Ron Paul, Rising Political Star

The New Republic: Libertarian's Debate Remark Draws Some Fire, But Plenty Of Praise

(The New Republic)  This column was written by Michael Crowley.

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A star had just been born when, a day after the May 15 Republican presidential debate in South Carolina, I met Texas Representative Ron Paul for lunch on Capitol Hill. The meeting had been scheduled for several days; but, as luck would have it, the previous night Paul had gone from an oddball obscurity to a major sensation in the political world when, answering a question about September 11, he seemed to suggest that the attacks were justified by an aggressive U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. "They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for ten years," Paul explained. The ever-macho Rudy Giuliani was quick to pounce. "That's an extraordinary statement," he marveled. "And I would ask the congressman to withdraw that comment and tell us that he didn't really mean that." The crowd roared its approval. A previously flagging Giuliani suddenly enjoyed his best moment of the race.

But it was also, oddly enough, Paul's best moment. The response to his comments was fast and furious: Angry Republicans, including the party chairman in Michigan, former Senate candidate Michael Steele, and unnamed South Carolina sources cited on Fox News, called for his exclusion from future debates. Sean Hannity couldn't wait to bully Paul in a post-debate interview. John McCain even added a line to his stump speech bashing him. But the outrage was instructive: Suddenly, Republicans were taking seriously a quirky 71-year-old Texas libertarian whose national support has hovered in the zero-percent range.

Nor was the attention all negative. Far from it. Paul won several instant polls on the debate, including one at the conservative Newsmax.com and a Fox News text-message poll. Incredibly, Paul's name began beating out "Paris Hilton" as the number-one query on the popular blog-searching website Technorati. (Granted, it's possible that Paul's fervent supporters are manipulating such online metrics.) The incident prompted a feisty exchange among the ladies of ABC's "The View," of all places. And, to top it off, within a day of the debate, Paul's campaign had raised $100,000 — about one-sixth of his entire haul for the first three months of 2007. Paul's spokesman says the campaign headquarters has been "inundated with phone calls" ever since — 80 percent of them supportive.

When Paul ambled through the door of a cheap Mexican joint on Capitol Hill last Wednesday, he hardly looked like a freshly-minted celebrity. His slight frame, elfin face, and reserved persona suggest the doctor he used to be, not a politician. But Paul turned heads all the same. As he approached his table, a man seated nearby extended his hand with a broad smile and a hearty "congratulations." Paul explained that he had received a similar reception among his colleagues in the House. "I've had probably ten people come up to me and compliment me — including people I thought were war hawks," he said. "It was a tremendous boost to the campaign."

Who would have expected it? At its outset, Paul's campaign promised to be a curiosity. The nominee of the Libertarian Party in his previous run for the presidency (in 1988), Paul seemed likely to play a predictable gadfly role — using his stage time to press hoary libertarian bugaboos like the abolition of Social Security, the legalization of drugs and prostitution, and — Paul's special obsession — a return to the gold standard. Instead, thanks mainly to his adamant opposition to the Iraq war, he has assumed a far more serious role. In a Republican field that has marched in lockstep with George W. Bush on the war, Paul's libertarian isolationism has exposed an intraparty fissure over foreign policy that is far wider than has been acknowledged, encompassing not only disgruntled libertarians but some paleocons and social conservatives, as well as such GOP lions as William F. Buckley, George Will, and Bob Novak. As populist-isolationist Pat Buchanan wrote in an op-ed last week, Paul was "speaking intolerable truths. Understandably, Republicans do not want him back, telling the country how the party blundered into this misbegotten war."

Paul, for his part, thinks his view is commonsensical. "This is a very Republican position," he told me. "I just think the Republicans can't win unless they change their policy on Iraq."

Before Paul became an antiwar hero, his support consisted largely of libertarian activists — people like Michael Badnarik, the Libertarian Party's 2004 presidential nominee. Badnarik refuses to get a driver's license (even though, he conceded to me, "I have my car operational") and warns against anyone who might try to force a smallpox or anthrax vaccination on him. ("You bring the syringe, I'll bring my .45, and we'll see who makes a bigger hole.") Badnarik recounts rallying support for Paul at a recent conference of the Free State Project, a group of libertarians who have relocated to New Hampshire in the hope of concentrating their power and more or less taking over the state government. "I asked how many people would drive without a license and not pay income taxes, and three-quarters raised their hands," Badnarik recalls. "I'm choking up. I've got my heart in my throat. And I said, 'We need to do something — and Ron Paul's campaign is the shining star. We need to contribute the full two thousand dollars now. Tell all your friends.'"

[jt_lancer]

Hooray Ron Paul! A voice of sanity in a sea of megalomaniacal, power hungry authoritarians.

[lorinkundert]

Now if only the general public would wake up and stop listening to what the media spoon feeds them we could get more people like Ron Paul out there.

[saltmagic]

I was very excited, to see a Ron Paul article on CBS.
Although I wanted to see more of the interview, not other's opinions.
After seeing Paul in South Carolina I felt I had to know more. I believe his stance on money is "right on the money".
His simple view of "step one, read manual" A.K.A the Constitution is such a breath of fresh air. Our government has had a limitless credit card for years and years..and his founding father way of bringing gold back, is the only way to ensure our dept never returns to the catastrophic levels of today.
For the first time in my life I want to stand up and fight for my countries future. I am inspired as are many of my peers.

[omega39-2009]

Ron Paul knows exactly what is wrong with this country and how to fix it. That is why he will never be elected.

[the_blare_wench]

I am a homemaker in a Chicago suburb. I hope I get to hear more about Ron Paul. I wish the writer did not say that Dr. Paul justified the attacks. He said we should have expected them.

[ioweign]

Giuliani had heard the reason for 911 was a result of our foreign policy. A Saudi offered 10 to 20 million right after 911 and the Saudi said we should change our foreign policy. Giuliani turned down the money. Giuliani was lying about "not hearing" about that theory.

[bw4paul]

To Saltmagic and others interested in Dr. Paul's stances on the issues,

You can learn more about Dr. Paul's political philosophies by reading his archived articles here: http://www.lewrockwell.com/paul/paul-arch.html

[nadeau4201]

indyattic...check out "infowars.com" They have a lot on Ron Paul. "Freedom to fascism" video also features Paul. A lot of people support him but you won't hear that from the main streamed controlled media.
Ron Paul speaks the truth and the people who really run the country are afraid of him. Why else would his own party be attacking him?

[goldenequity]

Who IS Ron Paul? They still need to know!!
NOBODY explains Ron Paul
BETTER than Ron Paul himself!

Here is an interactive audio archive of
Ron Paul speeches and interviews in chronological
order. Worth a look!

http://www.ronpaulaudio.com

[anniepema]

Thank you CBS for this article on Ron Paul. Our nation needs him. He is by far them most important and inspiring candidate running in either party.

[anniepema]

Thank you CBS for publishing this very good piece on Ron Paul by Michael Crowley. Ron Paul is ignighting hope amoung the American people who care about our country's future and the future of the world. He make complete sense on foreign policy, privacy, and other issues. Read about his views on many issues at paulonpaper.com

Ron Paul makes sense on Iraq, but many of his ideals are pure Libertarian drivel, like bringing back the gold standard and getting rid of Social Security. And those policies, such as pro-choice and gay marriage which are attractive to Libertarian purists, Ron Paul is against. It is obvious that many who are drawn to this man may not realize what he is really about. Libertarian ideals are way out there, such as legalizing drugs and prostitution, even selling off our national forests to pay off the national debt.

[qednick]

I'm guessing sesanders1 posting at 2.25PM isn't too keen on the idea of his welfare check being cut. Either that, or he must work at the Federal Reserve and is worried about his job if the gold standard is ever brought back because, frankly, I can't see why anyone would object to having *real* money once again instead of fiat money. I don't think Ron Paul has ever mentioned anything about selling off forests - perhaps sesanders1 is worried he'll lose his tree house too?

Or perhaps Sesanders is a working stiff who wants everyone to have car insurance for his own protection, who pays over $600/month for health care benefits, who is coming up on Medicare and needs it, who distrusts claims that business interests will work in the interest of the people and not exploit them...ad infinitum

[nadeau4201]

First of all, how's that war on drugs going? Second of all Ron Paul never said he'd sell off the forests to reduce the federal debt. Please do some research on what Ron Paul truly stands for and compare his ideals with the current administration. At least Paul has some bold original ideas as opposed to the standard drivel of the traditional parties. *** does car insurance have to do with anything? Let's have some personal responsibility and not let the government enter into our lives anymore than they have to.

[d_goddard]

The conference Badnarik mentioned was the New Hampshire Liberty Forum, of which my wife was the organizer.

For those interested, details about the Forum and video clips of Ron Paul's speech there are available at:
freestateproject.org/libertyforum/2007

[d_goddard]

The website added a newline in the middle of my last post... the URL ends in "/2007", ie, "freestateproject.org/libertyforum/2007"

[mutualrealty]

First of all - where did you ever hear Ron Paul say anything about cutting down trees??? Next do you not know the difference between Social Security & Income Tax??? Ron Paul is against the Income Tax not Social Security. The S.S. is not a Tax it is exactly what the name implies. It was originally set up as a Trust Fund separate from the general funds of the Government but greedy Politicians saw away to grab more of the money that belongs to the American People. Now, it is being squandered by the same ones we elect to represent us. When Ron Paul says to do away with the Income Tax that does not include S.S. They are Separate & Totally different Departments. Please get your facts straight before you open your month & show the world your Stupidity. As far as the Federal Reserve Corp. (A Privately Owned Corp.), the IRS (A US Government Collecting Agency for a Private Corp.) & the Gold Standard %u2013 Ron Paul is correct on this issue. It is our ONLY hope to survive as a Sovereign Republic!!! By the way Bush & his Gang keeps telling the World we are a Democracy %u2013 WRONG again!!! Hitler brought Democracy to Germany %u2013 is that what you want??? That is what Bush & his Gang are trying very hard to bring to America. Right now they are succeeding. Without more Ron Paul%u2019s we are Screwed %u2013 WAKE-UP AMERICA!!!

I love how being against the Iraq disaster makes one a "radical pacifist". And I hate how people keep implying that he said that the the 9/11 attacks were justified, when all he said were reasons why they hate us. I was considering voting for Giuliani if he makes it to the November election, but after hearing his insane foreign policy views, I'll be convincing people I know to vote for Clinton/Obama/Edwards instead.

Many Libertarians view mandated car insurance coverage to be an infringement on their personal liberty and they would remove its mandated status causing all manner of chaos for people involved in accidents; also any number of Libertarians are against Social Security, so it is disingenuous to act as if these are strange ideas to this political extreme. And, yes, the war on drugs isn't anything but a failure, but I do not want cocaine and heroin legalized! Nor prostitution for that matter. And Libertarians do believe that unregulated private enterprise is the salvation of the world. Along those lines, they don't even want regulation of child labor. They ignore history in this perception forgetting the robber barons at the beginning of the century which Teddy Roosevelt managed to get under control through governmental restrictions.
The ideas outlined here may not be shared by all Libertarians but they are a fair descripton in my experience with this group. Libertarianism has been placed in the extreme range of the political spectrum and candidates coming from it should be viewed with these political ideas in mind.

[jivedadson]

Ron Paul does not advocate getting rid of SS. He does think young people should have more options on how to save their money.

As far as the gold standard goes, I think that's a great idea. I am semi-retired, and I am watching my life savings being eaten up by the hidden tax of inflation. But Ron Paul is a realist. He cannot just mandate the change. In fact, he strongly endorses the constitutional proviso that congress should make laws and policy, not the president. There are other ways to eliminate inflation.

I am going to vote for him in the Republican primary. If not him, who else?

[gkc99]

Paul could never be Repugniscum--he isn't a liar, coward and thief like the members Bushit / Chickenshit administration! Plus he doesn't hate like a Christian should!

[plc43]

"Many Libertarians view mandated car insurance coverage to be an infringement on their personal liberty and they would remove its mandated status causing all manner of chaos for people involved in accidents; also any number of Libertarians are against Social Security, so it is disingenuous to act as if these are strange ideas to this political extreme. And, yes, the war on drugs isn't anything but a failure, but I do not want cocaine and heroin legalized! Nor prostitution for that matter. And Libertarians do believe that unregulated private enterprise is the salvation of the world. Along those lines, they don't even want regulation of child labor. They ignore history in this perception forgetting the robber barons at the beginning of the century which Teddy Roosevelt managed to get under control through governmental restrictions.
The ideas outlined here may not be shared by all Libertarians but they are a fair descripton in my experience with this group. Libertarianism has been placed in the extreme range of the political spectrum and candidates coming from it should be viewed with these political ideas in mind.
Posted by sesanders1 at 08:27 PM : May 27, 2007"

Many Republicans say "kill everyone in the Middle East and let God sort them out!" What's your point?

[nadeau4201]

A woman has a right to kill her unborn baby on the grounds that it is her body and she can do what she wants with it. Why is prostitution any different? It is her body to do what she wants.
As far as car insurance, I've been paying for 20 years with no accidents. It's pretty cheap so I don't mind paying, I just don't like being told I have to.
I don't think the government is doing a very good job of regulating businesses, otherwise they would be doing something about the oil companies. It seems they only regulate those they can't profit from. The FDA is a joke.
Ron Paul wants to legalize medical marijuana thats it.
I'm an independent who believes in their freedom. I guess some people would be lost without the government telling them what to do.

[phoebe420]

to janem4:
Ron Paul is a real candidate and he stands for principles and ideals that all real Republicans should adopt, and probably would if they weren't so p-whipped by the Religious Right.

[socrates392]

"For cbs to post an article on Ron Paul must mean they want to bolster him up so that the likes of hill and obama can do better. Ron Paul is the nader for this upcoming election. Why not write a decent article on a real Republican candidate cbs??"

Posted by janem4 at 09:38 PM : May 27, 2007

The Republicans have a real candidate?

[grumpas]

Ron Paul sounds to me like the typical right wing nut case! He will be right at home in the Republican party!

[bobnjersey]

[Paul, for his part, thinks his view is commonsensical.]

it's pretty unbelievable that over 5 1/2 years later ... everyone is still prohibited from actually making reference to the 'real' reasons for islamic terrorism.

so much for commonsense ... this has apparently been replaced by ignorance and party loyalty.

We need Ron Paul as president.This is just another slanted article trying to make people believe libertarians wont vote for Ron. Who else has a better chance of getting elected? The Libertarian Party and the Constitution Party both have to spend a lot of money and time just to get on the ballot. If Ron gets the Republican nomination he is automatically on the ballot in all 50 states. Even if he isn't perfect he is a *** site closer than any other candidate running for president. We need both of these parties to get behind Paul, We need a united front to defeat the establishment.

[tansidude]

It is truly amazing to see the fire storm that Ron Paul creates by speaking his honest opinion ( which may even be the truth ) The media is in denial over the support and interest he is receiving. The other politician can't even match his knowledge of the Constitution.I must be dreaming and back in the 60's with Goldwater running against Johnson!
I plan to write his name in for the General Election.
Viva Ron Paul Revolution !

[texmexborderswimmer]

There is no such animal as a new Republican, they are all the SOS as the ones before them, cash hogs who will feed at the public trough as long as they can get by with it.

[tansidude]

It is truly amazing to see the fire storm that Ron Paul creates by speaking his honest opinion ( which may even be the truth ) The media is in denial over the support and interest he is receiving. The other politician can't even match his knowledge of the Constitution.I must be dreaming and back in the 60's with Goldwater running against Johnson!
I plan to write his name in for the General Election.
Viva Ron Paul Revolution !

[tansidude]

It is truly amazing to see the fire storm that Ron Paul creates by speaking his honest opinion ( which may even be the truth ) The media is in denial over the support and interest he is receiving. The other politician can't even match his knowledge of the Constitution.I must be dreaming and back in the 60's with Goldwater running against Johnson!
I plan to write his name in for the General Election.
Viva Ron Paul Revolution !

[tansidude]

It is truly amazing to see the fire storm that Ron Paul creates by speaking his honest opinion ( which may even be the truth ) The media is in denial over the support and interest he is receiving. The other politician can't even match his knowledge of the Constitution.I must be dreaming and back in the 60's with Goldwater running against Johnson!
I plan to write his name in for the General Election.
Viva Ron Paul Revolution !

[tansidude]

It is truly amazing to see the fire storm that Ron Paul creates by speaking his honest opinion ( which may even be the truth ) The media is in denial over the support and interest he is receiving. The other politician can't even match his knowledge of the Constitution.I must be dreaming and back in the 60's with Goldwater running against Johnson!
I plan to write his name in for the General Election.
Viva Ron Paul Revolution !

[gunownerdan]

Dr. Ron Paul may very well be the only candidate so far who would actually obey the presidential oath of office.

[ananar]

I watched Ron Paul on Bill Mahr this evening. This is the guy I'll vote for.

[toddpw01]

How quickly people forget that the gold standard is what gave our dollars their strength after WW2 when virtually every other developed country was deep in debt.

If it were not for the deficit spending of the cold war and Vietnam in particular, we would not have been forced to leave the gold standard in the first place.

And if it were not for the global US military protecting our oil and other imports, other countries would not be forced to use the rapidly depreciating dollars after 1971, and we would have seen much worse inflation and a currency crisis decades ago.

The real value of a gold standard (which does not require immense reserves if implemented correctly) is that it restrains banks and government from engaging in reckless loans and deficit spending. It promotes price deflation, which rewards everyone who saves money.

Inflation only rewards people who spend recklessly and are constantly in debt. Is that what we want?

[clestes-2009]

Gee, someone speaks a little truth, then makes the common sense deduction from that truth and the rep party starts foaming at the mouth like a rabid skunk.

It is a sad day in this country when someone like Ron Paul is crucified by his own party for telling the truth.

He is absolutely right. The constant intervention of American military in other countries political processes have brought all this trouble on us.

Too bad someone like Paul will never get the nomination. He has too much courage and integrity.

[bobebenson]

I find Ron Paul's plain talk VERY refreshing!
If I think about Ron Paul as President, with a Democratic Congress to temper/balance his more radical views and a solid cabinet that will tell him what he needs to know (not just what he wants to hear--like we presently have), I am very intrigued!

If I were given that scenario on one side and Hillary on the other, I would think seriously about voting for him.

Are any of you Republicans interested in an Ohio Democrat's vote?

[goldenequity]

Who IS Ron Paul? They still need to know!!
NOBODY explains Ron Paul
BETTER than Ron Paul himself!

Here is an interactive audio archive of
Ron Paul speeches and interviews in chronological
order.
http://www.ronpaulaudio.com

[sos4usa]

Rock On Ron, Rock their world. Ron is pretty good, I think. I do not like the writers name calling and nitpicking on Ron's appearance, acting like he is an oddball, quirky and his other descriptions. Ron Paul articulates his message, though he may be verbose at times, which politician isn't? Comes with the territory. And you are learning if you are listening.

I do not agree with all of his views. But he sure puts a lot of politicians to shame. He is also, a uniter! This country can get behind him, from a left winger like Bill Maher's crowd to the conservatives like Rev Chuck Baldwin.