Tuesday in Louisville, KY, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) launched his 2016 Republican presidential campaign with a message of “taking our country back” from an out of control Washington D.C.
Paul said, “I have a message! a message that is loud and clear and does not mince words. We’ve come to take our country back. We’ve come to take our country back from the special interests that use Washington as their personal piggy back, the special interests more concerned with their personal welfare than the general welfare, the Washington machine that gobbles up our freedoms and invades every nook and cranny of our lives, must be stopped.”
The Kentucky senator outlined his vision saying, “I have a vision for America. I want to be part of a return to prosperity, a true economic boom that lifts all Americans, a return to a government restrained by the Constitution, a return to privacy, opportunity, liberty. Too often when Republicans have won, we’ve squandered our victory by becoming part of the Washington machine. That’s not who I am.”
“We’re unique among the nations that our country stands for freedom,” he continued. “Freedom nurtured our country from a rebellious group of colonies into the greatest nation. When tyranny led the world, America led the way. We stood decade after decade against communism, the engine of capitalism winning out against the sputtering incompetent engine of socialism. we won the Cold War! America and freedom are so intertwined that people are literally dying to come here. The freedom we fostered in America unleashed genius and advancement like never before. ”
“I have vision for America where everyone who wants to work will have a job,” Paul added. “Many Americans though are being left behind, the reward of work seems beyond their grasp. Under the watch of both parties, the poor seem to get poorer and rich get richer. Trillion dollar government stimulus packages have only widened the income gap. Politically connected cronies get taxpayer dollars by the hundreds of millions and poor families across America continue to suffer. I have a different vision and ambitious vision, a vision that will offer opportunity to all Americans, especially those who have been left behind.”
He portrayed himself as as a different kind of Republican on national security.
“Conservatives should not succumb to the notion that a government inept at home will somehow succeed at building nations abroad,” Paul said. “I envision an America with a national defense unparalleled, undefeatable, and unencumbered by overseas nation building.”
On Iran he added, “I will oppose any deal that does not end Iran’s nuclear ambitions and have strong verification measures,” he said. “I will insist that any final version be brought before Congress.”
On the NSA, Paul said, “The president created this vast dragnet by executive order. As president, on day one I will immediately end unconstitutional surveillance.”
Paul’s ended his announcement, that was met with enthusiastic cheers from a packed hall of his supporters by saying, “Today begins the journey to take America back. To rescue a great country now adrift. Join me as together we seek a new vision for America, Today I announce with God’s help with the help of liberty lovers everywhere, that I am putting myself forward as a candidate for president of the United States of America.”
Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN