Supporters Reveal Moe than Candidates- Chance

This election season, the Republican Party has a variety of candidates vying to make President Barack Obama a one-term president.  In many ways, the similarities of these candidates end here. 

            Attending the political rallies of two of these contenders, a week apart from one another, gave an intimate look into what the candidates have planned for the United States if elected.  Texas Congressman Ron Paul (R- Texas) and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney visited Northern Colorado in an attempt to woo voters. 

            Congressman Paul (R-Texas) was present at Colorado State University Jan. 31.  Standing in line for the event, the crowd of young people strikingly resembled those who elected Obama in 2008.  Among a sea of long hair, tattoos and piercings, the event could hardly resembled a rally for a Republican candidate. 

             “He wants a gold backed dollar, and I support that!” 

            “He understands Keynesian Economics.”

            These are a just a few opinions overheard while standing in line waiting to find a seat to listen to Ron Paul. 

.           Paul exhibits an extremely libertarian based ideology.  This is appealing for young people who are attracted to personal liberty.  These young voters often long to live their lives as they see fit without judgment, but maintaining conservative principles.

            “I have a very conservative foundation, but I believe in personal freedom without government interference,” said Jason, an enthusiastic supporter in line for the event.

            With the Lory Student Center main ballroom packed with over 1,200 bodies, the excitement was palpable for Ron Paul.  Supporters poured in like fans at a rock concert grabbing a front row view.  Once Congressman Paul finally walked out, the supporters leapt out of their seats, all eager anticipation finally relieved. 

            Paul, wasted no time bringing up his foreign policy, or lack-thereof.  “I’m constantly being told that if I took up a war mongering neo-con policy, policing the world, my numbers would grow,” said Paul.  This is where Paul differs the most with his Republican counterparts.  He upholds the belief that the United States has no business having such great a presence around the world, and certainly not being involved in the current war.  “No war should be fought unless declared.  Both parties are doing this,” he said. 

            Further reinforcing his agenda for a libertarian style of government, Paul stated “The government’s role should be very minor-to protect liberty, not to undermine what’s already ours.” 

Striking a cord with the young crowd, the GOP candidate stated that the war on drugs is “unwinable” and that we “need to cancel it.”  He made the comparison to alcohol stating “We should treat the drug problem the same way we treat alcoholism…treat it clinically instead of locking people up.”

            As Paul focused on social issues, Mitt Romney aimed his speech a week later on policy differences with the president.

Former governor Mitt Romney arrived in Johnstown on Feb. 7 to a conservative crowd.  Mostly middle aged to older, with a few young people dispersed throughout.   

RV America was the venue, one of the country’s largest RV dealerships.  Weld County GOP leader Bradley Dangerfield paid recognition to the dealership’s immigrant owner and his display of entrepreneurial success via the American Dream and capitalism. 

When asked why Romney decided to come to Northern Colorado, Dangerfield simply said “because I asked him to.  We literally put this together starting last Friday.”  Being more specific, he said “Northern Colorado- Loveland, Greeley, Fort Collins, are all growing so he decided to come here.  This area has a lot of Republican support.” 

The Romney crowd missed the rock concert feel of the Paul event.  Dangerfield seemed to have difficulty mustering a chant from the crowd. 

David and Chris both of Denver, exemplified a couple of the younger faces in the crowd.  When asked why they were at the event supporting Romney, David recalled the private sector experience that Romney has had as a CEO. 

Chris pointed out that he appreciates the character of the former governor “especially in comparison to Newt Gingrich.”  Comparing David and Chris to the young supporters of Paul the previous week, Chris said that he parted ways with Paul because of “the idea of conflict and how he is so quick to back out of it.  It disturbs me.”  This is in reference to Paul’s stance on decreasing the United States’ military around the globe. 

After running about 30 minutes late for the event, Romney finally arrived.  The presidential candidate’s bus was pulled nearly right up to the stage.  Former governor Romney hopped out of the bus and onto the stage. 

What was most significant about the speech that Paul gave in comparison to Romney were the attacks.  Congressman Paul, although mentioning Obama, spent the majority of his time pointing out the flaws of his GOP opponents.  Romney, on the other hand, made no mention of the other Republican candidates, and went straight to attacking the president. 

Romney cut to the chase pointing out that he felt the president was using the government to interfere with the private sector.  Regarding the government’s investment in energy via the solar plant Solyndra, he said “The president put $500 million into Solyndra, discouraging innovation.  Investors realized they could not gain capital this way.” 

After this, Romney brought up the health care debate, equating it to the way the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Motor Vehicle are handled.  “When there were challenges in health care, the government took it over.  Day one of my presidency, I will repeal it.”

Wasting barely enough time to take a breath, Romney went through a checklist of issues, moving on to foreign policy.  This was another departure from Paul’s policies.  “Obama said that within the first year of taking office, he would meet with our enemies.  None of them met with him.  We need to stand with our values and beliefs and our friends around the world!”

Contrasting himself further from Obama’s current issues regarding the downsizing of the US military, Romney suggested expanding the military.  “We have fewer ships in the Navy since 1917 and fewer aircraft in the Air Force since World War Two.  I want the strongest military in the world because I don’t want anyone thinking they can test the U.S. military.”

Rounding the bases with religion as the next topic in the 20-minute speech, Romney used current events to describe a controversy to the Catholic faith.  He used the example of employers’ providing health insurance and that birth control must be covered, regardless of the employer’s religious stance or affiliation.  “There is a threat to religion.  Catholics, under Obama Care, have to provide birth control and emergency contraceptive.” 

“Life, liberty, pursuit of happiness.  The government does not tell us how to pursue these.  The success of dreamers does not make us poorer.  We will stay an opportunity nation if I’m president.  We will not be a land of entitlement!”

The secret service flanked Romney and surrounded the stage.  Paul’s wife and aids were the only people by his side. 

Romney’s event had the same five pop country songs on a constant loop.  Paul’s had a folk singer playing solo acoustic guitar. 

Fighting a common enemy, there is little evidence that these two candidates are essentially on the same team.  Paul and Romney are only two out of a handful and Republican candidates arguing who is best equipped to take on Obama.  It is interesting to examine how demographics are broken down.  Subgroup by subgroup.  For now the voters remain divided on principle.

Bradley Dangerfield (970) 352-0930- Head of the Weld County GOP