Difference between revisions of "Ron Paul"

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'''Ronald Ernest “Ron” Paul''' (born 20 August, 1935) is a conservative 10th-term Congressman, a former Air Force Flight Surgeon, a medical doctor (M.D.) and a 2008 presidential candidate 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.  
 
'''Ronald Ernest “Ron” Paul''' (born 20 August, 1935) is a conservative 10th-term Congressman, a former Air Force Flight Surgeon, a medical doctor (M.D.) and a 2008 presidential candidate 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.  
  
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In Congress he has proposed doing away with personal income taxes, federal antitrust laws and the minimum wage. He advocated pulling the United States out of the United Nations, NATO and the International Monetary Fund.  Republicans ignore him; most of his bills fail to attract a single co-sponsor.  
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In Congress he has proposed doing away with personal income taxes, federal antitrust laws and the minimum wage. He advocated pulling the United States out of the United Nations, NATO and the International Monetary Fund.  
  
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However in 2009 he has attracted over 300 votes ofr 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.)
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He is the founder of the advocacy group Campaign for Liberty and his ideas have been expressed in numerous published articles and books, including End The Fed (2009), and The Revolution: A Manifesto (2008).
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In 2009 he has attracted over 400 votes of 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.  
  
 
==Paeolibertarian==
 
==Paeolibertarian==
 
Paul is a [[pro-life]] states' rights [[libertarian]], also known as a [[paleolibertarianism|paleolibertarian]]. [[paleolibertarianism|Paleolibertarians]] advocate a limited role of government, 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]].
 
Paul is a [[pro-life]] states' rights [[libertarian]], also known as a [[paleolibertarianism|paleolibertarian]]. [[paleolibertarianism|Paleolibertarians]] advocate a limited role of government, 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]].
  
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==Congressional record==
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Personal life
  
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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.
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Paul was born in Pittsburgh to Howard and Margaret (née Dumont) Paul.[3] As a junior at Dormont High School, he was the 220-yard dash state champion.[4] He received a B.Sc. degree in biology at Gettysburg College in 1957. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.[4] After obtaining a M.D. degree from the Duke University School of Medicine, he was a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon during the 1960s.
  
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== Early life and education ==
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Paul has been married to Carol Wells since 1957.[5] They have five children, who were baptized Episcopalian:[6] Ronald, Lori, Rand, Robert, and Joy. They also have eighteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[7] He has four brothers. Two of them, including David Paul, are ministers. Wayne Paul is a Certified Public Accountant.
  
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Dr. Ron Paul was born in [[Pittsburgh]], Pennsylvania to Howard Caspar Paul and Margaret Paul.<ref>http://dailypaul.com/node/53</ref><ref>http://www.wargs.com/political/paul.html</ref> He graduated from Dormont High School in Dormont, Pennsylvania, in 1953. Paul attended Gettysburg College, receiving his [[Bachelor of Arts]] degree in 1957, and the [[Duke University School of Medicine]], receiving [[Doctor of Medicine|M.D.]] in 1961. He did his [[internship]] and [[Residency (medicine)|residency]] at [[Henry Ford Hospital]] in [[Detroit]], Michigan, from 1961 to 1962, and was a [[flight surgeon]] in the [[United States Air Force]] from 1963 to 1968. He and his wife Carol moved to Texas in 1968, where he began his medical practice in Brazoria County. As a specialist in [[obstetrics]]/[[gynecology]], Dr. Paul has delivered more than 4,000 babies. He and Carol, who reside in Lake Jackson, Texas, are the proud parents of five children and have seventeen grandchildren.
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==Congressional record==
  
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Paul is a Baptist.
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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===
 
===Political affiliations and support===
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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>
 
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>
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1988 presidential campaign
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Main article: Ron Paul presidential campaign, 1988
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In the 1988 presidential election, Paul defeated American Indian activist Russell Means to win the Libertarian Party nomination for president.[6] Paul criticized Ronald Reagan as a failure and cited high deficits as exhibit A.[16] On the ballot in 46 states and the District of Columbia,[25] Paul placed third in the popular vote with 432,179 votes (0.5%),[26] behind Republican winner George H. W. Bush and Democrat Michael Dukakis.[27] Paul was kept off the ballot in Missouri, and received votes there only when written in, due to what the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called a "technicality".[28]
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As the "Libertarian standard bearer",[29][30] Paul gained supporters who agreed with his positions on gun rights, fiscal conservatism, homeschooling, and abortion, and won approval from many who thought the federal government was misdirected. This nationwide support base encouraged and donated to his later campaigns.[9] Kent Snyder, Paul's 2008 campaign chair, first worked for Paul on the 1988 campaign.[31][32]
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According to Paul, his presidential run was about more than reaching office; he sought to spread his libertarian ideas, often to school and university groups regardless of vote eligibility. He said, "We're just as interested in the future generation as this election. These kids will vote eventually, and maybe, just maybe, they'll go home and talk to their parents."[25] He traveled the country for a year speaking about issues such as free market economics and the rising government deficits:[29] "That's why we talk to a lot of young people. They're the ones who are paying these bills, they're the ones who are inheriting this debt, so it's most likely these young people who will move into this next generation in government."[33]
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After the election, Paul continued his medical practice until he returned to Congress.[6][34] He also co-owned a coin dealership, Ron Paul Coins, for twelve years with Burt Blumert, who continued to operate it after Paul returned to office.[35][36] He spoke multiple times at the American Numismatic Association's 1988 convention.[35] He worked with FREE on such projects as establishing the National Endowment for Liberty, producing the At Issue public policy series that aired on Discovery Channel and CNBC,[18] and continuing publication of Dr. Ron Paul's Freedom Report.
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Ron Paul & Associates (RP&A), Inc. was founded in 1984 by Ron Paul who served as President, Llewellyn H Rockwell Jr. served as Vice President, Ron Paul's wife Carol served as Secretary and Lori Pyeatt as Treasurer. The corporation was dissolved in 2001.[37][38][39][40]
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In 1985 Ron Paul & Associates began publishing The Ron Paul Investment Letter[41] and The Ron Paul Survival Report;[9][42] it added the more controversial Ron Paul Political Report in 1987.[43] Articles were largely unbylined but often invoked Paul's name or persona. In 1992, RP&A earned $940,000 and employed Paul's family as well as Lew Rockwell (its vice-president[44] and sometime editor)[45] and seven other workers. Murray Rothbard and other libertarians believed Rockwell ghostwrote the newsletters for Paul;[44] Rockwell later acknowledged involvement in writing subscription letters, but attributed the newsletters to "seven or eight freelancers".[46]
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Paul considered running for President in 1992,[47] but instead chose to support Pat Buchanan that year, and served as an advisor to his Republican presidential campaign against incumbent President George H. W. Bush.[48]
  
 
===Political Views===
 
===Political Views===

Revision as of 15:24, December 26, 2009

Ron Paul

Ronald Ernest “Ron” Paul (born 20 August, 1935) is a conservative 10th-term Congressman, a former Air Force Flight Surgeon, a medical doctor (M.D.) and a 2008 presidential candidate from the U.S. state of Texas. As a Republican, he has represented Texas's 14th congressional district in the 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.

In Congress he has proposed doing away with personal income taxes, federal antitrust laws and the minimum wage. He advocated pulling the United States out of the United Nations, NATO and the International Monetary Fund.

He is the founder of the advocacy group Campaign for Liberty and his ideas have been expressed in numerous published articles and books, including End The Fed (2009), and The Revolution: A Manifesto (2008).

In 2009 he has attracted over 400 votes of 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.

Paeolibertarian

Paul is a pro-life states' rights libertarian, also known as a paleolibertarian. Paleolibertarians advocate a limited role of government, 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.

Personal life

Paul was born in Pittsburgh to Howard and Margaret (née Dumont) Paul.[3] As a junior at Dormont High School, he was the 220-yard dash state champion.[4] He received a B.Sc. degree in biology at Gettysburg College in 1957. He was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.[4] After obtaining a M.D. degree from the Duke University School of Medicine, he was a U.S. Air Force flight surgeon during the 1960s.

Paul has been married to Carol Wells since 1957.[5] They have five children, who were baptized Episcopalian:[6] Ronald, Lori, Rand, Robert, and Joy. They also have eighteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.[7] He has four brothers. Two of them, including David Paul, are ministers. Wayne Paul is a Certified Public Accountant.

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 Libertarian Party and addressed its national convention as recently as 2004.[1]

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.[2]

Unlike many political candidates, Paul receives the overwhelming majority of his campaign contributions (96.8% in 2005-2006), from individuals. [3]

1988 presidential campaign Main article: Ron Paul presidential campaign, 1988

In the 1988 presidential election, Paul defeated American Indian activist Russell Means to win the Libertarian Party nomination for president.[6] Paul criticized Ronald Reagan as a failure and cited high deficits as exhibit A.[16] On the ballot in 46 states and the District of Columbia,[25] Paul placed third in the popular vote with 432,179 votes (0.5%),[26] behind Republican winner George H. W. Bush and Democrat Michael Dukakis.[27] Paul was kept off the ballot in Missouri, and received votes there only when written in, due to what the St. Louis Post-Dispatch called a "technicality".[28]

As the "Libertarian standard bearer",[29][30] Paul gained supporters who agreed with his positions on gun rights, fiscal conservatism, homeschooling, and abortion, and won approval from many who thought the federal government was misdirected. This nationwide support base encouraged and donated to his later campaigns.[9] Kent Snyder, Paul's 2008 campaign chair, first worked for Paul on the 1988 campaign.[31][32]

According to Paul, his presidential run was about more than reaching office; he sought to spread his libertarian ideas, often to school and university groups regardless of vote eligibility. He said, "We're just as interested in the future generation as this election. These kids will vote eventually, and maybe, just maybe, they'll go home and talk to their parents."[25] He traveled the country for a year speaking about issues such as free market economics and the rising government deficits:[29] "That's why we talk to a lot of young people. They're the ones who are paying these bills, they're the ones who are inheriting this debt, so it's most likely these young people who will move into this next generation in government."[33]

After the election, Paul continued his medical practice until he returned to Congress.[6][34] He also co-owned a coin dealership, Ron Paul Coins, for twelve years with Burt Blumert, who continued to operate it after Paul returned to office.[35][36] He spoke multiple times at the American Numismatic Association's 1988 convention.[35] He worked with FREE on such projects as establishing the National Endowment for Liberty, producing the At Issue public policy series that aired on Discovery Channel and CNBC,[18] and continuing publication of Dr. Ron Paul's Freedom Report.

Ron Paul & Associates (RP&A), Inc. was founded in 1984 by Ron Paul who served as President, Llewellyn H Rockwell Jr. served as Vice President, Ron Paul's wife Carol served as Secretary and Lori Pyeatt as Treasurer. The corporation was dissolved in 2001.[37][38][39][40]

In 1985 Ron Paul & Associates began publishing The Ron Paul Investment Letter[41] and The Ron Paul Survival Report;[9][42] it added the more controversial Ron Paul Political Report in 1987.[43] Articles were largely unbylined but often invoked Paul's name or persona. In 1992, RP&A earned $940,000 and employed Paul's family as well as Lew Rockwell (its vice-president[44] and sometime editor)[45] and seven other workers. Murray Rothbard and other libertarians believed Rockwell ghostwrote the newsletters for Paul;[44] Rockwell later acknowledged involvement in writing subscription letters, but attributed the newsletters to "seven or eight freelancers".[46]

Paul considered running for President in 1992,[47] but instead chose to support Pat Buchanan that year, and served as an advisor to his Republican presidential campaign against incumbent President George H. W. Bush.[48]

Political Views

Paul wants to "reinstate the Constitution and restore the Republic." He rejects a welfare state or nanny state role for the federal government, and advocates a strong non-interventionist foreign policy.

He voted against the Iraq War in 2002 and has offered alternatives such as granting the President authority to grant Letters of Marque and Reprisal, and arming pilots. He is the only Republican presidential candidate to have voted against the Iraq War.

Paul's desire to secure U.S. borders remains a key topic in his 2008 presidential campaign. He opposes the North American Union proposition and its proposed integration of Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada. Paul voted "yes" on the Secure Fence Act of 2006, which authorizes the construction of an additional 700 miles of double-layered fencing between the U.S and Mexico. Paul opposes illegal immigration as well as amnesty for illegal immigrants.

In the May 3, 2007 GOP Debate, Ron Paul stated that as President, he would seek the immediate abolition of the IRS and the abolition of the income tax. As Congressman, he has long fought for the prohibition of direct taxes by repeal of the 16th Amendment which created the income tax. Ron Paul supports a return to the gold standard of currency particularly newer theorized pure strain gold.

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"[4][5]

2008 Presidential Campaign

Paul formally declared his candidacy for the Presidential election in 2008 in 12 March, 2007 as a guest on Washington Journal on C-SPAN.[6] [7]. In regards to his candidacy, he had a 30-minute interview with online political analyst James Kotecki regarding foreign policy, Congress and the Constitution, and personal liberties. [8]

Paul participated (along with nine other Republican presidential candidates) in the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library's 2008 Republican Presidential Candidates Debate on May 3, 2007. Ron Paul finished first in the MSNBC poll following the GOP primary debate with 43 percent -- beating second place Mitt Romney by 5 percentage points.[1]

Paul seemed to have dropped slightly in the polls that followed the second Republican debate in Columbia, South Carolina, to 25 percent. This was probably as a result of his suggestion that weekly bombing of Iraq following Operation Desert Fox in December 1998 may have contributed sufficiently to Arab anger at the United States as to make the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks inevitable. Paul was excoriated by Rudy Giuliani, who said that this was the most bizarre explanation for the attacks he had ever heard. Other Republican commentators sought to explain Paul's continued strength in post-debate polls as the result of multiple votes by his supporters or voting by non-Republicans. In response to Rudy Giuliani, the next day at the National Press Club, Ron Paul offered Rudy a book list to read regarding the issue of American foreign policy. These books are Imperial Hubris by Michael Scheuer, Dying to Win by Robert Pape, Blowback by Chalmers Johnson, and The 9-11 Commission Report by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks.

Eric Dondero, a former Ron Paul staffer, declared himself a candidate against Paul in the 2008 Republican primary election to represent the 14th District of Texas in Congress. Dondero (called "Dumbdero among libertarians dropped out shortly thereafter. Considering the trouncing Paul ended up giving to Chris Peden in the 2008 republican congressional primary, it was likely for the better.

Paul has garnered large amounts of support from activists, particularly on the Internet. Many have come up with creative ways to campaign for their candidate. For example, some Paul supporters, who are not officially affiliated with his campaign, purchased a blimp to fly overhead with the phrases "Who is Ron Paul? Google Ron Paul" and "Ron Paul Revolution". [9] The neo-Nazi organization Stormfront also provided widgets on its internet site to enable people to electronically donate cash to Paul's campaign. Stormfront's founder, former Ku Klux Klan member Don Black, also gave financial support to Paul's campaign.[10]

He dropped out of the race on June 12, 2008, but will keep spreading his message by working to help elect libertarian-leaning Republicans to public office around the U.S. [11]


Possible Campaign censorship by the Media

Fox News has more times excluded Ron Paul from its programs, even in at least one case removing him from Iowa Straw Poll results. Fox News' results left out Paul (as well as Tom Tancredo), even though they scored 9.1% and 13.7%, respectively.

Straw Poll results

Ron Paul was recently established as the most frequent winner of Straw Poll, as reported on his site: [2].

Ron Paul Quotes

Telephone Hotline

Ron Paul runs a toll-free telephone hotline with a recorded message of conservative commentary. It is updated every Monday. The number is 1-888-322-1414.

Books by Ron Paul

  • Challenge to Liberty. Lake Jackson, Tex.: Foundation for Rational Economics and Education
  • Gold, Peace, and Prosperity. Lake Jackson, Tex.: Foundation for Rational Economics and Education
  • Ten Myths About Paper Money. Lake Jackson, Tex.: Foundation for Rational Economics and Education
  • The Case for Gold. Reprinted by the Cato Institute, 1982; Ludwig von Mises Institute, 2007. ISBN 0-932790-31-3. ([3])
  • A Republic, If You Can Keep It
  • Mises and Austrian Economics: A Personal View. Auburn, Ala.: Ludwig von Mises Institute, 1984.
  • Freedom Under Siege: The U.S. Constitution After 200 Years. Lake Jackson, Tex.: Foundation for Rational Economics and Education, 1987. ([4] Book distributed with permission in 7 parts in pdf-format)
  • A Foreign Policy of Freedom. Lake Jackson, Tex.: Foundation for Rational Economics and Education, 2007. ISBN 0-912453-00-1
  • The Revolution: A Manifesto, Hachette Book Group USA, 2008. ISBN 978-0446537513

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.
  1. ↑ Liberator online archive on Advocates for self-governing accessed at March 4, 2007
  2. ↑ Republican Liberty Caucus of Florida accessed at March 4, 2007
  3. ↑ http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.asp?CID=N00005906&cycle=2006/
  4. ↑ http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2008/roll093.xml FINAL VOTE RESULTS FOR ROLL CALL 93
  5. ↑ http://pressmediawire.com/article.cfm?articleID=18214 Congressman Ron Paul's Statement on Gaza Bill
  6. ↑ Martin, Gary. "Paul formally launches presidential bid", San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved on 2007-03-13. 
  7. ↑ Ron Paul announcing candidacy on C-SPAN
  8. ↑ James Kotecki interviews Ron Paul
  9. ↑ http://www.ronpaulblimp.com/
  10. ↑ Lone Star Times 25 October 2007. Retrieved 24 July 2008.
  11. ↑ [http://elections.foxnews.com/2008/06/12/ron-paul-ends-campaign-will-shift-gears/ Ron Paul Ends Campaign, Will ‘Shift Gears’], Associated Press, Fox News, June 12, 2008

External Links

Official Sites and Publications

Positions and Quotations

Third Party Sources about Ron Paul

Articles and Editorials about Ron Paul


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2008 Presidential Candidates
Barr • Clinton • McCain • Nader • Obama • Thompson • Biden • Gravel • Paul • Giuliani • Keyes • Huckabee • Romney • McKinney
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