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Ron Paul Draws Crowd In Louisville

By Theresa Camoriano

Louisville, Kentucky, May 17, 2008 – Ron Paul supporters nearly filled the Louisville Palace Theater today (capacity 2700).  The enthusiastic group was very diverse and well-behaved – from a nun in a full black habit to long-haired hippies, and from college students to white-haired folks.  The rally opened with a prayer; three young women sang the national anthem; and a poet read a humorous poem about tapping his own phone to make sure he was behaving himself.

Paul said he had been pleasantly surprised that his message of individual liberty and constitutional government has been so well-received by so many people and that, as with the original American revolution, the U.S. currently is undergoing a revolution in thought and many young people becoming politically active for the first time.  Paul explained why individual liberty is so important in unleashing the productive capacity of all people, how it allows diverse people to live together in harmony, and how it is the truly compassionate form of government. 

He wants his supporters to have a firm understanding of freedom so they can continue to support and promote it well after the upcoming election, and he provided a college-type lecture, explaining the importance of monetary policy, property rights, and limited government.  Paul explained that people are whole beings and require all their freedoms in order to function as free people, including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, gun rights, and economic freedom, and that it does not make sense to respect only one or another of these freedoms without respecting the rest.  Paul also explained that these rights are innate, natural rights that come from God, not from government.   

While most politicians think the American people are too stupid to run their own lives and need to be controlled by bureaucrats, Paul said he would much rather rely on the people.  He pointed out that his message attracts a wide range of diverse people, from home schoolers, to gun owners, and many others who value freedom, while the government controls that are promoted by most politicians are very divisive and not compassionate. 

Paul is very proud that his campaign has received more money from active military personnel than all the other presidential campaigns combined.  He wants to end the Iraq war and bring troops home from Korea, Europe, and all over the world, returning them to their intended function of protecting the United States, not promoting an empire.  Paul explained why he wants free trade but opposes international unions and pacts, such as NAFTA, the United Nations, and the North American Union, again respecting the rights of individuals.  Paul said if we do the right thing and follow the Constitution, good things will happen.

Paul and his son, Rand, who is an ophthalmologist in Bowling Green, Kentucky, expressed frustration that the campaign and its supporters have been shunned and ridiculed by the Republican Party establishment, even as the party has been losing members.  They said it does not make sense for the party to be rejecting them, and they expressed hope that they would be able to play a part in returning the Republican party to its roots.  Paul pointed out that Nebraska suspended its caucuses rather than allowing his delegates to be sent to the national convention.  Paul plans a rally outside the Republican national convention and hopes that a large number of his supporters will show up.  While the party establishment and the media have tried to shut Paul out, the Internet has proven to be a great equalizer, allowing Paul’s supporters to get his message out and to raise money.  (For example, the web site http://www.RonPaul.com is not controlled by the candidate himself but rather is a site that is independently run by Paul supporters.)  There are also Ron Paul meetup groups across the country, with grassroots supporters organizing to promote the candidate and the message of constitutional government.

It was very encouraging to see so many young people who understand the importance of respecting individual liberty and who have taken on the responsibility of promoting liberty and of demanding it for themselves. 

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