Posted on 09/16/2007 2:18:45 AM PDT by traviskicks
More than 1,000 people gathered Saturday at the Union Pacific Depot in Salt Lake City to rally behind U.S. Rep. Ron Paul in his bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Paul, an obstetrician from Texas, was impressed with the turnout.
"Wow. If they only knew you existed over in Washington, they'd change things over there," he said as he greeted the cheering crowd.
Paul spoke fervently of his support of smaller government, including the abolition of agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, and of his support for strictly following the Constitution. He also spoke out against the war in Iraq and any pre-emptive military action.
"Because of our careless attitude about foreign policy and how we go to war, we have allowed our government to build an American world empire," he said. "We are not an empire. We're a republic."
Paul's stances on such topics are "clearly proven" in his voting record, which has earned him the nickname of "Dr. No" in the House of Representatives, said supporter Ronald Levine Saturday.
"I tell people not to listen to what a candidate says before an election or what he does," he said. "I tell them to look at what he has consistently done for the past 20 years."
That voting record is what drives his grass-roots supporters, said Mark Hudson of Syracuse. "He is the only candidate who attracts everyone from libertarians to constitutional conservatives to true conservatives," Hudson said.
Paul visited Utah for the free rally and for a $1,000-a-plate brunch that drew fewer than 20 supporters and a $2,000-per-plate dinner. He is the eighth presidential candidate to visit Utah, the fourth Republican. Paul had raised about $13,000 in Utah as of the June 30 filing, according to the Federal Elections Commission.
Though polls show Paul garnering an average of only 2 percent of potential voters, many of his supporters believe the polls don't accurately show how many people support him.
"He's the only candidate I've seen homemade signs for," said Tom Salt, who is studying mechanical engineering at Brigham Young University.
Salt sees many young people supporting Paul.
"We look at his principles and we're too young to be cynical about his chances," Salt said. The mainstream media has not treated Paul fairly, said Jed Hardman of Springville, and neither have some of the other Republicans in the race, pointing to Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney "openly mocking" Paul after debates.
"They're afraid because as soon as such a true conservative emerges, one who is anti-abortion and has conservative views on taxes, they're going to lose," he said.
If true, an absolutely AMAZING turnout.
I hope you like .JPGs and abuse...
How is your boy doing in the polls, my friend? Oh, btw, thousands gathered to see Fred this week in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Florida and Tennessee. That article you linked to was a small meetup group of Fredheads in Utah, which was not a campaign event. But you knew that already, didn’t you? Was the “uniform of the day” tie-dye & Birckenstocks or brown shirts and hob nailed boots at that Ron Paul rally? Just curious.
LOL...good one!
Really pathetic numbers considering that 900 of the 1000 are probably Moveon.org stooges hoping to "fracture the Conservative base" by backing a Trojan Horse candidate Paul all the while knowing they would NEVER actually vote for Paul in a General Election
So has Congressman Paul explain his hypocrisy on Earmarks yet? Explained why anyone should take a supposed “limited Govt Conservative” who has $400 million in pork barrel spending to his name seriously? Especially since he gets 1% or less in any serious poll?
Care to put money on who will win the GOP nomination re Thompson or RuPaul?
So how many were bused in from out of state? And how many are lib Rats trying to help Paul from the left?
Yeah, someone thought the organizers said “The mormon candidate will be here.” when what was said was, “The moron candidate will be here.”
LMAO! Sure, with 2% of popular suport, and by whopping 20 person turn outs at $1,000 a plate dinners. With such a huge ground swell of support like that, how can he loose? /s On the bright side, it's good to know only 2% of those calling themselves Republicans are nuts.
"MOVEON.ORG! CODE PINK! ANSWER!!!!!"
“””I tell people not to listen to what a candidate says before an election or what he does,” he said. “I tell them to look at what he has consistently done for the past 20 years.”””
Which of course in Ron Paul’s case is absolutely nothing.
I know, don’t bother you with the reality of who Paul is, or who makes up the vast bulk of his support. You worship him because he pushes your emotional hot buttons and that is all that matters to you Paulbots
I am beginning to have a lot of doubt about those polls. I have been following the meetup group numbers for a little over 2 weeks and his supporters there have increased over 20% in that time span.
Most people who can afford $1,000 a plate dinners are in favor of keeping the status quo. Many people in the meetup groups are contributing more than $1,000 in time, materials, and effort. E.g., I started a meetup group and a person offered me a prime spot on a busy road for a bill board supporting RP. All we have to do is make the sign.
The other thing you have to consider is how much it costs the other candidates to get a crowd at their speeches. It costs RP very little.
He is also starting to get some press coverage. The other story posted today about his talk in Seattle had a standing room only crowd. In the comments after the article, several people who were there said that the reported number of people attending (200+) was off by at least 50% (400+).
One percenter, Ron Paul.
Wow someone using a Lew Rockwell as source... That is accurate information..
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