bobbyw24
01-05-2012, 09:55 AM
Libertarian champion is energizing young and tea party voters
http://cdn-media.nationaljournal.com/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=13992&width=268&height=
ANKENY, Iowa -- Ron Paul could claim victory Tuesday even though he came in third place. The long shot for the Republican nomination already has done more to promulgate libertarian principles than anyone since Ayn Rand.
The Texas congressman’s unswerving commitment to slashing federal spending and shrinking the size of government fueled the tea party movement, energized young voters and pushed the Republican Party rightward. His anti-war crusade engaged Democrats and independents, and he paved the way for more anti-establishment candidates to run as Republicans.
Paul more than doubled the number of votes he received in the 2008 caucus in Iowa, and he repeatedly cast his campaign as a “cause’’ in a speech to about 250 supporters Tuesday night.
“He changed the dialogue among the candidates, and he demonstrated that there is a market in the United States for candidates like him,’’ said David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. “Imagine if Paul was 55 years old and not reaching as far from as from the House to the presidency. He would clearly be getting even more votes if he fit the model of the person we traditionally select for president.’’
http://goo.gl/VwRTF
http://cdn-media.nationaljournal.com/?controllerName=image&action=get&id=13992&width=268&height=
ANKENY, Iowa -- Ron Paul could claim victory Tuesday even though he came in third place. The long shot for the Republican nomination already has done more to promulgate libertarian principles than anyone since Ayn Rand.
The Texas congressman’s unswerving commitment to slashing federal spending and shrinking the size of government fueled the tea party movement, energized young voters and pushed the Republican Party rightward. His anti-war crusade engaged Democrats and independents, and he paved the way for more anti-establishment candidates to run as Republicans.
Paul more than doubled the number of votes he received in the 2008 caucus in Iowa, and he repeatedly cast his campaign as a “cause’’ in a speech to about 250 supporters Tuesday night.
“He changed the dialogue among the candidates, and he demonstrated that there is a market in the United States for candidates like him,’’ said David Boaz, executive vice president of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank. “Imagine if Paul was 55 years old and not reaching as far from as from the House to the presidency. He would clearly be getting even more votes if he fit the model of the person we traditionally select for president.’’
http://goo.gl/VwRTF