Posted on 02/11/2008 1:16:04 PM PST by buffyt
LAKE JACKSON — In what promised to be very different gatherings, Republican candidates Congressman Ron Paul and Friendswood Mayor Pro Tem Chris Peden met with District 14 constituents in Lake Jackson on Sunday to campaign for a seat in Congress.
Peden is challenging Paul in the March 4 primary. Early voting begins Feb. 19.
The candidates each had a rally at the Lake Jackson Civic Center on Sunday, and both said the overlapping times and shared venue simply were coincidence.
The signs hundreds of Paul’s supporters held were both for his campaign for the Republican nomination for president, in which he is forging on despite Arizona Sen. John McCain’s near mathematical lock on the nomination, and for Paul’s campaign to keep his seat in Congress.
Weatherford resident Michelle Roberts said she came to Lake Jackson with about 200 other supporters because she believes in the message Paul has for reform in government.
“He’s the first president since Thomas Jefferson that I believe in that supports our Constitutional rights and our liberties, and I love him as a man,” Roberts said. “In researching what he’s done for this country, his voting record, his character is what we need for this country. This is the hope for America.”
Peden had a devoted crowd, as well, and many of his supporters said they were former Paul supporters.
“As the war went on, we believe that the only way that we’re going to stop terrorism is to meet it head on,” Lake Jackson resident Glenn Dupont said. “So some of the comments that Ron Paul has made regarding the war has made us look elsewhere, to look at Chris and to support him.”
Paul told his supporters that America needed to go back to a time when the Constitution was strictly followed.
“One thing I have never been accused of by any of my opponents has been that I violated the Constitution,” Paul said. “That has been my oath of office, it is the fact that I am out of step, maybe, with Washington because maybe there’s a few others that don’t have enough respect for our Constitution.”
During his rally, Paul read an endorsement from Peden he said was written a year ago.
“I have an immense amount of respect for Ron Paul,” the letter read. “Politics has a way of forcing people to go against their core principles for political gain. That has never been the case with Ron Paul.”
“If our enemies are talking about us like that, then we should do well in this election,” Paul said.
Peden’s camp said he did write that about Paul, and they continue to believe that statement is true.
“That is, in fact, our position on Dr. Paul,” said Onzelo Markum, Peden’s political director. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for Dr. Paul. However, we believe that on several vital issues to this nation ... Dr. Paul is profoundly and consistently and deeply wrong.”
Peden spoke to more than 100 people and said his reason for running for Congress is to let the voice of the people be heard.
“I’m not running for Congress to make a point,” Peden said. “I’m running for Congress to make a difference.”
Peden said would like to see a more secure border and to cut down on immigration, help improve the educational system and remain on the offense in the War on terrorism.
“We need to seal that border for national security, not immigration,” Peden said.
Taking troops out of foreign countries, cutting down on federal spending and improving America’s borders are things Paul said he would like to see addressed.
“If we want our fiscal house in order, we have to start cutting,” he said.
Erin McKeon is a reporter for The Facts. Contact her at (979) 237-0152.
Comments on the candidates?
Interesting comment.
It tells us much about Michelle Roberts.
She believes that Ron Paul is the president.
She believes that the president is running for Congress.
She believes that James Madison and Ronald Reagan, among others, opposed Americans' constitutional rights and liberties.
She believes that a man who once sported a 75 rating from the National Abortion Rights Action League represents "hope for America" and she "loves him as a man."
In other words, she is a moonbat and Ron Paul is her candidate.
That about sums it up.
This lady typifies a Paulrhoid 100%
Not only is she a cult member of Ron Paul 08', but also believes he is president.
Thank God that he isn't.
An interesting, and telling, comment.
Is Peden a McCain supporter? Is he supported by Juan Hernandez?
I would not think that Chris Peden is a McCain SUPPORTER. Now whether or not he will vote for him, is secret ballot I guess. But I do not think he is a SUPPORTER of McCain. I don’t know ANY Republican who IS.
MOST of the people at the Paul rally were normal people I have known for 35 years. Teacher, doctors, a mayor. I do not know if they were all big Paul supporters or if they were there because a US Presidential candidate was there. No way of knowing that. Of course there are nuts in any crowd, but most are good people I have known forever. They love to interview the oddballs not the boring normal people.
I was very impressed with Chris Peden as our candidate for congress, District 14 Texas.
TV coverage, and more coverage on the Chris Peden site.
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou080210_tnt_ronpaul.acac0bcf.html?npc
The video is not real good here but the sound is OK. Peden is speaking to a Republican Womens Club.
Listen to Chris on the immigration issue. Chris was one of the people promoting "english first" in Friendswood. Call Rick Dovalina with LULAC in Houston and see what THEY think of Peden. They will not be kind. LOL!
It's amazing how little the supporters of Ron Paul or anyone else in the country knows about the district that Paul is in. We are not a bunch of wackos or Libertarians.
Paul detractors rightfully got upset that rumors persisted of Paul running as a 3rd party candidate in case he didn't get the nomination.
Now just the other day he sent an email reaffirming his support of staying in the Republican Party. Couldn't the establishment at least refrain from running against him in his Congressional district or are they blinded by their hatred of Paul? The man's obviously not going to go 3rd party which would have easily gave Hillary/Obama the WH. Can't you guys just appreciate that he's virtually out of the race and will return to Congressional obscurity? Why run a candidate against him and add insult to injury?
Yeah, yeah...go ahead and post the photo-shopped pic of the Iranian President holding the Revolution sign in response.
You drew those conclusions and you’re not? ROTFLOL!
Gee...ya think?
Sorry, Extremely Extreme Extremist...it's time you come to grips with the fact that there are few conservatives left, and that much of FR is authoritarian heaven.
And you trust the MSM to report accurately, I note.
Thank you for your perspective.
Yeah all fifty of them. = )
More like 150 of them. Peden is gaining support.
I’m reading Dale Carnegie’s seminal work, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Both Ron Paul supporters and detractors could benefit from the chapter on winning an argument.
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