He is the very definition of conservatism as defined by Goldwater/Reagan et al. So, why isn't he gaining more ground?
2007-09-05 03:40:25 · 27 answers · asked by alphabetsoup2 5 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
I happen to like Ron Paul, but he's not getting the support. The media pays little attention to him. The Republican party as a whole, considers him to be an outcast, and the Internet ain't gonna win an election for him. Also, it's too bad that so many of his followers are linked directly to the conspiracy theorists and of course, that leaves a bad taste in the mouths of many as it makes Dr. Paul, look like a kook.
Once again, whether we like it or not, we're going to be stuck voting for the best of two evils, I believe. I refuse to throw my vote away and I also realize that by doing that, it'll end up going into Hillary's pocket. No thanks!
2007-09-05 03:56:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
There are multiple types of "conservative." The the two most prominent divisions among today's conservatives are the social conservatives along the lines of moral majority and the various members of the so called religious right and then there are the fiscal conservatives. These "conservatives" divide on significant issues. Fiscal conservatives are fairly closely aligned with Paul's libertarian small government philosophy. Social conservatives, however, frequently wish to regulate behaviour and can be sympathetic with a "big government" which seeks to impose their social values and notions of social place. While Goldwater and Reagan have much in common they are hardly the same and Goldwater's conservatism came across as militaristic while Reagan's came across as fatherly.
2007-09-05 11:11:57 · answer #2 · answered by Orv 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Todays conservatives want tax cuts, not budget cuts.George Bush was voted "candidate you'd most likely want to have a beer with" and Ron apparently doesn't fill the bill. The truth has little to do with running as a conservative-you need good propaganda and will not need to adhere to whatever you said as a candidate so Ron probably tells the truth too much.
Conservatives are only conservative today in name.
2007-09-05 10:56:34 · answer #3 · answered by Middleclassandnotquiet 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because the Republicans of today aren't conservative. They've expanded the size of government and care more about social conservatism than small government. Also, they've become neo-conservative in foreign affairs, they've truly lost their way. Goldwater would be ashamed of the Republicans of today, but I guess when he was alive he was already becoming ashamed of them. He must be rolling in his grave.
2007-09-05 11:40:11 · answer #4 · answered by cynical 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I can't speak for all conservatives, but I can speak for myself. Ron Paul misses the Reagan mark by being unwilling to go after our enemies. He would rather take the Libertarian isolationist route. I do not believe that this is a viable strategy in this day and age. Paul's apologizing for terrorists really galls me as well. The rest of his platform seems unobjectionable enough, even admirable--but the other issue shows naivete that I am unwilling to have in a president.
2007-09-05 11:04:11 · answer #5 · answered by Trav 4 · 2⤊ 2⤋
Ron Paul doesn't keep the secrets surrounding the Republican party.
He is opposed to the Federal Reserve Bank and wants to repeal the 16th amendment.
(which IS the right thing to do)!!
He opposes NAFTA, CAFTA, and the WTO!!
Ron Paul's one of the good and decent Americans and the party can't have that!
Ron Paul is everything a Republican is supposed to be.
2007-09-05 10:52:53 · answer #6 · answered by Kelly B 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
He is a libertarian not a conservative. His ideas are radical. The pendulum of American politics has moved toward the center and he has not. Extremists are going to lose big time this election.
2007-09-05 12:38:55 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who says he isn't? The issue with so-called 'conservatives' that we have today are brainwashed by the Neo-conservative philosophy of spreading democracy by means of force and intimidation, and expanding government to a gargantuan scale. That is the main difference between Ron Paul's pure conservatism vs. the Neo-conservatism.
True conservatives like Ron Paul do flock towards him. What we call 'conservative' today isn't what Goldwater/Reagan called 'conservative' during their time. Things have changed much.
2007-09-05 10:51:10 · answer #8 · answered by Think Richly™ 5 · 6⤊ 4⤋
Because today's conservatives are not in the Goldwater/Reagan mold. Paul is a classic Libertarian - too socially liberal for Conservatives and too fiscally conservative for Liberals. Thus his 1% support.
2007-09-05 10:45:58 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 4⤋
I am a conservative and I do not like Ron Paul for two reasons.
1) I am a realist and know that he has ZERO chance to become president.
2) Although he is trying to distance himself from them, he is flaunted by the "Truthers" as the next president and that just obliterates his chances of getting the nomination. (For those who don't know, the "truthers" are folks who have banded together who all believe in government conspiracy in just about everything. They think that the government bombed the buildings on 9-11 and a whole bunch of other tin-foil-hat theories.)
2007-09-05 10:50:09 · answer #10 · answered by THE Answer 2 · 4⤊ 5⤋