News
Ron Paul champions freedom in UM speech
Ron Paul signs a skateboard during his book signing Monday evening in the UM Bookstore. He stayed in the bookstore from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. signing his book. (Kenneth Billington / Montana Kaimin)
Story by Lauren Russell | April 22, 2008
Montana Kaimin
Though he doesn’t advocate drinking raw, unpasteurized milk, Ron Paul thinks that a person should have the right to do so if he or she wishes.
The freedom to control what people put in their bodies is just one example of the individual liberties that Paul, the last candidate challenging Arizona Sen. John McCain for the Republican presidential nomination, thinks are being lost because the U.S. has too many laws.
Paul brought his message of less government and more freedom to the “Ron Paul Freedom Rally” at the University Center Ballroom Monday night.
Fervent fans and curious citizens packed the ballroom to hear the man Missoula Republicans picked as their candidate in the Super Tuesday Republican caucus speak about his vision for the country. Filled to its 1,000-person capacity, the room reverberated with the frequent rooting and stomping of fans wearing Ron regalia and bearing signs and copies of his book, “The Revolution: A Manifesto,” copies of which Paul signed earlier in the day at the UC Bookstore.
Ellen Finnigan, a University of Montana graduate student and member of the Paul’s Missoula campaign, introduced the doctor and 10-term congressman from Texas as the candidate who, “though sometimes ridiculed as a loon or a nut, (has) been proven right time and time again,” about issues like the Iraq War, which Paul voted against.
To thunderous applause, Paul said that in order to avoid a future political and economic collapse that destroyed the Soviet Union, the United States must return to its constitutional roots of fewer taxes and more freedom.
“Real change, unfortunately, is just getting back to what we had in the first place,” Paul said. “That is called the Constitution.”
The country isn’t in good shape, Paul said, and he has some suggestions. Among them: eliminating the income tax, withdrawing from international organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank and returning economic prosperity and a positive world image to the U.S. by ending our military presence and spending in foreign countries, especially in Iraq.
“You can’t spread what is good about America to the rest of the world through the barrel of a gun,” Paul said.
Paul said that the current administration’s emphasis on national security through such legislation as the Patriot Act is compromising the individual liberties that the U.S. was founded upon. Laws against Internet gambling and marijuana use are also infringements on personal rights.
“In a truly free society people don’t tell other people what they’re supposed to do with their lives,” he said.
Even though his campaign hasn’t had the support and attention of mainstream media, Paul said converting even the smallest percentage of voters can achieve change, which is why he will theoretically remain in contention for the nomination.
“People ask me ‘Are you still in this race?’” Paul said. “Sure, I’m still in this race. I’m in this race as long as the supporters still want me to be in this race.”
Jedediah Cox, the president of Students for Ron Paul, said that he was impressed with the size of the crowd who turned out, especially since the group only had about a week to prepare for the rally.
“The Republican party already has their candidate, so his ability to draw the crowd he did was really spectacular,” Cox said.
Though the nomination is all but sealed up, some attendees were amused and inspired by the candidate’s visit.
“As a pretty much on-the-fence guy on politics, I thought that it was good to hear the other side of things,” said Jeremy Worrell, a UM senior. “It was nice to hear a fresh perspective.”
This story has been viewed 1214 times.
Comments
He wants to : stabilize the economy, save thousands of lives by ending the occupation of Iraq, save trillions of dollars by pulling our troops out of hundreds of foreign countrys, reduce government waste and government spending, and yet somehow the media still finds it in their tiny little hearts to marginalize him and call him a loon and fringe candidate.
May we all be loons, in that case.
Posted by RM on 04/22/2008 at 4:49 am
Wake up ! Wake up ! Wake up!
Ron Paul the only hope for America!!!!
Posted by celeste on 04/22/2008 at 6:40 am
It is a crying shame that the American people sat there on their thumbs while the Main Stream Media was allowed to select the presidential candidates. There is absolutely no excuse that 3 out of 4 people that I asked if they liked Dr. Paul, after 7-8 months of his being a candidate, had never heard of him. The MSM ran a very successful black out campaign.
Posted by Mike on 04/22/2008 at 7:13 am
Thanks for the fair and balanced coverage. MSM could use a political science course from your publication on ethics, real clear coverage, and equal access.
Posted by tim minnesota on 04/22/2008 at 9:10 am
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936
watch this video if you dont understand why the federal reserve is a bad idea.
We Americans deserve what we get. We sit around on our fat, lazy butts and let the propaganda machine at CNN and FOX pick our candidates for us instead of researching the issues. WAKE UP PEOPLE! THIS IS OUR COUNTRY.
If you dont want to research the issues, please don’t vote.
Posted by mike on 04/22/2008 at 9:16 am
The r3VOLution continues…
Posted by Baba Padmanabhan on 04/22/2008 at 10:52 am
I don’t see Ron Paul’s giant pitcher of Kool Aid to give all his mindless, repetitive-Internet-posting followers.
I hope Ron Paul’s libertarian fantasyland without taxes and wars and with more guns personal costs soothed all the Missoula Ron Paul Zombies to sleep, softly cooing their utter disdain of anybody with whom they disagree.
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/22/2008 at 1:10 pm
Ron Paul and his revolution is our only chance. Join the revolution by running for office. Even if it’s just dog catcher!!! RUN FOR OFFICE!!
Posted by Patrick on 04/22/2008 at 3:22 pm
Ron Paul our only hope to save this country from vultures. Please WAKE UP AMERICA!!!
Posted by Dagny Yewell on 04/22/2008 at 5:18 pm
"I don’t see Ron Paul’s giant pitcher of Kool Aid to give all his mindless, repetitive-Internet-posting followers.”
I guess being against taxes is mindless… Whoever posted the above message is a genius. Keep on contributing to the IRS, smart guy…
“I hope Ron Paul’s libertarian fantasyland without taxes and wars and with more guns personal costs soothed all the Missoula Ron Paul Zombies to sleep...”
Sounds like you have wonderful arguments. Us Ron Paul supporters are too mindless to argue against someone like you. Imagine, the US not spending billions on wars, not raking our citizens over the coals with taxes, and protecting the rights of citizens to bear arms. How unamerican us Ron Paul supporters must be…
With all respect, you are the one in fantasyland. Wake up and defend your rights. Ron Paul is our only hope in this coming election!
Posted by Thomas from Texas on 04/22/2008 at 7:02 pm
The political bar has forever been raised. Politically it is now, “What would Ron Paul do?” Every politician must ask her/himself that!
Posted by Marilyn on 04/22/2008 at 7:23 pm
RON PAUL ... WoW… what a brain dead Douche Bag he is.
Posted by D San on 04/22/2008 at 9:44 pm
Ron Paul has chosen the late Tim McVeigh for his running mate. Their new slogan is, “Ron Paul & Tim McVeigh, two of a kind, both brain dead”.
Posted by Terry David on 04/22/2008 at 10:09 pm
Hey, Ron Paul supporters. Since you seem to believe that Ron Paul is literally “the only hope” for America this election, do you pledge and solemnly promise to shut the hell up after he LOSES this November?
Cuz I know the Kaimin’s server is probably getting a little tired of dealing with nutcases.
I’d love to see how many minds you actually changed here on this message board forum with your posts that are completely dismissive of alternative points of view.
But I’ll go ahead and get you that number anyway: Zero. You’ve changed zero minds.
Now ... shut up. Go home. And go away.
NOW.
Posted by Fred Stapleton on 04/22/2008 at 10:29 pm
wow, you definitely seem fanatical on the RP hate. anger management?
Posted by Graham on 04/22/2008 at 10:34 pm
Graham - great advice for Fred Stapleton...LMAO.
Yeah, Fred, D San and Terry are just Ron Paul lovers in denial, as they seem to be finding their way to comment on all his articles on Kaimen.
Guys - it’s never too late to join the r3VOLution, welcome aboard.
Posted by Baba Padmanabhan on 04/22/2008 at 10:51 pm
Graham--- Just because many people understand what an idiot Ron Paul is, doesn’t mean they hate him. They, unlike you, are simply smart enough to realize the man is a unrealistic moron.
Posted by D San on 04/23/2008 at 12:44 am
Such a sad state of affairs when people are still hanging on to a man that has absolutely no chance at all. All he is doing now is trying to make a buck off nit-wits by selling them his silly fantasy book.
Posted by Terry David on 04/23/2008 at 1:32 am
PS
It is sad ... very sad. Ron, just say good-bye and go away.
Posted by Terry David on 04/23/2008 at 1:35 am
Ad Hominem’s and name calling? I suggest a critical thinking class for you Montana folk. If you think we’re “hanging on to a man”, then you have missed the point by a country mile. When the old media said that Rudy Guiliani was the national front runner, who soundly beat him? That’s right, Ron Paul. Do you think Rudy Guiliani has supporters running for office under the Guiliani Republican model? No, he doesn’t. Ron Paul Republicans will never go away. We the people will restore this country to it’s intended greatness. Just like Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and the rest of our Founding Father’s, Congressman Ron Paul will never go away. Hey fella’s! News flash: The dollar is destroyed. Ron Paul wanted a sound fiscal policy (that’s so crazy!), getting rid of the federal reserve, a private company printing counterfeit dollars and charging a percentage. The bible calls that “usary”. You gentleman are living in a fantasy world. Our entitlement programs are insolvent: in a couple of decades they will face a shortfall amounting to tens of trillions of dollars. The housing bubble is bursting and our dollar is collapsing. We are borrowing billions from China and Japan every day in order to prop up a bloated overseas presence that weakens our national defense and stirs up hostility against us. And all you guys can come up with is name calling? Unless you can make a sound logical argument, I suggest you sit down and shut up. The adults are talking.
Posted by Patrick on 04/23/2008 at 10:52 am
Not Ron Paul ... Not anyone ... can get America back to what it once was, or even what we would like it to be.
It happens to all great nations.
Once the citizens realizes they can vote themselves FREE STUFF, by simply voting for the most Liberal candidate, the citizen electorate starts sliding to the left, because there are so many worthless and disgusting liberal parasites and leeches. When those worthless and disgusting liberal parasites and leeches finally reach a substantial majority, AND THEY WILL, the nation implodes ... THE END! We are headed that way now, and there is no stopping it. No nation ever has or ever will. All we, of our generation can say is, “I’m glad I lived now, because in another hundred years, America will be a messed up socialistic garbage bin in chaos “, AND THERE IS NO STOPPING IT. If there were a way to stop it, Egypt, Rome, Russia would still be great.
Posted by D San on 04/23/2008 at 12:24 pm
I understand your point, D San. However, all of those nations you’ve mentioned failed because their currency failed. Fiat money systems always fail. However, this is a way of stopping it: Sound, conservative, fiscal policies, and no nation building. The right and left are both the same now. That’s why Ron Paul looks so alone. He’s the last of the Goldwater Republicans. If we get our budget balanced, and stop the nation building we can get it under control. Our current foreign policy of expansion is bankrupting us. The same with Russia, Rome, Greece… all the greats. But I do fear for the future. I fear we may be too late. Just look at Russia now. They are so poor they don’t even have plumbing. Indonesia is worse. 9,740 rupies to the dollar. They are our slaves. When we go, the rest will tumble; Japan, all of S. America… etc… But, there is hope. Not unlike Pandora’s box, Ron Paul was like the tiny shining light in the bottom of the box. That light has caught fire. 1 MILLION people voted (probably more) for him. That is 1 million that have that hope kindled in their hearts. And we are all running for office. All of us. You think Judy Ruiliani has that? McLame? haha… McCain has nothing. He is just a puppet. The corporate owned media slaves just say what they’re told to say. Their days are numbered too. Already many newscasters are losing their jobs across the nation. People don’t believe the lies any longer. We the People must regain our sense of leadership. We are the government. We the People! I for one will not give up, and will never give in! Do not lose heart. Do not despair. For fear and lies are the enemies only weapons. You have not been given a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind! So stand up! The time is now to fight, fight, fight! To never bow down to tyranny! Until every right is restored! Until every book is balanced! Until everything stolen is replaced!
If we are to enjoy peace, freedom, and prosperity once again, we absolutely must return to the principles upon which this nation was founded:
The Constitution of the United States.
Posted by Patrick on 04/23/2008 at 12:50 pm
Congress and the Senate will never change, no matter who gets elected President. They are politicians looking out for their own jobs and what is best for themselves. THERE IS NO STOPPING IT, never has been, and never will be, because the vast majority of people, IN THE WORLD, not just America, are selfish, lazy and greedy. They will vote for whomever gives them the most free stuff. Another hundred years and it’s over. There is no stopping it.
Posted by D San on 04/23/2008 at 1:07 pm
If I am the only one to stand against that rising tide, then I will stand alone.
Woe to the one that stands against me.
Posted by patrick on 04/23/2008 at 1:10 pm
You will, in fact, be standing alone. You will be off in a corner, behind all the selfish, lazy and greedy, worthless and disgusting liberal parasites and leeches who are waiting in line for their free stuff. They will be complaining that they are not getting enough free stuff that they feel entitled to.
Posted by D San on 04/23/2008 at 1:43 pm
There is no difference between liberal and conservative. That paradigm is a fallacy. Sure, maybe some cosmetic differences, but they are essentially the same. They are like the World Wrestling Federation; They fake fight, and take our money.
Liberals and Conservatives steal from the citizens of the U.S.
IF i have to stand alone… IF… thank God there are 1 million Repaulicans standing next to me.
Yeah, i said it… Repaulicans.
Good luck Montana. You will be the last line of defense of liberty. I’ve friends in Troy Montana...and up Yak.
Peace
Posted by patrick on 04/23/2008 at 2:04 pm
<If I am the only one to stand against that rising tide, then I will stand alone.
Posted by patrick>
No, you won’t stand alone, I will stand with you.
How can we live with ourselves knowing we had the chance to stop these tyrants and did nothing...and if that means being shunned and insulted that is a small burden to pay.
Freedom for all!!
Vote Ron Paul!
Posted by Susan on 04/23/2008 at 10:41 pm
Thank you, Susan. I’m sure there are tens of thousands in Montana that will stand for liberty and freedom. Fascism is overtaking my beloved country. Me and my family and our ancestors didn’t fight for it for nothing… did we?
What the hell has happened???
Congress gave up their authority to an insane President to invade a country that had nothing to do with 9/11.
We the people are now hated throughout the world for allowing such an aggressive foreign policy.
The Patriot Act, and the Military Commissions Act have made us all enemy combatants at the whim of the President with no clothes. It has taken away our beloved Habeas Corpus, and our rights to free speech. We now have “free speech zones”. We are tortured and tazed and forced into obedience to the “state”.
Our boys are made to sacrifice their lives under shoddy conditions, and lack of proper materials for the Bush oil cabal and their Bin Laden partners… while their private security firms like Black Water make hundreds of millions of dollars.
We assassinate elected officials of sovereign nations and replace them with violent dictators, all the while funding them with the stolen money of the United States citizen. We give 2 billion a year to Israel who terrorize their neighbors, all the while hedging Israels enemies with 3 times that amount.
For ten years we’ve sanctioned, tortured, raped, murdered, burned, bombed, irradiated, and napalmed (clinton started it) innocent civilians who made no aggressive acts towards us whatsoever. Who never attacked us. Who never had weapons of mass destruction.
Who are the terrorists? Who has the weapons of mass destruction? Who has killed 1.3 million innocent people in the middle east? All for some false glory of ruling the world! Are you freaking kidding me???
SHAME on all of you! Shame on you your families for allowing this to happen. You all better wake up and get to straightening up this mess! YOU’RE the government. It’s YOU’RE problem. YOU’RE fault. NO ONE ELSE’S!! It’s OUR mess and we need to clean it up. You better get going… because soon it will be too late.
For the love of liberty is never as ferocious as when it is leaving. --Patrick Holman
Posted by Patrick on 04/24/2008 at 11:58 am
The real issue (crime) of the 2008 campaign is the lack of equal access to the media for ALL the candidates. Saying that nothing will ever change in Washington is a sadly self fulfilling prophecy. The real waste of your vote is to NOT vote for the candidate you wish to see elected. It’s because you waste your votes on the POPULAR candidate that a real statesman is not elected. It is a shame that our wonderful country has slipped so far into tyranny and fascism. If you don’t want to USE your vote, PLEASE don’t waste it by voting for the media dandy, stay home that day. A few rebels stood up to tyrannical government before. To quote Alex Jones “the answer to 1984 is 1776!”
Posted by Randy Brumback on 04/25/2008 at 10:31 am
