http://www.startribune.com/politics/state/61590702.html?page=1&c=y

The congressman took the stage with Michele Bachmann to preach the evils of the Fed -- and of big government in general.

Rep. Michele Bachmann, rear, joined former presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul of Texas on Friday at the University of Minnesota. Unlike most town hall meetings called to discuss health care, this one dealt with monetary reform, limited government and free-market economics


The congressman took the stage with Michele Bachmann to preach the evils of the Fed -- and of big government in general.

By PAT DOYLE, Star Tribune

Last update: September 25, 2009 - 11:00 PM
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re-distribution went on for eight years during the Bush administration. He managed to distribute billions to his corporate friends via … read more Black Water, Lockheed, DynCorp and other military contractors who have been extensively fined millions of dollars for misdeeds such as having employees who have murdered people, been paid to do electrical work in Iraq where the company's faulty workmanship resulted in the electrocution deaths of 18 American soldiers when they were taking showers and military contractors who were involved in sexual contact with child slaves being used for prostitution. All of those companies were fined millions of dollars for wrongdoing and yet they are not being censured or prohibited from receiving additional monies from our government. No Republicans are calling for the censorship of monies going to Lockheed or Black Water under its new name or Dyncorp for the blatant offenses of their employees. Republicans are receiving thousands of dollars from these military contractors so the misdeeds of those companies are not being criticized nor are there calls to end funding for them as they have done with Acorn. Acorn had three employees who gave information to someone posing as a prostitute and pimp. This is far less of an offense than murdering, causing deaths by faulty wiring or engaging in sexual contact with child sex slaves. Where is the Republican outrage for the crimes of the military contractors receiving billions of tax money?

If you think speeches attacking the U.S. Federal Reserve couldn't excite a Friday night crowd on a college campus, think again.

About 2,000 people -- students and older adults who were in the majority -- filled Northrop Auditorium at the University of Minnesota to cheer libertarian Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas Republican, as he joined Rep. Michele Bachmann to preach the gospel of a less powerful federal government.

Before Bachmann, R-Minn., introduced Paul, she hailed legislation of his that would require a detailed audit of the Fed. The crowd jumped to its feet and roared approval.

When she described the Fed's actions helping the banking industry as "shrouded in secrecy," one man jumped up and yelled, "Ponzi scheme!"

Paul came onstage to a standing ovation, and he quickly denounced the government's actions in dealing with the financial crisis. He also touched on themes popular with advocates of less government. He criticized gun control and deplored government initiatives to restrict smoking. He said U.S. foreign policy could lead to another military draft.

"We ought to have a right to keep what we earn, which means there would be no income tax," he said, to hearty applause.

While Bachmann also received loud applause, it was a crowd that came mostly to hear Paul, and it stood often and held signs that read, "Liberate America, Say No To Socialism."

A moderator took written questions after Paul's speech. When one asked why Paul opposed socialism, saying it's worked for European countries, it triggered hoots and laughs.

Paul said his Fed audit bill is written to "get the books open," but added that it could lead to the Fed being eliminated.

Paul also espoused positions not always favored by other GOP conservatives. He criticized the use of hidden surveillance cameras to crack down on crime, referring to it as a violation of civil liberties.