CPAC: Rand Paul inspires young voters

By Hannah Bleau | gargoyle@flagler.edu

WASHINGTON D.C.- Sen. Rand Paul, a popular political figure among the younger generation, was met with an enthusiastic crowd during his Friday afternoon speech.

Paul’s articulation of conservative values and heavy emphasis on freedom appealed to the libertarian vibe of the young generation. Paul addressed millennials directly in his address.

“Will you, America’s next generation of liberty lovers, stand and be heard?” Paul asked.

In his speech Friday afternoon, Paul drew a distinct line between himself and the mainstream Republican Party.

“Imagine a time when liberties again spread from coast to coast. Imagine a time when our great country is again governed by the Constitution. Imagine a time when the White House is once again occupied by a friend of liberty. You may think I’m talking about electing Republicans. I’m not. I’m talking about electing lovers of liberty,” Paul said.

Paul continued to voice the solutions of liberty to the crowd.

“Will we be firm in our convictions or will we cower defeated and meekly dilute our message? Will we water down the Bill of Rights or will we be on fire like the unstoppable William Lloyd Garrison?” Paul said.

Frequently quoting the founding fathers, Paul took many pauses as applause erupted into standing ovations.

Paul also addressed the right to privacy, a common theme in American media since the Edward Snowden revelations in 2013.

“The NSA monitors your every phone call. If you have a cell phone, you are under surveillance. I believe what you do on your cell phone is none of their damn business,” Paul said.

Paul also emphasized the importance of the Fourth Amendment. While Americans frequently debate the parameters of the First and Second Amendment, Paul argued Americans can’t let the right to privacy slip under the radar and allow the government to continue intruding into the lives of private citizens.

“There is a great battle going on. It’s for the heart and soul of America. The Fourth Amendment is equally important as the Second Amendment, and conservatives cannot forget this,” Paul said.

Instead of pitching promises to the crowd, Paul stayed simple, making his speech incredibly effective. According to Paul, liberty is lost and the young generation has the challenge of reigniting it. Are young people up to the challenge? Do they believe the best of America is ahead and not behind? Will they sit idly or fight for freedom? From the looks of the crowd, many are up for the challenge.

Young people are disenchanted with the what many saw as the “celebrity president.” Young people cannot find jobs. ObamaCare is hurting them and their families. Civil liberties are being stripped away and Paul appealed to these problems.

“How will history remember Barack Obama? History will record his timid defense of liberty,” Paul said.

Undoubtedly, no one relates to the younger crowd quite like Paul, who will remain a big contender in the upcoming 2016 presidential election.

*CPAC is an annual meeting of conservatives around the country who unite to talk about conservative ideas, solutions and networks.