On March 10, Congressman Ron Paul visited Lindenwood in an attempt to instruct and inspire more people to visit the caucus at Francis Howell North on March 17. Before Paul spoke, many meetings were held to get the Lindenwood students excited for caucuses. Beginning at one, an instructional meeting was held to inform voters on what to do at thier caucuses and how they should react if they feel like something isn’t going correctly. The main point besides teaching the students how to respond to problems in the voting process, was to inspire them to bring more people onto Paul’s team and gain more votes. The speaker at the conference stated simply:
” I want you to show me how much you want the constitution, I want you to show me how much you want Ron Paul.”
At two, the gymnasium where Paul was to speak was opened to Lindenwood students and then to the public. Before his speech, the audience was buzzing with excitement. Paul stands for many controversial issues and calls for radical change in a lot of places, somethign that his supporters have no problem with.
Paul supporter Pat Mackay stated “The definition of insanity is to do the same thing over and over, so are we insane? People are afraid of radical change but we really need it… together, we are going to change the world.”
Ron Pinn, another Paul supporter offered more insight into the election and other candidates.
“Romney is really just a wet blanket… he’s a ken doll, you put him up there, pull his string and he recites lines. And hey, if you’re an Obama supporter then you just don’t know whats going on.”
Paul was preceded by two important introductory guests. Missouri GOP Chairman Brent Stafford pleaded to those in attendance.
“Don’t go to your caucusses alone, Missouri is the largest caucus state in the country, so lets make national news… We will win Missouri for Ron Paul!”
Next came representative Paul Kurtman for District 105, who worked to excite the crowd for their presidential candidate.
“Unfortunately, sometimes people tend to be distracted by all the blessings we have been given… and every now and then, somebody comes along… they know exactly the principles of freedom and liberty that America deserves, that man is congressman Ron Paul. ”
Congressman Paul then entered the room followed by a tsunami of yelling and cheering. Paul then went on to present his stance on what the people wanted to hear, everything from debt to inflation, from war to drug laws.
“We have to take it upon ourselves to change the course of history in this country… to stop this special interest and give that money to the American people, our rights and liberties come from our maker, not from our government… We need a different foriegn policy, not a foriegn policy of indifference, domination and war… Should the right of government to protect us from ourselves and our own poor judgement? I’ve met alot of politicians and let me tell you, none of them are smart enough to tell you whats best for you.”
Before answering a few questions from a previously selected few, Congessman Paul summarized his thoughts.
“Its time we reasserted ourselves… what I sense in this country is a lot of people who are sick and tired of it and want change it… I am the candidate for freedom and we should send only individuals who have read the Constitution, know the Constitution and obey the Constitution.”
After his final speech, Paul took time to answer a few questions from Lindenwood students before he had to leave to visit another school. As he left, Paul took the time to shake hands on the way to his car. Students and Ron Paul supporters then gathered their things and went home with a new excitement about the upcoming presidential election.
Package by Jon Doty, Kendrick Gaussoin, Kaitlyn Williams and Murphy Riley
