Phantom
04-04-2008, 04:05 AM
Paul rallies faithful at IUP
By Richard Robbins
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, April 4, 2008
It had all the trappings of a presidential campaign stop.
The candidate, familiar from his many appearances on television, standing behind the podium. The crowd, yelping, clapping, intent on his every word.
Ron Paul, a Republican presidential candidate whose domestic libertarianism and noninterventionist foreign policy are anathema to most of his party, spoke at Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Thursday.
The Green Tree native, who moved to Texas more than 40 years ago, immediately dealt with the question of the moment: Why is he still campaigning when a majority of the convention delegates are committed to John McCain?
The Texas congressman said the enthusiasm of his supporters was too much for him to ignore and that he would continue to campaign because of them.
He was asked if he plans to endorse McCain, the senator from Arizona.
Paul, 72, smiled and replied: "I don't plan to unless he changes his views."
Paul admits he doesn't know if his name will be placed in nomination at the Republican National Convention, which will be held Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul.
"That's a real good question. I don't know what the rules are," he said.
Paul, who was invited to the IUP campus by a student political science group, spoke to an always-attentive and a sometimes-rapt audience of more than 400 in a 450-seat auditorium.
When he was finished, he came to Pittsburgh, where a "Ron Paul Freedom Rally" was held last night at the University of Pittsburgh's Bellefield Hall.
Paul delighted the crowd at IUP by noting that 11 Republicans started off running for president. Now, he said, only he and McCain are left.
"I believe he'll be the nominee," said Daniel Carr, 20, who drove 2 1/2 hours from Snyder County to see his hero.
"I've been campaigning for him for four, five, six months, ever since (the) New Hampshire (primary). John McCain's old. He's going to get sick."
Kim Zelonka, who drove from North Apollo, said Paul's candidacy has grown beyond a mere political campaign.
"It's a freedom movement," the Armstrong County woman said. "It's coming from and sustained by people who believe in liberty and in the Constitution."
Zelonka thinks Paul retains a "slim" chance of capturing his party's nomination for president.
IUP student Jefferson Davis, 21, said while he is a committed fan of the Texas congressman, he doesn't believe Paul will win the nomination this year.
"Ron Paul in 2012," Davis said.
More than one person expressed the hope that Paul would continue to tour the country over the next four years, speaking out on important issues.
Jerry Thomchick likened Paul to Ronald Reagan in 1976, when Reagan lost the Republican nomination to Gerald Ford.
Reagan spent the next four years working toward his successful run in 1980 to capture the presidency.
Paul told the audience he advocates "no income tax," no regulation of the Internet, an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq and a hands-off role for the Federal Reserve in the mortgage credit crisis.
He said the Bush administration and others in the Establishment "say one thing and do another."
Richard Robbins can be reached at rrobbins@tribweb.com or 724-836-5660.
Link (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_560612.html?source=rss&feed=1)
By Richard Robbins
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, April 4, 2008
It had all the trappings of a presidential campaign stop.
The candidate, familiar from his many appearances on television, standing behind the podium. The crowd, yelping, clapping, intent on his every word.
Ron Paul, a Republican presidential candidate whose domestic libertarianism and noninterventionist foreign policy are anathema to most of his party, spoke at Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Thursday.
The Green Tree native, who moved to Texas more than 40 years ago, immediately dealt with the question of the moment: Why is he still campaigning when a majority of the convention delegates are committed to John McCain?
The Texas congressman said the enthusiasm of his supporters was too much for him to ignore and that he would continue to campaign because of them.
He was asked if he plans to endorse McCain, the senator from Arizona.
Paul, 72, smiled and replied: "I don't plan to unless he changes his views."
Paul admits he doesn't know if his name will be placed in nomination at the Republican National Convention, which will be held Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul.
"That's a real good question. I don't know what the rules are," he said.
Paul, who was invited to the IUP campus by a student political science group, spoke to an always-attentive and a sometimes-rapt audience of more than 400 in a 450-seat auditorium.
When he was finished, he came to Pittsburgh, where a "Ron Paul Freedom Rally" was held last night at the University of Pittsburgh's Bellefield Hall.
Paul delighted the crowd at IUP by noting that 11 Republicans started off running for president. Now, he said, only he and McCain are left.
"I believe he'll be the nominee," said Daniel Carr, 20, who drove 2 1/2 hours from Snyder County to see his hero.
"I've been campaigning for him for four, five, six months, ever since (the) New Hampshire (primary). John McCain's old. He's going to get sick."
Kim Zelonka, who drove from North Apollo, said Paul's candidacy has grown beyond a mere political campaign.
"It's a freedom movement," the Armstrong County woman said. "It's coming from and sustained by people who believe in liberty and in the Constitution."
Zelonka thinks Paul retains a "slim" chance of capturing his party's nomination for president.
IUP student Jefferson Davis, 21, said while he is a committed fan of the Texas congressman, he doesn't believe Paul will win the nomination this year.
"Ron Paul in 2012," Davis said.
More than one person expressed the hope that Paul would continue to tour the country over the next four years, speaking out on important issues.
Jerry Thomchick likened Paul to Ronald Reagan in 1976, when Reagan lost the Republican nomination to Gerald Ford.
Reagan spent the next four years working toward his successful run in 1980 to capture the presidency.
Paul told the audience he advocates "no income tax," no regulation of the Internet, an end to U.S. involvement in Iraq and a hands-off role for the Federal Reserve in the mortgage credit crisis.
He said the Bush administration and others in the Establishment "say one thing and do another."
Richard Robbins can be reached at rrobbins@tribweb.com or 724-836-5660.
Link (http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/cityregion/s_560612.html?source=rss&feed=1)