Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) drew a crowd of 150 supporters to Pembroke, N.H., late Saturday night to support his potential bid for the Republican Presidential nomination.
The fundraising reception, organized by a supporter and held at a private home, raised over $14,000 for Paul’s campaign.
Paul, who was originally scheduled to speak from 9 to 10 p.m., stayed late and greeted supporters until almost midnight, as late arrivals streamed in from the nearby New Hampshire Liberty Forum in Concord.
“He is a living, breathing, elected, example of what our founding fathers had in mind for limited government,” said Ed Naile, chairman of the Coalition for New Hampshire Taxpayers. “You won’t see much in the press about it, but 150 is quite a large crowd for a Congressman this early in the campaign. Enough to make some of his issues part of the debate on the Republican side, I would say.”
“Paul’s message can unite fiscal conservatives, republicans, libertarians, constitutionalists, and others who are disillusioned with the direction in which the country is headed, in the cause of less government and reasonable spending and on getting the country back on track with regard to foreign policy,” said CNHT board member Jane Aitken. “Finally a candidate we can all get behind.”
CNHT does not endorse candidates for public office but its members do arrange meetings with them and comment on them as individuals, Aitken said.
“For most of history people have lived under tyranny,” Paul said. “The world still lives under tyranny, and our country is is coming closer to that every day.
“Our numbers are growing and we’re trying to stop that movement away from liberty.”
Paul received repeated rounds of applause for his limited-government stance, backed by his decades-long voting record in Congress, where he’s known as “Dr. No” for voting against bills he believes are unconstitutional. “I give a lot of speeches on the House floor and nobody’s there, nobody claps,” Paul said of his colleagues. “Here, everybody claps.”
Paul also spoke Sunday morning at the closing ceremony of the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, drawing a crowd of nearly 350 attendees and supporters, who also clapped and gave two standing ovations.
“I believe there is a fertile field out there for our message,” he said.
“My goal was not only to run on a serious platform, but to stick to what I said when I got there,” Paul said of his time in Congress. “I had no desire to be in office if I had to cave in and pander and say what each group wants to hear.”
Paul spoke out against the Iraq war, calling for the U.S. to bring the troops home and to revamp foreign policy to emphasize peace and trade rather than nation-building and “you do it our way or we’re going to bomb you” intervention in other countries’ affairs, noting that the Republican Party has historically been the beneficiary of anti-war movements.
“We need to understand why the terrorists are anxious to come here,” he said. “They came over here because we were over there [before 9/11]. They want to bleed us. They don’t want the war to end. The worst thing that could happen to Al-Qaeda would be for the war to end.”
Paul also called for the abolition of the Federal Reserve System and the return to the gold standard, currency backed by intrinsically valuable precious commodities, accurately noting that the Federal Reserve caused and exacerbated the Great Depression. “Money created out of thin air is so evil and wicked,” he said. “This is how big government is financed.”
Few understand this truth about fiat money such as current U.S. dollars, he said. “It’s eroding our standard of living today and people don’t know why,” he said.
He also railed against the expanding nanny state. “Freedom works,” he said. “If you don’t have the nanny state, lo and behold, somebody just might get medical care without the government. It’s already been proven that you can get educated without the government. Our best hospitals are usually associated with the name of a church. Never was a patient turned away. Today it’s harder to get medical care than ever before.”
Like John Stossel the night before, Ron Paul emphasized that the free market can solve virtually any societal problem, so long as government keeps its distance and resists the temptation to make matters worse with its attempts to fix things, and that governments which follow such a socialist path always fail.
“[Economist Ludwig von] Mises told us many years before that it would collapse, that communism would not work because it’s fatally flawed,” he said. “Their philosophy was a failed philosophy and was doomed to fail. It’s softer here, but it’s just as seriously flawed.”
Paul didn’t officially announce his candidacy, but said he would remain “engaged” and sources close to the campaign say that he expects to make an announcement within the next two weeks.
“We have had presidents who have tried to do too much,” he said. “How can I run for office and say I want to be a weak president? We need a strong president, strong enough to resist the temptation of taking power the President shouldn’t have.”
Michael Badnarik, 2004 Libertarian Party presidential candidate, officially endorsed Ron Paul for President on Friday at the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, drawing mostly support from attendees but some ire from within the LP.
Paul will appear in a televised presidential debate April 4 on CNN.
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21 Comments
Did anyone videotape his speech?
Yes, the speech was videotaped. When the DVD is available, the FSP should make an announcement.
I read in a grassroots press release that the speech at the supporter’s home was recorded… but wasn’t sure about the Liberty Forum speech. Thanks.
Was there any major media there?
Thanks for fixing that number!
First in the nation NH fundraiser has so far netted $10,500 and still climbing.
That’s official!
I guess my estimate last night at midnight was not far off! Geesh, I guess I CAN do math! LOL
This is a GREAT site. I will visit often and share with friends. Thanks for all your efforts to get out the truth about Ron Paul. We must never expect the Republican Party or the media to do our work for us, as students and admirers of Ron Paul we understand it is personal responsibility that accomplishes our goals, so we have to be committed to getting the job done. First we must educate those, who up until now have relied upon the media, to inform them about candidates…the Internet becomes a major vehicle, then once informed we have to see that they follow through by voting. It is a daunting task, but the reward of a true conservative and a defender of our Constitution as President should certainly be enough to motivate to see the task accomplished. Thanks again for your efforts!
I hate to say this, but Ron will NEVER be allowed to get far with his campaign. He’s too much of a threat to the Inner-Beltway Mob(tm).
Michael;
As much as I would like to see Ron Paul as our president, he doesn’t stand a chance, nor would he really do anything. When you really examine the role of the Presidency, Presidents really don’t effect government, no matter how much we whine about Bush or Clinton. The real change in the country has to come first locally. People have to start electing LP candidates to state and local positions, then getting control of Congress. Once Congress has more LP attendance, the Republican Party will shift back to the right, and then and only then, can an LP candidate get the need exposure and support to win the Presidency.
What does this mean? The LP has to start winning big locally, and demonstrating why the LP is the best hope for America in the near term.
Oh, BS. Ron Paul has plenty of chance of winning the GOP primary. And if that happens, no Democrat can possibly win against him.
But I suspect the truth is that you don’t really want to see Ron Paul win, as Ron Paul losing would validate your mistaken elevation of party over principle.
Michael;
The three front runners in the Republican Party are John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, and Mitt Romney. Now before becoming too emotional, something I thought libertarians were not, consider the ideological background of the folks in the “Republican Party†that are supporting these three. Are they close to Ron Paul in anyway? This is your major block of voters.
Also ask yourself are the majority of independents out there libertarian oriented or right leaning democrats. My understanding is that that vast majority of the so called independents are in fact rightist democrats. Again who will they vote for, Rudy or Ron Paul?
Unfortunately, you are mistaken about politics. Bismarck said, “Politics is the art of the possible,†not the impossible. Ron Paul is the impossible…however, until the LP can establish itself at the grassroots level, then he might become the possible. Mike, this is political strategy 101.
Bismarck was quite wrong, then. Politics is the art of screwing people, without them finding out about it.
As for the supposed Republican front runners, keep in mind the primaries are several months away, and Ron Paul has a lot more support than the three of them combined, as far as I have been able to determine.
When the committee is formed I will let everyone know as I am in contact with the person who is running the explore committee on a day to day basis.
If Ron Paul doesn’t win i think there will be alot of upset people. People that matter that is. I don’t vote for any party, i vote for the person.
I’ve only voted once in my lifetime. It doesn’t matter much to me if he wins or loses, what matters the most is knowing that i voted for someone i believe in, for someone who seems to be sincere and has a backbone.
I am ashamed of our government and have been for the last 20 or so years.
I’d vote for this guy even if knowing i was casting the only vote… because i believe him and there is nothing to be ashamed of in standing up for that.
If this country goes to hell in a handbasket, which i believe that day is coming soon if something doesn’t change, at least i know i’ll have cast a vote for what i felt was right instead of being like the rest of the cattle following whoever seems to spew the most b.s.
VOTE FOR RON PAUL! This is a man of his word!
I would like for everyone to please sign up for this pledge and keep Ron Paul in “08″ our candidate of choice.
The next debate in NH will be very exciting
I love Ron Paul because he supports gay marriage.
I support gay marriage because i dont like women….I love men.
P.s They must have a big…..smile.
Yes! Vote Ron Paul. Isn’t it about time America had a Champion of the Constitution?
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.” Psalm 37:35
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Prov 29:2
Yes! Vote Ron Paul. Isn’t it about time America had a Champion of the Constitution?
I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.” Psalm 37:35
When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Prov 29:2
Ron Paul has a chance, I am a formerly apathetic American citizen who only heard of Ron Paul’s candidacy just two days ago. I am 35 years old, have never considered contributing money to any political candidate in my voting years, but I feel, especially after talking to over 25 people who have also never really familiarized themselves with his platform, that based on the intrinsic positivity in Mr. Paul’s message and the response I received from both conservatives and liberals to his message, he has a real shot at winning the presidency of our country, if only he can get past the Republican primary. He can transend boundaries. This is the Republican’s version of a 2008 JFK. I am going to contribute time and money to the fight for Liberty. The time is now. Ron Paul 2008, 2012.
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