Rand Paul's RNC Speech and the Future of the Republican Party

"Republicans must acknowledge that not every dollar spent on the military is necessary or well spent," said Kentucky Senator Rand Paul while addressing the Republican National Convention floor on day 3 of the event.

After Paul's speech, which mostly stuck to the GOP's "We Built It" theme but occasionally touched on libertarian themes such as the need for reduction of military spending or the importance of civil liberties, Reason TV was on the scene to ask Romney and Paul supporters alike what they thought of the speech and whether or not Rand and/or Ron Paul-style Republicanism has a future in the party.

About 3:30 minutes.

Produced by Zach Weissmueller and Tracy Oppenheimer.

Go to http://reason.com/reasontv for downloadable versions and subscribe to ReasonTV's YouTube Channel to receive notifications when new material goes live.

• Category

  News & Politics

[WesSeid]

typical neocon: "Wars are great, NDAA is great, Patriot Act is great. Ron Paul needs to leave the party because he's against that stuff."

interviewer: "Do you think Rand Paul is an acceptable Republican?"

typical neocon: "Yes."

interviewer: "You know Rand is against that stuff too, right?"

typical neocon: "Thinking isn't my strong suit."

[John Freeman]

Endorsing Romney is words, not action. Fighting for liberty in the Senate is action.

[Shlomo Feldman]

FUCK YAH!! ONLY RAND PAUL FOR PRESIDENT 2016!!

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON!

[Shaun Johnson]

Rand Paul understands that our nation is running out of time, people. He will compromise the minimal amount of words necessary to win, even if it's playing word games as a politician. Although, economically, I believe it's too late, just giving this guy the national spotlight to highlight libertarian ideology like ending the Fed will be enough to dig ourselves from the ashes to rebuild this nation properly... so relax on the guy. He's doing what he can in the most effective means possible.

[420PATROCK]

He still bows before the allmighty dollar! Sellout! REVOLUTION!

[sleedolfine15]

You're right about moderates & conservative. But, it is possible for an organized bunch of practical idealist to take a political organization away from the old guard. I'd love it if the LP became a major player,but in 40 years they have made little progress. On the presidential level,they have never threatened the major parties and have won only 1 electoral vote(and that was only because Nixon electoral Roger MacBride voted for 1972 LP nominee Dr. John Hospers.

[Ryan Risher]

Politically destroying the GOP seems more unlikely to me than infiltrating it, especially when you consider that many of the conservative principles align with Libertarian principles already. Sure, the platform is usually not adhered to but it does seem pessimistic to imply that adding the items I referred to means nothing, although it was definitely done to buy Paul support. If it ever looks like it would be possible to do what you are suggesting then I will be first in line, deal?

[Xenthoid]

Unfortunately, terms like 'moderate liberal' and 'conservatives' have been rendered nearly meaningless. This especially can be seen as the case in the last 30 yrs.

[sleedolfine15]

The post war GOP was a party dominated by moderate-liberals like Governors Rockerfeller, Dewey & George Romney & Senators Hatfield, Dirkson & Javis,etc. Bill Buckley ran for Mayor of New York on the Conservative Party line because GOP nominee John Lindsay was extremely liberal. The Goldwater Campaign seized control of the party aparatus and carried the whole party to the right so that, inspite of losing the general election, the modern GOP is much more conservative than it was 45 years ago.

[Xenthoid]

So when have a party been hijacked? where is the precedent or model for that approach?

[Xenthoid]

"...ignores the progress that was made, such as the items added to the GOP platform."

If you call appeasing to attract libertarians and others with the platform progress then i guess you're correct. However, when has the platform ever really made a difference?

Its better to politically destroy the GOP than to attempt infiltration, I really doubt the powers that be, will allow one faction of a defunct political system to be hijacked by people trying to change things for the better.

[Ryan Risher]

Your analysis ignores the progress that was made, such as the items added to the GOP platform. I admit infiltrating the GOP may be impossible, and if not it will likely take a long time, which we may not have. I don't see any other possibility otherwise I would be willing to try that as well. I'm working on the campaign for Gary Johnson, I hope we siphon enough votes to show the GOP that we're willing to forfeit the election to the democrats if they don't shift their attitude and policies.