Ron Paul Says U.S. Weakening Constitution -
Republican Presidential Candidate Calls For an End to
Federal Income Tax and Less Concentration on Foreign
Matters Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul called
for stricter adherence to the Constitution during an
impassioned speech about his political ideologies
on Feb. 13 at Georgetown.
The Texas congressman positioned himself as leader of
a revolution that would tout a return to constitutional
principles with a small federal government, no income tax
and more concentration on domestic, rather than foreign,
matters.
He blamed many of the country's problems on a willingness
to ignore the founding fathers' intent and a willingness
to weaken the Constitution with amendments.
"We've made one serious mistake -- we've ignored our
Constitution," Paul said in a speech frequently punctuated
by cheers and chants from the audience.
"If you want to get back to the basics and restore the
principles of this country and this republic, we have
to obey the Constitution."
Though he is running on the Republican ticket, Paul
identifies as a Libertarian, who advocate minimal
government and social programs in favor
of individual rights.
Freedoms are rapidly disappearing, Paul said, and
Georgetown students should ask themselves one question:
What should the role of the government be?
"The founders asked themselves that question and came up
with a pretty good answer. They said the role of government
should be one thing, to protect liberty," he said.
"That should be the only purpose of government."
Freedom used to mean "freedom for you.
You were in charge of your life and if you messed it up,
it was your fault," he continued. "If there is one thing
I hope to achieve in this campaign, it's to get people
thinking what freedom is all about.
The purpose of freedom is for us to lead our own lives,
to promote our own virtue … Government interest
destroys everything."
He pinpoints the start of trouble when the government declared
rights to include access to education, jobs and medical care.
"What you have is a right to your life. That's what you have,"
Paul said. "If that were fully understood, you'd have a right
to the fruits of your labor, and you would be able to keep
everything you earn and not have to share it with the big
government."
Paul came to Georgetown as part of the university's presidential
candidate lecture series. He is the second candidate to speak
after Democrat Bill Richardson, who has since dropped out the
race.
Enthusiastic supporters greeted Paul in Gaston Hall by
chanting his name. Much of Paul's base includes younger
voters who have flocked to his Web site and set donation
records -- a $4.2 million take on Nov. 5, 2007 is most a
GOP candidate has raised on a single day.
The congressman said his message resonates strongly with
Americans who want a different form of government that
puts its citizens above foreign engagement.
Paul said military personnel are embracing that point in
particular, and claimed he has received more donations from
that group than all other candidates combined.
However, research from the Houston Chronicle found this is
only from donors who self-identified as military personnel,
something that is not required, and many donors are
civilian employees.
In a wide-ranging speech that touched everything from the war
in Iraq to abortion to tax policies, Paul reiterated that the
current generation of Georgetown students will pay the price
for what he called mistakes of the government. He pointed to
overspending, borrowing money from foreign governments and a
financial strain on the middle class as unsustainable
practices that will have significant fallouts.
While acknowledging he is not the front runner for the
Republican nomination, Paul said his principles are
stirring supporters' passion about what the United States
could accomplish.
But the night was not without detractors. To a mix of applause
and boos from the audience, one Georgetown student questioned
the candidate about racist and homophobic slurs that appeared
newsletters published by Paul in the 1990s. Though Paul has
since said he did not write the articles in question, the
student pushed to know why Paul did not denounce
the writings years ago when first confronted.
The congressman said it was a mistake and blamed the comments
getting published on time constraints during his time as
publisher. Paul also called himself "probably the biggest
champion of rights for everybody."
"A true Libertarian," he said, "is incapable of being a racist."
Source: Blue & Gray (February 15, 2008)
explore.georgetown.edu
'What you have is a right to your life.
That’s what you have.
If that were fully understood, you’d have a right
to the fruits of your labor, and you would be able to
keep everything you earn and not have to share it
with the big government.' --
Ron Paul, Republican presidential candidate
Time to get your white arm bands ? -
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