DisabledVet
07-22-2007, 10:02 AM
While the story isn't specifically about Gov. Sanford, Ron does make a point to mention it quite clearly.
ORIGINAL STORY (http://www.goupstate.com/article/20070722/NEWS/707220341/-1/BUSINESS)
Paul stands tall with talk on freedom
By JASON SPENCER, jason.spencer@shj.com
Published July 22, 2007
A little-known Texas congressman seeking the Republican nomination for president visited Spartanburg Saturday and seemed to arrive with all the makings of rock-star candidate for his party - despite low polling, little name recognition and a relatively small campaign staff.
Supporters call it the "Ron Paul Revolution." You might have seen it on signs or T-shirts. Or MySpace.
"We've lost our faith and confidence that freedom really works," Paul said to an enthusiastic, almost fanatical, crowd.
"In most countries, tyranny reigns. Freedom is under attack. It's under attack in this country, as well."
Paul said he believed a stronger adherence to the Second Amendment over the past decade could have thwarted the 9/11 terror attacks - and that this country has gone in the wrong direction with "government bureaucrats taking away our toothpaste at the airport." He said America can't afford to continue to support its military presence abroad, which he called a "world empire." He accused the government of "creating money out of thin air," straying from the constitutional monetary standards of gold and silver. And he said he's against abortion because a fetus has the same rights as an adult human being.
He also made several references to Gov. Mark Sanford's voting record while in Congress, noting that, "If you found two people voting together, it was Mark and myself. He would make an exceptionally good vice president."
Paul received no less than 16 standing ovations during his hour-plus speech and question-and-answer session at the Summit Pointe Events Center. They started when he entered the room, continued when he re-entered after doing a quick TV interview and grew louder when he was formally introduced.
Thunderous applause also followed when he decried the Patriot Act (ovation No. 4), when he said America should never go to war without a declaration from Congress or because of a United Nations resolution (ovations No. 8 and 9), and when he attacked President Bush's foreign policy and handling of the war in Iraq (ovations No. 11, 12 and 13).
"No nation building. No policing of the world. Peace is popular," Paul said. "The sooner we get out of Iraq, the fewer Americans will die. And I say, it's time to come home."
He later added, "We have to change this idea that we can run the world."
When he advocated eliminating the federal income tax, he asked, "What are you going to replace it with?" The crowd shouted: "Nothing!"
About 400 people - at least half of them from out of state - were shoehorned into Summit Pointe for a barbecue luncheon that doubled as a fundraiser for the Spartanburg County Republican Party. The local GOP, after expenses, made an estimated $5,000 on the event.
Paul was invited to speak to the local party faithful (they numbered about 80 in the crowd) after county chairman Rick Beltram took offense at Paul's explanation during a GOP debate of the 9/11 attacks as "blowback" from America's past intervention in the affairs of other countries. That led to a widely distributed online tit-for-tat between Beltram and Paul supporters, and Beltram eventually invited Paul here to explain himself.
Blowback itself was not mentioned Saturday - and no one asked a question about it - though Paul often alluded to it, going as far back as World War I, "which (President) Woodrow Wilson got us into unnecessarily, and drew the lines in the Middle East that we're suffering for today."
Beltram said he agreed with Paul on most issues except foreign policy, and that he believes the Texan converted some Upstaters to his revolution with Saturday's speech.
"The key thing is the media attention," Beltram said. "When all this is in the newspapers and on TV, people will have a better impression as to what Dr. Paul truly stands for."
During the applause, the crowd often began chanting Paul's name and waving the revolution signs - one stated "Vote Yes for Dr. No." About 100 supporters were outside with signs, planning to go to Paul's free rally in Greenville later in the afternoon and not wanting to pay the $25 cover charge to benefit the Spartanburg GOP, said Chris Lawton of Greer, who helped organize Saturday's events.
About twice as many people were expected to attend the Greenville rally.
"He didn't miss a beat," said Eric Halbach-Merz of Spartanburg as he was leaving Summit Pointe. "He's basically saying what our Founding Fathers said. People today are taking away our freedoms by throwing fear in our face."
The Paul campaign and the county GOP selected a dozen or so questions to ask Paul out of about 50 submitted from the audience.
"He's got a chance," said Richie Sprouse, 41, of Spartanburg. "I'm not going to say it's not a long shot, but if Americans have any common sense, he's got a chance."
About one-third of Saturday's crowd was younger than 30.
Beltram welcomed them by playing up the importance of this county in GOP politics, noting that "this is a diverse county, a very big-tent county, and a very structured county in that there's a GOP platform and we abide by it."
He added, "Whoever the nominee is, we will support."
Gary Coats of Spartanburg said he watched Beltram throughout to gauge his reaction.
"You could tell he was learning something," Coats said. "That's good."
ORIGINAL STORY (http://www.goupstate.com/article/20070722/NEWS/707220341/-1/BUSINESS)
Paul stands tall with talk on freedom
By JASON SPENCER, jason.spencer@shj.com
Published July 22, 2007
A little-known Texas congressman seeking the Republican nomination for president visited Spartanburg Saturday and seemed to arrive with all the makings of rock-star candidate for his party - despite low polling, little name recognition and a relatively small campaign staff.
Supporters call it the "Ron Paul Revolution." You might have seen it on signs or T-shirts. Or MySpace.
"We've lost our faith and confidence that freedom really works," Paul said to an enthusiastic, almost fanatical, crowd.
"In most countries, tyranny reigns. Freedom is under attack. It's under attack in this country, as well."
Paul said he believed a stronger adherence to the Second Amendment over the past decade could have thwarted the 9/11 terror attacks - and that this country has gone in the wrong direction with "government bureaucrats taking away our toothpaste at the airport." He said America can't afford to continue to support its military presence abroad, which he called a "world empire." He accused the government of "creating money out of thin air," straying from the constitutional monetary standards of gold and silver. And he said he's against abortion because a fetus has the same rights as an adult human being.
He also made several references to Gov. Mark Sanford's voting record while in Congress, noting that, "If you found two people voting together, it was Mark and myself. He would make an exceptionally good vice president."
Paul received no less than 16 standing ovations during his hour-plus speech and question-and-answer session at the Summit Pointe Events Center. They started when he entered the room, continued when he re-entered after doing a quick TV interview and grew louder when he was formally introduced.
Thunderous applause also followed when he decried the Patriot Act (ovation No. 4), when he said America should never go to war without a declaration from Congress or because of a United Nations resolution (ovations No. 8 and 9), and when he attacked President Bush's foreign policy and handling of the war in Iraq (ovations No. 11, 12 and 13).
"No nation building. No policing of the world. Peace is popular," Paul said. "The sooner we get out of Iraq, the fewer Americans will die. And I say, it's time to come home."
He later added, "We have to change this idea that we can run the world."
When he advocated eliminating the federal income tax, he asked, "What are you going to replace it with?" The crowd shouted: "Nothing!"
About 400 people - at least half of them from out of state - were shoehorned into Summit Pointe for a barbecue luncheon that doubled as a fundraiser for the Spartanburg County Republican Party. The local GOP, after expenses, made an estimated $5,000 on the event.
Paul was invited to speak to the local party faithful (they numbered about 80 in the crowd) after county chairman Rick Beltram took offense at Paul's explanation during a GOP debate of the 9/11 attacks as "blowback" from America's past intervention in the affairs of other countries. That led to a widely distributed online tit-for-tat between Beltram and Paul supporters, and Beltram eventually invited Paul here to explain himself.
Blowback itself was not mentioned Saturday - and no one asked a question about it - though Paul often alluded to it, going as far back as World War I, "which (President) Woodrow Wilson got us into unnecessarily, and drew the lines in the Middle East that we're suffering for today."
Beltram said he agreed with Paul on most issues except foreign policy, and that he believes the Texan converted some Upstaters to his revolution with Saturday's speech.
"The key thing is the media attention," Beltram said. "When all this is in the newspapers and on TV, people will have a better impression as to what Dr. Paul truly stands for."
During the applause, the crowd often began chanting Paul's name and waving the revolution signs - one stated "Vote Yes for Dr. No." About 100 supporters were outside with signs, planning to go to Paul's free rally in Greenville later in the afternoon and not wanting to pay the $25 cover charge to benefit the Spartanburg GOP, said Chris Lawton of Greer, who helped organize Saturday's events.
About twice as many people were expected to attend the Greenville rally.
"He didn't miss a beat," said Eric Halbach-Merz of Spartanburg as he was leaving Summit Pointe. "He's basically saying what our Founding Fathers said. People today are taking away our freedoms by throwing fear in our face."
The Paul campaign and the county GOP selected a dozen or so questions to ask Paul out of about 50 submitted from the audience.
"He's got a chance," said Richie Sprouse, 41, of Spartanburg. "I'm not going to say it's not a long shot, but if Americans have any common sense, he's got a chance."
About one-third of Saturday's crowd was younger than 30.
Beltram welcomed them by playing up the importance of this county in GOP politics, noting that "this is a diverse county, a very big-tent county, and a very structured county in that there's a GOP platform and we abide by it."
He added, "Whoever the nominee is, we will support."
Gary Coats of Spartanburg said he watched Beltram throughout to gauge his reaction.
"You could tell he was learning something," Coats said. "That's good."