In 1988, Rep. Paul was the Libertarian Party nominee for the White House race. He unsuccessfully sought the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.
Competitors - Ron Paul finished a close second place behind evangelical Christian conservative Rep. Michele Bachmann in the influential Ames, Iowa Straw Poll on August 13, 2011. Paul also won the Illinois state GOP straw poll with 52 percent of the vote; second-place finisher former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney garnered only 35 percent.
National polls by credible organizations infrequently report Rep. Paul as a top 2012 Republican contender even though he's zealously supported by a cadre of faithful followers.
Ron Paul's other top competitors in 2012 are Texas Gov. Rick Perry, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, media personality/businessman Herman Cain, and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann.
Through Liberal Eyes - Ron Paul's complicated, purist-Libertarian political notions are not easily categorized as either "conservative" or "liberal," and sometimes result in extremist stances. His media caricature as a cranky, charisma-free old man makes Rep. Paul even more of a "hard sell" to the American public.
The bottom line - Despite a passionate following and despite solid polling and straw-poll wins, the Republican party will never nominate Ron Paul for the 2012 presidential race.
Ron Paul on the Issues - Ron Paul is a longtime Libertarian whose political views and stances are informed by philosophers Hayek, von Mises and Rand.
In summary, Rep. Paul believes that government services should be quite limited, and that government should not interfere in personal lives. Among Ron Paul's stances on specific political issues are: U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan should end immediately. US troops should be withdrawn and brought home. US foreign aid wastes billions of taxpayer funds, and should be cut radically or entirely eliminated. Stop spending billions on propping up "puppet dictators." Audit the Federal Reserve, and return to a gold standard. Rated 76% for his pro-free trade record, by the conservative CATO Institute. No bank bailouts. "Government destroys jobs; the market creates jobs. So the government isn't going to be expected to create the jobs; they have to change the environment." Repeal the estate tax. Slash income taxes for all Americans. Abolish the IRS. Welfare "isn't authorized in the Constitution." Abolish Social Security, "but not overnight." "... allow all the young people to get out of Social Security and go on their own."Ron Paul in Elected Office - Inspired by studying the writings of Libertarian philosophers and angered over President Nixon's monetary policies, Ron Paul, a practicing physician, ran unsuccessfully in 1974 for Congress. He was appointed to a House vacancy in 1976, but lost again later that year. He prevailed in 1980 and 1982.
After failed campaigns for the US Senate in 1984 and the presidency in 1988, Ron Paul ran for and was reelected to the House in 1996. He's served eight consecutive terms.
Rep. Paul, a respected legislator who has sponsored or co-sponsored more than 350 bills, serves on a number of prominent House committees including the House Foreign Affairs, Financial Services, and the Join Economic committees.
Ron Paul's Personal Background Birth - August 20, 1935 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the third of five sons born to dairy farmers Howard and Margaret Paul who resided in nearby town Green Tree. Education - Graduated in 1953 from Dormont High School, where he was part of the track and wrestling teams. BS in biology, 1957, Gettysburg College. MD, 1961, Duke University Medical School. Dr. Paul fulfilled his residency requirement in Detroit, Michigan. Family - Married since 1957 to high school sweetheart Carol Wells. Five adult children, all married: daughters Lori Paul Pyeatt and Joy Paul Leblanc, and sons Ron Jr., Robert Paul, and Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky. Thirteen grandchildren. Christian, Baptist denomination. Ron Paul was raised in a devout German Lutheran family.
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