patching...
Update: The next chapter of your community's story begins with a single voice. Yours. Blog on Patch. »
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Ron Paul Visits University of Iowa with Anti-War Message

Texas Congressman says he would cut a trillion dollars off the budget in the first year.

 

Texas Congressman and Republican Presidential Candidate, Ron Paul, told a 1000-plus person crowd at the University of Iowa that he won’t hesitate to cut a trillion dollars out of the budget by getting rid of five government departments and slashing the military budget down to $500 billion.

On his most recent swing through Iowa, Paul said he has been accused of being unpatriotic for his anti-war stance, but the recent movement of “American Exceptionalism,” he said, in which American ideals are “force(d) down the throats of everybody and if they don’t accept us we’re going to bomb them to oblivion” is both not right and expensive.

“This whole notion that people go into the military just to fight wars, useless wars that aren’t even declared, is complete nonsense,” he said. “They’re willing to defend our country, but they don’t want to just go to war for the sake of war.”

It was Paul’s unique stance against war that brought out Bo Zhou, a post-doc medical student with the University of Iowa, to hear more.

“I don’t know that much about him but I did know he’s anti-war,” she said.

“Being a doctor, he might have a different view on government and how to take care of people.”

Paul downplayed the anti-military label, noting his top three individual campaign contributors are people from the Air Force, Army and Navy. He added that his opponent “in the top of the polls right now,” Mitt Romney’s top three campaign contributors were from three big banking institutions.

Brian Hallstead, a Linn County co-chairman of the Ron Paul 2012 campaign for president, also attended the event with his family. He said Paul has a 35-year track record and the experience to be able to create real change.

“The hope and change the country was promised four years ago hasn’t really come to fruition in the way it was put forth to us,” he said. “Our troops are still in multiple countries, we still have 900 bases on 150 different countries so we’re basically subsidizing the local economies.

“Getting the right person in the Whitehouse, like Dr. Ron Paul, is essential - he can bring an end to what is causing us such grief now and financial hardship in this country.”

Paul touted state and the constitutional rights of Americans, such as the 2nd Amendment. He told the cheering crowd the older notion of a government taking care of its people is outdated, and a newer confidence is needed in creating a free society.

“We have to have a new understanding and a new conviction that what we want to have is to be able to live in a free society and have the right to our lives, the right to our bodies and the right to the fruits of our labor,” he said.

Paul said many of the freedoms that Americans enjoy - many countries don’t have - are being frittered away.

“Most of history has been dominated by tyranny and today Americans are annoyed, upset, confused at times, but I don’t know if they clearly understand that we’re having less and less freedom and more and more tyranny and it’s going in the opposite direction and we need to change that direction,” he said. “That is my goal and my intent, to fight for the cause of liberty to make sure we have the maximum amount of freedom and the maximum amount of prosperity in this country.”

Correction: The article originally stated that Paul wants to slash the military budget down to 500,000 billion. The correct figure is $500 billion.

Related Topics: Iowa, Ron Paul, Ron Paul 2012, Texas Congressman, University of Iowa, participate 2011, participate 2012, and republican candidates
What do you like most about Ron Paul? Tell us in the comments.

john parks

8:14 am on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Research Ron Paul and the more you look, the better he looks! He's our only hope! If not him then its four more years of this nation circling the drain. Be sure to tune in online 11/11/11 for the thrive movement.

Reply

Jim McClarin

8:31 am on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Some have the knee-jerk reaction that Ron Paul is too old to be president. They haven't viewed the thousands of supporter-produced YouTube videos showing an energetic, engaging campaigner who draws more young adults than even Obama to his events. Nor have they heard that Ron Paul is an exercise buff who typically fits a morning walk and afternoon bicycle ride into his schedule. He recently challenged his opponents to a 20-mile bike ride in Houston when it's 100 degrees F and 100% humidity "to see who's the youngest." Paul has also written three best-selling (on Amazon) books in the past four years and issues regular columns and vlogs.

Reply

windwardtack

9:03 am on Saturday, October 22, 2011

His plan to cut a trillion in the first year is on his website, and is called the 'Restore America Plan'. It funds social security and medicare and veteran's benefits with the cuts, and allows people 25 or under to opt out of the system altogether if they want to. It will balance the budget in 3 years while ending taxes on interest from personal savings so people can have a nest egg.

Check it out.

Reply

dustin

4:28 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

For the love of God and his will to give us naturally restrained liberty vote Ron Paul. When you want a more logic based reason to support him just listen to the man speak. The evidence of what he says is all around us whether we chose to realize it or not. You can only blame your self when crap hits the fan because the opportunity to elect this proven leader is a reality. He can fix the disease instead of alleviating the symptoms. Still I fear a lot of us will cover our ears and pass it up, ignoring histories lessons.

Reply

Douglas MacIlroy

5:17 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Ron Paul is the one. If we do not elect him this time then we'll get what we deserve. More of the same and that won't last cause I can't keep paying for it. Ron Paul in 2012. Wake up People!

The government does not fear you as much as they should. They still believe they are the masters and you are the servants. Time to turn that around. Vote Ron Paul.

Google him, listen, research and don't listen to your TV. it lies. You tube Ron Paul. Restore America now!

Reply

jason graves

5:29 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Ron Paul served in the airforce achieving rank as captain and he knows that war only kills. This is the time to elect a real president for the people. America needs a captain that has been through history and is here to save us now and our children's future. Vote Ron Paul 2012 even of you have to write it in.

Reply

Phil Stanley

5:34 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Today, myself and several other Ron Paul supporters went to uptown Charlotte NC to distribute Ron Paul literature and ran into the group of Wall Street Protesters there. At 1st we were apprehensive about paying them a visit but, to our surprise, when we entered their camp, we were welcomed with much enthusiasm. We sat down with them and discussed the issues that our nation faces and we were pleasently surprised that this particular group has decided to narrow their protest messages down to "Getting Wall Street Out Of Our House In Washington" and "Removing the money from Politics". We found that we all have a lot in common. It was a worthwhile day of canvassing and making new friends.

Reply

Jillian Pierone

6:51 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

GO TO www.Shop4Liberty.com and go to the SEASONAL category to buy HALLOWEEN COSTUMES!!!! 13% OF EVERY SALE ON HALLOWEEN COSTUMES and DECORATIONS when you use the banner ad on shop4liberty goes to support the RON PAUL FUNDRAISER- funding the creation and distribution of FREE RON PAUL ACTIVIST KITS! sign up for your free activist kit under the "4 activists' tab and invite your friend to the Black (this out) Friday Shop4Liberty and Sign Bomb- Where your Christmas shopping will support the cause of liberty and Ron Paul! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=269319426425910 <--
Invite your friends!!! due to FEC regulations, the campaign cannot directly endorse this bomb- so we need all of the grassroots help we can get to promote this event! please share!

Reply

MSM

8:04 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

FUTURE PRESIDENT PAUL there is no one who believes and lives by Our Constitution more than you do ! There is no one who believes in "WE THE PEOPLE" and this Country than you do ! There is no one who is more dignified and devoted to RESTORING this Country more than you are ! There is no one who deserves the HONOR of serving the 99% more than YOU do ! Lastly there is no individual who "WE THE PEOPLE" want to be OUR PRESIDENT in 2012 !! Thank you and thank your family for your years and dedication to this Country ...

Reply

mountain fighting

9:01 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Ron Paul is a God send in this era of economic misery. Finally a candidate with actual solutions rather than special interests - a candidate of the people. The main stream media just doesn't realize that their attempts to margenalize him will backfire as the internet represents a more powerful medium than cable TV.

Reply

Jeffrey Kelly

10:32 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Ron Paul has the American peoples best interest in mind, his economic plan will save our economy, prevent the collapse of the dollar, and the total break down of law and order that would proceed if the economy did hit the skids! Look what is happing in Greece! If the dollar crashes things will get really ugly here in this country. We will spare our nation such a fate by electing the only candidate with a thirty year consistant record of conservitism, a plan for turning the economy around in the first year and balancing the budget in year three of his first term! America things are way worse than the MSM is telling you! Ron Paul predicted the housing crash of 2008, and now he is warning us of impending economic doom if the federal government is allowed to continue to print money. Look what Bank of America just did, 75 trillion of Bad bets was just laid in our lap and the Federal Reserve bent over the American people by backing it up! So now if BOA goes under We the People are on the hook for an additional 75 trillion dollars of bad debt! We must elect an honest man, a man that will turn the money flow from Wall Street to Congress off, and work to end the secret deals, bailouts, endless printing of money by the Federal Reserve. Peace, Prosperity, and Liberty is what Ron Paul will bring to this nation!

Reply

Helvidius Priscus

10:54 pm on Saturday, October 22, 2011

Research the other guys and the more you look the less you like! Here is an interesting article on how the Tea Party has lost its way by supporting Herman Cain: http://blogforliberty.com/2011/10/17/hello-world/

Reply

Leave a comment