Ron Paul Says U.S. Weakening Constitution

Republican Presidential Candidate Calls For an End to Federal Income Tax and Less Concentration on Foreign Matters

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul called for stricter adherence to the Constitution during an impassioned speech about his political ideologies on Feb. 13 at Georgetown.

The Texas congressman positioned himself as leader of a revolution that would tout a return to constitutional principles with a small federal government, no income tax and more concentration on domestic, rather than foreign, matters. He blamed many of the country's problems on a willingness to ignore the founding fathers' intent and a willingness to weaken the Constitution with amendments.

"We've made one serious mistake -- we've ignored our Constitution," Paul said in a speech frequently punctuated by cheers and chants from the audience. "If you want to get back to the basics and restore the principles of this country and this republic, we have to obey the Constitution."

Though he is running on the Republican ticket, Paul identifies as a Libertarian, who advocate minimal government and social programs in favor of individual rights.

Freedoms are rapidly disappearing, Paul said, and Georgetown students should ask themselves one question: What should the role of the government be?

"The founders asked themselves that question and came up with a pretty good answer. They said the role of government should be one thing, to protect liberty," he said. "That should be the only purpose of government."

Freedom used to mean "freedom for you. You were in charge of your life and if you messed it up, it was your fault," he continued. "If there is one thing I hope to achieve in this campaign, it's to get people thinking what freedom is all about. The purpose of freedom is for us to lead our own lives, to promote our own virtue … Government interest destroys everything."

He pinpoints the start of trouble when the government declared rights to include access to education, jobs and medical care.

"What you have is a right to your life. That's what you have," Paul said. "If that were fully understood, you'd have a right to the fruits of your labor, and you would be able to keep everything you earn and not have to share it with the big government."

Paul came to Georgetown as part of the university's presidential candidate lecture series. He is the second candidate to speak after Democrat Bill Richardson, who has since dropped out the race.

Enthusiastic supporters greeted Paul in Gaston Hall by chanting his name. Much of Paul's base includes younger voters who have flocked to his Web site and set donation records -- a $4.2 million take on Nov. 5, 2007 is most a GOP candidate has raised on a single day. The congressman said his message resonates strongly with Americans who want a different form of government that puts its citizens above foreign engagement.

Paul said military personnel are embracing that point in particular, and claimed he has received more donations from that group than all other candidates combined. However, research from the Houston Chronicle found this is only from donors who self-identified as military personnel, something that is not required, and many donors are civilian employees.

In a wide-ranging speech that touched everything from the war in Iraq to abortion to tax policies, Paul reiterated that the current generation of Georgetown students will pay the price for what he called mistakes of the government. He pointed to overspending, borrowing money from foreign governments and a financial strain on the middle class as unsustainable practices that will have significant fallouts.

While acknowledging he is not the front runner for the Republican nomination, Paul said his principles are stirring supporters' passion about what the United States could accomplish.

But the night was not without detractors. To a mix of applause and boos from the audience, one Georgetown student questioned the candidate about racist and homophobic slurs that appeared newsletters published by Paul in the 1990s. Though Paul has since said he did not write the articles in question, the student pushed to know why Paul did not denounce the writings years ago when first confronted.

The congressman said it was a mistake and blamed the comments getting published on time constraints during his time as publisher. Paul also called himself "probably the biggest champion of rights for everybody."

"A true Libertarian," he said, "is incapable of being a racist."

Source: Blue & Gray (February 15, 2008)

Dear [Paul Bear],

It is a crazy day here at the American Freedom Campaign, but I wanted to share some great news with you.  Today, the U.S. House of Representatives finally passed the contempt resolution against White House officials Josh Bolten and Harriet Miers!  As you know, the American Freedom Campaign -- backed by all of you -- has been pushing for this vote for months.  Congress has taken a stand in support of our system of checks and balances and we all have reason to celebrate.

I would personally like to thank everyone who took the time to send an email to Congress, urging passage of this contempt resolution.  Over the past few months, AFC supporters have sent about 19,000 emails on this issue.  This caught the attention of the popular Capitol Hill newspaper, Roll Call, which this morning cited these 19,000 emails as part of the reason the resolution made it to the floor.  We are a young organization, but we are having a serious impact in Washington!

As my time is limited, I thought I would paste below much of our press release we sent out today.  It provides some additional information about the vote along with our reaction to it.

As always, thank you for all of your support.  If this victory inspires you to help support our organization financially, please click on the following link.

https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2165/t/2629/shop/custom.jsp?donate_page_KEY=2644

Best,
Steve

Steve Fox
Campaign Director
American Freedom Campaign Action Fund

=================

 American Freedom Campaign media release, February 14, 2008

WASHINGTON - Today, by a margin of 223-32, the U.S. House of Representatives, through the adoption of a self-executing rule, passed two resolutions related to the refusal of two White House officials to comply with congressional subpoenas to testify before Congress last year.  The first resolution directed the U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. to bring criminal contempt charges against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers to a grand jury.  The second resolution authorizes the House general counsel to bring a civil suit against the White House to settle the question of whether the testimony of Bolten and Miers should be covered by executive privilege.

 "After months of frustration, we are pleased that the House has finally passed these important resolutions," said Steve Fox, campaign director for the American Freedom Campaign.  "In order for our system of checks and balances to be effective, Congress must have oversight over the executive branch.  When Bolten and Miers -- with the encouragement of the President -- refused to comply with the congressional subpoenas last summer, they were tacitly saying that this oversight power no longer existed.  If they are not held in contempt -- and prosecuted in the courts -- our Constitution will have been defiled."

While the American Freedom Campaign is pleased by the outcome of the vote, it is disappointed by the fact that only three Republicans voted in favor of these resolutions.  Worse, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) stood on the floor of the House and asked members of his party to walk out of the chamber and skip the vote entirely.  All but 34 Republicans complied with this request.

"This should not have been a partisan issue," Fox continued.  "This is an historic dispute between two branches of government.  Both Democratic and Republican members of Congress should stand up for the American people and for the institution in which they serve.  Any Republican who failed to vote in favor of this resolution has expressed his or her support for an impotent Congress during an Obama or Clinton administration.  Such a development would be just as damaging for our nation as an impotent Congress under President Bush."

"Those members of Congress who walked out on this vote, have turned their back on the Constitution itself," Fox added.  "They have violated their oath to 'support and defend the Constitution' and do not deserve to represent the American people.  Again, this is not a partisan matter.  We would say the exact same thing if Democrats walked out on a vote to defend the oversight powers of Congress under the Constitution."

The American Freedom Campaign has been one of the most aggressive organizations in the country pushing its members to stand up for our system of checks and balances.  Since November, nearly 19,000 emails have been sent from AFC supporters to their U.S. representatives, urging them to pass the contempt resolution.

For more information, visit the American Freedom Campaign Web site - http://www.americanfreedomcampaign.org

FREEDOMFEST
The Trade Show for Liberty
July 10 - 12, 2008
Bally's/ Paris Resort, Las Vegas
www.freedomfest.com  
88 Speakers, Over 100 Exhibitors, and More Than 1,000 Attendees Expected!

Re: Consider Attending FreedomFest 2008 - The Trade Show for Liberty  
To: Friends in the Freedom Movement and the media
From: Ron Holland 

You are on my Ron Paul e-mail list as you’ve either written about Ron Paul, discussed his campaign in the media or written to Fox News in my Protest Fox News effort when they excluded Paul from the debate.  He has been invited to the FreedomFest 2008 conference and I hope he is available to speak again this year as his debate in 2007 was a highlight of the conference but this will depend on his campaign schedule.

Heritage Foundation has its annual Resource Bank…  State Policy Network has its annual gathering of state think tanks…  and there are many excellent conferences for those of us who desire a return to the Constitution, free markets and sound money, but I want to tell you about FreedomFest put on by my wife Tami and Mark Skousen.

FreedomFest is happy to announce THE TRADE SHOW FOR LIBERTY , “the one stop” conference for investors, the media, business leaders, Ron Paul supporters and all lovers of liberty, to learn, network, and celebrate with their favorite think tanks and organizations in the freedom movement.

FreedomFest 2007 was a roaring success with 1,027 attendees, speakers, and sponsors. And they are planning for a bigger crowd in 2008—88 speakers, 100 exhibitors, and over 1,000 attendees.  You are invited to attend and also exhibit if you have a website, service or political group that could benefit from this unique conference, scheduled for July 9-12, 2008, at Bally’s/Paris Resort.

So far several dozen organizations have already signed up as sponsors and exhibitors at this year’s event, including the Fraser Institute, Heritage Foundation, Hillsdale College , FLOW, National Center for Policy Analysis, Universidad Francisco Maroquin, Regnery Publishing , and Laissez Faire Books.

Past speakers have included Congressman Ron Paul, Tom D’Lorenzo (Mises Institute), David Boaz, José Piñera and Dan Mitchell (Cato Institute), Nick Gillespie and Brian Doherty (Reason Foundation), Muhammed Yunus (Grameen Foundation), Dinesh D’Souza (Hoover Institution), John Mackey (Whole foods Market and FLOW), Jerry O’Driscoll (Heritage Foundation), Charles Murray (American Enterprise Institute), Steve Moore (Wall Street Journal), Bill Westmiller (Republican Liberty Caucus), David Thereux (Independent Institute), Richard Vigerie, Art Laffer, Ben Stein, Ted Nicholas, Harry Browne, Nathaniel Branden, and many more.  Plus speakers from the Goldwater Institute, Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), Pacific Research Institute, among others.

If you register before March 15, registration is only $395 per person and $595 per couple. Details on our three levels of sponsorship can be found by going to http://www.freedomfest.com/sponsorships.htm 

To register or to answer your questions, please contact Tami Holland, conference coordinator, at 1-866-266-5101, or email her at tami@freedomfest.com

Thank you for your time in reading my personal e-mail about the plans and opportunities for FreedomFest 2008 For liberty & a return to limited constitutional government in our lifetime.

Ron Holland, Editor
FreedomFest News www.freedomfest.com/news.htm

SFGate's Mark Fiore has blown a hole through the middle of arguments for telecom immunity. His latest cartoon featuring "Snuggly, the Security Bear" is more eloquent than any newspaper editorial could ever be:

With your participation, the American Freedom Campaign can help stop one of the most outrageous political power grabs in this nation's history.  At stake is not only our Constitution, but also the lives of Americans.  Please continue reading this alert and then take immediate action by clicking on one of the links below.

Recently, I wrote to you about President Bush's plan to sign an agreement with the Iraqi government, making long-term economic and military commitments, without congressional approval.  The negotiations over this agreement continue and the final outcome may not be known for months.

What is known for certain, however, is that the Bush administration cannot be trusted.  That is why three members of the U.S. House of Representatives are poised to introduce a resolution that would make it absolutely clear that President Bush CANNOT, under the Constitution of the United States, make long-term, binding military or economic commitments to a foreign government without congressional approval.

Click on the following link to urge your U.S. representative to co-sponsor this resolution and push for its immediate consideration on the House floor:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2165/t/1027/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22955

Since my last email on this subject ("Tell Congress: George Bush is not king," January 28), the Bush administration has started to backtrack on its contention that it could make certain military commitments to Iraq without congressional approval.[1]  While this is certainly a good sign -- and we should all be proud that we helped change their tune -- it would be foolish to take the administration at its word.  Instead, Congress must proactively assert its own authority under the Constitution and clearly convey its position to the public.

A resolution proposed by Congresswomen Barbara Lee, Lynn Woolsey, and Maxine Waters would accomplish these objectives.  As stated in the resolution itself, its primary purpose is to reaffirm "the importance of following constitutional processes when the United States Government makes national commitments regarding the use or maintenance of the United States Armed Forces."  This resolution is not "anti-war;" it is "pro-Constitution."

The House needs to pass this resolution.  And the more co-sponsors it has, the more likely its passage becomes.

So please send an email to your U.S. representative today and urge him or her to co-sponsor this important piece of legislation.  Just click on the following link to get started:

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2165/t/1027/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=22955

Thank you for taking action in support of the Constitution.

Best,
Steve

Steve Fox
Campaign Director
American Freedom Campaign Action Fund

[1]  "Gates seeks to reassure Senate on Iraq agreement," Boston Globe, February 7, 2008.

http://www.boston.com/news/world/articles/2008/02/07/gates_seeks_to_reassure_senate_on_iraq_agreement/?page=1

Hello Everyone,

Unfortunately, since the 5th of February, DVD orders have slowed.  Hoping that Ron Paul supporters haven't lost hope, and hoping that they still understand that it's the message of freedom and liberty that's important, and not the man himself... we have decided to take a loss on our end, in hopes that we can stimulate supporters around the country (and globe) to take courage, and try like never before to get the message out.  We have thousands of DVDs on hand, and the last place we want them sent to is the dump.  Ron Paul may or may not win the Republican nomination.  Like he says, however, "it's not over till it's over".  Honestly, it doesn't matter how the dust settles.  He has permanently changed literally hundreds of thousands of people for the better, by standing up for what we believe in.  We have been educated on the proper role of government, and the importance of the right to life, liberty and property.  We will never give up, even if some do.  When I feel a bit discouraged in our fight for freedom, my mind reflects back to a quote by Mark Twain, and it gives me strength:

"In the beginning of change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for it costs nothing to be a patriot."

Oh, please... let us be like the patriot described in the verse above.  Our children will thank us.  Our grandchildren will thank us.  And, many generations to come will thank us, and look back in awe on the time in U.S. history when we the people took back what was rightfully ours in the first place.

Ron Paul DVDs, from www.RonPaulDVD.com, are now just 25¢ each, plus postage and fees.  Some of you may have noticed the new order page, that allows you to figure the exact cost on the exact quantity of discs you would like to order.  If you experience any difficulty using the new checkout method, don't hesitate to contact me via phone or e-mail.

Keep at it.  Anything worth having, is worth fighting for.

Your Friend in Liberty,

Nate Jones
208-904-0938
New Plymouth, ID
www.RonPaulDVD.com

BreakTheMatrix.com <– Take back the media!

Posted: 11 Feb 2008 05:16 PM CST

http://www.BreakTheMatrix.com

To All Ron Paul Supporters And Our Friends In The Grassroots

This is the beginning, ladies and gentlemen. The beginning of the end for the stranglehold of the mainstream media. The beginning of the end for the masters in high places. The beginning of the end for the media blackout of the values and philosophies expressed by Ron Paul and other political candidates that share his views. The beginning of the time when we take our country back.

It starts right here, at BreakTheMatrix.com. We are forming a grassroots organization and movement that will carry the words and values of freedom off the Internet and out to those millions of Americans who only receive their news and entertainment from mainstream radio and television. As Dr. Paul himself said so well on February 9, 2008: “The neocons, the warmongers, the socialists, the advocates of inflation will be hearing much from you and me.” Indeed. The tired, empty mantras of “right and left,” of “conservative and liberal,” of “Democrat and Republican,” will no longer stand unchallenged in our mainstream media outlets. Freedom, prosperity, peace, hope—the great ideas are coming to America.

Here’s How

We’re starting our own grassroots media company. Basic Media, Inc. (in formation) will create, build and connect Internet based radio and television outlets for freedom voices and faces around the United States and worldwide. The newly forming company will develop a wide ranging array of interesting and entertaining content on the web, and transmit our shows to mainstream “off the Internet” people through a variety of communications technologies and strategies. We’re talking right now to syndicators, producers, advertising specialists, and our many grassroots friends about how this goal can best be achieved. These are friends with ideas; with skills; and with vision. Friends who understand how to develop and utilize top of the line content and the technologies needed for creation and transmittal of entertaining and informative radio and television shows to a “non Internet” mainstream audience. Very simply, we’re creating a new media network. And we’re inviting you to be part of it.

The Internet prototypes are already in existence. We in the grassroots have watched them take root over the course of the Ron Paul presidential campaign—and what tremendous work the early media pioneers have been doing! Two online radio stations have been up and running for months at ronpaulradio.com and rprradio.com. These volunteer radio outlets have provided a platform for dozens of outstanding radio hosts who spread the news of our Ron Paul movement 24/7 across the worldwide web. And the growth of online video capability has been even more impressive. The spontaneous creation of Youtube content about Ron Paul and his message is a grand story in its own right. Myspace.com has provided some powerful tools. And Justintv.com has broken new ground every day with video streams broadcasting in real time from events in the Ron Paul campaign. The core technologies are already in place for high quality content creation and delivery on the web, and Basic Media, Inc. will take this process to the next higher level with syndication and delivery platform strategies that carry our message to the radios and television sets of every household in America. Break the monopoly of the establishment media! Break the wall of silence that stifles voices of truth in our nation! Break the matrix. With Basic Media, Inc.

While “off Internet” content delivery is our first and most readily achievable goal, there is a second core aspect to what we’ll be doing in the new company. This whole process is all about organization, and communication, and the implementation of social networking tools that will bring people together as a positive force for change in America. There are many of us now. We are all across the country. So we need to find each other; to do business together; to share stories and strategies; and to build this grand freedom movement on a going forward basis that will flourish and thrive long after the 2008 presidential campaign is over. The inspiring work of grassroots organizers at ronpaulforums.com; at dailypaul.com; at meetup groups; and at other locations all across the Internet has shown us the great power of networking tools that are already in existence. The early organizers have started a process, and there is much to build upon. But the movement for change is barely beginning, and there’s so much more that we can do to bring people together. Building a nationwide/worldwide community—the second key goal of Basic Media, Inc.

Rick Williams and Trevor Lyman are the initial organizers and executive officers of the new entity in formation. For over 34 years, Mr. Williams has been a practicing lawyer in Los Angeles, California. He is a graduate of UCLA School of Law (JD 1973), where he served on the Board of Editors of the UCLA Law Review. Mr. Williams was a business administration major at Washington State University (BA 1969), and he worked in the finance and accounting group at Shell Oil Company before entering law school. Mr. Williams is an avid student of the Austrian school of economics, and he hosted radio shows throughout the Ron Paul presidential campaign talking about the Federal Reserve system and the practices of our bankers. Trevor Lyman became widely known as a grassroots fundraiser for the November 5 moneybomb, the Teaparty moneybomb, and RonPaul Blimp.com. Mr. Lyman has been the subject of numerous media profiles and interviews as a result of his efforts, and he is perhaps the most recognizable name and face in the grassroots movement. You’ve seen what Trevor Lyman has done, and you know the results that he achieved for the Ron Paul campaign. Rick Williams and Trevor Lyman have been two of the activists, but we’re not here to speak of the past. The future is what matters. So this is what we’re planning to do.

Here Are the Specifics

Basic Media, Inc., the new corporation in formation, will be structured to create and transmit top quality radio and television shows using Internet technology platforms. We hope to draw from the enormous pool of talent that already exists in the freedom movement, and capture the very best content for packaging and distribution to mainstream radio and television outlets off the web and across the United States. Our “off Internet” distribution opportunities are wide ranging and diverse—everything from nationwide/worldwide satellite delivery to locally owned radio and television stations. We’ll pick and choose. We’ll select and utilize the most valuable and efficient delivery strategies that are available for our content.

How about cash flow? Like any other media outlet, our revenues will derive primarily from the sale of advertising time. Basic Media, Inc. will be operating as a “for profit” business, and isn’t that what it’s all about? Our goal and objective is to create and deliver high quality content, spread the values and philosophies that we believe in, and make a profit in the process. There are no guarantees of profitability, of course, and we all must recognize that media advertising is a highly competitive market. The effort to achieve profitability will be challenging, and we should not fool ourselves into thinking that high paying advertisers will magically appear on our doorstep. But advertisers are constantly looking for emerging markets and new ways to get their messages out to the community. And for the most part, existing media entities don’t own their advertisers. If we capture a mainstream audience, we believe the advertisers will follow. This is how the matrix can be broken.

Basic Media, Inc. is not a political entity, and we will not affiliate with existing or future campaigns of Ron Paul or any other candidate for elective office. We will fully and cheerfully comply with all “equal time” requirements of the Federal Election Commission and other election authorities. Indeed, we welcome the opportunity to compare (and contrast) our values and philosophies of freedom, prosperity, peace and hope with those of candidates seeking election under the banner of any political party. We can sponsor debates; host candidate forums; and provide analysis of candidate positions. Our content delivery platform can be used to shed the light of truth on any serious candidate for office, and we will work to replace the existing closed media system with a free marketplace of political ideas. Picture, for example, a debate session organized by Basic Media, Inc. where Ron Paul, John McCain and Hillary Clinton/Barack Obama all receive “equal time.” An intriguing thought, isn’t it? Nothing more need be said on the subject of political activism.

This document is an initial “solicitation of interest” issued pursuant to section 254 of Part 230–General Rules and Regulations, Securities Act of 1933. We are preparing a Regulation A initial public offering of stock over the Internet through the medium of electronic delivery of securities information. Basic Media, Inc. (the newly forming company) will offer a total of 500,000 shares of common stock to the public at a price of $10 per share, with a minimum purchase requirement of 10 shares per individual purchaser. If the offering is fully subscribed and sold, the public shareholders of Basic Media, Inc. will own a total of 41.67% of the outstanding common stock of the company as of the closing date. You may indicate your interest in participation in the stock offering by visiting the website, entering your email address and pressing pledge at the top of the page. Thereafter, you might wish to visit this website at BreakTheMatrix.com for information as to when the Offering Circular will be ready for review, and when binding stock subscription documents will be available for delivery. To the extent needed, we will also provide email updates regarding our progress.

Basic Media, Inc. is organizing as a grassroots response to the deficiencies that are so glaringly obvious in our existing mainstream media structure. The company founders are confident and hopeful about our prospects for success, but none of us should underestimate the scope of the challenge that lies ahead. It’s a big task, and our success depends on your help, your talents, your energy, and your commitment to the goal of bringing real change to America. So tell us your ideas for the new venture. Write to either of us at the email addresses on this page. Share with us your talents, and let us know your views about how the new entity might best fulfill its mission. This document is the first step in a lengthy securities offering process, and please take careful note of the following rules and requirements issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission:

(1) No money or other consideration is being solicited at this time, and if sent in response, will not be accepted;

(2) No sale of the securities will be made or commitment to purchase accepted until delivery of an offering circular that includes complete information about the issuer and the offering;

(3) Any indication of interest made by a prospective investor involves no obligation or commitment of any kind.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you, and we close this letter with a few simple words that Ron Paul has spoken often on the presidential campaign trail. Dr. Paul says: “Let’s have fun!”

Very truly yours,

Basic Media, Inc. (in formation)

Rick Williams
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
rdw2008@gmail.com

Trevor Lyman
Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer
lyman.trevor@gmail.com

We are not associated or affiliated with Ron Paul or his campaigns for President and Congress.