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TIME Politics 2016 Election Rand Paul Visits Ferguson Ahead of Fresh Protests Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) speaks at the Values Voter Summit in Washington, Sept. 26, 2014. Doug MillsThe New York Times/Redux Paul is the first potential 2016 contender to visit the city

Sen. Rand Paul met with civil rights leaders Friday in Ferguson, Missouri, the city torn apart by racial unrest following the August shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white police officer. During his visit, the Republican Senator, who is seen as a likely presidential candidate, stated his concerns about long prison sentences for nonviolent crimes, the loss of voting rights for felons and military programs to give unused equipment to local police departments.

I wanted to find out what we could do to make the situation better, Paul said of his visit Friday.

Given the racial disparities in our criminal justice system, it is impossible for African-Americans not to feel like their government is particularly targeting them, Paul wrote in an opinion piece for TIME this summer.

The meeting came just days after another young black man was shot by police in nearby St. Louis, after allegedly firing a stolen handgun at an officer. And it came on the eve of a weekend series of protests organized to keep national attention on the states issues.

Paul joined the leaders in the conference room of a real estate office across the street from an art installation Friday, where residents had tied ribbons to a metal fence with messages commemorating the protests that began in August after the shooting of 18-year-old African-American student Michael Brown. Paul arrived in town Thursday for a round table discussion at the Show Me Institute, a conservative think tank in St. Louis. That event, like the discussion with local and civil rights leaders in Ferguson, was not open to the press.

Fridays discussion was free-ranging, less a speech than a question and answer session. People at the event said that they remained concerned about the GOPs opposition to federal funding for job training and education and other social programs. Paul said that he would support increases in federal spending for job training in urban communities that could be paid for with cuts to the costs of incarceration. I think there would be money for job training if you greatly lessened criminal sentencing, he said.

They are also frustrated that things arent happening fast enough, Paul said after the meeting, which was organized by the NAACP.

Pauls trip to Fergusonthe first by a 2016 candidateis a reminder of how his position on criminal justice reform can make a Republican more palatable to the African-American community. As riots turned violent in Ferguson, Paul distinguished himself among Republicans by striking a more forceful tone in addressing the root of the protesters anger and putting forth potential solutions.

He is stumping like he should be trying to stump if he wants to run for President, said John Gaskin II, who participated in Fridays event.

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Rand Paul Visits Ferguson Ahead of Fresh Protests

(CNN) -

In 2011, Sen. Rand Paul told CNN's Wolf Blitzer that he would favor a halt of U.S. foreign aid, including assistance to Israel.

In August, at the height of the recent Gaza conflict, the Kentucky Republican made headlines for declaring he never proposed ending aid to the country.

Democrats and other critics seized on his sharp change in tune and blasted the likely presidential contender for flip-flopping. The criticism kicked off a wave of close scrutiny of Paul's past statements.

On Friday, Rand spoke with Blitzer again, saying he stands by what he told him in 2011.

"Interestingly, they keep playing our interview, Wolf. So we had a great interview. But the interesting thing of it is I actually still do agree with what I told you. Ultimately, I think a country that's $18 trillion in debt should not be borrowing money from China to send it to anyone," he said.

He'd like to see an end to all foreign aid eventually, Paul said, reiterating a line he has used often.

"However, I think in the meantime ... I've tried to put restrictions on foreign aid and I've been unsuccessful. And so I've come to the conclusion that maybe we should start by eliminating foreign aid from countries that burn our flag and hate us. And I think that would be a good place to start," he said.

Pressed on whether he would continue to aid Israel in the short term, Paul said, "yes."

"It's an eventual goal, is to eliminate all aid," he continued. "But we have so many -- we have such a resistance in Congress to even attaching any restrictions that my goal since I've been in Congress and the bills I've introduced have been to place restrictions on countries that either hate us, burn our flag or persecute Christians or other religious minorities."

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Rand Paul to CNN: Aid to Israel OK -- for now

Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, speaks at a Victory Ice Cream Social at Horry County GOP headquarters on Sept. 30, 2014. Paul is on a statewide tour to promote Republican candidates. (Associated Press/The Sun News, Charles Slate) **FILE** more >

Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Republican, said Thursday that middle- and working-class families suffering a failing economy under President Obama should give the GOP another chance in charge.

The constituencies that voted for him arent doing very well, Mr. Paul said in an interview with St. Louis Public Radio. If you are unemployed or underemployed, maybe you need to look to other people and new policies. Maybe you people need to give Republicans another chance if you want to improve the lot of people who are suffering.

Mr. Paul said the presidents policies have left lower-income families in a squeeze, with low interest rates producing little gain from savings, pushing some investors into the stock market, which suffered a sharp downturn Thursday. Mr. Paul said that downturn could indicate a longer correction that could end up hitting investors hard in the wallet.

The potential 2016 GOP presidential candidate said the best solution to the economic crisis was to promote more free-market capitalism, smaller government and bigger market place. Lower taxes and less regulation, more trade.

Mr. Paul said his decision on running for the White House rests on family considerations and on whether he sees a chance of winning.

I dont want to do it if we dont have a chance, he said.

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Rand Paul: Poor families should 'give Republicans another chance'

Keen Umbehr - Libertarian Candidate for Kansas Governor
Keen Umbehr, an attorney from Alma is running for Governor of Kansas as a Libertarian. AgView #39;s Ken Rahjes caught up with him on the campaign trail on the ca...

By: Agview

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Keen Umbehr - Libertarian Candidate for Kansas Governor - Video

Libertarian Borders
Libertarian debate about the US/Mexican border.

By: Scratch4416

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Libertarian Borders - Video