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Rand Paul in Baltimore county finds an island of red in Maryland's sea of blue Rand Paul in Baltimore county finds an island of red in Maryland's sea of blue
(about 14 hours later)
Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican running for president, went to the Baltimore area on Tuesday night for the first time since riots provoked by the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican running for president, went to the Baltimore area on Tuesday night for the first time since riots provoked by the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.
The 2016 hopeful appeared at a dinner of suburban Republicans in a banquet hall that arguably looked more like a setting for a mafia wedding than a speech on urban policy.The 2016 hopeful appeared at a dinner of suburban Republicans in a banquet hall that arguably looked more like a setting for a mafia wedding than a speech on urban policy.
Still, Paul gave what was perhaps one of his most passionate speeches on the subject of crime and urban policy. After reiterating much of his usual stump material, he spoke about Kalief Browder, a teenager from the Bronx who was imprisoned for three years without trial and killed himself this week.Still, Paul gave what was perhaps one of his most passionate speeches on the subject of crime and urban policy. After reiterating much of his usual stump material, he spoke about Kalief Browder, a teenager from the Bronx who was imprisoned for three years without trial and killed himself this week.
Paul raged that Browder “was put in Rikers Island for three years without a trial, he spent two in solitary, he was beaten to a pulp by a gang in prison”. He added: “Even if you are convicted of a crime, are we going to let you be raped, pillaged and murdered in prison?”Paul raged that Browder “was put in Rikers Island for three years without a trial, he spent two in solitary, he was beaten to a pulp by a gang in prison”. He added: “Even if you are convicted of a crime, are we going to let you be raped, pillaged and murdered in prison?”
“When I see people angry and upset [as a result] – I’m not here to excuse violence – but I see where some of the anger is coming from and there is a proper way to figure this out.”“When I see people angry and upset [as a result] – I’m not here to excuse violence – but I see where some of the anger is coming from and there is a proper way to figure this out.”
Paul cited specific statistics about Baltimore, the economically deprived city a mile or two away from where he spoke. He noted the unemployment rate for black men in the inner city was 37%. The unemployment rate had only been 22% during the Great Depression, he said. He did not mention Freddie Gray by name.Paul cited specific statistics about Baltimore, the economically deprived city a mile or two away from where he spoke. He noted the unemployment rate for black men in the inner city was 37%. The unemployment rate had only been 22% during the Great Depression, he said. He did not mention Freddie Gray by name.
Paul went on to note that African Americans were 15 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession in Baltimore City than whites despite similar rates of use of the drug. This wasn’t racism, he argued – “many of your elected officials are black” – but there was “something wrong with the war on drugs”.Paul went on to note that African Americans were 15 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession in Baltimore City than whites despite similar rates of use of the drug. This wasn’t racism, he argued – “many of your elected officials are black” – but there was “something wrong with the war on drugs”.
The Kentucky Republican pointedly told the conservative crowd: “I do think drugs are bad – even marijuana. If you smoke marijuana every day you’re not going to be productive. So I’m not here to say smoke marijuana.”The Kentucky Republican pointedly told the conservative crowd: “I do think drugs are bad – even marijuana. If you smoke marijuana every day you’re not going to be productive. So I’m not here to say smoke marijuana.”
Paul declared before a very red audience, in a very blue state, that Republicans “can win across the country when we become a bigger, more diverse and more inclusive party”. He cited the upset win of Maryland Republican Larry Hogan in 2014 gubernatorial election.Paul declared before a very red audience, in a very blue state, that Republicans “can win across the country when we become a bigger, more diverse and more inclusive party”. He cited the upset win of Maryland Republican Larry Hogan in 2014 gubernatorial election.
He attracted some support in the ballroom, which included an entire table of young people in Rand Paul T-shirts. Erik Lofstad, a 31-year-old from the Baltimore suburb of White Marsh, told the Guardian he liked Paul because the Kentucky Republican offered “a fresh perspective”. Lofstad was not yet a true believer; politicians did not always keep their word. “Obama said good things, now he’s Bush version 3.”He attracted some support in the ballroom, which included an entire table of young people in Rand Paul T-shirts. Erik Lofstad, a 31-year-old from the Baltimore suburb of White Marsh, told the Guardian he liked Paul because the Kentucky Republican offered “a fresh perspective”. Lofstad was not yet a true believer; politicians did not always keep their word. “Obama said good things, now he’s Bush version 3.”
Lofstad’s support was echoed by Joe Steffen, a longtime, somewhat infamous local GOP operative who said: “Rand Paul is the only guy I’d come out to see … it’s Rand Paul and no one else and I mean that from the bottom of my ugly heart,” while noting the gathering of suburban Republicans might not have been the ideal audience. “He is more libertarian than probably 80% of people in this room.”Lofstad’s support was echoed by Joe Steffen, a longtime, somewhat infamous local GOP operative who said: “Rand Paul is the only guy I’d come out to see … it’s Rand Paul and no one else and I mean that from the bottom of my ugly heart,” while noting the gathering of suburban Republicans might not have been the ideal audience. “He is more libertarian than probably 80% of people in this room.”
Baltimore county is certainly not natural territory for Paul. A swing county in state elections, it includes rural farms, blue-collar suburbs with shut-down steel mills, prosperous enclaves of stock brokers and white shoe lawyers as well as significant African American and Jewish communities. Many people either used to live or their parents used to live in Baltimore city and look back at it less than fondly.Baltimore county is certainly not natural territory for Paul. A swing county in state elections, it includes rural farms, blue-collar suburbs with shut-down steel mills, prosperous enclaves of stock brokers and white shoe lawyers as well as significant African American and Jewish communities. Many people either used to live or their parents used to live in Baltimore city and look back at it less than fondly.
Al Mendelsohn, the chair of the Baltimore county GOP, began the night by railing against Baltimore city’s “culture of crime, corruption and cronyism” and said residents were fleeing city limits “like refugees from Cuba or Mexico”. Standing by while he spoke, members of the all-African American wait staff visibly winced.Al Mendelsohn, the chair of the Baltimore county GOP, began the night by railing against Baltimore city’s “culture of crime, corruption and cronyism” and said residents were fleeing city limits “like refugees from Cuba or Mexico”. Standing by while he spoke, members of the all-African American wait staff visibly winced.
Paul largely rolled out standard elements from his stump speech – damning Hillary Clinton’s handling of the terrorist attack at Benghazi and criticising spying by the NSA. The Kentucky senator did add occasional local touches – “I don’t want anyone dumping benzene in the Chesapeake Bay”, he said, while railing against government overreach in enforcing environmental laws.Paul largely rolled out standard elements from his stump speech – damning Hillary Clinton’s handling of the terrorist attack at Benghazi and criticising spying by the NSA. The Kentucky senator did add occasional local touches – “I don’t want anyone dumping benzene in the Chesapeake Bay”, he said, while railing against government overreach in enforcing environmental laws.
The best way Paul can woo Baltimore county Republicans is by appealing to their self-interest as someone who might be able to grow the party in a deep blue state. The fact that there are finally 50 Republicans in the Maryland House of Delegates – a legislative body with 141 members – drew applause at the dinner. One attendee, John Gordon, was caught for his choice of nominee between Paul, Marco Rubio and Ben Carson – the only three he thought could win.The best way Paul can woo Baltimore county Republicans is by appealing to their self-interest as someone who might be able to grow the party in a deep blue state. The fact that there are finally 50 Republicans in the Maryland House of Delegates – a legislative body with 141 members – drew applause at the dinner. One attendee, John Gordon, was caught for his choice of nominee between Paul, Marco Rubio and Ben Carson – the only three he thought could win.
Maryland last voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 1984. Steffen believed Paul might have a shot in a state where “only a moderate or libertarian can win”. Maryland last voted for a Republican presidential candidate in 1988. Steffen believed Paul might have a shot in a state where “only a moderate or libertarian can win”.
And right now, in the ever more conservative Republican party, moderates running for president are in short supply.And right now, in the ever more conservative Republican party, moderates running for president are in short supply.