'HE REALLY MAKES YOU THINK': GOP hopeful attacks his party's positions - News

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Dec. 14, 2007
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

'HE REALLY MAKES YOU THINK': GOP hopeful attacks his party's positions

Paul speaks in Henderson

By PAUL HARASIM
REVIEW-JOURNAL

2008 ELECTIONS
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Ron Paul waits behind a curtain before speaking Thursday at the Henderson International School.
Photo by Ronda Churchill

Seldom in the course of human events have elementary and secondary school students heard a Republican presidential candidate say that elected officials in the nation's capitol "have very little respect for the Constitution."

But they did Thursday at the Henderson International School, where a student's senior year of high school costs a family more than $16,000.

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With their parents and grandparents, the students also heard presidential candidate Ron Paul suggest that Osama bin Laden, whose followers killed nearly 3,000 Americans on Sept. 11, 2001, was motivated not by envy of American's freedom but by a hatred of America's empire-building presence in the Middle East.

"He really makes you think," said 17-year-old E.J. Rudy, a senior who hopes to attend McAlester College in Minnesota next year.

In his campaign stop, Paul did what he always does: Stake out positions far from the standard Republican Party line.

And that seemed to please Marguerite Mercaldo, whose 10-year-old grandson, Christopher Herrero, attends the Henderson school.

"I'm very pro-Ron Paul," she said, adding that she is tired of the deficit spending and war promoted by the Bush administration.

The Texas congressman said that Congress takes actions the Constitution does not outline, particularly on spending issues.

He also said the Constitution does not call for the "nation building" that the United States is attempting in Iraq.

"Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11," Paul said.

No longer, he told students, should the United States see itself as "the policeman of the world." He wants American military bases around the world to be shuttered.

Our troops around the world, combined with the war in Iraq, he said, are fueling a $9.1 trillion debt.

Paul, a 72-year-old country doctor who once ran for president as the nominee of the Libertarian party, was delighted by the students' response.

"All the kids I talked to afterwards, their parents are Republicans, and not one of them believe in the war," Paul said as he headed to his car. "It seems people are really thinking about what we've gotten ourselves into."

Earlier Thursday, Paul spoke at the 15th Annual World Congress of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine at The Venetian. He was to campaign in Northern Nevada later Thursday.

In November, Paul's campaign, fueled by supporters using the Internet, set the single-day Republican fundraising record of more than $4 million.

Still, his money hasn't translated into higher poll numbers. He is running at 4 percent nationally and 8 percent in Nevada.

Dr. Rebecca Herrero, whose son Christopher attends the Henderson school, said she has become excited by Paul's ideas. She particularly likes the fact that he would make medical expenses tax deductible.

Paul said it is time the United States stop rewarding those who enter the country illegally. They should not be able to use hospitals or social services, he said.

Paul criticized the federal government for becoming involved in areas that he thinks would be better handled by the states, including education and health care.

No reason exists for the No Child Left Behind program pushed by Bush, Paul said, when teachers, students, parents and administrators all dislike it.

Rudy listened carefully.

"I just wish he would talk more about how this transition would be carried out," he said. "We need to know what is going to come in place of what we now have."

Contact reporter Paul Harasim at pharasim@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2908.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. David wrote on December 18, 2007 05:54 AM: America's New Year's Day! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59WxCwMK57o david wrote on December 17, 2007 12:30 PM: Once Paul is elected (of this I have no doubt), the fight must continue. He is but one man, albeit is a good position as President, but still only one. We must also be sure to put in Paul like congress critters or it will be all for naught. This means Read and that other freak of a senator must go! Bo Zimmerman wrote on December 17, 2007 10:00 AM: A Republican that wants to abolish the dept. of education? A Republican that wants to phase out the IRS and the Fed? A Republican that believes in a strong national defense but no nation building? Yep, pretty weird for the current field of candidates. John Lambrechts wrote on December 17, 2007 09:39 AM: Ron Paul 2008 I pray that he wins for the sake of the country and the world, his policies make the most sense to the thinking American. J.P. wrote on December 17, 2007 09:25 AM: Did you think this could have happened at government run public school? The kids probably wouldn't even be able to spell 'Constitution' if that was the case. Clay Season wrote on December 14, 2007 11:04 AM: Eric wrote: "...he will never be elected the beauracratic system that has evolved won't let it happen." It's up to us to overcome that system. It's up to us to realize the system is the problem. It's up to us to elect Ron Paul so he can dismantle that system and restore Freedom. Did George Washington do all the heavy lifting 200 years ago? jeremy wrote on December 14, 2007 10:07 AM: Remember, Dec 19 is the deadline to register Republican, and don't forget to show up and vote for a Paul supporter as precinct delegate at your local caucus station on Jan 19! Eric wrote on December 14, 2007 10:03 AM: There is a lot of truth to what Ron Paul has stated, he makes some very good points. If it was that easy he would have no problem being elected,but it is not and he will never be elected the beauracratic system that has evolved won't let it happen. There are far to many deals being made, too many special intrests and lobbying going on to let our real system work as it should. We as a country have always tried to help the underdog and in the process declined in being the "Lead Dog" Jeff S. wrote on December 14, 2007 08:31 AM: Google or YouTube: "Ron Paul" rpforpres wrote on December 14, 2007 05:44 AM: If we want to save our country Ron Paul is the only real choice. It does not appear to me that he is in the pocket of special interest. If he can talk to Ben Bernanke the way he does than he can talk with any world leader and hold his own. This guy is the only real choice we have for change. Too bad most American voters are not brave enough to vote for this guy!