Texas Congressman Ron Paul told a full house at the Carson Nugget on Tuesday he believes Americans are finally seeing the nation needs to repair its foreign policy and begin restoring Constitutional liberties.
He spoke before some 250 Republicans, independents and even a few Democrats ranging from high school- and college-age students to senior citizens who interrupted him numerous times with applause.
"It's foreign policy where we've gone astray," he said.
But, he said, that happened because the people running the country "lost respect for the rule of law and the constitution."
"They just do whatever they want. But people are starting to wake up."
He said the U.S. foreign policy is "interventionism," which has vastly increased the country's enemies in the world, cost the nation hundreds of billions of dollars and badly weakened the economy.
"I would end the war. I would bring our troops home - not just from the Middle East. I would bring them home from Japan, and Korea and Europe as well."
He said the nation needs to follow the advice of the founding fathers: "Mind our own business and get out of all those places."
Paul, a 10-term congressman, said doing that would save hundreds of millions of American dollars and help the nation get back on its economic feet.
The problem is, he said, "powerful special interests interested in protecting the military-industrial complex are in charge."
He repeated his long-time positions that the Federal Reserve should be disbanded and the nation returned to a gold standard for its currency. He said he would abolish the income tax and, if asked what would replace it, "I tell them freedom."
He said with a much smaller government, user fees and other revenues would support the needs without an income tax.
He said it's time for the American people to take back their government and reclaim the liberties guaranteed them by the Constitution. And he said the growing interest in his campaign is evidence they are ready to do just that because, he said, the Constitution wasn't written to restrain people as the current government seems to believe.
"The Constitution was written to restrain government."
He said his goal is to greatly reduce the size of the federal government and put people back in charge of their own lives.
He admitted many people would make bad choices, but said in medical matters, personal finance, lifestyle and other areas, that's their right and the government should get out of their business.
"Freedom means we can make bad choices," he said.
• Contact reporter Geoff Dornan at gdornan@nevadaappeal.com or 687-8750.
Ron Paul
• Born August 1935 in Pittsburgh
• Graduated from Duke Medical School 1961 and served as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force. Specialty gynecology/obstetrics. Says he has delivered more than 4,000 babies in his career.
• Served as a Republican member of Congress from Texas in 1976-77, 1979-1985.
• Returned to medical practice in Lake Jackson, Texas
• Re-elected to Congress in 1997-present.
• Only Republican candidate to have opposed and voted against the Iraq War. But voted for use of force against terrorists in Afghanistan.
• Opposes amnesty and birthright citizenship for illegal aliens.
• Advocates ending the federal income tax and reducing government spending by abolishing most federal agencies.
• Opposes the Patriot Act and War on Drugs.
• Strongly pro-life, advocates overturning Roe vs. Wade.
• Introduced legislation to make tip/toke income nontaxable.