WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2007
Ron Paul Attracts Passionate Fans
GOP Candidate Appeals To Mix Of Liberals And Conservatives Who Are Deeply Distrustful Of The Government
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Republican presidential hopeful, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, signs an autograph for Scott Gilbert, of Des Moines, Iowa, during the Iowa Straw Poll, in Ames, Iowa in this Aug. 11, 2007 file photo. (AP)
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In a phone interview Wednesday, Ron Paul said he is inching up in the polls "because more people have heard the message." (AP)
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In-Depth 2008 Presidential Hopefuls Profiles and the latest news on the Democrats and Republicans running for the White House.
The Texas libertarian's rise in the polls and in fundraising proves that a small but passionate number of Americans can be drawn to an advocate of unorthodox proposals such as returning to the gold standard and abolishing the income tax, CIA and Federal Reserve.
Paul, 72, recently set a one-day, online GOP presidential fundraising record, and pulled slightly ahead of Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee in a New Hampshire poll, where he had 8 percent of the Republicans' support. In Iowa, he tied John McCain for fifth place, with 4 percent each.
Paul remains a very long shot for the nomination. But as the only Republican candidate backing a prompt troop withdrawal from Iraq - and an airing of possible impeachment charges against Vice President Dick Cheney - he appeals to a mix of liberals and conservatives who feel alienated and deeply distrustful of the government.
"Where the extreme left and the extreme right meet, you'll find Ron Paul," said Merle Black, an Emory University political scientist and co-author of the book "Divided America."
"He strikes a chord with some segments of the population," especially with his quixotic, uncompromising style, Black said. "But there's a pretty low ceiling in terms of his actual vote."
Paul, who earned a medical degree from Duke University and embraces the nickname "Dr. No," often casts the only House vote against proposals he sees as too meddlesome or unworthy of taxpayers' money.
In recent months he was the only House member to oppose an expression of support for Northern Ireland's new power-sharing government, a condemnation of "the persecution of labor rights advocates in Iran" and a statement citing the importance of "providing a voice" for relatives of Americans who have vanished.
He was one of two Republicans to vote against funding the Defense Department in 2008, and against urging the release of Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
Paul is Congress' most prominent advocate of returning to the gold standard, which the country abandoned in the 1930s. In its purest form it would mean that all paper currency in circulation could be redeemed for gold.
Supporters say the gold standard would curb inflation and boost confidence in the economy. But others say it would trigger severe recessions because the Federal Reserve could no longer manage the money supply in times of economic weakness.
For that matter, Paul would eliminate the Fed altogether as an impediment to free markets.
Paul breezily talks of eliminating the personal income tax, saying it provides about 40 percent of federal revenues, which spending cuts could absorb. The government's funding level would approximate that of 2000, he says, although government statistics put the figure closer to 1995.
In a phone interview Wednesday, Paul said he is inching up in the polls "because more people have heard the message."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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- "The government turns every contingency into an excuse for enhancing power in itself".----John Adams............Doesn''t anyone long for our founding fathers to come back and put our country back on the path it was created to stay on? Vote for John and Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and the humble George Washington by voting for a student of theirs with the best constitutional grade running for President,.......Ron Paul, student of the founding fathers in 2008! GO USA!!!
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- HEY CBS-
Why is there a comment section for this story:
Mexico Assails U.S. Pols On Immigration
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- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- Ron Paul has no chance
*** Just immitating spammer TrueProphet
aka. NHProphet, aka. Goodprophet, aka. etc.
lol - Reply to this comment
- The Texas libertarian''s rise in the polls and in fundraising proves that a small but passionate number of Americans can be drawn to an advocate of unorthodox proposals such as returning to the gold standard and abolishing the income tax, CIA and Federal Reserve.
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Yeah, and endlessly spamming every message board on the net. Just because of them, I couldn''t vote for Ron Paul. His groupies are rude and tiresome. - Reply to this comment
- Well Gee...
Where is the Ron Paul post when it is appropriate??? :-)
It is so funny as most of the stories I read all have some rant about Ron Paul and I came to this story and it hasn''t been posted???
Hmmmm..... I think someone is slacking... - Reply to this comment
