Rand Paul 2016: Principle is How the GOP Will Win Over Millennials

policymic.com ^ | March 3 2013 | Zack Fulkerson

[BarnacleCenturion]

The Republican Party is at an impetus. Reflecting upon the 2012 primaries, it is easy for us to see how split the party has become. There was Rick Santorum, running almost entirely on social issues like abortion and family values, who drew a great deal of controversy by talking about bans on pornography and contraception. There was Ron Paul, an unwavering constitutional libertarian who championed Austrian economics and an end to wars abroad. He stood alongside Governor Rick Perry of Texas, who offered up a plan to go to war with Turkey and Venezuela.

Eventually the party was left with Mitt Romney — a flip-flopping moderate who ultimately failed to hit President Obama where it hurts on the economy. Disenfranchised libertarians who had supported Congressman Paul left the RNC to start their own convention across the street. Many either did not vote, or jumped ships to Libertarian Party candidate Gary Johnson, also a former 2012 Republican candidate. Millions of conservatives, who were simply not convinced that Governor Romney was their guy, stayed home from the polls that day.

It is no coincidence that Congressman Paul did the best amongst the younger members of the Republican Party, holding a 30% plurality of voters 18-29. Paul's message of limited government, fiscal responsibility, personal freedom, and non-interventionism is increasingly popular amongst young voters. In order to garnish the support of these individuals, the GOP must embrace these same principles. This would not be any drastic or fundamental change in the party platform; it is simply reverting back to the fundamental concepts which the party was founded upon.

[cripplecreek]

I'm not ruling him out. But as a social conservative I have serious doubts.

I like him too but the libertarians are making the same mistake they always make and getting overexcited and self destructing while pulling the candidate down with them.

[Lakeshark]

Santorum lost by 3% to Romney, unfortunately that’s not a tie. Romney got 41% of the vote, Santorum 38%. A good showing, but that’s not a tie.

[cripplecreek]

The Michigan Republican Party (MRP) Credentials Committee voted 4-2 last night to give Mitt Romney both of the state's at-large delegates, State Policy Committee Chair Mike Cox told MIRS today.

Cox was one of two "no" votes on the committee which met via telephone, along with attorney Eric Doster The "yes" votes included GOP National Committeeman Saul Anuzis, a Romney supporter, and MRP Chair Bobby Schostak.

That would put the delegate split at 16 for Romney and 14 for Rick Santorum, after each candidate won 14 delegates apiece in those divided by Michigan's 14 congressional districts.

As MIRS first reported on Wednesday, the MRP was delaying a final decision on the delegate split until after consulting with attorneys.

Cox said that according to the MRP rules, Santorum and Romney should each get one of Michigan's two at-large delegates based on their take of the popular vote.

"I supported Mitt, but the vote was clearly wrong," Cox said of the Credentials Committee. "It's kind of like Third World voting. We published rules and then we voted to change the rules."

Because The Narrative Cannot Survive A Rewrite

[Lakeshark]

Interesting. Romney still won by three percentage points. On that basis he tied Bambi, or maybe even won since that was closer to two percentage points....

:-)

[cripplecreek]

Whatever, I’m not going to argue about it. Cox lays it out clearly.

[McGruff]

You are not alone.

[JCBreckenridge]

How’s that Newt working out for ya?

Last I checked he was pumping up gay marriage.

[JCBreckenridge]

Exactly, and last I checked he won as many states as Romney did in 2008.

Pity FReepers aren’t getting behind a solid conservative candidate who’s proven he can run a good campaign.

[cripplecreek]

Rush Limbaugh figured it our early.

Rush: Romney is winning like a liberal

I knew this election would turn out the way it did.

[ansel12]

Lower the drinking age to 18. That will get quite a few young votes. That would also cause some problems, but electorally that’s a winning idea.

It used to be 18, how does it change how people vote?

[ansel12]

Santorum was kicked out of his Senate seat by a larger margin than Christine O’Donnell lost in her rookie attempt to take Biden’s seat.

Santorum is a lifelong supporter of Arlen Specter who switched to Romney in 2008.

Santorum is very much like his man Romney, he was anti-Reagan, and became pro-life to run for office.

[sgtyork]

Yes, the enemy media came after him. Like most Republicans —he was unready for it.

Just like the war on women etc. etc.

The media is the enemy and if you have strong opinions on social issues be ready to beat it.

[sgtyork]

All very true.

But we have a power hungry socialist in the White House who is threatening many of our freedoms. He is dooming hundreds of thousands to poverty by his punishing economics. It is his party that is happy to firehose pornography into our culture.

We needed to end him - and confusing the issue just allowed him to be reelected.

[JCBreckenridge]

He’s also solidly prolife, and unlike newt, doesn’t support Gay marriage. :D

[JCBreckenridge]

So did I. Warn I did, Freepers, listen they did not.

[ansel12]

That’s just it, Santorum has always supported abortion behind the scenes, even endorsing removing life from the GOP platform in 1996, only a few years after he admits that he switched from his abortion position as he started his first run for office, just like Romney.

[JCBreckenridge]

“has always supported abortion behind the scenes”.

So you’re a liar as well.

What other lies do you have?

[ansel12]

Your ignorance does not make other people liars, and you can lay off the name calling and stay on the subject, or is this the kind of Christian support that Santorum attracts?

[JCBreckenridge]

Stating that Rick Santorum has always supported abortion ‘behind the scenes’ is a filthy lie.

“you can lay off the name calling”

Liars Lie. ‘Rats gotta tax and ansel has to lie.

[ansel12]

Have you ever wondered why Santorum fought tooth and nail to keep Arlen Specter in power, or even wanted to make him president, until finally the republicans managed to get rid of Specter, with Santorum then switching his allegiance to Mitt Romney?