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MEET THE CANDIDATES: NINTH IN THE SERIES: RON PAUL

REPUBLICAN




BIRTHDAY: Aug. 20, 1935 (72) HOMETOWN: Lake Jackson, Texas RELIGION: Baptist

FAMILY: Married to Carol Wells since 1957; five children, 18 grandchildren, one great-grandchild.

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  • EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, Gettysburg College, 1957; medical degree, Duke University, 1961.

    EXPERIENCE: Flight surgeon and captain, U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard, 1963-1968; obstetrician and gynecologist, 1968-1996; U.S. congressman from Texas, 1976-1977, 1979-1985, 1997-present; ran for president as a Libertarian in 1988.

    YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW: When the Republican Party, including then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush, threw support behind Paul's primary opponent in 1996, former baseball great and friend Nolan Ryan helped Paul win re-election to Congress.

     

    CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL WEB SITE WWW.RONPAUL2008.COM/

    CHOICE TO RUN:

    Says he's running to restore the rule of law under the Constitution. "We need faith in ourselves ... and confidence in understanding how freedom works," he has said. "We have lost our way because we believe government will take care of us."

    MAJOR THEMES:

    Limited government based on a literal view of the Constitution. Paul says he wants to put the country back on the gold standard, do away with the IRS and bring U.S. troops home.

     

    IN NEVADA:

    Has campaigned twice in Nevada. He has six paid staffers in the state and many volunteers -- in Las Vegas there are 600, according to a campaign spokesman -- who have joined forces through Internet networking sites.

    IN THE POLLS

    NATIONALLY

    Has shown increases of late, but yet to break into double digits.

     

    NEVADA

    A Review-Journal poll earlier this month showed Paul with 5 percent of the likely vote, placing him sixth among Republican candidates.

    POSITIONS

    WAR/NATIONAL SECURITY

    Voted against the Iraq war and would withdraw American forces, not just from Iraq, but from all 130 foreign nations where they are stationed. During a speech at UNLV, Paul said: "We don't need to just change the management of the war. We need a foreign policy of nonintervention to prevent wars from ever breaking out. ... We're spending a trillion dollars maintaining an empire overseas. We have to end the empire and come home."

    HEALTH CARE

    Would make all medical expenses tax deductible and every American eligible for a Health Savings Account, removing the requirement that a high-deductible insurance policy be purchased before opening the accounts. Paul says he would eliminate federal regulations that discourage small businesses from providing health coverage and would allow doctors to collectively negotiate with insurance companies to drive down the cost of care.

    IMMIGRATION

    Wants to physically secure the nation's borders, including building a wall between the United States and Mexico. Paul says taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants to use hospitals, schools, roads or social services. Birthright citizenship should be ended, he says, because as long as illegal immigrants know children born here will be citizens, the incentive to enter illegally remains strong.

    NEVADA ISSUES

    Voted against Yucca Mountain and has consistently opposed the proposed nuclear waste repository in Nevada on the basis of states' rights.

    ENERGY

    Wants to end subsidies and research-and-development funding for the energy sector, although some believe that funding would aid the growth of renewable energy. He says he would allow drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, boost the use of coal and embrace nuclear power.

    TAXES

    Has pledged never to raise taxes and says he has never voted to approve a deficit budget. Paul says he would abolish the income tax and fund the government through excise taxes (taxes paid when a specific good, like gasoline, is purchased) or non-protectionist tariffs (taxes levied on imports).

    CRITICS

    Some have called Paul's foreign policy views isolationist and naive, saying he considers direct military attacks the only national security threat to the United States. He would ignore threats brewing overseas in China, Iran and Russia, critics say. Paul has been criticized for attributing the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to U.S. intervention in the Mideast. Critics say that view placates radical Islamic terrorists.



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    Current Word Count:

    Vegas4Paul wrote on January 02, 2008 01:02 AM: Seems like one "troll" out there with a multiple personality disorder bashing Ron Paul on the comments section.

    Are there any links or facts to back up anything you say? It's easy to have little one liners that are meant to hit hard, but end up making you sound more ignorant than anything.


    Tim wrote on January 01, 2008 06:10 AM: Thank you for this unbiased and informative piece.

    Regards,
    Tim


    William Drake wrote on December 31, 2007 09:14 PM: Thank you "A.K. Smith" & "Ezra" for your commentary. I'm glad you have not bought into the insane "Civil-War-Lincoln" racism MSM (Tim Russert?) smear campaign.
    It warms my heart (btw I am dating a lovely Lebanese woman) to know that people besides the majority race, can see past these petty tactics to find TRUTH. I urge anyone to google "AMERICA: FREEDOM TO FASCISM" (this is not a plug...i swear on my life) and watch the nearly 2 hour video. If it does not change your life, you lack a fully functioning brain and should join the socialist party.

    Thank you and happy 08!


    Fausto wrote on December 31, 2007 07:28 PM: "Do your duty America and get informed!! Dont listen to the ignorant haters of Paul who dont care about the issues or this Country! They want everything handed to them!"

    Lead us, guide us Ezra. We are nothing without you. What are Ron Paul's talking points today...I want to know! I want to learn. Teach me the ways of Ron Paul. You are obviously the expert, the all-knowing. What would we ever do as a society without Ron Paul and you? I don't dare even think about it.


    Ezra wrote on December 31, 2007 05:41 PM: Oh wow... I could just unleash on about every Paul hater in here but, I am trying to maintain my composure.

    Cindy, Tony ,Troy,Truth is, Time 4 change, Eduardo and anyone else who says Paul is for Religion governing us or he hates gays or he wants to ban abortion! NOT ONE OF YOU HAS EVEN LISTENED TO ANYTHING DR. (NOT REVEREND) PAUL HAS SAID!

    Where did the reverend thing even come from? Why do you keep saying Dr. Paul is against gays? He has said repeatedly that NO GROUP should have rights but, INDIVIDUALS no matter what sexual or religious preference should have rights. WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT IS IN OUR CONSTITUTION!!!

    Also he never said he wanted to BAN abortion. He said he disagrees with it but, that he would leave it to the states to decide. WHICH ONCE AGAIN IS IN THE CONSTITUTION!!!!

    As for him "Underestimating" Islamofascists I think he knows better than anyone that we have brought most of the hate from Islamic nations on ourselves by nosing where we have no business since before WW1.

    Furthermore He isnot Lying about cutting taxes and getting rid of the Defecit! You should do some research before speaking! If we got rid of the income tax and the Federal Reserve and brought our troops home and got rid of the overseas bases "which are not needed" then we would have roughly 13 trillion dollars in excess cash just sitting around which could be used to provide better education and better funding for things more constructive than BOMBS!!!

    Do your duty America and get informed!! Dont listen to the ignorant haters of Paul who dont care about the issues or this Country! They want everything handed to them! Semper Fi! Ron Paul for pres!


    A.K. Smith wrote on December 31, 2007 05:31 PM: I'm a Jew and I've known Ron Paul for 20 years. He is one of the kindest, most thoughtful and most intelligent people I've ever known. He is polling highest of any Republican among Blacks because he is against the Drug War and its disparate impact on Black people. He, unlike Huckster and Romney, does not wear his religion on his sleeve. At the Values Voters Debate, he said he does not believe in legislating morality. And it lost him support with that bunch of bigoted, homophobic jerks. And still, he stood his ground while Huckabee pandered to them.
    He believes that abortion is immoral and repugnant, and yet he takes the Constitutional position that it is not the job of the federal government to decide. Know why? Because he has principles and won't force his religion on anyone else.
    So, gee, I guess someone is misinformed.


    Ezra wrote on December 31, 2007 05:29 PM: Tony and Truth is: I want you to support your claims that Ron Paul is a racist and he hates jews and blacks and gays with some sort of evidence.

    My daughter is half lebanese she is very very dark and is mistaken for Egyptian. I will encourage her to believe in any religion she chooses including Muslim. That being said I find your lies to be extremely funny. You operate on the same type of fear mongering and hate tactics as terrorists.

    You spread lies and half-truths hoping that people will not inform themselves and see to the heart of the issue. I challenge you to prove Ron Paul has displayed any behavior even remotely racist in his 12 terms as a senator. I also challenge you to present evidence that he is against freedom! Give us all ONE concrete fact that supports your claims. Specifically Tony I would like you to explain exactly which religion you are referring to that has "narrow" views that Ron Paul is a part of and how any of the other candidates are better suited to be president! If you cannot or simply will not and choose to spew your lies then do so knowing I will be reading these posts and I will make sure people know the truth. Semper FI and Ron Paul for pres!!


    lvp1138@gmail.com wrote on December 31, 2007 05:25 PM:
    My thoughts exactly. :)


    Gordon wrote on December 31, 2007 05:16 PM: A lot of hateful people that clearly haven't done their homework on Ron Paul (or have other axes to grind). He inspires me with his principles and integrity. I don't agree with all positions, but would certainly prefer him over any other politician I've ever seen.


    Herb wrote on December 31, 2007 05:14 PM: Peter, it sounds like the anti-Paul poster is confusing Ron Paul with Mike Huckabee.


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