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Paul, Peden address backers at LJ rallies
Published February 11, 2008
LAKE JACKSON — In what promised to be very different gatherings, Republican candidates Congressman Ron Paul and Friendswood Mayor Pro Tem Chris Peden met with District 14 constituents in Lake Jackson on Sunday to campaign for a seat in Congress.
Peden is challenging Paul in the March 4 primary. Early voting begins Feb. 19.
The candidates each had a rally at the Lake Jackson Civic Center on Sunday, and both said the overlapping times and shared venue simply were coincidence.
The signs hundreds of Paul’s supporters held were both for his campaign for the Republican nomination for president, in which he is forging on despite Arizona Sen. John McCain’s near mathematical lock on the nomination, and for Paul’s campaign to keep his seat in Congress.
Weatherford resident Michelle Roberts said she came to Lake Jackson with about 200 other supporters because she believes in the message Paul has for reform in government.
“He’s the first president since Thomas Jefferson that I believe in that supports our Constitutional rights and our liberties, and I love him as a man,” Roberts said. “In researching what he’s done for this country, his voting record, his character is what we need for this country. This is the hope for America.”
Peden had a devoted crowd, as well, and many of his supporters said they were former Paul supporters.
“As the war went on, we believe that the only way that we’re going to stop terrorism is to meet it head on,” Lake Jackson resident Glenn Dupont said. “So some of the comments that Ron Paul has made regarding the war has made us look elsewhere, to look at Chris and to support him.”
Paul told his supporters that America needed to go back to a time when the Constitution was strictly followed.
“One thing I have never been accused of by any of my opponents has been that I violated the Constitution,” Paul said. “That has been my oath of office, it is the fact that I am out of step, maybe, with Washington because maybe there’s a few others that don’t have enough respect for our Constitution.”
During his rally, Paul read an endorsement from Peden he said was written a year ago.
“I have an immense amount of respect for Ron Paul,” the letter read. “Politics has a way of forcing people to go against their core principles for political gain. That has never been the case with Ron Paul.”
“If our enemies are talking about us like that, then we should do well in this election,” Paul said.
Peden’s camp said he did write that about Paul, and they continue to believe that statement is true.
“That is, in fact, our position on Dr. Paul,” said Onzelo Markum, Peden’s political director. “We have a tremendous amount of respect for Dr. Paul. However, we believe that on several vital issues to this nation ... Dr. Paul is profoundly and consistently and deeply wrong.”
Peden spoke to more than 100 people and said his reason for running for Congress is to let the voice of the people be heard.
“I’m not running for Congress to make a point,” Peden said. “I’m running for Congress to make a difference.”
Peden said would like to see a more secure border and to cut down on immigration, help improve the educational system and remain on the offense in the War on terrorism.
“We need to seal that border for national security, not immigration,” Peden said.
Taking troops out of foreign countries, cutting down on federal spending and improving America’s borders are things Paul said he would like to see addressed.
“If we want our fiscal house in order, we have to start cutting,” he said.
Erin McKeon is a reporter for The Facts. Contact her at (979) 237-0152.
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