Ron Paul, Rising Political Star

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

(The New Republic)  Pep talks like that helped Paul to raise more than $600,000 overall in the first quarter of 2007 — a pittance compared with the top candidates, but more than several better-known competitors, including former GOP governors Tommy Thompson, Mike Huckabee, and Jim Gilmore. With the help of the Free State Project, Paul actually placed second in money raised in New Hampshire, ahead of Giuliani and McCain and trailing only Mitt Romney.

But libertarians are a fractious bunch, and some hardcore activists have mixed feelings about the man now carrying their banner. For instance, libertarian purists generally support a laissez-faire government attitude toward abortion and gay marriage, as well as "open border" immigration policies and unfettered free trade. Yet Paul opposes gay marriage, believes states should outlaw abortion, decries high immigration rates, and criticizes free trade agreements — though mainly on constitutional grounds. (These divergences may be explained by Paul's socially conservative East Texas district, which lies adjacent to Tom DeLay's former district and which President Bush last carried with 67 percent of the vote. Being pro-choice simply doesn't fly there.)

As a result, Paul's candidacy leaves some of his erstwhile libertarian fans cold — particularly the intellectuals who congregate in Washington outfits like the CATO Institute or Reason magazine. "He comes from a more right-wing populist approach," explains Brian Doherty, a California-based Reason editor and author of Radicals for Capitalism, a history of the libertarian movement. "Culturally, he strikes a lot of the more cosmopolitan libertarians as a yokel." (Doherty himself is a Paul admirer.)

And, while some libertarians criticize Paul from the left on social issues, others are swiping at him from the right over the war. "Will Libertarianism Survive Ron Paul?" asked one article on the America's Future Foundation website, before continuing, "Paul's prominence threatens to make his blame-America instincts the defining characteristic of libertarianism in the public imagination. If libertarianism becomes inextricably associated with radical pacifism, will young people with classically liberal instincts be discouraged from serious political engagement?"

Paul's provocations have roiled the waters back home as well. After the fateful debate, the largest paper in Paul's district ran a story headlined, "some say Paul should resign." More ominously, a former longtime aide, Eric Dondero, is now planning to knock his former boss out of Congress in 2008. A self-described Barry Goldwater-style "pro-military libertarian," Dondero first worked for Paul during his 1988 presidential campaign and finally left his office three years ago. He says it was bad enough begging Paul to support the 2001 congressional resolution authorizing military force in Afghanistan. But Paul's September 11 moment in the debate was the final straw. The next day, Dondero posted a blog item on RedState.com declaring his intention to unseat his one-time hero. "One of the really bad things about his piss-poor [debate] performance," Dondero told me, "is that now everyone in the country is going to think that all libertarians think the same way that he does."

Paul seems only to relish his newfound notoriety. "I enjoy dealing in the area of ideas," he told me over lunch. "And I want to make a difference." Paul also carries with him a certainty that he will be vindicated — and not just on Iraq. He is utterly convinced, for instance, that the United States is headed for an economic disaster that can only be averted by the adoption of the gold standard, a topic that has obsessed him for years. When I ask him why, at 71, he's putting himself through the ordeal of a national campaign, this — not Iraq — is the point to which he returns: "If there's an economic collapse," he says almost wistfully, "maybe I'll be in the right place at the right time." It's another slogan not suited for a bumper sticker, and another you would only hear from Ron Paul.

[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.

[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

[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?

[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.

[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?

[ananar]

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

[gunownerdan]

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

[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 !

[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 !

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.

[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.

[grumpas]

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

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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?