Idaho Panhandler - GOP Presidential Hopeful Rand Paul Speaks at NIC
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By Chanse Watson
Continuing his campaign across the west, GOP presidential candidate and Kentucky Senator Rand Paul spoke to a crowd of over 500 people at North Idaho College on Wednesday.
With a brief video from Paul's wife, Kelley Ashby, to start the event, Idaho Representative Raul Labrador took the stage to introduce the Kentucky Senator. Rep. Labrador spoke highly of Dr. Paul, saying the he admires his "ability to speak passionately and forcibly, but in a way that reaches your heart." This speaking ability, Labrador said, is one of the many reasons why Paul can attract a wide range of people with different political stances; not just conservatives and republicans.
Paul himself spoke for 30 minutes, presenting his unique blend of libertarian and conservative beliefs to a supportive North Idaho crowd. Rand demonstrated his knowledge of the constitution and the function of the federal government early on, quoting Thomas Paine saying that "Government is a necessary evil" and then adding that "it's not that government is inherently stupid, although that's debatable, its that they don't get the right incentives." Paul then continued to play to his strengths, hitting on his plan of a 14.5% flat tax for people and businesses, reminding everyone of the billions of dollars the United States sends every year to countries that persecute Christians, and criticized other politicians (Democrats and Republicans alike) for not upholding the constitution and violating individual liberties.
Paul also made sure to clarify his foreign policy stance by saying, "I have a great deal of respect for our soldiers, but I also have a great deal of respect for ALL of our sons and daughters, that I'm not sending our sons and daughters to a war unless I would be willing to send my kids." He drove home his stance by saying that, "If you want more war in the middle east, there will always be a Bush or a Clinton."
Today, Paul is in Boise hosting several more rallies in a state that many would consider to be friendly territory for Paul, since his father Ron Paul won several counties in the state three years ago in the previous GOP primary.
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