Who is Ron Paul?

This letter written by my wife was sent to our local newspaper on November 15, 2007:

Who is Ron Paul?

Ronald Ernest Paul, Sr. is a tenth term Republican U.S Congressmen from Texas, a physician, and in my opinion, the best choice for President of the United States in 2008. Does the name sound familiar? He placed third in the presidential election of 1988 as the Libertarian party nominee, even though he was at that time (and still is), a registered republican. He graduated from Duke University School of Medicine in 1961, and was drafted and served as a flight surgeon internationally during the Vietnam War. He presently serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

Paul has been called a conservative, a Constitutionalist, and a libertarian. Paul supports free trade, sharply lower taxes, smaller government, and a foreign policy of nonintervention, advocating a withdrawal from NATO and the United Nations. He continues to advocate a dramatic reduction in the size of the federal government and a return to constitutional principles.

He has been called Dr. No, as his voting record stands in sharp contrast to most of his fellow congressmen. He has never voted to raise taxes. He has never voted for an unbalanced budget. He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership. He has never voted to raise congressional pay. He has never taken a government-paid junket. He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch. He voted against the Patriot Act. He voted against regulating the Internet. He voted against the Iraq war. He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program. He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year. He opposes illegal immigration, gun control, and the federal War on Drugs. Paul is and has been pro-life (he is after all, an ob/gyn and has delivered more than four thousand babies). He is a very strong advocate of states' rights.

Ron Paul has been consistently tough on immigration. He has outlined a six point plan for immigration reform. The highlights of his plan are to (1) physically secure the borders, (2) enforce visa rules, (3) no amnesty or (4) welfare for illegal aliens, (5) end birthright citizenship, and (6) to pass true immigration reform.

During his 2008 presidential campaign, Paul has generated a surprisingly strong support group. He remains among the top Republican Internet search terms as measured by three different organizations. He leads the all other presidential (Democrat and Republican) candidates at YouTube, with over 30,000 subscribers.


The overwhelming support he has received has surprised many onlookers. He had more money in the bank in the second quarter than John McCain. Paul has received more donations from military personnel, active and retired, than any other Republican candidate. He raised more than $5 million in the third quarter in a true grass-roots movement. This was 114 percent increase from the second quarter, which is in stark contrast to the decrease suffered by Mitt Romney, Rudy Giuliani and John McCain. Romney's fund raising was down 29 percent, Giuliani's down 40 percent and McCain's down 55 percent.

On November fifth, Paul raised $4.2 Million dollars through a grass-roots effort which was not officially connected with the campaign. This amazing and record-breaking feat is causing many to see him in a new light. In a poll conducted by AOL news, 57% of the American people believe that Ron Paul can indeed be elected. With his top-tier money raising, his candidacy can no longer be ignored.

In Ron Paul's own words to Jay Leno on The Tonight Show, "I have shortcomings, but the message has no shortcomings. It's all about liberty...there's probably a risk I could win".

In November 2008, will you stand with me and say that you voted according to principle and upheld men who are morally pure and defend and abide by the Constitution? Or will you vote out of fear and desperation? John Quincy Adams once said:

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."

So, I challenge you. Don't vote as Republicans or Democrats, but as Americans. Don't vote out of necessity or out of fear, but out of hope for our future. Vote for the man who supports the Constitution, has the voting record to prove it. Vote for the man who believes in and will defend the cause our Founding Fathers fought and died to preserve and protect. Vote for Ron Paul in 2008.