Is Ron Paul actually a Libertarian in republican clothes? I might really like this guy. Tell me more.?

Question

I like Libertarians because of their adherence to the Constitution. Reps have been well known to vote to violate such almost as much as Dems. I realize that the best chance for election is to be a major party candidate, but it is so hard to remain true to the Constitution with either one. Will he make deals, or go independent?

You folks are giving me good stuff here , thanks. I am intriqued.

Answer 1

Yes, he IS a genuine Libertarian, one who found that the only way to be taken seriously as a presidential candidate is to throw his hat into the ring with the Republicans.

He's a former presidential candidate of the Libertarian Party. He would bring the troops home from Iraq.
He would withdraw from NATO and the UN.
He is a noninterventionist.
He considers the congressional pension system to be an abuse of power.
He wants to abolish the federal income tax.
He opposes most federal regulations, and wants to dramatically reduce the size of the federal government.
He is a proponent of free trade.
He is for a coherent immigration policy, and against amnesty.
He is firmly for the rule of law.
He is a Constitutionalist.
He opposes domestic surveillance and conscription.
He opposes the taking of human life for any reason except self defense, to include abortion and capital punishment.
He feels there should be no federal involvement or regulation of religion, stem cell research, education, sexual orientation as it applies to marriage, environmental issues, and many other issues. In his opinion, states should be allowed to exercise involvement and regulation in these cases.
He believes that young people should be allowed to opt out of Social Security.

This is just a short list, but need I say more? Ron Paul is a Libertarian. What a breath of fresh air.

Answer 2

Yes, Ron Paul was a libertarian and balloted as one before he moved to being a republican a while back. He was the 1988 presidential nominee for the Libertarian party.

Answer 3

The only thing in my mind that doesn't make him your typical minarchist libertarian is that he's pro-life, all the way.

This stems from his long career as an OB-GYN, and he believes that since he considers life to begin at conception, that unborn life should be granted all of the basic freedoms of life, liberty and property, thus would still be in line with libertarian thinking.

IMHO, I tend to agree.

Edit: The two people below me are dead wrong. Paul does NOT believe any 9/11 conspiracies and he did NOT write those letters criticizing blacks and jews, it was an aide who was then fired.

Answer 4

Ron Paul has libertarian ideas but he is a Republican and it is the reason that he is so popular nowadays.

VOTE for your choice as US President on my 360 degrees blog and know who will likely win.

Answer 5

Yes. He admits that he's a libertarian. He just runs as a Republican so people will be able to vote for him without splitting the conservative vote.

Answer 6

Libertatians are not that different from republicans. I happen to be one who votes Republican because the libertarian party can not win. Further, the strong move to the socialist left of the national democratic party has Libertarians and conservative Democrats flocking to the republican party.
This shift began with FDR and finished with Regan.

Answer 7

Why not just compare his positions on issues with yours and disregard the labels? And if you like the same positions he has that I do, you may want to check out Joe Schriner if Paul doesn't win the Republican Nomination and decides not to run as an independent.

http://www.ronpaul2008.com/
http://www.voteforjoe.com
http://www.consistent-life.org
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/nonlethalalternatives

http://www.yaktivist.com -- A place to discuss developing nonlethal weapons and nonlethal pregnancy termination technology.

Answer 8

libertarians dont follow the Constitution. if they did, then they wouldnt be such a minority.

Answer 9

RP is a 911 truther nut job.