Standing in line in the Rosenberg Gallery, (the Gallery makes up the lobby for the Kraushaar Auditorium at Goucher College) I was waiting for a friend. A friend I had made just two weeks earlier at the same venue, while listening to former General Counsel of the U.S. Navy, Alberto Mora.
I was one person of approximately 1,000 people, made up of Goucher Students, young professionals, older couples and blue collar workers of all ages. I saw Jews and Gentiles alike. Young married couples with kids in tow and a few individuals that I guessed to be of Middle Eastern descent. We were all waiting for the same thing. The doors to open to Kraushaar Auditorium so we could begin filing in to hear the speaker.
That person being the Republican Congressman from Texas running for President of the United States, Dr. Ron Paul. The free Ron Paul event at Goucher College Monday night, was as hot a commodity as any concert ticket could have been. There was a line formed next to will-call for those not having a ticket but hoping that all of the tickets may not have been spoken for.
There was also a long queue for those wanting to buy Ron Paul’s latest book, The Revolution A Manifesto.
I was fortunate that my new friend (he and two of his buddies drove 2 hours from southern Maryland to hear Ron Paul) had saved a ticket for me. We hooked up and walked into the Kraushaar Auditorium, me with my point and shoot camera, he with his video camera, and found a seat down at the foot of the stage.
After some preliminary remarks by Goucher President Sanford Ungar, and a Goucher Student Representative, Paul made his appearance to the Lectern. One would think that Paul had already clenched the GOP nomination! Ron Paul was met with approximately 1,000 people standing and waving Ron Paul for President placards and bumper stickers.
After allowing the crowds frenzy to die down a bit, Congressman Paul started his speech. Speaking completely off the cuff, but never at a loss for words, he explained his view on the Iraq War (he voted against it) his passion for personal liberties and limited Federal Government intervention. His desire to work with our allies and those not our allies and not impose our Government and values on others. Paul spoke with knowledge and insight into the money supply, the value of the dollar abroad and why he supports going back to the gold standard. His remarks condemning the Federal Government’s illegal wiretaps and citizen eavesdropping drew applause and standing ovations.
He explained why he voted against the Patriot Act (that doesn’t make you less patriotic) and why he would work to overturn Roe v Wade (Ron Paul is an OB/GYN doctor). So many of his remarks resulted in an almost revival-type response with people shouting “Yes!” and “Alright!” One topic that was absent in his talk was that of immigration. Immigration is addressed on his website (http://www.ronpaul2008.com/). But was MIA at Goucher.
After 40 minutes of Paul talking, he was ready to take questions. As is the policy of Goucher College, Students have the first, and usually only opportunity, to ask questions. As Dr. Ungar pointed out; “after all it’s their tuition that pays for this.” Point well made.
The students queued up and asked a variety of questions, ranging from women’s pay gap discrepancy to abortion to the Iraq War. As an aside, Dr. Ungar’s ability to call many of the Students by name impressed me.
The evening finished with Ron Paul signing his books that had been purchased (and sold out I might add).
I found Congressman Ron Paul to be knowledgeable, gracious and yet somewhat like an old-time country doctor. He had that down-home, common-sense quality that reminds you of an older uncle that you used to visit in the summertime. Ron Paul definitely has a following as was evident Monday night, even his wife was courted and interviewed. A grass roots following that is loyal, diverse, and very much in touch with the political goings-on.
Dr. Paul is surely in touch with most of the “political goings-on.” Except for the one where he is still a viable presidential candidate.
He has many views that I can agree with, and I think it is important that somebody is out there talking about these things.
Here’s an explanation on why Dr. Paul being in the area didn’t get any coverage:
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/local/rodricks/blog/2008/04/ron_paul_at_goucher.html
News space was at a premium. Must have had a big run of “oriental massage palors” buy advertising space this week.
I went to see Ron Paul on Monday night. I’m a grad student at Goucher and reserved tickets as soon as they announced the event.
I voted for Ron Paul and donated to his campaign–I even put out a sign on my lawn! (While I took it down after the primary, I’m still rocking the bumper sticker)
BTW–How long is too long to keep a political bumper sticker on your car? Am I the only one who wants to secretly rip off those “Kerry/Edwards” stickers?
Whenever I see a driver with O’Malley sticker I just want to flip him off.
Can bumper stickers really incite road rage?
As far as Ron Paul–he is a truth teller, and the MSM along wtih the American People don’t like hearing the truth. They want the ever abstract and obscure “CHANGE.”
When you hear Ron Paul speak or read his message–he talks about SPECIFIC things, things that will truly CHANGE our country, save our economy and perpetuate our freedom.
Go Ron Paul!
You can also check out the voting record of Ron Paul at
http://www.votesmart.org.
archetypicalhero; the maximum life expectancy of a bumper sticker depends on two factors; the type of car and political persuasion of the driver. It is mandatory that all Yugos sport a McGovern sticker for example. The Kerry/Edwards stickers reflect a rabid left wing kook who should not only be off the roads but is deserving of extermination. It’s also important to know the difference between people of different party persuasions; The difference between a Republican and a Democrat…
John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama were walking down a
Washington D.C. street when they came upon a homeless person.
John McCain gave the homeless person his business card and told him
to come to his office for a job. He then took $20 out of his pocket and gave
it to the homeless person.
Hillary was very impressed, so when they came upon another homeless
person, she decided to help. She walked over to the homeless person and
gave him directions to the welfare office. She then reached into John McCain’s
pocket and pulled out $20. She kept $15 for her administrative fees and gave the homeless person $5.
When they came upon yet another homeless person, Obama told the
homeless person to ‘have hope…change is coming’…and gave him nothing.
Now, do you understand the difference?
Wow Dave. What an atypical load of tired cliches. McGovern?
No R’s or D’s on the Dag unless you have a point, whaddaya say?
Josh,
You can’t be neutral on a moving train, right?
MW
Lighten up Joshua! R and D actually stand for republicrats and demicans. Where, other than in the simple little minds of the few, is there any difference between the two major parties? I am still a registered R but don’t support the party in any way and am sitting back waiting for a real third party to emerge.
When the election is finished in November do you think the best man or woman will have won? The reality of it is that even before the winnowing process began there wasn’t on candidate from either party that I wanted to occupy my White House. H L Menken did a great article years ago about this subject. Maybe I can find under one of the piles in my office and we can repeat it here.
The weather is great and the economy is about to get better! Love life!
Yeah, I’m really behind the times with that whole “neutral” thing, I guess.
Dr. Paul not only voted against invading Iraq, he spoke out many times in congress against the war and also wrote several papers in protest long before it became popular.
Dave makes a very good point…and many feel the same way. The values exhibited by the parties we are registered to change…and in many cases there is a CORE reason we are registered that way, verses a showing of support for current politics and policies.
Every four years, I become more and more convinced that it really doesn’t matter who occupies the Oval Office, beyond which SNL regular will get to portray them in opening act sketches.
Consider that every time one party wins the White House, the other fills the seats in the Congress, and neither side advances any constructive agenda.
Back and forth, back and forth, and the republic carries on.
We get up every day, go to work, try and teach our kids right from wrong, wash cars, mow grass, whatever.
Meanwhile, 70 miles away, Senator Bigfish or Congressman Whistlepecker hold hearings on C-SPAN to determine whether or not violent video games are causing night terrors among the pre-pubescent Innuit population.
The truth remains that the only sure things ARE death and taxes.
Sometimes we pay more, RARELY do we pay less, and the republic carries on.
McCain, Clinton, Obama, Yo’mamma. Presidential candidates are like mid sized cars. You have your 5 series BMWs, your Chevy Impalas, and your Hyundai Sonatas. Some have cloth interiors, some leather. Some have power sunroofs, automatic starters.
But, get beyond the aesthetics, and they’re all just grocery getters that you’re only going to keep for a few years and then trade-in for a new one.
And the republic carries on.
Well said Dell!
Dell, you impress me! Your cynicism mixed with wit is great.
Thanks, fellas. Some people cling to guns and God, I cling to cynicism and derision.
LABORO PRO TOTUS!!