Ron Paul

Ron Paul: Picture of Ron Paul from Flickr (Creative Commons)

According to the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, “Ron Paul was born in Pittsburgh, PA in 1935. In 1953, Paul obtained a B.A. from Gettysburg College. He later earned a medical degree from Duke University Medical Center. Ron Paul later moved to Texas, and he got involved in politics; he won his first term to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1978, and he has not lost since.”

Libertarianism

Ron Paul’s political ideology is very libertarian. Congressmen Paul heavily supports state and constitutional rights. Paul has vowed never to vote in favor of any legislation that the constitution prohibits. On economic issues, Congressmen Paul has advocated free market policies. On the issues of foreign involvement, Ron Paul has been very critical of the War in Iraq as well as other foreign wars like the Vietnam and Korean War. Paul claimed that going to war in Iraq and Vietnam was unconstitutional because government did not have the proper authority to go to war according to the constitution. Though the Texas Congressmen opposes the Iraq War, he has firmly asserted that he is not an isolationist.

Presidential Campaign

Unlike Republican House colleagues Tom Tancredo and Duncan Hunter, Ron Paul’s has generated significantly greater support nationwide. Much of congressmen Paul’s support comes from younger men who oppose the Iraq war and government intrusions on civil liberties. Though Paul has yet to win a single state’s primary, he still has raised a significant amount of money compared to most republicans running for President. Though Paul still remains in the race, it appears he is nearing the end. The Texas Congressman has won too few delegates to challenge Senator McCain who is very close to winning the nomination.

Currently, Ron Paul has suspended his campaign.

On the Issues

• Ron Paul is a libertarian republican
• Congressmen Paul supports a national flat tax, and he supports nearly all free-market policies.
• Voted against the Iraq War.
• Promised to bring troops home if elected president.
• Pro-life.
• Believes gay marriage should be left up to the states.
• Supports only legislation if he believes the constitution permits it. Congressmen Paul strongly supports state rights.
• Opposes gun control.
• Strongly opposes any sort of amnesty for illegal immigrants.
• Trusts that the economy will force the U.S. to develop alternative energy sources.
• Opposes legislation such as the Patriot Act which infringe on civil liberties.
• Opposes national government mandates such as prohibiting drugs. Congressmen Paul feels the issue should ultimately be decided by the states.

Controversies and Suspicions of Racism

According to an article in The New York Sun, “a report with Ron Paul’s name on it was issued containing quotes from Ron Paul referring to blacks as ‘crime-prone’ and ‘fleet-footed.’ Congressmen Paul also noted that ‘By far the most powerful lobby in Washington of the bad sort is the Israeli government’ and that the goal of the Zionist movement is to stifle criticism. One of the most notorious quotes contained in congressmen Paul’s 1992 newsletter quoted Paul as saying, ‘If you have ever been robbed by a black teenaged male, you know how unbelievably fleet-footed they can be.’ About Blacks in Washington, D.C., Paul wrote, ‘I think we can safely assume that 95 percent of the black males in that city are semi-criminal or entirely criminal.’ These were among many racist comments in the report.” In recent television interviews, Ron Paul has denied any responsibility for the report, but he has also said he will not investigate where the documents originated. He has consistently stated he is not a racist.