Ron Paul Speaks in Front of 9,000 In Minneapolis

by Rob Walker | September 3, 2008 at 11:48 am

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US Republican Ron Paul didn't just speak in front of a crowd of 9,000+ people, he blasted the Republican Party for ignoring important issues like deficit spending and civil liberties.

"If we are Republicans and we believe in limited government and personal liberty we ought to be talking about these things, and I don't think they are really too interested," he said of the national convention downriver in the Twin Cities.
The Republican congressman from Lake Jackson in the Houston area listed monetary policy, foreign policy, and government surveillance of citizens along with his budget concerns.

In an interview with CNN, Paul also said there was "not a heck of a lot to like" about presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama, partly because he considers them flip-floppers.

While Ron Paul's presidential bid is finished, his immense online presence and the huge amount of supporters, as well as his openly against republican policy, there are many who wonder if he will defect to the libertarian party.

For more than a decade, Paul has had a rocky relationship with the Republican Party--and this year, his decision not to endorse anyone for president didn't help. The GOP returned the favor this week by not giving Paul full access to the official convention. The former presidential candidate told reporters on Tuesday morning that he would be allowed only on the convention floor with a chaperone and with limited or no staff.
What McCain is likely worried about is the threat of Paul supporters defecting to the Libertarian Party candidate, Bob Barr, who has generally similar views. Barr is already positioning himself as the pro-privacy choice, and arguing that both major parties are far too indistinguishable on far too many issues.

And he won't be attending the Republican National Convention either, after the RNC gave him a pass only to the convention floor, and no (or very few) staff. Sounds like a snub! Not the best of ideas if McCain actually wants to try to court him.

Texas Congressman and grassroots phenom Ron Paul told reporters this morning he is not likely to attend the Republican National Convention taking place this week at St. Paul's Xcel Center. Blaming the RNC Rules Committee for granting him only limited access to the convention floor, Paul said he would prefer to stay away from those who would try to "chaperone" his visit to the convention.
"They've given me a pass that is second class," Paul said. "It's a bit of a slight."