Ron Paul: 451 Press Team Up - Presidential Candidate Profiles
This is the third in a series of posts in cooperation with fellow blogger politicalfrenzy.com that examines the candidates seeking their party’s nomination for president. Rightnewsandviews.com will cover the Republicans and politicalfrenzy.com will cover the Democrats. Our third profile features Representative Ron Paul. And be sure to check out Joe Biden over at politicalfrenzy.com!
Name: Ronald Ernest Paul
Age: 71 (born August 20, 1935)
Home Town: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Political Positions Held: 10th Term US Representative
Military History: Paul interrupted his medical training to serve as a flight surgeon in the Air Force from 1963 to 1965. He served in the Air National Guard from 1965 to 1968 while completing his medical residency.
Accomplishments: In an effort to block the possibility of a U.N. tax, Paul successfully added an amendment to an appropriation bill that prohibited any appropriation from being used to impose any UN tax or fee on Americans.
Controversies: Alleged racial remarks made in Paul’s newsletter. Paul claimed the words were not his own nor did they represent his point of view (they were written, he alleged, by a ghost writer).
Fundamental Platform (culled from On The Issues):
On Abortion: Voted yes on banning partial-birth abortion but voted no on making it a crime to harm a fetus during another crime. Rated 0% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record.
On Stem cell research: Opposed
On the economy: Supports a balanced budget
On gay marriage: Voted no on Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage but yes on banning gay adoptions in DC.
On Education: Voted no on- $84 million grants for black and Hispanic colleges, allowing school prayer during the War on Terror, requiring states to test students. Voted yes on vouchers for private and parochial schools.
On Energy & Oil: Voted yes for permitting new oil refineries and voted no on both prohibiting oil drilling in ANWR and on the Kyoto Protocol. Voted to repeal the gas tax.
On Free Trade: Voted no on CAFTA, Free Trade Agreements with Australia, Singapore, and Chile. Voted yes on withdrawing from the WTO and to end economic protectionism.
On Government Reform: Voted no on campaign finance reform, restricting independent grassroots political committees, and prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers. Voted yes to limiting attorney fees in class action lawsuits and on restricting frivolous lawsuits.
On Gun Control: Pro-gun rights
On Health Care: Supports abolishing the federal Medicare entitlement in favor of leaving it to the states.
On Terrorism: Voted against the Patriot Act and the Iraq war but voted yes to continue intelligence gathering without civil oversight. Voted yes to continue military recruitment on college campuses. Voted yes on SDI.
On Immigration: Rated 100% by FAIR, a voting record strongly in favor of restricting immigration.
On Tax Reform: Rated 89% by NTU, indicating a “Taxpayer’s Friend” on tax votes.
On Social Security: Rated 30% by the ARA, indicating what they term an “anti-senior voting record.” It is really a 70% pro-individual responsibility voting record.
On Welfare: Abolish federal welfare; leave it all to states.
For more info, visit Paul’s website or visit On The Issues.
Nomination Pros: There is a lot good to say about Paul and his principles. He refuses to sign up for his Congressional pension, did not allow his children to accept subsidized student loans for college, and has never voted to raise taxes or congressional pay. He has earned the nickname of “Dr. No” in that he has proven uncooperative to colleagues because he will not vote for bills that he views as spending taxpayers’ money in a wasteful manner or for bills that he feels violate the Constitution.
Nomination Cons: Though this may prove an actual pro for the upcoming election, Paul has consistently voted against the PATRIOT Act and the Iraq War.
Head to head with:
Vs. Clinton- Unknown- Paul (reasonable, unobtrusive government) is so radically opposite Clinton (gigantic, nanny government) it would prove an interesting race.
Vs. Edwards – Clobbers Edwards.
Vs. Obama – Close, but Paul wins.
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