Why I Support Ron Paul

I'd been walking around sharing the phrase "fire it up" for about three weeks, borrowing glittery talking points about the exciting race between the first possible female and the first possible African-American president, but I still felt like I didn't understand what changes these candidates were positing other than a replacement nameplate on the oval office desk. If you'd told me at the start of this presidential primary that I'd take off work and roadtrip to New Hampshire and South Carolina for the campaign of a pro-life republican from Texas, I'd have probably jump kicked you in the chest. In his defense, he's from Pittsburgh.

Who is this man, and how did I find him since you can't find him anywhere in television or print? I was sweeping my bedroom passively watching the Republican debates, when, somewhere between Romney's "I'd double the size of Guantanamo" and Guiliani's 37th invocation of 9-11, a soft spoken man you'd only know from C-SPAN2 started talking about the Constitution. He continued stating that we had armed Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein, that we've been bombing Iraq since the end of the 1st Persian Gulf War, to remember that the CIA had overthrown Iran in the fifties, and that if we had followed the aforementioned Constitution perhaps we wouldn't have gotten ourselves into so much "mischief." I blurted out something that sounded like "wrudafuk." What presidential candidate uses CIA and the word "mischief" in the same sentence? Then he offers to give Rudy Guiliani a reading list, and "blowback" becomes a familiar word to a lot more people than those who read Chalmers Johnson or the latest National Intelligence Estimates. I become a fan of Dr. Ron Paul.

I began internet researching in my obsessive fashion and eventually discovered some Ron Paul videos on YouTube from rallies around the country. He talked about things like eliminating the IRS, our history of meddling in foreign governments, dissolving the Federal Reserve, ending the war on drugs, and pardoning all non-violent drug offenders. I had no idea what he was talking about, and neither does America.

Ron Paul is a paradox. He is a ten-term Texas congressman who voted against the Iraq War, the Patriot Act, the Real ID Act, internet regulation, those acts last year that stripped Habeas Corpus and Posse Commitatis, plus this week's Democrat sponsored Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act (a precursor to internet filtering and University monitoring by the Department of Homeland Security). Democrats shutdown when they see the letter "R" next to the word Texas, and Republicans can't say "he's not a republican" enough. He will quickly remind you that Republicans used to be the antiwar party, and in fact George Bush had been elected on a promise to stop policing the world. Republicans used to be the party of small government, fiscal responsibility, and sound money. Now sound money isn't a sexy topic, but those listening to Ron Paul are starting to wake up to the gravity of what threats can be brought by a steeply declining currency, ballooning debt, excessive militarism combined with over extension, and a government that seems more interested in collecting data on it's own citizenry and protecting corporate marketshare than preventing future attacks.

We can fundamentally change our idea of what our government should be, and return to constitutional principles. Ron Paul's position is that the government shouldn't coddle us from cradle to grave. Central bankers like the Federal Reserve, which isn't part of the federal government, shouldn't have the power to manipulate the worth of our currency and thus our way of life. His position is that we shouldn't police the world or unconstitutionally interfere through bureaucracies like the CIA. Only Congress has the power to declare war. Plus, we can't afford it anyway. We don't need the IRS harassing American citizens and taking our hard earned money and sending it out for destinations unknown. In fact, let's eliminate it. We'll pay for it by bringing home our soldiers from around the world, saving over a trillion dollars. While you're giving us our taxed dollars back, we'd also like you to return those civil liberties you've been whittling away at so you can give lucrative contracts to the homeland security/military industrial sector company you're going to quit the government to start, run, or lobby for.

Much is said about the national constituency of Ron Paul, more often than not describing them as "young 9-11 truthers," or "hillbilly Libertarian whackos," but the campaign that Ron Paul has built is a revolution, and it is growing. Ron Paul, despite being ignored by mainstream press, trounced republican opponents with over 18 million in grassroots fundraising last quarter alone. Rudy Guiliani could drop out after coming in third in Florida. Mike Huckabee doesn't have the funds to finish. John McCain, despite a voting record similar to Clinton, will most likely lead the delegate count with Romney trailing close behind. What will be the interesting story is Ron Paul staying in the race (he leads in fundraising, he also leads in contributions from active military personnel), bringing a significant enough number of delegates to the convention to possibly decide who becomes nominee. After canvassing in New Hampshire and South Carolina, I'll tell you that most people are undecided and will vote for whomever the tv tells them to. Ask Ron Paul supporters and they'll tell you that Ron Paul's success may not be seen by him gaining the most votes in this election, but his ability to positively influence the Republican party's platform now and in the future.

Doctor Paul is indeed curing apathy. In fact, listening to him speak, at times, can be like receiving a medical diagnosis. I had never been active in the political process. Nor had most the people I'd met for that matter. They were all just curious to hear this man with so many seemingly common sense ideas that the establishment branded radical. What's so radical about our Constitution? The Constitution was written to restrict the government, not the people. Give me a choice between three lawyers and an ex-Air Force flight surgeon that's delivered four thousand babies. I'll take the doctor anyday.

Comments

[sharpsteve]

Thank you for a great post. Hopefully others will start to understand why Ron Paul supporters are so determined. Ron Paul is our only hope of ending politics as usual. For once I have found a candidate who I can fully support that will not stab me in the back once he gets in. I would urge everyone to look into what Ron Paul Stands for, which is WE THE PEOPLE!

[Pdubya]

Ask Don Luskin or Peter Schiff why they have endorsed his economic views and actual short term and long term plan.

Interview a veteran or active military member and ask why they support Dr. Paul. Is it because they want to come home? Sure it is. With the same amount saying they would go after Osama Bin Laden using a Letter of Marque and Reprisal to do so. As Dr. Paul voted for.
Or because he has a stellar record of funding veteran care and understands, because he is a veteran.

There is much good to say about this statesman. Little bad to say, really. I look forward to him dropping in educational jabs during the debates. Think about who has brought to the platform of debate such issues as the IRS, economy/warfare, North American Union, the Federal Reserve and the dollar, gross mishandling of sovereignty and civil liberties. Asking McCain last debate on sunshining his economic committee, ha!

Keep an eye on Dr. Paul and join me. As an atheist, democrat, minority I feel that my right to say something positive about the man is just.

[Pdubya]

First, thank you so much for sharing this.

Most of us have mentally masticated Dr. Paul's positions but have little argument over him being consistent to applying the constitution.

Consistency can buy a lot more in a negotiation than anything else. Ask a mediator. The man is principled, consistent and very inclusive. He typically, outside of campaigning, holds a liberty caucus regularly on the Hill. Dennis Kucinich is there, as well as a smattering of representation from all walks of life. Dr. Paul is putting our Country first, on all accounts, across the board of issues. Like it or leave it, you can count on it. Nice change, eh?

He is a smart man. Written several books on economics and foreign policy and several several "papers". Smear resulted from those "papers", but those who know Dr. Paul know this is the antithema to the great statesman. He is a peaceful, loving, and inclusive person.

Make no mistake, however. Ron is strong for his slightness, figuratively and physically. Because of his integrity, he can count upon it when no other can - the most difficult of moments. Because he regularly exercises (and always has...see athletic history) and keeps young at heart, he can and does go the distance (ask his grandchildren).

Mistake his pasiveness for weakness and peril. Dr. Paul is astute in strategy and eloquent in delivering a punch. Ali is a hero of Dr. Paul's. Watch him rake in the delegates in non-machine counted States. He alread is. See him use local radio and paper like no other.

He is ethically sound. Sure, argue morality over Roe vs. Wade. Constitutionally, you'd lose. What is the role of our government, remember?

Dr. Paul is an educated physician and has helped bring the newborn into the world. That he has some strong views here shouldn't be a surprise. But has he erred on the side of immorality? Is there a side on this issue? Again, what is the role of our government?

[ajtdonahue]

If Paul is fringe as some of you would like to believe, than so was Reagan.

Please someone explain the difference.
Reagan and Paul were friends. Reagan asked Paul about how to get the currency back to a commodity backed system. Reagan was maybe a little more libertarian than Dr. Paul. (ie. amnesty)

Everyone wants to be Reagan. Watch tonight at the debate how many times McCain and Romney try to take that mantle. Ron Paul is the true heir to the Reagan thrown.

[ZeppoNoir]

Bravo! Eloquently said. You summed up exactly why Dr. Paul has my unmitigated support. Thank you!

[Herrington]

Lets see, David Dukes, George Wallaces, even Nathan Bedford Forrests have been around for the duration of the Union. Compelling and thought provoking at times, there is a reason that they fade quickly. Novelty, you see, is not new for long, and often reflects a certain short circuit in intellect.

[DieboldHacker]

Now that it is the HillBama show, I'll give Paul another look.

[vbond]

I cannot let this pass.

Ron Paul has serendipitously tapped into a vast groundswell of discontent with "the way things are", and a wave of "stop the world, I want to get off" sentiment, much of which is fueled by myriad new internet communities, whose culture is consistent with and driven by such sentiment.

This explains his acolytes' preternatural success at raising money there.

His apparent relevance is buttressed by the fact that we have been in the grip of icy darkness for over seven years.

Paul feels like light... like inspiration... like possibility...

But - on not even very close inspection - he is revealed to be one of the creatures that inspired Katherine Hepburn's character in "On Golden Pond":

A loon.

[JohnMarge]

Heath,

That's a great post and completely reflects the reasons I'm supporting Paul. Granted, I haven't canvassed in any of the early primary states, but I will do my part prior to Super Tuesday in some fashion. Honestly, if people read about the foreign policy sins of our past that shaped the current landscape in the middle east, they'd be less inclined to vote for someone on either side of the aisle who wasn't in favor of more transparency for the CIA and less covert funding. Hell, Obama's foreign policy advisor (Brzienski) started the mess in Afghanistan by funneling money through Pakistan to Afghan radicals, instead of financing the secular fighters that were actually fairly pro-west. That's not to say Obama isn't sincere about pulling out of Iraq eventually, but it's not exactly the voice I want whispering in his ear.

Anyway, keep up the good work, and lets hope for a few hundred delegates for Paul and a brokered convention! Parlay that into an independent run and I have a hard time believing the media, and more importantly, the millions of non-voters out there, would be able to continue to ignore us.