Why is Ron Paul the only candidate not to accept Federal Matching Funds for his campaign?

Question

Ron Paul has the option to accept $18,000,000 dollars this month from the governmment to fund his campaign, it's called Federal Matching Funds. He has chosen not to do so while every other canidate has elected to spend taxpayer money in thier pursit of more power. Why has Ron Paul elected against it? The answer is becuase he is a man of principal and backs up his words with his actions, since he is against government spending and taxation and supports the constitution it would be immoral for him to take this money. THe real question is why do the other canidates take our money to further their nefarious plans?

Answer 1

You obviously answered your own initial question.

Why do other canidates not follow suit with Ron Paul is obvious that money can win votes with those who fail to get involved with the candidates.

There are many uneducated people who listen to what others say based upon what is said only....without fact from both sides of an issue.

I find this to be the biggest problem around the world...many make rash decisions without having full knowledge of what the issue is!

Answer 2

Ron Paul has my utmost admiration!
Here's why:

I was raised in a family where my dad taught us kids to not waste any of the money he earned, to spend on the family necessities....Light bills, phone bills, wasting good store bought food, etc. etc.

I think Ron Paul was brought up the same way and looks at American taxpayers as being a part of his American family....under the control of the U.S.Constitution.

Now, let me analyze the Federal matching funds, please.

Lets say there are 10 Presidential candidates that qualify and accept an $18,000,000 dollar matching funds handout that is really re-appropriated taxpayer money. That would amount to $180,000,000 million dollars. The money would be spent for advertising and expenses incurred campaigning.

Out of the 10 candidates only one will eventually be elected. So if we subtract 18 million from 180 million, that leaves us with $162 million dollars of taxpayer money that essentially will be used in a wasted cause.

Wouldn't Taxpayers be insulted if they knew their confiscated tax dollars were being wasted???
A Vote For Ron Paul, Is A Vote For Honesty In Government Spending!!!
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Answer 3

He also doesn't participate in the lucrative Congressional Pension plan. He also never took federal aid from people that he administered as a Doctor, he did it for free. He's not even that rich!

Principle could come up and bite some of these negative buffoon answerers in the as$, and they wouldn't know what it was. I still try to think people are inherently good, but sometimes it's difficult.

The other candidates? Very few INDIVIDUALS actually support any one of them. Goldman Sachs seems to like a lot of them.

They either dump a ton of money from their own pocket (Romney)

Go bankrupt (McCain - and then senile)

Profit off 9/11 (Giuliani, who has spent the least in advertising due to free publicity)

Or tell people in a s l o w m o n o t o n e voice that appeals to mental midgets, that they will receive free gifts from the government if they vote for them. (Hillary, and sometimes Obama - "free" as in, off the backs of the middle class, shifting everyone into the lower class).

Answer 4

Ron Paul will not need Federal matching funds,since he
is raising so much money.

Go Ron go! Demolish that revolting New World Order
which is being built by fascist CFR members!!!!!!!!!

Answer 5

You clearly answered your own question. Ron Paul's greatest strength is that his record truly speaks for itself. Whether you agree or disagree with the man, his record is absolutley and unequivocally consistent with his rhetoric. Accepting the 18M in matching funds would be to endorse the confiscation of wealth from citizens to support a political candidate. This amounts to compelled speech which is clearly a violation of the first amendment. You won't find Paul supporting anything that goes against the language and spirit of the Constitution in his words or his deeds.

Answer 6

I agree with flyin520. It runs against his principles to take taxpayer's money when they don't necessarily support his views. I have more respect for him because he stands by his principles.

In contrast, John McCain, Tom Tancredo, John Edwards, Chris Dodd, and Joe Biden have elected to take public funds in the primary.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_election_campaign_fund_checkoff

That's why I don't ever check that box in my IRS tax returns to pay for presidential elections - it's because that money may go to candidates I don't support, and I have no say in who it should go to.

Answer 7

He doesn't need them. Last quarter he raised over 5 million dollars from internet donations alone in 24 hours. This past Sunday, he raised another 7-plus million in 24 hours.
He gets most of his donations from the military stationed in Iraq and overseas.

Answer 8

I agree that what he's doing is noble. I think the other candidates' argument would be that using public funds helps prevent a billionaire (or someone with $$$ connections) from having an unfair advantage. Seems like it should be 100% one way or the other...

Answer 9

Ron Paul is the only candidate who can be trusted not to abuse his power

Answer 10

Because he simply doesn't believe in it. He used to work in a church hospital where the church payed so patients were treated free. He didn't accept government money from his patients then, just treated them for free. I guess it's like that with this.