Rand Paul takes libertarian message to Grand Rapids

GRAND RAPIDS — U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky drew loud applause in the heart of western Michigan Monday when he delivered a key plank of his Republican presidential campaign — that the nation's drug policy is disproportionately putting blacks behind bars.

Paul delivered a similar message when he opened a GOP office in Detroit in December of 2013. He couldn't be accused of tailoring his message based on his audience when he spoke for about 20 minutes at the Kent County Republican Party headquarters in Grand Rapids.

Paul, an ophthalmologist who officially announced his candidacy for president in April, told about 300 people who packed the small offices that U.S. drug policy is a major reason three out of four people in prison are black or brown.

He said he's not in favor of illegal drugs, but white kids and black kids are using illegal drugs at about the same rate, and "justice should be equal regardless of the color of your skin."

The line drew loud applause from the crowd that was more than 90% white.

Paul is one of two U.S. senators who have declared their candidacies for the Republican nomination for president. He was one of three GOP candidates campaigning in Michigan on Monday.

Paul also hammered on other issues with a libertarian bent, including his opposition to wholesale gathering of telephone metadata by the National Security Agency and the government's use of civil asset forfeiture to seize money and property without first obtaining criminal convictions.

"You can't collect ... everyone's phone records and think that's not an invasion of our privacy," Paul said "On Day One in the White House, I'll stop it by executive order."

Wade Heidbreder, a 20-year-old student at Grand Valley State University who studies criminal justice, said he likes Paul's reform message and wanted to see him speak in person for the first time.

"He just comes out more clear on the issues," said Heidbreder. "He has a lot more integrity. He's a breath of fresh air."

Paul didn't directly comment on the Proposal 1 sales tax and road funding question on Tuesday's ballot in Michigan, though several people in the crowd held signs urging a no vote. But Paul did offer his solution to the federal road funding problem: He said he would lower the corporate tax rate to repatriate about $2 trillion in corporate taxes sent overseas, then put all the extra corporate income tax revenues into the Highway Trust Fund.

Paul appeared with U.S. Rep. Justin Amash — a member of Congress who shares Paul's libertarian streak and who on Monday officially endorsed him for president.

In September of 2013, Paul easily won the straw poll conducted at the Michigan Republican Leadership Conference on Mackinac Island. Paul took 36% of the ballots cast. Next closest was New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, with 18%.

Paul is the son of physician and former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, who ran for president as a Libertarian in 1988 and as a Republican in 2008 and 2012.

Amash, R-Cascade Township, is in his third term in Congress, where he has established himself as libertarian and independent, sometimes breaking with his party on key votes.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or pegan@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4.