By Rebecca Lessner, for MarylandReporter.com
Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a Republican candidate for president, told Baltimore County Republicans at their annual fundraiser Tuesday night that the GOP needed to broaden its reach.
Paul said his party was good on the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms but maybe it was time to focus on more.
With a focus on the Bill of Rights, Paul suggested more votes would come from more support for the First Amendment and religious freedom, the Fourth and the right to privacy, and the Fifth and Sixth amendments, which he referred to as the “justice” amendments.
“We got to have people with tattoos, without tattoos, with long hair, without, with earrings, black white, brown, rich, poor or working class,” said Paul. “We got to be a more diverse party.”
By pushing for more than the right to bear arms, Paul hopes to gain more supporters and eliminate some of the Republican “generalization.”
“We don’t have a messaging problem folks, we have a marketing problem,” said 2012 U.S. Senate nominee Dan Bongino who spoke in support of Paul. “We are not what the media would have you believe.”
The Baltimore County Republican Party’s annual Lincoln-Reagan Dinner was organized by the Baltimore County Republican Central Committee, which raised $68,500 in the last election cycle.
“Every Republican victory in the last year was your victory,” Committee Chair Al Mendelsohn to told the crowd of over 400 guests. “You’re the reason Larry Hogan is now Governor Hogan.”
Baltimore County gave almost 60% of its vote last year to Hogan, and it took four seats in the Maryland General Assembly from the Democrats, one of the party’s most important gains.
Checks and balances
Paul argued too much power has been shifted to the president.
“Checks and balances were probably one of the most important things the founding fathers gave us,” said Paul, arguing President Obama has continued the collapse of the separation of powers.
“We established these co-equal branches…we were supposed to keep power from accumulating in one place,” said Paul. “More and more power is accumulating in the presidency.”
The result, Paul said, is the “biggest threat” to America, unchecked federal spending accumulating into national debt.
“We cannot be strong by borrowing money from China to send to Pakistan,” said Paul. “It annoys the hell out of me that we borrow money and send it to countries that hate us.”
Rethinking help for Baltimore
Commenting on the recent unrest in Baltimore City, Paul said, “We need to rethink the war on poverty….We need to imagine what’s going on and we need to figure out a better way.”
Paul referred to his plans for Economic Freedom Zones, which would reduce taxes for businesses located in areas like Baltimore City and Ferguson, Missouri.
Paul also lashed out at the Democratic frontrunner, saying his biggest disappointment with Hillary Clinton — who will officially launch her presidential campaign Saturday — was her handling of the 2012 Benghazi attack on a Libyan consulate in which the U.S. ambassador was killed.
“From her inability to give us security for our troops, from her denying troops, denying reinforcements, it should forever preclude her from being president,” said Paul.
Regardless of political party, Paul said all voters need a commander-in-chief who will defend the country.
Democrats attack
Prior to Paul’s appearance at the fundraiser, Maryland Democratic Party Chair Bruce Poole issued a statement claiming Paul is not for the for middle class families he claims to represent.
“If Rand Paul wants to convince Marylanders and Americans that he is going to be a champion for the issues that matter most, then he will have to abandon his destructive policies that only help those at the very top,” said Poole. “Unfortunately for Paul and the Republican Party, that train has already left the station.”