Ron Paul's Campaign To "Shift Gears"

Congressman Ends Presidential Campaign, But Announces Plan To Elect Libertarian-Leaning Republicans Nationwide

(CBS/ AP)  Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said Thursday night he is ending his campaign but will keep spreading his message by working to help elect libertarian-leaning Republicans to public office around the country.

"The campaign is going to shift gears. It's going to accelerate. It's going to get much bigger," Paul told The Associated Press in an interview before a rally where he was making the announcement. "To me, it's a technical change."

Paul formally announced the move - his new "Campaign for Liberty" - in a speech to supporters attending the Texas Republican Party state convention. He said he expected many at his Thursday night rally and other supporters from around the nation to attend an alternative mini-convention he will host Sept. 2 in Minnesota to coincide with the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

"Freedom is very popular. Not only is freedom popular, freedom works," Paul told supporters.

The group will "grow the grassroots effort" excited by the Paul candidacy and help elect candidates to various public offices who believe in limited government, campaign spokesman Jesse Benton told CBS News.

Benton added that the announcement was "not a disappointment at all. I think this is really exciting."

Hundreds of people rushed into a Houston hotel ballroom to hear Paul speak. They listened to a guitar player perform peace and freedom songs and gave loud cheers when Paul said the U.S. needs to bring home the troops from the Middle East. They also broke into applause when he spoke out for following the law and the Constitution.

He repeated his stances on other major issues, speaking against the United Nations and the income tax.

"Get more people," he urged. "They're paying attention, and it's across the political spectrum."

In the AP interview, Paul said his political message would not change and that he'll continue to speak out, just as he has since he first ran for Congress from Texas.

"It's just now that there's so much more enthusiasm, and so many more people involved," he said. "This last year has been astounding. ... We have to keep it going."

The announcement is a formality. The 72-year-old congressman won few delegates during the Republican primaries, but he raised large amounts of money online and developed a huge grass-roots following.

Benton said Paul is beginning a "Campaign for Liberty."

The presidential campaign still has about $4.7 million in the bank, which can now be used for the new effort, Benton said, describing it as a "permanent campaign."

"We're going to work with the grass roots," Benton said. "People are really eager to continue and grow these efforts."

Paul opposes the war in Iraq and is a champion of small government. His campaign also drew support from independents and Democrats opposed to the war. His supporters have been pushing for him to have a speaking role at the GOP national convention.

But Paul has refused to endorse likely Republican presidential nominee John McCain, and he told the AP that was unlikely to change.

[megamanx1-2009]

HE WAS STILL IN IT TILL JUST NOW???

WOW..

[trishab4]

Well there''''s four more votes that will swing for McCorpse.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted by dragonwagon5 at 05:09 PM : Jun 12, 2008

-I don''t like your idea of acquiredly those votes will go to the Repukons. I''d rather say those who are disenchanted with the election of McCorpse (as per you) would tend to go for the Dems, especially if Obama starts to show a more central position on politics.

[imarltool2u]

he looks more alive than mcsame

[danstoned]

Republicon Bob Barr is running as the Libertarian presidential candidate. This does not bode well for the Republicons, especially Jewn McCain. Noticed the fake smile from McCain these days? Looks as bad as was Ronald Reagans forced smile.

[cold777]

The funny thing is that Bob Barr will end up swinging several states towards Obama in the fall :)

[downtowner97]

Thanks for all you''ve done, Dr Paul.

[smurfcrusher]

Thank you for doing your part.

[hoseobama]

"especially if Obama starts to show a more central position on politics. - Posted by trishab4

Hey trish - at this point Obama is so far left that he can''t open his mouth without sounding more central in his ideas.

[obbcbs]

Dr Paul is one of the few to say that there is no reason to prevent US citizens from having habeas corpus, along with Obama and Kucinich. I appreciate his service to the Constitution. He is an honorable man.

[trbundro1277]

Ron Paul To End Long-Shot Campaign
*** Too bad! Dr. Paul was against amnesty for illegals! He would have made the best candidate for the Richspanic party to field! Dr. Paul did favor raising the amounts of immigrants allowed legally into the country each year, which would be FAIR! But no amnesty to those who broke our laws to get here!

[Torilin]

Dr. Paul will always have my heartfelt respect. He is truly an honorable man with ideals that I wish one day can come true. His political ideals are so unlike many within the GOP yet they all make good sense. Too bad he isn''t the nominee and we''ll have to pick the lesser evil this year again!

[trbundro1277]

The funny thing is that Bob Barr will end up swinging several states towards Obama in the fall :)
Posted by cold777 at 05:39 PM : Jun 12, 2008
** I truly HOPE So. Is Barr against giving amnesty to illegals? I think Barr will be the best spolier candidate ever, even more than Nader. I hope all conservative voters out there realized that Mccain voted and co-sponsored a bill that would have given amnesty to over 12 million law breakers!

[trbundro1277]

Paul''s announcement will be a formality.
The 72-year-old Texas congressman won few delegates during the Republican primaries
*** He looks a heck of alot healthier than McCorpse! I would vote for Dr. Paul before I would even consider casting a vote for someone as evil and too far to the left on the amnesty issue as Mccain!

[shanev137]

Thanks for fighting the good fight Dr. Paul.

It''s too bad American''s aren''t ready to take back their country yet.

[mcv57]

Perhaps if you ran for President with FDR, he was an opportunist and a KKK supporter too.

[ausus-2009]

The trouble with Ron Paul is he was born 100 years too late. His views would have been right in line with Republicans of 1908. Unfortunately for him, the world has moved on.

[likeitis5050]

besides Ralph Limbaugh of the Fascist FOX network for Nazi lovers.
Posted by danstoned at 06:20 PM : Jun 12, 2008
*** Mccain is so far left that even Limbaugh won''''t endorse him! I hate amnesty mccain!


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by TRBundro1277


Oh...give you proof without conditions...**** you kool-aid drinker...no proof on earth is good enough for you so do your own da.mn homework..parasite.

[homespunlady]

Thank You Congressman Paul.

Keep pushing the issues you feel are important.

You were THE ONLY CANDIDATE to make the CALL ON THE ECONOMY CORRECTLY when all the others were concentrating on being "beauty QUEENS".

Substance, Answers to REAL issues and HONESTY seem to be on the "endangered species list" nowadays.

It was REFRESHING to get a glimpse of those things again.

Oh, BTW, I think it was CNBC that ran a poll asking if the voters preferred Ron Paul in the race and EIGHTY SIX PERCENT said yes - it made the race more lively and interesting.

THAT ALONG WITH FORCING THE "BEAUTY QUEENS" into at least LOOKING AT the REAL ISSUES facing the American people made Paul''s efforts WELL WORTHWHILE.

[ausus-2009]

homespunlady, I can''t recall anybody calling John McCain a beauty queen. Perhaps Obama might have an outside shot on "America''s Next Model".

[sgtrds-e4]

Who cares?

[rushlimpdrug]

Never trust a man with two first names.

[keithle1]

We''ll see how many people are still nuts about him four years from now.

Anyone still care about Ross Perot?

GO OBAMA

[gracchus1]

Paul was supposed to have a convention in Minneapolis before the RNC. I wonder what threat, er what was said to persuade him to drop out of the race? Congressman, I too thank you for your wisdom, vision, and straightforwardness. I realize the chances are between slim and none, but how about joining forces with Dennis Kucinich to impeach Bush?

[formrusmcsgt]

Paul''s announcement will be a formality.

---
No $hit. Considering this fool''s candidacy was over before it even started, there''s no need in stating the patently obvious.

[hedonist3]

Americans should seriously consider Obama and McCain, and decide to vote on the lesser of two evils. I have read of many who are planning a Paul write-in; however, to do so, takes one vote away from the lesser, thereby not canceling out one vote in favor of the greater of two evils. Please re-consider the idea of writing-in Ron Paul.

[trbundro1277]

Posted by TRBundro1277


Oh...give you proof without conditions...**** you kool-aid drinker...no proof on earth is good enough for you so do your own da.mn homework..parasite.
Posted by likeitis5050 at 07:18 PM : Jun 12, 2008
*** I did my homework, Why don''t you do your homework first? Google Mccain and Amnesty, and you will see that Mccain voted to allow over 12 million illegals to get amnesty! Is that what you want from the next president? Someone that co-sponsors a bill to give over 12 million illegals amnesty? I''m voting for Obama out of spite! Republicans need to get there *** together. If the country leans slightly to the right, why did the republicans pick a candidate that is way too far on the left on the subject of amnesty for illegals?

[kansas1946]

(CBS/ AP) Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul will end his campaign Thursday night and announce a new effort to help elect libertarian-leaning Republican to public offices around the country.
**********************************************

That''s good, because there are no "Libertarian leaning" Republicans.
Libertarians are pro-choice, oppose the drug war, and oppose government spending and controls. That sound like any Republicans you know??

[ausus-2009]

kansas1946,
It sounds like you are searching for a group that sees the world with no shades of gray. It is possible to be pro-choice but have serious concerns about late-term abortions, not be particularly concerned about soft illegal drugs but have grave concerns about heroin and cocaine, and realize that government has some role to play - just not drowning the populace with EU-like regulations and excessive taxes.

[expatriate07]

Small government is a goal both libertarians and republicans pursue. Which begs the question, is the political spectrum just a snake eating it''s tale?

[danstoned]

Posted by kansas1946
Libertarians are pro-choice, oppose the drug war, and oppose government spending and controls. That sound like any Republicans you know??

Every female Republicon I know is pro-choice and voting for Obama. Every Republicon I know is against the drug war, and all the men are voting Bob Barr. Which begs the question, who on earth will be voting for Jewn McCain? The outcast Neocons and Israel First Traitors, and nobody else.

[ausus-2009]

danstoned, Don''t you read polls and a cross-section of the media, or is your login name an indication of your state of mind?

[expatriate07]

I dare you to answer that question.

[nanging3]

NEWS OBAMA IS NOT ENDING THE WAR OR BRINGING THE TROOPS HOME !!!IN HIS OWN WORDS !!!

WWW.youtube.com/watch?v=
2kFrFIFizkU

[nanging3]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=2kFrFIFizkU

OBAMA IS NOT BRINGING HOME THE TROOPS !!
IN HIS OWN WORDS !!!

[patriot12436]

If all we have to choose from is obama and mccain, i don''t think i will waste my time in going to the polls. Be nice if everyone stayed home and didn''t vote, what would they do then ? Maybe that is a way to get some decent candidates that will ru this country the way Americans want it to be ran.

[bud28dy]

YAWN. This is news? Some has been ends a campaign that nobody noticed in the first place. This is only sad for the few selfish bitter old geezers who were his natural constituency.

[ausus-2009]

patriot12436,

This is a complaint I have heard ever since I became politically aware. Don''t fool yourself that any overseas country has any better choice.

[wardoglrs]

Game Over America you lose. You just lost the only one true Republican Dr Ron Paul. You LOSE cause you get to keep the following "Tax you up ur ***".
IRS
DOE
DHS
FEMA
CIA
FBI
FED RESERVE
CDC
DOD
UN
CAFTA
NAFTA
And so many more payed all by you the slave tax payer''s of America

[grammawhamma]

WHAT?!? Ron Paul was still in the race? I thought he left long ago! He actually outlasted Hillary then.

[patriot12436]

ausus
I have traveled to several countries andyou are right, they all have their problems. I am in Thailand right now . The elected a new PM a few months back, over night the food prices doubled. Now they are protesting to get him to resign. His advocates are paying protestors 500 Baht a day, abour $15 to protest. The average wage here is $3 to $11 a day. This is a very poor country so the cost of living for me is great. I love the people, the country and the culture here. I have to return to the U.S. in September but i will really miss being here. I am very sympathetic to the people here. They are poor so they work very hard just to support their families. Even the animals are suffering from this world wide depression. Elephant owners are out of work and it is expensive to feed an elephant. One trainer birngs jhis elephant about once a week and sells sugarcane to let people feed to the elephant. I love the interactin with the animals here, even the cobra''s.

[irliberal]

I''m just wondering what the huge group of Ron Paul spammers do with their days and nights now... I actually liked Ron Paul, it was his followers that scared the *** out of me. LOL

[ausus-2009]

WarDogLRS,

I have two initials that are worse than all of those combined - EU. England has one CCTV camera for every 14 people, in Switzerland it is a crime to flush your toilet after 10.30pm, etc.

[patriot12436]

irliberal
Ron Paul was my first choice in this election because of his campaign tom bring the troops home and make federal govt smaller. I am retired so i do what i like every day. Right now i enjoy traveling to different countries. I have been in Thailand for past 18 months. I got the travel bug when i was in the military.

[lorinkundert]

Libertarians have gone too far towards the fringes, I will still vote Ron Paul in November anything else just perpetuates the crimes of our Government.

[tryhonesty]

One major flaw of Ron Paul. He was connected to the RepubliCON losers. Too bad. He gave a good effort and a brave, honest run for office. Too bad the message fell on deaf ears among a very corrupt, pass the buck, unaccountable, point the finger at everyone else, party.

[ausus-2009]

Isn''t it time the name calling ended? The two major political parties are the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Barring some major incident, their candidates are Barack Obama and John McCain. Calling any of these four anything else is childish and reflects badly on the author and his or her ideas.

[patriot12436]

ausus
Normally i would agree with you about the name calling. But after the DNC has tried to shove obama down our throats i have lost all respect fopr their party.After what Bush has done i can say the same thing about the republican party. I have always been non partisan. I think one should look at the issues and what each candidate offers, not what party they belong too. Now because our candidates have never done what they say they will we have the mess our country is in. I have received three letters from senators this past week, all republicans telling me the economy is doing great and what a fine job bush is doing. And they really think i will vote to keep them in office ? I think with people losig their jobs, homes and life savings, that if the officials we elect do not do something very soon, we may have our own revolition . If a person cannot feed his familty, he will do what he has to to survive. I am hoping we can avert such a tragedy from happening thru due process.

[keithle1]

The people I don''t understand are the Lyndon LaRouche supporters. Quite a few of the ones I have seen are young. Have you read the stuff they hand out on the street? Oy. I think one was comparing Bush to Hitler. I don''t get his appeal at all to anyone who is sane or has at least one brain cell left.

I think this Presidential election will have the highest turnout in the history of our country.

McCain is running at the wrong time to be a Republican. And his opponent is not just another white male.

The people with the power will always be the Democrats & the Republicans. I just can''t see a viable third party that will be on their level. They''ll always be very far behind & not taken seriously. They won''t be able to raise the kind of money you need to compete.

[bigsk8fan]

who is ron paul anyway? is the dianetics guy?

[condumbism]

Ron Paul wanted to legalize prostitution. Eastern European, Pittsburgh, PA, and Canadian and California college girls have been whoring for cash for a long time. Since whoring is illegal in Neocon land, then there is undetected disease. Legalize whoring, and the cost of an education for so many beautiful American girls is payed for in advance. Ron Paul was right on in his desire to legalize prostitution. I will readily support having sexxual with any college girl that I am attracted towards. Thus, no, debt, no shame for any of US. Just consesual sexxel.