The GOP likes to say it has a big tent, that many are welcome.

Well, this weekend at the District Republican Convention the tent seemed more like a pup tent. Ron Paul supporters were denied any speaking time. Two-thirds of the delegates voted to have no debate on the convention floor.

What is it that so scares Republicans about Ron Paul? Could it be that he has the courage to criticize Bush for adding more than $2 trillion to the deficit? Could it be that Ron Paul scares them because he actually votes against deficit spending, even when it comes from a Republican administration?

Could it be that they can’t stand to hear from a Republican who believes that war should only be fought with a formal declaration from Congress, as the Constitution mandates?

The biggest news of the Republican presidential season is not who the nominee is but how small the Republican primaries have become. Democrats outnumbered Republicans 2 to 1 in most of the early primary states.

At the district convention, approximately 25 percent of the delegates were for Ron Paul. In Pennsylvania last week, 16 percent of Republicans voted for Ron Paul. Do local Republicans not care if we remain in the party? Many of Ron Paul’s supporters are lifelong Republicans, but many also are independents and former Democrats. Many will consider supporting a third party candidate, especially after the way they were treated.

The Republicans have lost both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate. If you want to send them a message that they‘ve failed to live up to their promises of limited government and balanced budgets, vote for Ron Paul on May 20.

Also, Ron Paul will speak at 2 p.m. May 16 at Bowling Green High School.

Rand Paul

Bowling Green

Editor’s note: Rand Paul is Ron Paul’s son.