VIDEO: Ron Paul Electrifies Raucous Crowd in SeaTac
Hundreds of rabid supporters sardined themselves into the Grand Ballroom at the DoubleTree Inn to hear his messages of smaller government and restoration of individual freedom.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to reflect Ron Paul's official campaign platform to cut $1 trillion from the budget in his first year if elected president. At his rally Feb. 16, Paul misstated that number as $1 billion.
SEATAC—Ron Paul was two-thirds through his rally Thursday night when one of the people in the breathing-room-only crowd blurted out what fellow supporters were already thinking.
"You're the greatest American, Paul!" the voice yelled from the crowd at the DoubleTree Inn, prompting a chorus of cheers.
"I'm delivering the greatest message," said the Republican presidential candidate, prompting an even louder cheer from supporters who packed all of the hotel's ballroom.
On Thursday night, the messages were simple and clear. The never-bashful GOP hopeful electrified supporters with talk of more individual freedom and smaller government.
"The solutions are out there," Paul said. "A revolution is really going on."
In preparation for Super Tuesday, as well as the March 3 Republican caucus for Washington state, Paul stumped earlier in Vancouver before stopping in the South Sound, explaining how years of government intrusion into individual freedoms have made the U.S. weaker, and that he would change that if elected.
"The richest countries in the world have always been the free-est countries in the world," he said.
Among his priorities if elected: decommissioning the Federal Reserve Bank, pulling U.S. troops from other countries and, most importantly, trimming $1 trillion dollars from the federal budget during his first year.
The crowd of supporters was a show in itself. The event had a much different vibe than the visit from fellow GOP candidate Rick Santorum in nearby Tacoma earlier this week, when several protestors with the Occupy Tacoma movement tried to hijack the show.
On Thursday night, the crowd was decidedly in Paul's favor.
"Ron Paul Stole My Heart," read one woman's sign.
"Freedom!" another young supporter shouted.
"End the Fed!" still others shouted.
The crowd consisted of an array of supporters, from college students to seniors to parents with young children.
To all of them, Paul encouraged them to "show the other Washington" that people from the Northwest would show their desire for change at the polls.
Kevin Palmer
2:47 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Doesn't he want to trim a trillion, not a billion?
Jeanne Gustafson
3:08 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Thanks for your question, Kevin, I'm checking with the local editor to confirm what Paul said at the rally.
John Daryyl
3:10 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
A billion would be a drop in the bucket... He is going to cut a Trillion with a capitol "T"
Roger Robie
3:38 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
The average gop voter needs to wake up and join the huge number of independent voters in supporting Ron Paul. Cayman Mitt is just not going to cut it against Obummer. How about we vote for a return to sane and sound foreign and economic policy?? Stop drinking the MSM koolaid on Paul and think for yourself.
G Hines
3:56 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
@roger robie. Maybe I read it wrong, but your comment appeared to have a negative connotation at the end. Is that your intention? Prior to that in your paragraph you seem pro Paul, and near the end you appear to be "debunking" Paul.
At any rate, RON PAUL 2012!
Jeanne Gustafson
8:57 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Thanks to Sammamish Patch readers for pointing out that Ron Paul promises to trim $1 trillion from the budget in his first year if elected, not $1 billion as the story originally stated.
chuckrebel
8:58 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
I was there last night but too late to get into the door. It would have been really cool if someone was streaming the talk so we in the lobby could have watched it on our phones.
Jeanne Gustafson
10:27 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Thanks for the idea, chuckrebel. We did have our editor live tweeting, but streaming video is something to think about if we have enough staff on hand at an event. Sorry you couldn't get in!
Brent Champaco
11:08 am on Friday, February 17, 2012
Hi all - Thanks for pointing out the discrepancy re: the figure Paul would like to cut out of the federal budget the first year. Although he did say one thing, he obviously meant a trillion. I should learn learn not to take things so literally, huh? Thanks again for your eagle eyes.
Brent Champaco