Ronald Ernest Paul (born
August 20, 1935) is a 10th-term Congressman, obstetrician (M.D.), and a 2008 presidential candidate from the U.S. state of Texas, seeking the nomination of the Republican Party.
As a Republican, he has represented
Texas's 14th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1997, and represented Texas's 22nd district in 1976 and from 1979 to 1985.
Paul advocates a limited role for the federal government, low taxes, free markets, a non-interventionist foreign policy, and a return to monetary policies based on commodity-backed currency. He has earned the nickname "
Dr. No" because he is a medical doctor who votes against the bills that he believes conflict with the Constitution.1 In the words of former Treasury Secretary William Simon, Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of
535" on
Capitol Hill.2 He has never voted to raise taxes or congressional pay, and refuses to participate in
the congressional pension system.3 He has consistently voted against the USA PATRIOT Act, the Military Commissions Act of 2006, and the Iraq War.
Example:
Person 1: "Here's a tough question: name a person currently in our government who actually upholds
the constitution, is incredibly intelligent, and listens to the wisdom of the
founding fathers."
Person 2: "HAHAHA!! Everyone knows no such person exists anymore, they all died with our freedoms and
liberties."
Person 1: "Actually, there is one person left who represents those characteristics-- his name is Ron Paul, and he's running for president."