[[File:Ron Paul photo 2007.jpg|right|250x250px|thumb|Ron Paul]]
'''Ronald Ernest “Ron” "Ron" Paul''' (born August 20, 1935) is a [[conservative]] [[libertarian]] [[Republican ]] 10th-term congressman, a former Air Force Flight Surgeon, a physician (M.D.) and a candidate for the Republican Party's nomination in 2008 and 2012, and actor.<ref>In 1988 Ron Paul was the Libertarian Party nominee for President of the United States.</ref> He is from the U.S. state of [[Texas]]. As a [[Republican Party|Republican]], he has represented Texas's 14th congressional district in the [[United States House of Representatives|U.S. House of Representatives]] since 1997, and had previously served as the representative from Texas's 22nd district in 1976 and from 1979 to 1985. He retires retired from Congress at the end of 2012.
In 2009 he has attracted over 300 votes for his bipartisan proposal to subject the [[Federal Reserve]] to unprecedented scrutiny by allowing the Government Accountability Office to audit all central bank operations, including its decisions on interest rates, lending to individual banks and transactions with foreign central banks. He has a separate bill to abolish the Fed altogether. (He is the lone sponsor.)
Ron Paul advocates letting states decide how to handle social issues. He supports anti-federalism and therefore wants to leave the issues of same-sex marriage, abortion, and other social issues up to the decision of individual states. Dr. Paul has consistently espoused the pro-life position.
Paul will make his acting debut in the third installment of the ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'' film series titled "Who is John Galt?"
==Paleolibertarian==
Paul is a [[pro-life]] states' rights [[libertarian]], also known as a [[paleolibertarianism|paleolibertarian]]. [[paleolibertarianism|Paleolibertarians]] advocate a limited role of government as well as supporting low taxes, free markets, strict construction of the [[U.S. Constitution]], and a return to monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He has earned the nickname "Dr. No" for voting against any bill he believes violates the Constitution. In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill. He has never voted to raise taxes or congressional pay. He has always voted against the [[USA PATRIOT Act]], the [[Military Commissions Act of 2006]], and the [[Iraq War]].
==Congressional record==
Ron Paul is noted for his authorship of the We the People Act, an act which removed the ability of the US Supreme Court to hear cases involving discrimination based on sexual orientation or religion. He is also noted for submitting several bills banning [[abortion]], and somewhat controversially was the only person to oppose the Darfur Divestment Act of 2007, a bill which disallowed the US government, corporations, and individuals from sending money to or doing business with the janjaweed rebel group of the Sudan.
==Political affiliations and support==
Although a Republican, Paul remains on good terms with the [[LibertarianParty]] Party and addressed its national convention as recently as 2004.<ref>[http://www.theadvocates.org/liberator/vol-09-num-10.htm Liberator online archive] on Advocates for self-governing accessed at March 4, 2007</ref>
Paul served as the honorary chairman of and is a current member of the [[Republican Liberty Caucus]], a political action organization dedicated to promoting the ideals of individual rights, limited government and free enterprise within the Republican Party.<ref>[http://fl.rlc.org/ Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida] accessed at March 4, 2007</ref>
Unlike many political candidates, Paul receives the overwhelming majority of his campaign contributions (96.8% in 2005-2006), from individuals. <ref>http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00005906&cycle=2006/</ref>
Paul has also founded the organization [[Institute for Peace and Prosperity]], which was criticized for it support of [[Barack Hussein Obama]]. A member of this Institute [[Eric Margolis]] compard Tea Partiers with Nazis.<ref>http://frontpagemag.com/2013/dgreenfield/ron-pauls-board-includes-obama-lover-and-terrorist-supporter-who-compared-tea-party-to-nazis/</ref>
==Political Views==
On March 5, 2008, Ron Paul was the only member of the house to vote against a bill "Condemning the ongoing Palestinian rocket attacks on Israeli civilians, and for other purposes"<ref>http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll093.xml FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 93</ref><ref>http://pressmediawire.com/article.cfm?articleID=18214 Congressman Ron Paul's Statement on Gaza Bill</ref>
Paul supported [[WikiLeaks]]<ref>http://wlcentral.org/node/479</ref> and the legalization of [[Cannabis]].
Paul is a defender of [[Homeschooling]].<ref>http://www.ronpaul.com/2013-09-09/ron-paul-the-homeschooling-revolution/</ref>
=== On [[Libyan War|Libyan civil war]] ===
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&NR=1&v=lQQ--ju7Vxk Ron Paul on [[Larry McDonald]]]
== References ==<references/>
* Gwynne, Sam (1 October, 2001). ''Texas Monthly''.
* Bernstein, Alan (May 23, 1996). “Newsletter excerpts offer ammunition to Paul's opponent; GOP hopeful quoted on race, crime”, ''The Houston Chronicle'', p. A33.
===Official Sites and Publications===
* [http://www.ronpaul2008.com/ Official Ron Paul 2008 Presidential Campaign Site]
* [http://www.house.gov/paul/ Official web site of Congressman Ron Paul] {{dead link}}
* [http://www.myspace.com/congressmanronpaul Ron Paul's MySpace page]
* [http://www3.webng.com/ronpaul Ron Paul Grassroots Campaign] <!-- I think this is official, but I'm not 100% sure -->
[[Category:United States Representatives]]
[[Category:2008 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:Republican PartyRepublicans]]
[[Category:110th United States Congress]]
[[Category:Libertarianism]]
[[Category:Texas]]
[[Category:2012 Presidential Candidates]]
[[Category:RINOs]]
[[Category:Pro Second Amendment]]
[[Category : Conservative Authors]]
[[Category : Libertarian Authors]]