Thread: Ron Paul on the Issues

How Ron Paul Would Defend America

Dec 21, 2011 - 4:11 -

Columnist Jack Hunter helps explain why Ron Paul is not an isolationist and how he would defend the homeland

Video: http://video.foxbusiness.com/v/1341058115001/

Ron Paul grassroots supporters release video on US foreign policy

By Michael KrebsDec 18, 2011 in Politics
3 comments

In a long-form video released by grassroots supporters of the Ron Paul presidential campaign, American militarism and foreign policy in the Middle East is explored in depth.

Republican presidential candidate and former Congressman Ron Paul released a video on his campaign web site on Saturday that explores American history in the Middle East from the perspective of a militarized foreign policy agenda. Paul's rejection of American militarism is one of his key political platforms and is likely his most striking contrast with his fellow Republican presidential contenders.

The video was produced by grassroots supporters of the Libertarian-leaning candidate.

"This is a beautifully done grassroots video outlining the different aspects of Ron Paul’s foreign policy that some Republicans have trouble comprehending," Jack Hunter, Paul's official campaign blogger wrote. "If there is another terrorist attack it will be because America did not follow the foreign policy proposed by the Founding Fathers and Ron Paul. The reason there would even be another terrorist attack in the future would because America did not follow the foreign policy of the Founding Fathers and Ron Paul."

Ron Paul has received widespread support from members of the U.S. military and among veterans, and he has been very critical of hawkish U.S. politicians. In an interview with Fox News, Paul criticized former House speaker Newt Gingrich for his lack of military service and his aggressive militaristic tone, as CBS News reported.

"He supports all of the wars in the Middle East, a thousand times more than I would, but you know in the 1960s when I was drafted in the military he got several deferments. He chose not to go. Now he will send our kids to war. But at that time he said that one person wouldn't make a difference. He didn't know how he could make a difference. So I see that as important information. People should know that. And it reflects on him," Paul told Fox News.According to the latest Gallup poll, Paul is currently in third place among the GOP presidential candidates, trailing Gingrich and Romney nationally.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/316304

Kelly Clarkson Endorses Ron Paul

By Tim Molloy at TheWrap
Thu Dec 29, 2011 1:22pm EST

"American Idol" winner Kelly Clarkson wandered into presidential politics with an endorsement of Rep. Ron Paul, then defended her candidate against accusations of racism and homophobia.

"I love Ron Paul. I liked him a lot during the last Republican nomination and no one gave him a chance. If he wins the nomination for the Republican party in 2012 he's got my vote. Too bad he probably won't," Clarkson tweeted of her fellow Texan late Wednesday.

Also read: Jon Stewart: When Does Ron Paul Get to Be the Media Frontrunner?

She said of her political views: "I am a Republican but I actually voted Democrat last election."

Several of her followers accused Paul of racism and homophobia, citing articles in a newsletter he published from the 1970s until the mid-1990s. Paul has said he did not write the comments and does not agree with them.

Clarkson was apparently unaware of the controversy. "I love all people and could care less if you like men or women," she responded to one Twitter follower. "I have never heard that Ron Paul is a racist or homophobe?"

Also read: Ron Paul Walks Out on CNN Interview

Responding to others critical of her decision, she also posted several tweets that were a variation on this one: "Because you don't agree with me, I'm stupid. Very mature response."

Clarkson also elaborated on her views by saying: "I don't believe in the death penalty. Most Republicans do but not me."

With the Iowa caucuses just days away, Paul is the latest candidate to enjoy a sudden surge. He and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney led in a CNN/Time poll released Wednesday.

Still up in the air? The crucial Gary Busey vote.

Related Articles: Jon Stewart: When Does Ron Paul Get to Be the Media Frontrunner? (Video) Review: Kelly Clarkson Provides a Master Class in Pop Singing in 'Stronger'

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/...02053320111229

Bachmann Iowa campaign chairman goes to Paul

By Brian Bakst December 29, 2011 7:20 am




INDIANOLA, Iowa (AP) - Michele Bachmann's struggling presidential campaign saw her Iowa chairman defect Wednesday to rival Ron Paul's side, an embarrassing blow that came as some called for her to leave the race to free up her supporters for other candidates.

Hours after appearing with Bachmann at an event, state Sen. Kent Sorenson gave his endorsement to the Texas congressman at a Des Moines rally. Sorenson said he resigned from Bachmann's campaign to back Paul, whom he called the most conservative of the top-tier candidates.

Bachmann said Sorenson made the jump after "he was offered a large sum of money to go to work for the Paul campaign."

"Kent said to me yesterday that 'everyone sells out in Iowa, why shouldn't I,'" Bachmann said in a written statement. "Then he told me he would stay with our campaign. The Ron Paul campaign has to answer for its actions."

Paul campaign chairman Jesse Benton said the campaign was not paying Sorenson and that he was puzzled why Bachmann would make such a claim against an elected official popular with Iowa conservatives.

"We've always known Michele to be an honorable person. She should stop slandering an honorable Iowa state senator," Benton said.

Benton said Paul campaign officials had been begun speaking to Sorenson "in earnest" in the last few days, and that he had informed the campaign Wednesday he was ready to sign on.

Sorenson announced the switch during a Paul veterans rally in Des Moines. He didn't immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press to address Bachmann's charges that the move was financially based.

"The fact is, there is a clear top tier in the race for the Republican nomination for president, both here in Iowa and nationally. Ron Paul is easily the most conservative of this group," Sorenson said in a statement. "The truth is, it was an excruciatingly difficult decision for me to decide between supporting Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul at the beginning of this campaign."

Susan Geddes, a veteran operative in conservative GOP political circles who managed Sorenson's 2008 and 2010 legislative races, said Sorenson had told her several times, as recently as last month, that the Paul campaign had offered him money to leave Bachmann's campaign for the Texas congressman's.

Geddes said Sorenson had damaged his political future in Iowa by abandoning Bachmann's campaign less than a week before the caucuses.

"He just committed political suicide," she said.

Bachmann has been on a frantic 99-county push across Iowa in an effort to recover from the slide that followed her Iowa straw poll victory in August. Paul was a close second in that contest.

Earlier in the day, two influential pastors said they wanted either her or former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum to drop out of the running to keep evangelical voters from splitting their support. Bachmann insisted she would see the Iowa caucus campaign through.

Sorenson, who has strong ties to Iowa's tea party, was one of Bachmann's earliest public supporters and joined her for an afternoon stop at a Pizza Ranch restaurant in Indianola. Standing by her side, he declined to speak to the crowd there, citing numbness from dental work.

All day, Bachmann bashed Paul as "dangerous" for having a hands-off foreign policy. It was part of a double-barreled attack on the two Texans in the race. She went after Gov. Rick Perry for "27 years as a political insider."

The aggressive tone underscored Bachmann's role as a chaser in the final week of campaigning. She has bet heavily on Iowa, where she was born.

Bachmann came hardest at Perry, who this week began a television ad lumping Bachmann with other Washington figures seeking the GOP nomination in his attempt to come off as the outsider in the race.

"Just because he's held office outside of Washington, D.C., does not mean he is not a political insider. It's what you do in your office that matters," she said outside a small-town cafe. "There aren't very many politicians who have spent more time paying off political donors than Gov. Rick Perry has."

Perry has served Texas as a legislator, agriculture commissioner, lieutenant governor and governor.

Bachmann also said Perry has engaged in "crony capitalism" by helping donors with Texas government contracts or giving them political appointments. And she called Perry a double-dipper for collecting his gubernatorial salary and state pension at the same time.

Campaigning in Indianola on Wednesday, Perry scored what appeared to be a double hit of his own. Although he didn't name his targets, he took aim at lawmakers who sound off in Washington without much influence on policy - a rap sometimes attached to Bachmann and Paul.

"Some campaigns are about their voting record, on bills that never make it to the president's desk. I'm campaigning on ideas that I've signed into law," Perry said.

As for Paul, Bachmann criticized him as misguided about foreign threats to U.S. interests.

"Ron Paul would be a dangerous president," Perry said. "He would have us ignore all of the warning signs of another brutal dictator who wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. I won't. He would wait until one of our cities is wiped off of the map until he reacted. I won't wait."

On Wednesday, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich told CNN that he would find it personally difficult to vote for Paul if the Texas congressman were to become the party's choice to go up against President Barack Obama next fall. Bachmann refused to go that far, dodging two direct questions about her willingness to back Paul later on.

"He won't win the nomination," she said.

At stop after stop, Bachmann cast herself as America's "Iron Lady," the nickname assigned to former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. Bachmann sits on the House Intelligence Committee, which she said gives her a firm grip on world affairs.
State Sen. Brad Zaun, who had been Bachmann's Iowa co-chairman, was named full chairman after Sorenson's resignation.

http://www.gopusa.com/news/2011/12/2.../?subscriber=1

The American War-Machine, A Lesson in Blowback, and The Greatest Speech Ever Written.

Bachmann Iowa Chairman Quits Campaign

Thursday, 29 Dec 2011 12:05 AM

Republican candidate Michele Bachmann's Iowa campaign chairman resigned on Wednesday and endorsed rival Ron Paul, six days before Iowa voters begin the nomination process to select the 2012 Republican presidential nominee.

Kent Sorenson, an Iowa state senator who had served as Bachmann's state campaign chairman for nearly a year, said he had decided to switch his support to Paul because the campaign had reached "a turning point."

"When the Republican establishment is going to be coming after Ron Paul, I thought it is my duty to come to his aid," Sorenson said, announcing his endorsement for the Texas congressman during a rally at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

Sorenson said in a statement that Paul was "easily the most conservative" member of the top tier in the race for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Barack Obama in elections in November next year.

"The fact that he doesn't take this decision lightly tells a great deal about the senator and Ron Paul," said Jesse Benton, Paul's national campaign chair.

Paul has a strong organization in the early voting state and is one of the favorites to win the Iowa caucuses vote on January 3.

Sorenson's defection gave the Paul campaign some respite from questions about his links to newsletters two decades ago that carried his name and contained racist, anti-homosexual and anti-Israel rants.

Soon after Paul took the stage at the rally late Wednesday, he was interrupted by a few protesters from the "Occupy Des Moines" movement.

"Freedom of speech. Ain't it wonderful?," Paul said, "We're all upset and we want a change in Washington. As a matter of fact, that's what our purpose is."

The protesters were escorted out.

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/b...mo_code=DCF9-1

Jesse Ventura Endorses Ron Paul as the Only Anti-war Candidate

Kurt Nimmo
Infowars.com
December 29, 2011

Appearing on Alex Jones’ nationally syndicated radio show today, the former governor of Minnesota and best selling author, Jesse Ventura, emphatically declared his support for Ron Paul’s presidential run.



“Ron Paul has Governor Jesse Ventura’s endorsement without a doubt,” he said. “It’s not even close. Because I want a new president that is going to change the direction of this country. I want a new president that is going to follow the Constitution. I want a new president that is going to believe in states’ rights. I want somebody that will shock the status quo.”

Jesse said Ron Paul is the only candidate that will put an end to the establishment’s wars and foreign adventures.

“It’s a simple as this,” he said. “If people truly are looking for an attempt at change in this country – changing who are and what we will be in the future – then there is only one candidate, and that is congressman Ron Paul. He’s the only candidate that wants to audit the Federal Reserve… he is the only candidate that wants to talk rather than wage war, so I think this will truly be an agenda for the United States of America, an agenda to determine what we stand for. Do we stand for being the most aggressive, war-mongering country in the world who is all set to go to war with Iran, too, or are we going to be a country that stands for peace?”

Jesse said that there has not been a president since John F. Kennedy who worked for peace and opposed the endless war policies of the ruling elite. Ron Paul is the first candidate since Kennedy to oppose the perpetual war agenda, he explained.

He criticized the corporate media for its effort to portray Paul’s foreign policy philosophy as “scary” and said the exact opposite it true – the foreign policy of the establishment and its handpicked candidates is scary. “All we do is go to war – one after another after another – and I’m one of the people being a veteran who says stop it, that’s enough of this,” Ventura said.

If America wants a change in direction, Jesse said, the only choice for president in 2012 is Ron Paul. “He is then only one who says we ought to talk before we shoot.”

Ventura cited as an example the response of the United States to Iran’s announcement that if may block the Strait of Hormuz if the United States and the EU impose a crippling embargo – essentially an act of war – on the country. The U.S. has vowed to respond if Iran blocks the strategic waterway.

He compared the latest actions of the U.S. to an earlier embargo – the oil embargo imposed on Japan by the United States that ultimately resulted in the attack on Pearl Harbor and the start of the Second World War.

http://www.infowars.com/the-only-anti-war-candidate-jesse-ventura-endorses-ron-paul/