Senator Rand Paul Campaigns In Oskaloosa
Senator Rand Paul made a campaign stop in Oskaloosa on Saturday. (photo by Charlie Comfort)
Oskaloosa, Iowa – Senator Rand Paul made his case to Mahaska County voters Saturday, his first such visit to the area since declaring his presidential bid in April.
Paul started by criticizing the federal government, saying it is dysfunctional. “The federal government is not efficient. It’s far away from you. It’s not very responsive.” Paul continued talking about gridlock. “Even when we agree, we can’t pass anything,” he said.
The gridlock in Washington creates what Paul says is a need for term limits. “We limit the president’s terms. Why don’t we limit the terms of all of congress? There is no monopoly in Washington on knowledge,” Paul said.
In making his case for why voters should support his bid for the presidency, Paul made two arguments for why there should be a limited government. Paul said those arguments are the liberty argument and the efficiency argument.
In talking about his liberty argument, Paul said, “Your God given liberty, the fruit of your labor, is yours.” Paul advocates for lower taxes so Americans can enjoy the “fruits of your labor.” Paul added, “It doesn’t mean no government, but it means we don’t want 100% taxation.”
Paul also argued for what he calls the efficiency argument. Paul defines this argument by quoting Milton Friedman. “Nobody spends somebody else’s money as wisely as their own.” Paul said the common person is much more likely to be more careful with their money than a politician. “Do you think any politician ever stays awake at night and says ‘oh whoops, I just lost $500 million because I made a bad decision’?” In making his case, Paul also railed on sending money overseas to countries that are not friendly to the US. “I see countries burning our flag. I see countries saying death to America and then, sure enough, I look down and we’re sending them money. I say not one penny more!” Paul said to a loud ovation.
In talking about foreign policy, Paul referenced likely GOP candidate Jeb Bush, who changed his answer several times on if fighting the war in Iraq was a good idea. Referencing the 2012 attack on the US Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, Paul said getting involved in overthrowing foreign government has led to chaos. “Does getting involved in a foreign war help us? I think there’s a few examples, the Iraq War, the Libyan War, where it didn’t.”
Paul also advocates for the need to figure out how the GOP can win in “purple states” such as Iowa. Paul called Iowa a “purple state”, noting that President Obama carried the state twice by significant margins. Paul says that for the Republican Party to win, it needs to become the party of the Bill of Rights. “We need to be the party that cares about the 2nd Amendment, but we need to be the party that shows the country we care about the 6th Amendment just as much as the 2nd Amendment.” Paul went on to reference the case of Kalief Browder, a teen in the Bronx who was jailed for three years without receiving a trial. “That shouldn’t happen in America,” Paul said.
After speaking in Oskaloosa, Paul made an appearance at the Republican Party of Iowa Lincoln Dinner in Des Moines. Paul announced his candidacy for the Presidency on April 7th.
