RYE — Texas Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul did not attack any other politicians Thursday night, but he did condemn how Americans have “lost our way” during a dinner party at a Rye home.

RYE — Texas Congressman and presidential candidate Ron Paul did not attack any other politicians Thursday night, but he did condemn how Americans have “lost our way” during a dinner party at a Rye home.



“Our problems are much bigger than a few people,” he told a crowd of roughly 30 gathered at the home of Hugh and Andrea Lee of Pioneer Road. “I think we lost our way quite a few years ago.”



In a brief conversation with the Portsmouth Herald following his nearly hourlong speech and question-answer session, Paul discussed his recent straw poll victory at the N.H. Young Republicans lobster bake last week.



“We do really well with people who are between 18 and 30,” he said. “They like my emphasis on the Constitution and my civil libertarian positions.”



While speaking to the crowd, Paul enunciated those positions time and again. He said freedom is what made the country great, and it is something people have let slip away in recent years. He expressed disdain for “frisking” at the airport and government regulations, saying polluting industries could be controlled without agencies like the Environmental Protection Association.



He spoke out against income taxes, calling them “annoying” and “philosophically wrong,” and said of overseas combat, “we can’t get rich by blowing up planes and dropping bombs.”



Using the analogy of the strength of a home’s foundation, Paul said the country’s economy is built on a foundation of “sand.” He placed blame with those who built the economy on debt and “purposely created a housing bubble.”



If elected president, Paul said he would change the country’s philosophy. Every crisis seems to bring the solution of more government, which is not a plan would follow. He said solutions can be found in the free market.



Inside the 1730 home built by Amos Seavey and sporting a Colonial-style flag hanging outside, Paul found an amicable crowd. Neighbors, politicians — including state Rep. Patrick Abrami, R-Stratham, and state Sen. Jim Forsythe, the N.H. chairman of Paul’s campaign — and some Free State members were among the guests.



Hugh Lee said they had the opportunity to host Paul because they know some people within his campaign. Lee said he’s “philosophically aligned” with Paul, though he remains undecided on supporting a candidate.



Paul signed the Lee’s guest book, posed for pictures and signed copies of books for guests before leaving. On Friday, he is scheduled for breakfast at 8:15 a.m. at Cafe Espresso in Portsmouth and will meet with the Herald’s editorial board before giving a speech to the N.H. Sheriff’s Association at Pheasant Ridge Country Club in Gilford.