Thread: Ron Paul on the Issues

Ron Paul Endorsed by South Dakota State Rep. Jon Hansen

Young conservative leader says, “Ron Paul’s consistency and integrity goes unmatched in today’s political environment.”

LAKE JACKSON, Texas – 2012 Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul was endorsed today by South Dakota State Representative Jon Hansen (R-Dell Rapids).

Serving his first term, the conservative upstart Rep. Hansen represents South Dakota’s 25^th House District encompassing Hanson, McCook, and Minnehaha counties. His committee assignments include Judiciary, and Transportation. In addition to being an elected official and candidate for re-election, Rep. Hansen serves as a Republican Precinct Committeeman.

Rep. Hansen prides himself on being the youngest current serving member of the South Dakota State Legislature and is particularly proud to count himself among The Mount Rushmore State’s many young Ron Paul supporters.

In making public his endorsement of the 12-term Congressman from Texas, Rep. Hansen offered the following statement of praise:

“Ron Paul’s consistency and integrity goes unmatched in today’s political environment.

“As a state representative in South Dakota, I know Ron Paul understands the proper role of the federal government, and will restore the proper constitutional balance of power between Washington, the states, and the people.

“I truly believe Ron Paul has the heart of a servant, looking to the best interest of all Americans rather than to his own self-interest.

“To restore our country to its constitutional foundation, promote life, support the free market, fix our monetary system, and end war, we must elect Ron Paul for President in 2012.”

Born in Yankton and now residing in Dell Rapids where he attended Dell Rapids High School, Hansen worked his way through classes and obtained a degree in business administration. He plays an active role in his community, including past service as president of the Dell Rapids Chamber of Commerce. As chamber president, Hansen led through tough budgetary times, balancing the budget without sacrificing initiatives that promote local business and converting some activities from money-losing ones to budget-neutral ones.

During his last year in the legislature, Hansen assisted in balancing the state budget without raising taxes or taking from reserves, increased local control for school districts, and helped to reform election law.

Hansen holds deeply to his faith, his principles, and his values. Currently residing in Dell Rapids, he and his wife Sheila just welcomed their first born son into their family

Ron Paul Endorsed by South Dakota State Rep. Jon Hansen*|*Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign CommitteeRon Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee

Ron Paul’s Endgame?

As I’ve noted many times, most reporters are stupid, lazy or both. They don’t get Ron Paul and his movement because they are incapable of getting Paul and his movement. They can understand the horserace aspect of this election but are unable to fathom the complexities of a movement that will last far beyond it.

Well, when a reporter sort of gets it, he deserves props. What Edward Morrissey wrote in The Week Tuesday is by no means a comprehensive take on the rEVOLution, but he does get one important and integral part right. Predicting great success from the Paul camp in Minnesota, Morrissey wrote:

He has already succeeded in winning half of Minnesota’s delegates, thanks to superior organization at the local and congressional-district conventions… There is a good possibility that Paul will have more delegates than anyone not named Mitt Romney by the time Republicans gather for their quadrennial convention in Tampa.
So what is the real endgame?

Most people miss the fact that Paul has already achieved his end game… The real goal was to seize control of party apparatuses in states that rely on caucuses. With that in hand, Paul’s organization can direct party funds and operations to recruit and support candidates that follow Paul’s platform, and in that way exert some influence on the national Republican Party as well, potentially for years to come.

Paul hasn’t won every battle in that fight, but Minnesota will probably end up being more the rule than the exception.

Kurt Bills winning the GOP nomination for the U.S. Senate is but one example of this kind of influence. Paul’s movement, our movement, as I noted on Tuesday, will continue to active victories in many forms–and I don’t mean simply symbolic strides, but electoral and policy victories that will reshape American politics and the direction of this country. Few reporters will predict any of this. Few are predicting it now. But in their infinite stupor, they’ll all end up reporting on it.

Again, this is only the beginning. Many thanks again to our hardworking and passionate folks in Minnesota.

Ron Paul's Endgame?*|*Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign CommitteeRon Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee

Ron Paul Sweeps Minnesota

Reports TwinCities.com:

The Ron Paul revolution has completed its sweep over the Minnesota Republican Party convention here.

Paul backers won 12 of 13 Republican National Convention delegate slots filled in balloting Saturday, May 19, at Rivers Edge Civic Center.

They might have taken all 13 seats if a Paul state delegate had not graciously conceded the final slot to Rep. Michele Bachmann.

The results mean 32 of Minnesota’s 40 national delegates to the Republican convention in Tampa in August will be committed to Paul. Supporters of the Texas congressman and presidential candidate won 20 of the 24 national delegate slots filled at Republican congressional district conventions earlier this spring.

The vote was a well-organized coup by the Paul newcomers over longtime party activists.
“It shows that the Ron Paul people are extremely organized and very serious about winning those spots, and the non-Ron Paul folks were not as well organized,” said Republican National Committeeman Jeff Johnson.

Marianne Stebbins, Paul’s state campaign chairwoman, said their victory “sends a message that we’re not just giving lip service to liberty and smaller government — we’re serious about it…”

Paul has all but conceded the GOP nomination to Romney, but his supporters reportedly hope to influence the party platform…

His victory in Minnesota also could have a practical impact. He needs the support of five state delegations in order to have his name placed in nomination at the national convention, which would allow him to give a prime-time speech.

Stebbins said if national party leaders are smart, they will welcome Paul supporters with open arms…

“We have had bitter battles in the past at endorsing conventions, where people were at each other’s throats, but we came together in the end and stood by the candidates,” she said. “I think we’re already unifying.”

The Paul crowd pulled off a bloodless coup. Unlike other states where brawls broke out between Paul fans and Romney supporters, the Minnesota convention was a relatively civil affair. There were no fistfights or shouting matches on the convention floor…

As tension mounted between the Paul newcomers and the longtime activists they displaced, Johnson took the microphone to address that issue head on. He told the delegates to acknowledge their disagreements.

To the “Ron Paul lovers,” he said that many in the old guard think “you don’t care about the Republican Party.”

“If that makes you mad, make sure it doesn’t happen,” Johnson said. He called on Paul’s supporters to stay active and help elect all GOP candidates.

To the “Ron Paul haters,” he said, “get over it. If we don’t grow, we die as a party…”

Ron Paul Sweeps Minnesota*|*Ron Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign CommitteeRon Paul 2012 Presidential Campaign Committee

Christians and Conservatives–Rally Now! Ron Paul Has Out-Polled Obama and Scored Big Multi-State Wins Over Romney!

Posted on May 13, 2012

The Hope: A True Conservative Republican Candidate Who Can Defeat Barack Obama

Christians, social conservatives, economic conservatives, and others sought to find a candidate to rally behind as an alternative to Mitt Romney.

Candidates took turns rising to the top, only to eventually fall back for one reason or another. There is little in the national media to suggest that Romney has anyone still competing with him for the Republican nomination.

Yet recent events indicate that Dr. Ron Paul is still in contention to become that elusive solid conservative Republican presidential candidate–if conservatives seize the opportunity to rally around him. To do so, they must (1) become aware of the window of opportunity before them, (2) be convinced that Ron Paul is a genuine conservative who supports Christian and constitutional values (3) know that Ron Paul is the best candidate to defeat President Obama, and (4) understand that Dr. Paul still has a shot at capturing the Republican nomination.

Recent Ron Paul Victories and Advances

Before proceeding further in this article, I urge a look at this three-minute video which powerfully unfolds the reason that Ron Paul’s candidacy should now be seriously considered by all conservative Republicans. Then, because it is scriptural and wise to listen to contending points of view and to examine the teachings of even the most trusted leaders (Acts 17:11), please use the links in the text below to get a broader view of any points on which you have misgivings about Dr. Paul.

Recent Ron Paul victories in Minnesota, Iowa, Louisiana, Alaska, Colorado, Maine, and Nevada are beginning to get a bit of notice in the mainstream press. Despite questionable tactics by the party establishment in Georgia, Missouri, Alaska, Nevada, Maine, Oklahoma, and elsewhere. Rachel Maddow and FOX News have reported Ron Paul’s Iowa and Minnesota victories and essentially “inevitable” wins in a minimum of five states to put his name into nomination. Dr. Paul even had major delegate wins in Mitt Romney’s home state of Massachusetts.

For the last month or more, while the media has asked “Where is Ron Paul?” and did not report on his massive rallies, Dr. Paul has been consistently drawing thousands upon thousands to rallies at Urbana-Champaign, IL, Madison, WI, University of Maryland, Columbia, MO, Chico, CA, UCLA, Berkely, CA, Texas A&M, Fort Worth, TX, San Antonio, TX, Ithaca, NY, University of Rhode Island, University of Pittsburg, Philadelphia, PA, Houston, TX, El Paso, TX, Austin, TX. Fullerton, CA, Davis, CA, and San Diego, CA.
For accurate updates on the status of the Ron Paul campaign, which the mainstream media seldom give, a good source is Doug Wead The Blog. Mr. Wead is a Presidential historian and senior adviser to the Ron Paul campaign.

For a realistic and more accurate delegate count than the AP count nearly all the media use, see The Real 2012 Delegate Count. Reporter Ben Swann does a superb job of seeking the truth on these issues in his Reality Check program.

Who can defeat Barack Obama?

Ron Paul often polls as well or better than Mitt Romney against President Obama. A recent Rasmussen poll has Ron Paul defeating President Obama, while Romney ties. A recent Public Policy Polling survey also found Ron Paul more electable than Mitt Romney when pitted against Barack Obama. Recent polling often has Romney trailing Obama in a general election match up.

Remember that everything Ron Paul accomplishes is without media assistance. Besides his competitiveness with Obama (the media constantly says, “Ron Paul can’t win.”), did you ever hear anything in the media about Ron Paul polling second nationally to Romney, ahead of Gingrich and Santorum, as recently as February of this year? If you think the media is liberal, perhaps you should wonder why essentially only one candidate never got a media boost.

Unify to Strengthen Romney?

Some fear that continued competition for the Republican nomination will weaken Romney and hurt Republican chances to defeat Obama. Bear in mind that any criticism of Romney from conservative opponents will be insignificant compared to the barrage of advertising President Obama will unleash with his massive political war chest which will approach $1 billion. If Romney cannot stand up to scrutiny from his own party, how will he fare against a ruthless, well-funded media blitz? Look at this ad already produced by Democrats for a taste of what is coming.

What happens even if Romney wins? Will that mean 4, 8, or even 12 years of conservative compromise and a further erosion of conservative principles in the Republican party? There is some serious food for thought in The Twelve-Year Conservative Compromise. And consider the tendency of Republicans to support their president even if he waters down conservative values. Sadly, the Republican party seems to stand up for principle much better when it is opposing a Democrat than when it has a “moderate” Republican president in office.

For a solid critique of Mitt Romney from an evangelical viewpoint, Steve Baldwin’s post The Case Against Mitt Romney is substantial.

Here is one small selection:

Thanks to stupidity, naiveté and conflicts of interest on the right, we have created the Romney monster and given him the credibility he does not deserve. The chances are Romney will win the GOP nomination, but this could be disastrous since there’s a large block of Christian right and Tea Party voters who will not vote for Romney, thus increasing the chance of an Obama victory. They believe, with good reason, that a worldview-free President Romney will just swing with the wind and not make the bold decisions necessary to save America. Many also believe that a Romney Presidency will do so much damage to the Republican brand — by governing as a “lets-make-big-government-work-more-efficiently” technocrat – that it may be better if Obama won reelection with both houses hopefully controlled by Republicans willing to shut his agenda down.

For one of the most complete and well-documented sites regarding Mitt Romney’s positions, go to The Mitt Romney Report by a Massachusetts pro-family group which has closely followed Mitt Romney’s record on a range of issues over the years as a Presidential candidate (2007-present), Governor of Massachusetts (Jan. 2003 – Jan. 2007), candidate for US Senate (1994), and businessman. This report includes many videos of Romney in his own words on abortion, “gay” rights, stimulus, illegal immigration, getting money from DC, identifying himself as a “progressive,” guns, and more.

Romney and Obama Similarities

Perhaps, therefore, an even more important question is “How different is Mitt Romney from Barack Obama?” Although there is some humor in this story, watch the video that follows it and ask yourself, “Do Romney and Obama have the same speech writer?” Watch here: Scientists reveal Romney and Obama are actually clones. Here is a similar compilation: Mitt Romney vs. Barack Obama First Debate Preview.

Issues of Importance to Christians

Having looked at the practical question of whether Ron Paul still has a chance to win, and whether continued campaigning for a conservative alternative to Romney is wise, we need to now look at issues of importance to Christians. If Ron Paul was the obvious alternative to Mitt Romney from the start, why did Christians not rally behind him? If they had misgivings about him before, will they be able to overcome them now that Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich have sidelined their campaigns?

Many Christians are now taking a serious look at Ron Paul. Consider this letter to fellow Christian leaders by Justin Machacek, an Emmy award winning television producer, independent faith-based filmmaker, and promotional creative. He serves as the president of Reel Deal Productions, Inc. in Fort Worth, Texas and as the Senior On Air Producer for Daystar, one of the largest Christian media networks in the world.

Justin has worked closely with many of the most prominent Christian ministries and faith-based media organizations in America. Mr. Machacek recently participated in a conference call with Ron Paul and concerned Christian leaders. One Christian businessman who participated said, “There can be little doubt that if evangelicals were made aware of his views and heard first hand his explanations on abortion, gun rights, gay marriage, our monetary system, defense etc… that the move towards the RP camp would be dramatic.”

Pastor Voddie Baucham of Grace Family Baptist Church has an excellent post “Why Ron Paul?” as does Michael Eversden in “A Biblical Case for Ron Paul on Four Issues of Importance to Christians“. Both are important articles for Christians newly considering Ron Paul. The Evangelicals for Ron Paul Blog is a thoughtful site, as well.

Let’s examine some of these issues.

Abortion

Although Dr. Paul is a strongly pro-life physician who has personally delivered over 4,000 babies without performing an abortion, some had the impression that a candidate such is Rick Santorum was more staunchly pro-life than Ron Paul. Of course, Mr. Santorum himself encouraged that impression when he stated in debate that Ron Paul only had a 50% pro-life voting record–about the same as Democrat Harry Reid. Mr. Santorum did not lie, but neither did he explain that he was speaking of Dr. Paul’s 55% National Right to Life rating in 2005/2006.

During this period Dr. Paul agreed with NRTL on 5 of 6 issues. However, the one issue he disagreed on was voted on 4 times, and every time was counted as a separate vote–thus giving him a 5 of 9 record instead of 5 of 6. Dr. Paul explained in detail why he voted as he did on that one issue.

For those who want more detail on Ron Paul’s stellar pro-life position, I recommend Lori Stacey’s posts Ron Paul, Champion of the Pro-Life movement: Not pro-life enough??? and Personhood USA insults the only true champion of life, Dr. Ron Paul. To hear Dr. Paul in person, and in detail, I strongly suggest Ron Paul by Satellite at Prolife Forum Greenville SC 01/18/12. After digesting these, you may begin to wonder if millions of children could already have been saved if pro-life conservatives had followed Ron Paul’s approach when Republicans controlled the White House and Congress.

Gun Rights

This isn’t even a contest. Here’s Gun Owners of America’s evaluation of Republican presidential candidates. Santorum and Gingrich will be included in some of these comparisons, as well, to demonstrate that Dr. Paul deserved more consideration even before they dropped out: Dr. Paul A+, Santorum B-, Gingrich C, Romney D-. GOA says, “Guts. That is the one word which describes Rep. Ron Paul of Texas best.

Perhaps the most consistent vote in the Congress, he can be expected to oppose any unconstitutional expansion of government, no matter how politically difficult that vote might be.” Read the link for more details.

Our Monetary System and the Federal Reserve System

Although many people still do not see the Federal Reserve System as much of an issue, Dr. Ron Paul has fought almost alone for years to make the immorality and failure of our central banking system a fundamental political issue. To get some concept of the relationship of “millions” to “trillions” (it’s jaw-dropping!) look at this graphic depiction in $100 bills. To understand the magnitude of this issue that has been kept quiet for decades, just try to fathom that $16 trillion was secretly loaned at no interest to big banks and their cronies.

That’s about 20 times the amount of the TARP bail outs voted by Congress! Do you suppose it is truly David vs. Goliath when private bankers have the legal right to create such sums essentially out of thin air and secretly distribute them? And $5 trillion went to foreign banks. That’s more than the U.S. budget (including deficit spending!) for an entire year! No wonder Henry Ford said, “It is well enough that people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning.”

Steve Forbes has gone so far as to say Ron Paul should be the next Chairman of the Federal Reserve System.

For more on this tremendously important issue, which only Ron Paul has the courage and knowledge to tackle, refer to The Official Counterfeiter:

As “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Tim. 6:10, NIV), it would be wise to scrutinize the current monetary system of the United States, which is presently the reserve currency of the world.

Vic Lockman, a former Disney cartoonist with economic and biblical insight, has given his permission to put his 1969 booklet The Official Counterfeiter on line. Although it is dated, I think you will find all the essential facts still very relevant to today. With evangelical voters exerting a major influence on Republican presidential politics, Mr. Lockman’s work can go a long way towards educating us about a very fundamental, but (before Ron Paul) misunderstood and unnoticed issue.

This unique work makes a major contribution to making sound, biblical economics comprehensible to a non-technical audience. It is a great tool for learning to discern what “just weights and balances” are in the modern world (Lev. 19:36; Proverbs 11:1, 16:11; Ezek. 45:10). This is a crash course in economics for everyone. We do well to understand how the world really works so we can make biblically and economically informed decisions in casting our votes for national leaders. Download the free PDF here.

An event worth serious consideration, The Financial Services Subcommittee on Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology, chaired by Rep. Ron Paul, chairs a hearing to examine six legislative proposals that either reform or abolish the Federal Reserve System.

Israel

Many Christians believe that God blesses those who bless Israel. Hearing the claim that Ron Paul wants to stop aid to Israel, they believe he opposes Israel. However, Ron Paul wants to halt U.S. aid to all countries, not just Israel. He believes it wrong to borrow money we do not have (largely from China) to give to other countries. He also points out that we give at least four times more aid to potentially hostile nations surrounding Israel. Cutting aid to all countries would be to Israel’s distinct advantage. Not only would cessation of all foreign aid help Israel more than its foes, but it would also allow Israel to make its own defense decisions without U.S. approval. In line with supporting Israel’s right to it’s own self-determination, Ron Paul also supports Israel’s right to designate Jerusalem as its capital.

In 1981, when Israel bombed the Iraq nuclear reactor, Ron Paul was one of the only congressmen to refuse to condemn Israel for doing so. Dr. Paul believes Israel, not the U.S.A., should determine what is best for Israel.

A well-written article on Ron Paul’s relation to Israel is Ron Paul and the Israel Question. Another very informative article is Ron Paul on Israel by the former vice president of Christian and Jews United for Israel–who is now a senior adviser to the Ron Paul campaign. For those who want some “let’s get real” talk from a Baptist pastor and former Constitution Party presidential candidate, I also recommend Chuck Baldwin’s Ron Paul’s Israel Problem.

Nuclear Iran

Connected with the Israel question is the claim that Iran is developing nuclear weapons which it would use to attack Israel and the U.S.A. However, it is doubtful that Iran ever threatened either country with nuclear destruction. U.S. intelligence continues to find no evidence that Iran is developing, or even wants to develop nuclear weapons. Even if it would turn out that Iran did possess nuclear weapons, ex-chief of Mossad Meir Dagan spoke out against a preemptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities anytime soon. He says the Iranian regime is rational in its own way.

Please understand clearly that Ron Paul is not against military defense of our country. However, he feels the greater danger now, with no solid evidence that Iran even wants a nuclear weapon, is over-reaction. A pre-emptive strike on another country is not the prerogative of the president. War should be declared by congress, not decided by the president, unless the president is forced to act in self-defense with no time for consultation. Ron Paul adheres to the Christian just war concept.

National Defense

Let’s use Iran as a stepping stone to the larger question of national defense. In one of the debates Ron Paul said our problems with Iran went back farther than 1979 (Santorum) to 1953 when our CIA helped overthrown Iran’s democratically elected leader and installed the Shah. Dr. Paul said our foreign policy often causes “blowback” when factions within other countries, rightly or wrongly, react to our interference in their internal affairs.

So who is correct on their history and foreign policy? Here are several short videos on Iran/U.S. relations: The Secret Government (CIA Overthrow of Mossadeq), History of U.S. Intervention in Iran – 1953 Until Present, and Ron Paul’s speech after the imposition of sanctions on Iran, Israel and Saudi Arabia are Greater Threats than Iran, and Sanctions on Iran are Sanctions on You.

It has been sometimes mentioned, but often forgotten, that our national debt is a major national security issue. Ron Paul is the only candidate who seriously confronts the debt issue. As the Bible says, the borrower is a slave to the lender, and we are becoming increasingly dependent on other countries such as China. Other candidates talk of cutting the debt–while increasing military spending and maintaining Social Security, Medicare, and a host of federal agencies and programs.

The fact that maintaining both at current levels is unsustainable is confirmed by conservative Republican Senator Jim DeMint. Realistically, if Ron Paul is not correct about the fact that we can actually strengthen our defense by reducing morally questionable, budget-busting, counterproductive meddling in the internal affairs of foreign nations, then our national defense is destined for a severe blown when our economy eventually collapses due to deficit spending.

Fortunately, as Douglas A. Macgregor, Ph.D. Colonel (ret), U.S. Army, says, more money does not necessarily mean better defense. Romney’s willingness to spend far more than our national deficit on just military alone does not bode well for anyone wanting to save this country from imminent bankruptcy.
Perhaps it is sometimes forgotten that U.S. foreign policy may have an indirect but very substantial effect on Christian communities and missions overseas. A thought-provoking article on this influence is “Christian Massacres: A Result of U.S. Foreign Policy“.

Iraq and Afghanistan

It is frequently said, “I like Ron Paul except for his views on defense.” Some are under the impression that Dr. Paul “blames American” for 9-11. Actually, Ron Paul blames the terrorists who perpetrated the attacks, and he voted to pursue Bin Laden and submitted a bill to go after terrorists themselves, rather than invading countries. He believes that to properly deal with a problem you must understand its causes. Although the 9-11 attacks on innocent Americans were reprehensible and unjust, we should still examine the motives of those perpetrating the crime if we want to understand and combat them.

Just as most Americans were unaware of the CIA overthrow of Iran’s elected government in 1953, most were unaware of any U.S. actions that could provoke the terrorists to strike against us. U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said in a 60 minutes interview that the death of 500,000 Iraqi children due to U.S. economic sanctions was worth it.

Seventeen of the nineteen terrorists were from Saudi Arabia and none from Iraq, but we invaded Iraq. Regime change in Iraq was a U.S. policy before 9-11. Ron Paul first began speaking against it in 1998. Former CIA Head of the Bin Laden Unit Michael Scheuer said that Ron Paul’s correct position on the reason’s for 9-11 would have worried Bin Laden and his allies, but they thrived under the view held by all other candidates.

It is often said that good theories can be tested by their ability to predict. Everyone must watch Ron Paul’s famous Predictions speech from April 24, 2002, to understand his wisdom. In this five-minute speech you will see a decade of history predicted with amazing precision! Then, if you want to hear Ron Paul speaking candidly about foreign policy, go to this national defense page.

Col. Macgregor recently granted a detailed interview on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars which is comprehensive and enlightening.

Here is a small excerpt:

Iraq and Afghanistan are disasters and anyone who asserts otherwise is misinformed. I recently met with someone who is an advocate for Mitt Romney and he was unhappy with me because I pointed out that the differences between Governor Romney and President Obama are marginal at best. He was trying to demonstrate how profoundly different they were. He was unsuccessful but one of the things he insisted on was that Obama had somehow or another sacrificed our great gains in Iraq.

I looked at him and said, “You can’t be serious.” He said, “What do you mean?” He seemed to be completely unaware, as many Americans are, that Iraq is effectively a satellite for Iran. That the United States Army and it’s generals did a brilliant job of consolidating the power and influence of Iran inside Iraq, by backing Mr. Maliki who is always Tehran’s chosen candidate and utterly destroying the Sunni Arab population’s influence and power.

Who do the troops vote for with their campaign contributions–Ron Paul or Mitt Romney?

National Defense Authorization Act

The NDAA authorizes indefinite imprisonment, without charges, and without the right to a lawyer solely on the secret determination that a U.S. citizen is suspected of a terrorist threat or has had some indefinite connection to a terrorist. This essentially removes Bill of Rights protections from every U.S. citizen. There’s not much more to say, but read it again until it sinks in! For more details, read this Forbes article. Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum, and Ron Paul all answered a question about NDAA in a debate.

War on Drugs

Voters often do not realize that Ron Paul acknowledges the right of states and localities to pass laws regulating the use and possession of drugs. Ron Paul conscientiously adheres to his oath to defend the Constitution.

To enact federal prohibition of alcohol required an amendment to the Constitution. His position is that the federal War on Drugs is unconstitutional, and, in fact, is a failure that exacerbates the problem–just as prohibition did with alcohol. Drug prohibition increases the price of drugs on the black market, creating the climate conducive for the formation of drug lords, cartels, and the resulting increasing violence. The U.S. has the largest prison population in the world both in number and percentage, and the drug war is a major cause.

Dr. Paul points that imprisonment of minorities for drug offenses has affected minorities greatly disproportional to their percentage of conviction of drug crimes. Many countries, groups, and noted individuals agree with Dr. Paul on the failure of the War on Drugs, including Britain, Latin American, the Global Commission on Drug Policy, law enforcement groups, Pat Robertson, Judge Jim Gray, Nobel Prize economist Milton Friedman, and 500 U.S. economists. I strongly recommend Milton Friedman’s short video interview for those particularly interested in the moral questions involved. The experience of countries who have tried drug decriminalization demonstrates the soundness of this approach.

Marijuana itself may not even be the main factor in its criminalization. There are far bigger economics and politics involved than the smoking of marijuana.

One major factor may be the competition hemp poses to the oil industry.

Ron Paul points out that the federal government is overriding state laws that allow medical use of marijuana. The different views of Mitt Romney and Ron Paul are contrasted in a short video of their responses to a medical marijuana user whose five doctors affirm it is his only relief.

Health and Nutrition Freedoms

What many conservatives seem to overlook is that federal laws and regulations among the biggest threats to our most cherished freedoms.

Again, bear in mind that saying federal (national) legislation in a given area is unconstitutional does not mean that states and localities cannot legislate on these matters. It is their proper and intended jurisdiction. Thus, while it may sound conservative and moral to fight drugs at the federal level, this opens the door to other federal legislation that can remove our most fundamental liberties.

As Milton Friedman said above, if the federal government can criminalize marijuana because it is deemed bad for one’s health, why not raw milk (Amish farmers have been arrested at gunpoint for selling it), free speech in nutritional information, nutritional products, not eating a federally prescribed diet (yes, a girl was not allowed to eat her sack lunch because it did not meet federal diet “guidelines”), selling raw almonds, etc.

Besides what the federal government can prohibit, there are also concerns over what it can fund or mandate–psychiatric screenings of children, for example. Granted, there may be some arguments for and against many of these issues. But federalizing issues leaves no room for error. If a state makes a mistake, other states are not forced into the same mold, but federal laws affect the whole country and stifle the creativity inherent in multiple individual state approaches. There is a growing protest of state and federal regulations that restrict what appear to many as basic rights in the area of food and nutrition.

Also, however well-intended, centralized government agencies will naturally be targets of special interests who can buy influence to favor their products or protect themselves from competition by placing sympathetic personnel in government regulatory agencies. Ron Paul talks of this when he says the FDA and drug companies are in bed together. The award-winning Burzynski movie is a real eye-opener for anyone places total confidence in the capability of the federal FDA to protect and promote our best health interests. One can look at a site like Natural News for a critical look at many federal health initiatives, if only to be aware that there is often a credible alternative viewpoint that may receive scant positive news coverage.

Local Control of Education

Education is an area that receives far less attention than it deserves from Christians and conservatives. There has been a recent movement in the nation’s largest protestant denomination, The Southern Baptist Convention, to consider alternatives to public schooling. “Dr. Morris H. Chapman, president and chief executive officer of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, criticizes the public school system for increasing secularism and moral erosion….” saying, “All Christians should note this sea-change in sentiment within the SBC.

The spiritual, moral, and intellectual pathologies of the government school system are now obvious even to casual observers. Christian parents and pastors need to ask themselves just how much longer they intend to render our children to Caesar’s spiritually dark, morally decaying, and physically dangerous government schools.”

Whether spiritually, morally, politically, culturally, safety, or educationally speaking, it would seem parental and local control over what our children are being taught is of prime importance. While Mitt Romney may talk of block grants and reforming the Department of Education, Ron Paul advocates its essential abolition. Ron Paul is a strong advocate of freedom of education under parental control, including the option to home school. Dr. Paul sees no Constitutional authority for a federal role in education.

Prayer in schools, creation vs. evolution, abortion, sex education, history, politics, math and reading strategies, religion, sexual orientation, marriage, and other issues that can provoke strong differences of opinion are best decided at a local level and ultimately left in the hands of parents who have the right to chose the school their children attend–or teach them at home.

Dr. Paul says such issues cannot be discussed on their merits in an educational environment where each side attempts to use the force of law and imposed curriculum to impose its views on all. Dr. Paul would be a strong advocate for Christians rights of free speech and association.

Religious Freedom

Of course without the educational freedom and parental control Dr. Paul so strongly advocates, religious freedom is actually a fading entity. If a government school’s “neutral” education denies any speech about God or Christian values to be spoken, children will by default receive a secular education. Likewise, churches under federal tax rules are steered away from any political speech or any moral pronouncements that could be considered discriminatory to individuals practicing acts that Christians may deem sinful.

Ron Paul believes that the Constitution grants the federal government no authority to impose morality upon the nation as a whole. This type of legislation is reserved to the states and localities. Ron Paul would defend Christians from federal imposition upon their right of free speech and association. Christians and churches could promote their biblical morality and freely choose to associate or not associate in their churches.

Christians would not be accused of hate speech or discrimination for preaching biblical teachings. They would not be forced by federal intrusion to hire or retain personnel deemed immoral by their standards. They would be free to proclaim and practice their teachings and win converts through persuasion. Rather than engaging in the legislative battle to impose moral values through federal legislation (the states do have authority to take up such matters), Ron Paul would strive instead to preserve the freedoms of speech and association for everyone–and also prohibit the federal government from imposing one state’s standards upon another state.

Marriage and Gay Rights

Ron Paul’s position on the issue of marriage (he has been married to his wife, Carol, for 55 years) is consistent with his Constitutional approach.

He says, in opposing a constitutional marriage amendment, and endorsing The Defense of Marriage Act,

Ironically, liberal social engineers who wish to use federal government power to redefine marriage will be able to point to the constitutional marriage amendment as proof that the definition of marriage is indeed a federal matter! I am unwilling either to cede to federal courts the authority to redefine marriage, or to deny a state’s ability to preserve the traditional definition of marriage. Instead, I believe it is time for Congress and state legislatures to reassert their authority by refusing to enforce judicial usurpations of power.

I suggest Christians and conservatives look more closely at Dr. Paul’s Constitutional reasoning, rather than making quick judgments that he’s against marriage. His positions are decidedly constitutional, and would most often have yielded superior short-term and long-term practical results. His position on gay rights is reasoned similarly.

Economic Policy

Ron Paul proposes to cut $1 trillion dollars his first year, and balance the budget by his third year. He will essentially abolish five federal agencies, eliminating them by attrition and transfer rather than abrupt cuts. All others want to balance the budget sometime beyond the end of their term (usually many years beyond). Dr. Paul says the only budget we can really control is this year’s–refreshing candor and truth. No more kicking the can down the road. It is called his Plan to Restore America.

Many conservatives, for example Rush Limbaugh, Sarah Palin, and Sean Hannity, endorse Ron Paul’s economic plan and recognize his economic expertise and solid track record in this area. There really is no peer to Dr. Paul in knowledge and consistency in economic matters among any of the candidates who have run in this year’s race.

Dr. Paul has been praised by David Stockman (Ronald Reagan’s former Director of the Office of Management and Budget), the independent Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, Nassim Taleb (“Black Swan” author), Dr. Iris Mack (celebrated Harvard alum), The Club for Growth, and many others.

How about a 0% Income Tax? Wall Street Journal editorial board director Stephen Moore explains why Rep. Ron Paul’s ideas on economics are correct and must be accepted in the mainstream GOP platform. Mr. Moore says, “…you would see the most insourcing of jobs into America in the history of the world.”

Although Rick Santorum made some comments based on creative interpretations of data in a debate, the independent and respected National Taxpayers Union (NTU) issued a press release to clarify its presidential candidate ratings. For Mitt Romney’s evaluation compare the NTU evaluation of candidate budget proposals. Between Romney, Santorum, Gingrich, and Paul, NTU said Ron Paul’s proposal dwarfed others’ proposals in deficit reduction.

Social Security and Medicare

Related to the deficit situation is the funding of Social Security and Medicare. Christians and conservatives generally find it morally unjustified to pass on immense debt to their children and grandchildren.

However, senior citizens are rightly concerned about whether the funds they have been contributing to throughout their lives will remain sound into their retirement years. Ron Paul’s cuts in overseas spending offer the only plan to cut our deficit and balance the budget while not cutting Social Security and Medicare for those who will be dependent on it.

Other candidates plans to maintain Social Security and Medicare, increase military spending, and balance the budget do not compute. Note well that those seniors on fixed retirement incomes and dependent on savings are hurt tremendously by the inflationary Federal Reserve policies that cause the value of the dollar to fall and, therefore, the prices of goods to rise.
For more on this, including some interesting and relevant light on Newt Gingrich’s claims to have helped balance the budget four times, see Dr. Ron Paul: Champion of the Senior Citizen!

Talking Points

For those who have not looked seriously at Ron Paul previously, here is a recent comparison of Ron Paul with Mitt Romney, a comparison of Ron Paul with Barack Obama, and some bullet points highlighting his consistent record over twelve terms in the U.S. House of Representatives:

• He has never taken a government junket
• He does not participate in the lucrative Congressional Pension Program
• He returns a portion of his annual Congressional Office Budget every year
• He has never voted to raise taxes
• He has never voted for an unbalanced budget
• He voted no to the bankster bailout
• He always voted no on raising the debt ceiling
• He warned us against The “Super Congress” legislation that resembles both an “Enabling Act” and a “Politburo”
• He has never voted to restrict gun ownership
• He has never voted to raise Congressional Pay
• President Paul will take a yearly salary of $39,336, the average US worker’s salary, instead of the President’s $400,000 salary
• He will cut One Trillion Dollars from the budget in the first year and balance the budget in three years
• He will Return Power to the States as set down in the 9th and 10th Amendments (Bill of Rights) to the Constitution
• He never voted to increase Executive Branch Power
• He will Reinstate The Constitution and Save The Republic
• He will audit and eventually end the unconstitutional Federal Reserve System
• He will phase out the unconstitutional IRS beginning immediately
• He will secure the borders
• He will limit Big Government in your private affairs
• He will stop Illegal immigration and birthright citizenship, grant no amnesty, and defend our borders
• He will protect internet freedom and our Bill of Rights

Christians and Conservatives–Rally Now! Ron Paul Has Out-Polled Obama and Scored Big Multi-State Wins Over Romney! « Scriptural Scrutiny

Spine Tingling VIDEO! 2012 Is About Abolishing Economic Slavery In America



~We're on the verge of abolishing economic slavery in America.

~Ron Paul's aim is to abolish the debt slavery & tax bondage of the FED/IRS Complex.

~Over the last 100 years of slavery we have gradually lost most of what America set out to be, do and have.

~We never had "World Wars" before the creation of the Federal Reserve Bank.

~We are not free. We are slaves.

~Put aside all of the non-essential issues and focus on abolishing slavery.

~Let's start there.

~Our first priority is to regain our liberty, peace and prosperity.

~This is the narrative, the context for all of my campaign communications with others. It shuts down all of the nattering and competitiveness between the staus quo candidates and Congressman Ron Paul.

~No other candidate is cognizant of, or focused on abolishing the crushing debt slavery and tax bondage as a social issue.

~Without our liberty, nothing else matters.

None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Please spread this video and narrative. Time is running out. Don't think we have forever. The window is closing.

Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Pastor Calls Santorum Followers to Vote for Ron Paul

Christian Nation | Posted by: Pastor Steven Andrew



Christians Vote for Ron Paul

- “Many Christians are disappointed that Rick Santorum suspended his campaign, but God still has plans for the USA. By seeking Him we can find His plans,” says Pastor Steven Andrew, President of USA Christian Ministries. The pastor calls churches and individual Christians to join him and fast and pray every Wednesday for God’s intervention to help the USA

He believes God wants a government and nation after God’s own heart.

“After Santorum, then Ron Paul is the most God-fearing Presidential candidate that the Republican party should endorse (Exodus 18:21),” he says. “If Republicans don’t give a Christian candidate, Christians should look elsewhere – even to a third party.”

“Obama and Romney are the wrong direction for the USA. They serve another Jesus. Romney and Obama aren’t Christians even though they want us to believe they are,” he explains.

He hopes people understand Romney’s heresies. Romney thinks Jesus is a created being, the spirit brother of Lucifer. Christians believe that Jesus is the Second Person of the Godhead, God eternal. Romney also thinks that he will become a God. This is considered evil by Christians. He wants pastors to stand up for God and His Word.

“Obama covered the name and cross of Jesus at Georgetown. Obama believes in leaving living babies to die who survive botched abortions. Obama wants to change George Washington’s Christian laws prohibiting homosexual sin. Obama opposes religious liberty. God says turn away from Obama,” he explains.

The USA is heading the wrong direction by voting for non-Christians. Scripture teaches this causes economic decline and threatens religious liberty,” he says.

The First Commandment says to love God and in the Ten Commandments it says to have no other God before the LORD. Therefore, he says God calls Christians to vote for Christians.

“If a Christian leader says to support Romney or Obama, don’t listen to them. They are going against Scripture,” he continues.

“God says Romney and Obama are ‘accursed’. Those who vote for them would also be accursed (2 Chronicles 19:2),” he adds. Galatians 1:9 says, “if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.”

Christians like that Ron Paul opposes tyranny, would cut the deficit and is prolife.

Pastor Steven Andrew is organizing 1000 pastors to pastor the USA. He is raising funds to buy TV time and to expand.

Pastor Calls Santorum Followers to Vote for Ron Paul | USA Christian Ministries: Pastor Steven Andrew - Christian Nation: The Lord is the God of the USA & We are His People

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Saturday, May 5th, 2012 | Posted by Veterans Today

Ron Paul’s Mega Crowds… No Media Coverage!



Ron Paul’s mega crowds… no Media coverage!
by Jacque Fresco

Did you honestly think the Ron Paul revolution would be televised? Here’s a check on reality as to who is really the #1 presidential nominee for 2012.

Whilst the supposed front runner Romney barely gets over 100 people to a rally, Gingrich and Santorum after talking to empty rooms of 30 people, one man has been pulling in the masses. That man is Ron Paul.Ron Paul is the only one in polls who can and would beat Obama, the NWO puppet.

“Freedom is popular” – Ron Paul

His message of individual liberty and freedom to all is growing a worldwide following.

People are taking heed to the liberty movement as Ron Paul and others expose the criminality of our governments and institutions that have enslaved us for so long.

He has the #1 support from not only the troops who no longer wish to be at war, he also has the support of the youth. The intellectual revolution has begun…

Ron Paul Rallies Feb-Apr 2012:







































SOURCE: HANG THE BANKERS

Ron Paul’s Mega Crowds… No Media Coverage! | Veterans Today

RNC LAWYER SAYS ALL DELEGATES ARE UNBOUND!



as we have been saying... Ron Paul has already won the GOP Nomination.... it's all over but the crying for those in the GOP that love RINO's

You will see what we mean when the Delegates show who they will vote for

11 President GOP Candidates down "That Includes Mitten's"

1 Marxist to go

Spartans, What is your Profession?



To my Republican Brothers and Sisters; Too The Blue Dog Democrats; Too the Moderate Independant's... when is the last time you seen such energy... that would have been Obama 3+ years ago... he now has a record to judge him on and those Motivated crowds are LOOOONG Gone

Ron Paul Now has a HIGHLY CHARGED and Motivated Base This Country has Never Seen ... Once you break that 10% of hard core loyalist's; you already won the election.. Ron Paul cracked that 10% Threshold Months ago; Ron is about 17 -19 percent and GROWING Rapidly

Who's got the Support of the Veterans

Who's got the Support of the Troops

Who has got the Youth Vote

Who has got the under 40 Vote

Ron Paul Picks up a Majority of the Independant vote and once its between him and Obama I look for a 60 / 40 Split

see ole friend .... I brought more soldiers than you did and not only will it be a Landslide ... It will be Epic

The Thomas Jefferson of our Time "Ron Paul" will be the Next POTUS