Pittsburgh — Days before Pennsylvanians head to the polls to vote in the primary, Texas Rep. Ron Paul held a rally at Soldiers and Sailors Hall in Pittsburgh. His passionate supporters packed the auditorium, where there was standing room only.
The event took place on the University of Pittsburgh campus. It was publicized as a youth rally, although people of all ages were on hand with signs, in costumes, and ready to chant and cheer. It didn’t feel like a presidential campaign speech, but more of a speech promoting his movement for personal liberty. He played to the energized crowd, saying how encouraging it was to see so many young people helping the “growing revolution.”
The first thing Paul talked about was the need to end the Federal Reserve system, one of his biggest campaign themes. “Monetary policy and the Fed is one of the big issues of the campaign,” he said, which resulted in a chant from the crowd of “End the Fed!” Like he has done in many previous speeches and debates, Paul proposed repealing the Fed altogether.
His foreign policy is another point he has frequently brought up, and is one of the positions on which he differs most from the mainstream Republican party. He received long rounds of applause and cheers when he said we need to bring our troops home and to “defend our country and not be the policemen of the world.”
“We should all have equal protection under the laws,” he said at one point while discussing personal liberty. One simple way to start to do that, he said, is to get rid of all drug laws because they unfairly punish the poor and minorities. Reiterating his major theme, Paul said that he does not endorse using drugs, but people should decide for themselves. He also pointed to the hypocrisy in people who are staunch advocates for “states’ rights” but want the national government to step in to regulate things such as drug laws.
One of the only times during which he sounded like he was actually campaigning for the presidency was when he was discussing his deficit reduction plan, which he says would cut spending by $1 trillion in the first year and balance the budget by the end of his first term. Contrary to what some people have argued, he said, drastically cutting spending “wouldn’t cause an economic crisis.”
His message resonated with those who listened to the speech, with one attendant saying quite simply, “He’s the best… he’s just the best.” Added another, “His ideas make the most sense.”
“The Revolution is alive and well,” Paul ended with, which was evident by the number and enthusiasm of supporters in attendance.
Paul’s presidential strategy – amassing delegates where possible in hopes of a brokered convention – were likely dealt a fatal blow when former Pa. Senator Rick Santorum withdrew from the race. Frontrunner Mitt Romney is on track to win enough delegates to become the nominee.
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17 Responses
“states rights is code word for blah blah…”, it was the feds that rounded up Japanese-americans into internment camps that Reagan apologized for when he signed the 1988 civil liberties act.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Liberties_Act_of_1988
“code word” is code word for those who are desperate to create division and wedge issues that support the status quo.
Nice try though. 😉
http://dougwead.wordpress.com/2012/04/23/ron-paul-wins-in-iowa-and-minnesota-romney-in-a-panic/
Native Pennsylvanian and native Pittsburgher and classical liberalism scholar Ron Paul is speaking to the hearts and minds of Americans who are seeing the society that was founded upon the principles of classical liberalism being pushed towards totalitarianism by the fascism and socialism of the Statists. Those are awake to the tyranny of the State are vehemently trying to awaken the rest despite the media control by the State.
Guys, thanks for supporting Dr. Paul. Please, keep in mind that your votes are NOT what’s going to make a difference in this race. In order to help Dr. Paul have a voice against Obama, we need you guys to participate in your DELEGATE SELECTION PROCESS.
We just had ours in Houston TX, and the turn out from the GOP was sooooo low, we ran uncontested in just about every nomination. So please, get informed and go to your convention. Half the battle is just showing up, seriously! Get more people to show up and stay till the meeting is ADJOURNED. I can say we had a very large presence in my county and if we all can make an impact in our communities, then we can WIN.
But you must take action and simply voting is not enough.
Hello folks
Just came back from a 3 hour sign wave event for Dr.Ron Paul. The only honest one in the Race.
Google my full name and see what I have collected for the good doctor who is the only one with a cure for our sick Nation.I am also on face book with stuff on my wall for Dr. Ron Paul
Peace to all
Stephen Schweter
It’s too late.
The end has already begun for the donklephant (the supposed “2 party system”) establishment.
Weather or not Dr. Paul wins the nomination is of no consequence. The Paul campaign and it’s supporters are like Navy Seal Team 6 vs the local PTA. We are infinitely more organized, motivated and educated about the election process. We are winning delegates at an exponential rate. We will not compromise on our values when it comes to the convention.
Our message is liberty. The message is infectious and once infected it is terminal. Once a Ron Paul / Rand Paul / Liberty convert we will NEVER switch back. We, just like the special forces are “force multipliers” we “infect” those around us with the message of liberty and those infected go forth and infect more. The establishment can play it’s games and squeeze Ron Paul out of this election, but we have Rand Paul a young man cut from the same cloth that has a VERY VERY long political life ahead of him who we will support in exactly that same way as we have Dr. Paul.
So you see establishment, it’s already over. The liberty infection takes hold at the very nature of all Americans and human beings…there is but one cure and that is to remove our chains and we are picking the locks right now.
This reminds me of an Alsop fable …. “The tortoise and the hare “.
May the tortoise WIN AGAIN !
Romney- Your campaign is funded by a pack of leeches that are bleeding this country dry!
Obama- Yours is funded by the same people!
(Goldman Sachs, CitiGroup, JP Morgan, ect)
Romney- You support taxpayer funded bailouts (TARP)
Obama- So do you!
Romney- You support the ‘patriot’ act!
Obama- So do you!
Romney- You support never-ending war!
Obama- So do you!
Romney- You support the indefinite detention of American citizens without due process!
Obama- So do you!
Romney- You support assassinating American citizens without due process!
Obama- So do you!
Romney- You support government takeover of healthcare!
Obama- So do you! In fact, we modeled our plan after yours!
Romney- I never said my plan would be good for the nation!
Obama- Ummm… that’s not what you said on Meet The Press (and several other places)
Romney- You support increased gun control laws!
Obama- Didn’t you sign a ban on semi-automatic weapons? Hello pot, my name is kettle!
Romney- You are completely out of touch with ordinary Americans!
Obama- Says the guy who has an elevator for his cars.
…And this is not even scratching the surface!
We only have 2 choices. We can elect the one man that will turn things around, the man who predicted the many troubles we now face…
Or…
We can brace ourselves for a presidential term that will make the last four years seem like a blessing.
RON PAUL 2012
States Rights is a code word for defenders of segregation. Google “Ron Paul Randy Gray.”
Santorums withdrawal from the race should only help Ron, after all wasn’t santorum running as the anti-romney? Is most of santorums support came from the anti-romney vote why would they line up behind romney? Unless they are willing and ready to sell out their views and beliefs…..I don’t see that happening and will be shocked if so!!!
I believe ron Paul has the majority of supporters.I feel crooked politics are stealing and cheating him from a much deserved nomination. I’ve been to the debates and rallies.his supporters outnumber all the others candidates at least 20-1.it’s a shame that they have denied his delegates in many states.he is the only hope for our country.vote ron Paul 2012!
Four years ago, Pennsylvanians managed to resist the Glitz of the Obama campaign which outspent Hillary Clinton 4 to 1 during the Democratic Primary. Let’s see if Pennsylvania’s Republicans can show the same character;
He is the most Honest, Respectable, and humble public servant I have ever known. (and I’m in my mid 50’s- no kid) Dr. Paul is the only candidate with the courage and integrity to put this country right. He will receive my vote on Tuesday, and in November, whether he’s on the ticket or not!
Ron Paul is attempting to move the party towards his direction, not win the Presidency. He knows that is not a possibility. I will proudly vote for him on Tuesday.
Bomb scare huh,you don’t think it was the Romney crew?I mean this happens all the time right?
Ron Paul or the final death throes of US Democracy. The Ron Paul Map = ronpaulitic.com
Ron Paul is the only one who has consistently told the truth and he’s been right for years on domestic and foreign issues.
You got to remember, he made this speech in the middle of a bomb scare epidemic that has enough people scared leaving the campus that the professors are asked to post their finals as online tests and Ron Paul is STILL able to FILL Soldiers and Sailors.