke for nearly an hour, during which the crowd erupted into chants of "Ron Paul" and "End the Fed."

He touched on what he considers a failed national drug policy, an unpatriotic Patriot Act and an end to foreign aid.

Paul told the crowd it needs to bear the responsibility of his message, if they are believers and want it to prevail in the future. He encouraged supporters to educate themselves on the issues so they can hone their arguments.

"It will change," Paul said. "We can't say this is going to be easy. Those who are in charge and who have controlled the money system and controlled the financial system and controlled the military and foreign policy will not go away quietly.

"The opposition will not accept the moral or constitutional arguments, but they will not be able to get away from the economics argument because this can't go on because we won't have the money to pursue these policies."

Many were thrilled afterward.

"This is like a dream come true for me," said Janet Tlapek, a libertarian since 1979. "I never knew there were so many people in favor of liberty."

She has watched the movement pick up momentum for decades and notes that he attracts people from different political leanings, and economic and social groups.
"You know how he says, 'Freedom brings people together,'" Tlapek said. "That's what it is."

The Ron Paul Michigan tour kicked off Saturday at Central Michigan University night where the student-heavy crowd wrapped along the snow-lined sidewalks waiting to get a chance to see a politician who is older their than some of their grandfathers.

Kevin Stobbe, 21, a CMU student from Romulus, arrived at the 6 p.m. rally at 2:30 p.m. to ensure he could get in to see the only politician who has ever inspired him.

"It was beyond worth the wait, being right there, like, Ron Paul was right there!" said an awestruck Stobbe, with an orange spiked mohawk. "That message of freedom — it was just so empowering." Paul's campaign continues today with stops in Detroit, East Lansing and Dearborn.

kkozlowski@detnews.com
(313) 222-2024
Detroit News Staff Writer Marisa Schultz contributed.

Campaign stops today

--Mitt Romney: 8:45 a.m. rally in Rockford, Byrne Electrical Specialists, 725 Byrne Industrial Drive; 1:05 p.m., rally in Albion, Caster Concepts, 16000 E. Michigan Ave.; 6:45 p.m. rally in Royal Oak with special music guest, Royal Oak Music Theatre, 318 West 4th St.
--Rick Santorum: 9 a.m. breakfast address to the Livonia/Farmington chambers of commerce, St. Mary’s Cultural and Banquet Center, 18100 Merriman Road, Livonia; 3 p.m., rally in Lansing, Lexington Lansing Hotel, ballrooms A&B, 925 S. Creyts Road; 7:30 p.m. rally in Kalamazoo, Heritage Christian Academy, 6212 Quail Run Drive.
--Ron Paul: 11 a.m. town hall meeting in Detroit on solving the city’s crises, Little Rock Baptist Church, 8801 Woodward Ave.; 4 p.m., rally in East Lansing, Concert Auditorium, Michigan State University, 149 Auditorium Road; 7 p.m. rally, in Dearborn, Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave.

Crowds in state give Ron Paul rousing welcome | The Detroit News | detroitnews.com

Doug Wead: The Cover-Up

The Great Hudsonville Cover up

Ron Paul supporters are used to getting shortchanged. For example, there are the debates. In one debate, Ron Paul was given 89 seconds in one hour, even though he was running second in the network’s own polling for the upcoming primary and beat all other contenders including Obama with the Independent vote. In another, the network gave its moderator as much time to speak as the Presidential candidate. Even though that network’s own recent poll showed Ron Paul tied with Mitt Romney in leading the pack in a head to head contest with Obama.

There are reasons why the pundits and the main stream media exclude him. Ron Paul is taking on the establishment. He is seeking to reform the monetary system, including making the decisions of the Federal Reserve transparent. He wants us all to know how much money they are “printing” and to whom it is given.

Sounds reasonable. The partial audit he obtained for 2008 showed trillions of new dollars being loaned out – interest free – to banks and major corporations. Including corporations who own companies that own companies that own television networks. And including companies that advertise on those networks. And mostly to banks that loan the money that allow those big companies to make their dreams come true.

Whatever happened to “in the interest of full disclosure?” The network talking heads trudge on, never saying a word about the fact that the news they are reporting is impacting their own companies and their own careers.

Of course, there is nothing conspiratorial about most journalists. They follow the herd, running when the herd does and relaxing when the herd stops. God help the poor journalist that strays too far from the pack. Their greatest fear is not to be wrong about a story, but rather, to be different.

The Ron Paul supporters come to him via the internet. That’s why so many are young. They don’t watch television news. They do their own research. Ron Paul doesn’t convert them. The facts do. The just match up the facts to the candidates. Many are even shocked to find that the old man had it right. Some are Democrats and Independents surprised to find themselves agreeing with a Republican. And they are loyal because they have experienced the pride of authorship, the pride of self discovery.

So here is another little story for the Ronulans. Something to add to the collection.

According to the an Associated Press report in the Chicago Tribune and carried worldwide by the Associated Press, “about 40 people lined up to enter the Pinnacle Center in Hudsonville, where Paul was speaking Sunday afternoon.” The AP claimed the story originated with the Detroit News but I couldn’t find it there.

The Ron Paul people called the AP and asked that they update and correct the story. The Paul people insisted that there were, in fact, over 2,000 people at the event, but they were rebuffed. Adam de Angeli, the Ron Paul Michigan State Director, had no trouble finding pictures.

So now, for your viewing pleasure, here is the corroborating evidence. Pictures of the “40″ (sic) Ron Paul supporters who attended the event. Maybe we need some T-shirts that say, “I was one of the 40 at Hudsonville.” If everybody who went to the event bought one we could be rich.



The AP and the Chicago Tribune implied that there were about 40 Ron Paul supporters at Hudsonville event





Another view of the 40 people. Ron Paul supporters have learned to find their own facts online.




The AP reports the Detroit News as saying that "about 40 people lined up to enter the Pinnacle Center.





The Great Hudsonville Cover up « Doug Wead The Blog

Breaking: 3800 at "Michigan State"

Submitted by David A Dudenhoefer on Mon, 02/27/2012 - 16:56
Ron Paul 2012

This IS our largest rally to date !!!

Way to go Michigan team !!

Breaking: 3800 at Michigan State ! | Ron Paul 2012 | Peace . Gold . Liberty

WOOOOOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOO "GO BABY GO"

GO TEAM "SPARTA"

GO "RON PAUL"

Tomorrow! Arizona & Michigan Primaries

Submitted by The Daily Paul on Mon, 02/27/2012 - 09:04Ron Paul 2012
Arizona

Tuesday, 2/28

Arizona, Michigan, Primaries

RON PAUL 2012!

Tomorrow! Arizona & Michigan Primaries | Ron Paul 2012 | Peace . Gold . Liberty

50 Year Old Commercial With Ronald Reagan

November 21, 2011
By Sara Noble



50 Year Old Commercial With Ronald Reagan | Independent Sentinel

Ron Paul Talks Detroit’s Revival at Town Hall Meeting

More than 300 participate at Baptist Church event

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul engaged voters in Detroit’s North End at an intimate town hall meeting where he discussed the rule of law and macroeconomic reforms that promise to renew Motor City, Michigan, and the nation.

The 12-term Congressman from Texas held his “Solving Detroit’s Crises” Town Hall Meeting at 11:00 a.m. EST at Little Rock Baptist Church, located at 8801 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI 48202. More than 300 church congregants and community members attended the event, which was far more intimate than the rallies held around that nation that typically draw more than 1,000 persons. A picture of the “Solving Detroit’s Crises” Town Hall Meeting follows.

Ron Paul discusses Detroit’s revival with voters at Little Rock Baptist Church.

###

Ron Paul Talks Detroit

Ron Paul Breaks His 2012 Rally Attendance Record—4,000 Supporters at MSU

Largest-yet audience of election cycle for 12-term Texas Congressman and ‘Champion of the Constitution’

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul shattered his already-impressive record of drawing supporters and undecided voters to his campaign events. Today, in a phenomenon unique to the Paul campaign, the 12-term Congressman from Texas drew an impressive 4,000 supporters to a youth rally held at Michigan State University.

Dr. Paul’s East Lansing Rally took place at 4:00 p.m. EST in the Concert Auditorium of Michigan State University, located at 149 Auditorium Road, East Lansing, MI 48824. The rally, part of a campaign swing in Michigan, was conducted in cooperation with ‘Youth for Ron Paul.’

Youth for Ron Paul (YFP), an initiative of the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign, launched on Wednesday, September 7^th and since its inception more than 37,000 people signed up to join the campaign and get involved, forming more than 571 chapters.

“More and more young people each day show their support for Ron Paul because he proposes real solutions to America’s serious economic challenges. No other candidate can generate this level of enthusiasm among 18- to 29-year-olds, a key demographic for Republicans if they hope to beat President Obama. I join the 4,000 youth at MSU in saying I am excited for Election Day this November,” said Edward King, National Youth Coordinator for the Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign.

In addition to a youth attendance, the rally was free and open to the East Lansing and at-large community.

To learn more and sign up for Youth for Ron Paul, please visit: www.youthforpaul.com and “like” the Facebook page found at: www.Facebook.com/youthforpaul.

Pictures of Ron Paul’s record-breaking campaign rally at Michigan State University follow.

Ron Paul approaches the podium and surveys the capacity crowd at Michigan State University.

Seats were full resulting in a large number of attendees standing in the back and along the aisles.



Ron Paul speaks about restoring America’s prosperity to a record 4,000 young supporters.

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Ron Paul Breaks His 2012 Rally Attendance Record

Ron Paul vs. Republican Identity Politics


I’ve made the point occasionally in my columns over the years that what often drives politics is not necessarily having the correct philosophy but political identity. This frustrates those of us who care about the size of government, reducing the national debt and restoring the Constitution. Ron Paul has a limited government record second to none.

A recent study showed that out of Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich and Paul, only Paul would actually reduce the debt as president. Here’s the breakdown:

Newt Gingrich’s plan
Debt over next decade: Adds $7 trillion, increasing debt to GDP to 114%…

Rick Santorum’s plan
Debt over next decade: Adds $4.5 trillion, increasing debt to GDP to 104%.

Mitt Romney’s plan
Debt over next decade: Adds $250 billion, increasing debt to GDP to 86%…

Ron Paul’s plan
Debt over next decade: Reduces it by $2.2 trillion, lowering debt to GDP to 76%.

Yelling at CNN’s John King during a debate delivered my home state of South Carolina to Newt Gingrich by a commanding 41%, because Newt seemed on “our” side to Republicans and “against” the media.

Gingrich’s actual conservative record is abysmal but in that primary it didn’t matter much. For Republicans at that time, Newt was “one of us.”

Rick Santorum’s record is just as abysmal. Here’s a guy who admits to being George W. Bush’s wingman, helping to implement some of the most big government programs in American history.

“Politics is a team sport” says Santorum. He’s more right than he knows, as voters have largely “identified” with Santorum recently precisely because they think he’s more part of the Republican “team” than Romney. Writes The American Spectator’s Quin Hillyer (a Santorum supporter):

Cultural identification matter. That’s what allows Santorum to survive mistakes, or distorted attacks on his record, when others can’t: People identify with him.

The “distorted attacks” on Santorum’s record means people are simply discussing Santorum’s record. It’s horrible. If Santorum is actually better than Romney or Gingrich it is a marginal difference, and that margin is so slim that there is essentially no difference at all.

These guys are three peas in a big government pod and no amount of mental gymnastics from their supporters can erase their career-long statist records.

The Tea Party was supposed to be a movement that eschewed the politics of old, demanding strict fiscal conservatism and rejecting conventional big government Republicans. The only candidate in this race that fits what the Tea Party originally desired is Ron Paul. This is not arguable. If cutting government and reducing the debt is the Tea Party’s primary goal, only Ron Paul fits the bill, whether judging by his past record or his current budget plan.

Every other candidate–Romney, Santorum, Gingrich–fails the Tea Party’s fiscal conservative litmus test, whether judging by their past records or even their proposed budget plans, all of which cut nothing and add to our debt significantly.

But people “identify” with these candidates, some say? Republicans once “identified” with George W. Bush. A majority of Americans “identified” with Barack Obama in 2008.

To the degree that Republicans reject conservative philosophy to comfort themselves with identity politics is also to the degree that all of us will have to continue to endure big government.

Ron Paul vs. Republican Identity Politics*|*Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee

Ron Paul to Hold Election Night Celebration in Virginia

Paul’s son, Senator Rand Paul, to join event

LAKE JACKSON, Texas– The Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign today announced details of the candidate’s visit to northern Virginia on Tuesday. Paul will be speaking at this ‘Final Push Celebration’ along with his son, U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky. The celebratory event with supporters will be held at The Waterford in Springfield, Virginia.

Details of the event are as follows. Time is Eastern.

Tuesday, February 28th
6:30 p.m.
The Waterford
6715 Commerce Street
Springfield, Virginia 22150
*Doors open to the public at 6:00 p.m.

Ron Paul to Hold Election Night Celebration in Virginia*|*Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee