Republican Presidential hopeful Ron Paul served on the House Banking committee, from 1976 to 1984, where he was a strong advocate for sound monetary policy and an outspoken critic of the Federal Reserve’s inflationary measures. Dr. Paul returned to Congress in 1997 to represent the 14th congressional district of Texas and presently serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.

While displaying unwavering advocacy of pro-life and pro-family values he also believes in a small federal government and that the federal government should only have the authority to prosecute three crimes: Treason, counterfeiting, and piracy. He firmly believes that all other crimes should be subject to individual state legislation.

One of his biggest battles in Congress, however, has been his fight to lower or abolish federal taxes, spending and regulation, while actively promoting a return of government to its proper constitutional levels. Paul’s consistency in voting his conscience has even prompted one of his congressional colleagues to say, “Ron Paul personifies the Founding Fathers ideal of the citizen-statesman, making it clear that his principles will never be compromised, and they never are.” While another colleague observed, “There are few people in public life who, through thick and thin, rain or shine, stick to their principles. Ron Paul is one of those few.”

While a Republican by party affiliation he is most definitely a libertarian by choice and opposes capital punishment and supports the abolition of all federal anti-drug legislation having personally co-sponsored bills that would legalize medical marijuana and allow the use of industrial-grade hemp. Of great importance to this reviewer, however, is the fact that Paul is one candidate who opposes the civil liberty abuses that were enforced as part of the Patriotic Act after 9/11.

His libertarianism further shows in his opposition to the Federal Marriage Amendment which he opposes on the grounds that states that choose to recognize same-sex marriage should be allowed to do so without federal interference. However, he supports the Defense of Marriage Act, and opposes the extension of federal marriage benefits to include same-sex couples.

His state right tendencies even extend to decisions regarding abortion where Paul openly opposes federal laws banning or restricting abortion and birth control, but supports state control of these same issues under the Tenth Amendment.

Nevertheless, Paul’s desire to secure U.S. borders remains a key topic in his 2008 presidential campaign as he openly opposes the North American Union proposition and its proposed integration of Mexico, the United States of America, and Canada. Further, Paul opposes illegal immigration as well as amnesty for illegal immigrants and has introduced legislation that would amend the Constitution to stop giving automatic citizenship to babies who are born in the United States to non-citizen parents, which has been in effect since the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868. (Paul Offers President New Tool in the War on Terrorism. Rep. Ron Paul, official website)

Brief Overview of Congressman Paul’s Record:

• 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.

Congressman Paul introduces numerous pieces of substantive legislation each year, probably more than any single member of Congress

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas enjoys a national reputation as the premier advocate for liberty in politics today and is the leading spokesman in Washington for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He is known among both his colleagues in Congress and his constituents for his consistent voting record in the House of Representatives and he never votes for legislation unless the proposed measure is expressly authorized by the Constitution.

While the jury is still out Ron Paul sounds like a viable candidate to me. I wish him the best of luck in the GOP primaries as he is definitely the least dangerous of other candidates in that race.

[tags]2008 Presidential Race, GOP candidates, Ron Paul, Texas Representative, Patriot Act, Illegal Immigration, abortion, limited Federal government, state rights, North America Union,federal marriage act, libertarian[/tags]