(CNN)— Former Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul is moving forward with plans for his own rally during the Republican National Convention —and is moving his location to a larger arena to accommodate the unprecedented response.
The three day event called ‘Rally for the Republic’ will officially launch Paul’s new political action group: the ‘Campaign for Liberty.’ When planning for the event began earlier this year, it was originally scheduled to take place at the University of Minnesota, but due to a “strong initial response,” it was moved to The Target in Minneapolis, which can house up to 18,000 people.
"The Rally for the Republic will send a powerful, positive message to the Republican Party that there is an army of grassroots activists across the country ready to work with them if steer back to their traditions of limited government and personal liberty," said Campaign for Liberty spokesman Jesse Benton.
Paul, who has often voiced his differing policy views from presumptive Republican nominee John McCain, has made it clear in past interviews with CNN his supporters won’t be in Minneapolis to interfere or cause problems for the Republican Party.
“We’re not going to disrupt them,” Paul told CNN last month. “We’re not going to demonstrate as much as present a positive case for values that we believe should be the Republican values.”
From August 31 through September 1, the former presidential dark horse will hold a series of grassroots leadership and training events culminating with a “celebration of traditional Republican values,” where Grover Norquist, Tucker Carlson, Gov. Gary Johnson, Barry Goldwater Jr. and Bruce Fein are expected to speak.
From CNN Politics
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
Those Ron Paul followers are crazy.
Republican Values???
– an oxymoron if ever there was one......
VERY GOOD RON PAUL AND THANKS THIS WILL HELP OBAMA......
Paul, you are plain wrong. Get real and get out.
Way to go Paulie.. Tell McPain that we are all not just Whiners.
OBAMA (2008 -16)
Go Ron Go. Take the wingnut votes from McCain and sink his candidacy.
I think you mean "The Target Center in Minneapolis". There is no place called "The Target" in Minneapolis.
You were the choice for a lot of people – but McWarmonger and his "base of haves and have-mores" pushed you aside. I wish you well.
Maybe the third party can try again in 2012.
You will succeed this time, tho, by helping de-rail McWarmonger. THANKS.
As an avid Obama supporter I am behind you all the way Ron, anything so that McCain is not my next potus.
This guy is handing the presidency to Obama!
Ron is about the only Republican I respect... he's a good man too.
Besides the anti-war thing, Ron Paul actually made a lot of sense. Too bad he's hospitable to racists, and looks like a psychopath. Oh, and he's really short too. So i guess i'm saying good platform, terrible candidate.
What posturing
Almost as scary as the obamabots.... almost.
Ron Paul is the ONLY person I have heard of talking about trying to stop the North American Union from happening, he wants to make the dollar worth something again, and he is the ONLY one saying LESS government is the answer, while the two main candidates are advocating for BIGGER government. Ron Paul would get my vote over these two clowns anyday.
This man was the most qualified for the nomination. McCain sold out his morals and beliefs to obtain the nomination.
Ron Paul's supporters are amazingly loyal. I already have a candidate but I can't say I disagree with a lot of what Paul says.
He's almost.... republican... and not that neo-republican that Bush and McCain are but old school, honest republicans from 30 years ago.
I am an avid Obama supporter so I support this wholeheartedly. But it's funny that he is getting so much support, repuglicans are getting sick and tired of their party and who can blame them? The republicans today are evil and have ruined this country either directly in the white house, house and senate or indirectly by revoting in the worse president in american history.
Got to admire this man's convictions.
Silly disillusioned people...
Joey, Biff, Mel, TJ, Independent:
You are the fools that keep DC corrupt and useless. You have only yourselves to blame.
If Ron Paul were to run as a third party candidate, if would really be something. Unfortunately, I have to say, I think it would be a wash for Obama: I know plenty of people who wouldn't vote for any republican... EXCEPT Ron Paul. Many of them see him as being cut from the same cloth as Jefferson, Madison & Adams. Personally, I can see their point, and have to admit I would certainly prefer Ron Paul to ANY other Republican, or Hillary Clinton for that matter...
I am an Obama supporter but I do have to agree with Ron Paul the GOP has become all about extreme right wing values and has steered the party as a whole down the drain! the democratic party was left wing lead but is now being steered toward a more centrist view of politics.
First, we all know this is Obama's presidency to lose. He will win unless he does some really bad things.
Second, you say Ron Paul is crazy. So it's crazy to bring sound money back to our great nation. So it's crazy to bring our troops home from now 137 different countries where they are stationed. So it's crazy to give more power to states to make decisions on policies that should not be left to the federal government, like education. So it's crazy to restructure health care for improvements without socialization. So it's crazy to secure our borders. So it's crazy to focus on the real problems of America: inflation, our economy, and the severe decline of our dollar in value (30% loss in 5 years... that is pathetic).
Call me crazy then. If I could afford it, I would be there supporting.
Lastly, it's not about "handing" it to Obama. Us that support Ron Paul dont' see that as our goal. We defend the Constitution and defend our liberties. You are the ones that lack any vision and understanding about what is really going on around you.
Well, we need another political party. McBush pretty much ruined the GOP's chances of ever being taken seriously again. We need another party because we have traditionally been a two party system all along. I don't know about Paul. Maybe Barr would be in charge of a major second party.
Didn't Ron Paul say sometime back that Obama's foreign policy is better than McCain's? All McCain knows is attack attack attack. You lost my respect for you McCain!
We are behind you Ron Paul !!!!, no more war mongering from USA !!!!
A true republican, working for the American people
Rock on !!!
I was going to vote for Ron Paul before I found out about Obama. If some how they hoodwink him, and give Clinton the nomination I will be voting for Ron Paul.
Just another "sideshow", and a waste of "good money"!
"...it was moved to The Target in Minneapolis, which can house up to 18,000 people"
That's one BIG Target!
Right. Because Paul, unlike McCain, is an actual conservative. McCain is a corporate meat puppet with lobbyist advisors.
VOTE FOR PAUL VOTE FOR PAUL VOTE FOR PAUL VOTE FOR PAUL VOTE FOR PAUL!
Loe seeing McLame losing votes to Paul. Thanks – you are helping to prove McLame is not fit to be POTUS!
oh, Is Paul still running? I didn't know that. Ok, that's nice...I guess.
Hey Biffington, Biff
Boy that is an elitist's name if I've ever heard one !!
The problem with your comment is that you failed to mention that the democrat's morality bar is so LOW that you don't even have to pick up your feet in order to get over it.
Ron Paul was the only reason to tune in to the Republican debates. I just loved it when he scolded the rest of them on economic and constitutional issues. I hope his "convention" show will be as entertaining.
Great to see this. The neo-cons have hijacked the true GOP and it hardly resembles itself anymore. I laugh at people that mock the president and VP as being representative of the GOP when they are anything but. Get a clue at what a Republican truly is and you'll see this current administration has veered so far away they are in their own world. Paul's view of getting back to the Republic and honoring the Constitution is what this country needs.
Who's his VP choice? Nader or Ross Perot?
And where did he move it? To a phone booth?
Game over for McCain. Paul has already won.
Some of you bloggers are pan handling your vote like a mad person.
The reason why you can't make up your mind is because you don't know what you stand for. Undesided voters are those that have no standings of their own. So it's like I'll know what I stand for when I hear it. So they are constantly flip-flopping between candidates. If you haven't made up your mind by now you never will. You will go in the voting booth and cast your vote, then come out and disagree with your own casted vote. So make up your mine already. Now you are sloving after John Paul, tomorrow it will be somebody else.
I feel a shift in the republican party, and if it does, this democrat will gladly turn.
But for now
Obama '08
GOOD FOR RON PAUL! HE IS AWESOME!
I love all of the anti-Republicans b/c unlike anti-Dems they actually make a difference.
Paul & Barr make McCain look even more ridiculous.
Obama '08 & '12
Although I support Obama, I do like some of Ron Paul's views. In fact, he like Obama, does not seem to allow party affiliation to determine what he believes is best for ALL Americans. Obama should consider him for a cabinet position.
Ron Paul made a HUGE difference this year for 3rd party candidates. He SHOULD be the Libertarian nominee. Cynthia McKinney for President. Dont let blue or red get you down. Vote Green.
Ron Paul is the only person in congress to actually return a portion of the money alloted to his district each year. He ran a sound candidacy without aquiring any debt, which can't be said about Obama, McCain, or Hillary.
When planning for the event began earlier this year, it was originally scheduled to take place at the University of Minnesota, but due to a “strong initial response,” it was moved to The Target in Minneapolis, which can house up to 18,000 people.
It is "The Target Center," not The Target. CNN, can you please hire an eight-grader who is out of school for the summer to fact-check and correct grammar/spelling. The articles on the ticker today have even more errors than usual.
Ron Paul has some pretty solid ideas. I do not agree with all of them, but he makes valid points in several areas. I think it is great to see some momentum in the third parties such as Libertarians and Greens and a show of support for fresh ideas such as Paul's. I have been disinfranchised with the choice of presidential candidates the past couple deades in which I could vote, but this year I am excited about Obama. However, I still support the notion of becoming a multi-party nation. Perhaps things may actually get done if people are allowed to think on their own and not just follow party lines.
"Dark horse"? Very nice...is this Fox news now? I'm sick of such snide remarks that only try to undermine Ron Paul's credability. Isn't it funny that all the financial shows want him on their shows now that the economy has turned south? He was our only shot at turning this republic around and most people are too dumb to even understand what he is talking about.
Go for it Ron Paul, what have you got to lose.
They should hold the convention at a Target in Minneapolis - at least they'd get some attendance from foot traffic.
HAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!!!!! awwwww these Repubs they are great followers, but so so so sadly miss the mark on leading....they should just cut out the middle man and ask Obama to run their party in addition to his own......so happy Obama has inspired the Repubs to change as well... how many people are they going to have to pay to be in the audience?
Run Paul Run! I'm lovin' it. Come on Ron Paul, fill up that 18,000 seat arena with disenchanted Republicans, potential Obamacans or Bob Barr supporters. Ron Paul's 3-day rally may out-due the Republican Party Convention with McCain as the headliner. This is definitely a problem for the McCain campaign to be out done by Ron Paul!
Obama in 2008!
i always thought Ron P and mike H were better candidates than John M
and will Senator McCain finally tell us why he should be President at this convention? I've been waiting. Up to now, it's been attack, attack, attack.
DEMOCRATS UNITE!!!
Wow, so many Obama and McSame sheeple in CNN blogs, it explains it all: So, this is where you get informed sheeple? No wonder you are ill-informed and dumbed to the roots!
May be time for you to use a search engine and find out the truth about those two clowns: Obama and Mcsame, get real, Ron Paul is proven right about everything: From the illigel war to the state of the economy, he even have solutions not just promises of more war, an emty change message backed up with no concrete plans.
Both clowns are members of the CFR, sheeple: Say meaaaah
Ron Paul is right. The republican party has transformed into a terrible new cartel that preaches militarism, intollerance, and proganda. Todays republican party closer resembles fascism then conservativism.
True conservative values are a smaller government, strong DEFENSE, responsible spending, and freedom. Under Bush the government has become bloated and fiscally irresponsible. The war is a much larger expense then any social welfare, universal healthcare, energy and infastructsure investment Obama has proposed. This abanondment of conservative ideals has vailed by patriatism, tax rebates, and other round the clock campaigning.
There are two places to look for traditional conservative values. Ron Paul and Bob Barr.
Before you stomp on Ron Paul too hard you better stop and think!
This guy is a medical doctor who patched up the wounded Vietnam soldiers during the war. Yeah, He's not a lawyer like the rest of them.
Get serious people.
Ron Paul is a republican with a twist, but still a republican, and therefore, completely insane.
The dollar has dropped to new lows against the Euro and other world currencies. Oil, which is traded in dollars, is obviously more expensive because of the devaluation of the dollar. Each of the two mainstream candidates can talk all they want about supply, demand and speculation but the main culprit of high oil prices is the devaluation of the dollar. I welcome the parallel convention as we need to spur on legitimate debate in this country, not the same tired platforms. I want an America of sound money, sound foreign policy and liberty. I do not wish to be caught in an argument between two political parties deeply rooted outside the interests of the average citizen.
This is in reference to Rep. Wilson's comments, which CNN has closed comments on:
I'm sure the good Representative has volumes of foreign policy experience to refer to...not.
Just say no to McShame's One Hundred Years War. And start spending money on repairing our own infrastructure and economy, which desperately needs repair.
McCain, how about some original political discourse instead of your drive-by attacks 24/7? You're as dull as you are old.
This guy is full of it. But ya still follow the pied piper.
It's so easy to brainwash the brainwashed.
convention or is it circus circus?
There's nothing like a Republican who can't face reality and decides that the only reality is the reality he sees fit to exist in..........oh, wait a minute, we've already got that in the White House now, don't we?
I may not agree with Ron Paul but McCain may want to fight a election war on two fronts. a word to the wise
Good luck Sen. Paul, they really need help. I hope you can teach them about honesty and integrity.
Republicans for Ron Paul! We're Not Falling In Line behind Republican leadership who undemocratically put McCain up as our nominee! Vote Ron Paul! Vote for Liberty!
Republicans for Privacy
Republicans for Smaller Government
Republicans for the Government keeping its nose out of our homes
Republicans for not wasting money on expensive futile foreign wars
Real Repulicans for Real Republicans!
OBAMA IS THE CANDIDATE FOR CHANGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CHANGING HIS MIND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ON ALL ISSUSES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I just examined one of Ron Paul's platform points – the consumption tax of 23% where income tax would be suplanted by the consum,ption tax.
Presently, those who are lower income to poor don't pay much, if any, federal withholding tax, but pay the roughly 8.125% sales tax in the San Antonio area on qualifying purchases.
So, currently, they pay 0% income tax and 8.125% on qualifying purchases.
Under Ron Paul's plan: 23% on everything they buy.
Compare the two, carefully.
The new burden on the already burdened is paying 283% more than the current system, and they are still poor under the current system!
Real Republicans will be voting for Ron Paul
Republicans for smaller Government
Republicans for Privacy
Republicans for keeping the Government out of our private homes
Republicans for not wasting money on foreign elective wars
Republicans for freedom of speech
Republicans for the Constitution
Republicans for true Conservatism
Republicans for not going billions of dollars in debt with the Chinese and Japanese
Real Republicans for Ron Paul
It's a simple matter to review the past 20 years of so-called presidential leadership and see where it has led us to here and now. The truth is the next 20 years will continue the same political traditions with the same results. This nation has turned its back on god and therefore has no more blessing. The results are obvious. Ant the people that need to repent the most are those that read these words.
What a wonderful Idea, as and Obama supporter and former republican its too bad the GOP didn't pay more attention to Ron Paul he also had a distint message of change and I liked the way he thinks. GOP if you want any of us back in the party, you can't be your either with us or against us. Reagans blue Republicans are a group and most of us don't like Bush or Mccain, I like Ron Paul. But Barack Obama will get my vote because he will listen to both sides and do the right thing.
Hmm good for him and more power to the RNC for not stopping him, mean while, the bully bigwig dems don't even want to have a symbolic vote for hillary's delegates.. now what party represents the people?
DAVE – I CAN'T BELIEVE I MIGHT AGREE WITH ONE OF OBAMA SUPPORTERS BUT THE REPUBLICANS ARE HAVING TROUBLE JUST LIKE THE DEMOCRATS WHOSE NEW NAME IS THE NAACP DEMOCRAT PARTY OF THE UNITED STATES.
Ron Paul is trying to save the Republic you Obama and McCain luvin dummies.
Don't you see that there is no difference between these two puppets yet? Red/blue, right/left, Republican/Democrat. It doesn't matter they are both destroying the nation and the economy. They both ignore the big issues. Don't you see that it's just a big dog and pony show to keep you distracted and to keep you thinking that you have some kind of say as to how the country is run?
Left or right doesn't matter. It's down vs up that matters. The tyranny of the elite, the corporations, the lobbyists over the common man. It's the Constitution that protects you from this tyranny but YOU HAVE TO DEFEND IT!!!
Don't waste your vote on these clowns Obama and McCain. Join the Second American Revolution!!!
It is time "real conservatives" like Ron Paul took back the Republican Party from the neo-cons. Until then, I will be voting Obama.
I agree with Ron Paul more than I agree with Obama but I will be voting Obama as I can not afford 8 more years of neo-cons.
Ron Paul is my second choice after Obama.
But I'm just not sure about another Republican from Texas. G. W. set the bar on that.
deja vu!
Ron Paul deserves the support – and the vote – of every seriously conservative voter in America.
Ron Paul offers an honest alternative.
Ron Paul is thee only one up there right now who is trying to save this once Great Republic called the USA. Those other CFR bought puppets will destroy this country and actually help the Global Corporate Takeover that is happening before our very own eyes. BEWARE OF THE GLOBALIST'S. Investigate Everything and always expose the globalist creeps who want nothing more that a One World Government. GO RON PAUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The answer to 1984 is 1776!!
you go ron paul you take those votes from mccain i am an obama supporter, but given the choice over you or mccain i will take you anyday sir !!!!!!!
REAL REPUBLICAN:
With the exception of two of your points, re: conservatism and being for Paul, you've descibed a liberal Democrat!
Brendan H., I've been reading Paul's platform and watching youtube videos every day for an entire year. I have never heard or read him advocate a consumption tax.
He says repeatedly that he is in favor of replacing the income tax with NOTHING. No replacement, just gone. It's in his book and was prominent in his campaign ads. Your statement is simply false.
Also, you should all know that the man can smile, and does regularly. CNN likes to choose the exact frame from times like when Paul is asking Bernanke how he can sleep at night knowing he's ripping off everyone in America.
I've not seen anything to convince me Obama has such stones.
Go for it Ron..Us Democrats support what you are doing. Fight all the way to November!!!
Senator McCain as the std bearer actually reminds me of some of my Republican friends, especially the hard core ones.
They cheat on their husbands and wives and at the same time blame former President Clinton for their kids giving/getting hummers at the movies.
I don't know the relationship McCain has with his former children, some of whom were adopted after he married his good friends wife (wonder how long JMac and she were together before the friend dropped out of the picture for good, and I do believe the buddy was a military person also) but
Senator Obama seems to have a pretty solid relationship with his wife and kids and it doesn't appear that he's in the throes of a mid-life crisis like McCain had when he left his wife for a 20-something former cheerleader.
Hey, I have nothing against him for getting a younger, attractive, rich woman. It's just that he divorced his wife, after having an affair with the current Mrs. McCain, for no good reason other than he wanted something younger.
Like I said, it mirrors a number of my strong Republican friends.
This guy actually has some really good ideas. To bad he is so far off base on some others. His idea that the federal government should be smaller and more power given to individual states is exactly what the founders had in mind. I for one am sick of the population centers having so much say in what the rest of us in the real world do. But his ideas on scrapping Social Security after most of us have paid into it our entire life makes him sound like a maniac.
Again, McShame is TOAST
BARACK THE VOTE AMERICA !!!
Ron Paul...what a nut if you want to vote third party vote for Cynthia Mc Kinney.
By the way,
Ron Paul seems a little quirky, and probably, with that hair, looks a little quirky. But he has some sound ideas and was totally against the war on sound principles.
I'm still voting for Senator Obama, but I thought I'd make a comment about Ron Paul, since the article is about him after all.
Ron Paul is an amazing politician. One of the few who are actually willing to put aside partisan differences and point out what's wrong with our system!
Ron Paul 2008 !
Ron Paul was the only true conservative that the Republican had. Instead they gave it to a gaffe and out of sink warmogger John McCain.
By the tone and content of some of these comments, a good many of you seem to think that Ron Paul will be on the ballot this fall as a presidential candidate. Wrong. As to his "handing the election to Obama" - the GOP is doing that by nominating McCain. The amount of vitriol and name-calling against Paul is somewhat breath-taking ("hospitable to racists," "looks like a psychopath," "he's really short"). Did you see him standing next to the other GOP candidates during the debates? He was one of the taller candidates - probably close to or a bit over 6 feet.
Ron Paul is one of the most well-rounded individuals ever to seek the presidency - a successful physician, best-selling author, a Constitutional authority, a leading economist of the "Austrian school" of economics, a distinguished Air Force veteran, a dedicated family man who's never had a whiff of personal scandal in his life, a former Pennsylvania high school state champion in the 220-yard dash. Let's see how any of you name-calling nobodies can stack up against this greatest of living American patriots.
You people are such idiots. Ron Paul is not taking any votes away from John McCain. If Ron Paul wasn't around, those people who are supporting him would not be in the McCain camp.
Great he will have just as much attention as the GOP.
Help Mc cain go down faster.
This also will stop Pawlenty from selling out Minnesota to the GOP for his bid as VP.
Guarantee you we wont allow Minnesota to be the next Ohio or Florida!!!!
We are on to you Pawlenty!!!!
The GOP has become the party of big business and big government in support of big business. Obama-Paul would be a great ticket.