Category Archives: Ron Paul

Rand Paul Announces Presidential Bid for 2016 Election
Rand Paul officially announced Tuesday morning that he will be running for president in the 2016 election. The Kentucky senator #39;s site also says he #39;s running to "restore liberty and prosperity...

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Rand Paul Announces Presidential Bid for 2016 Election - Video

Rand Paul and Hillary Clinton discover that their greatest assets may also be their greatest liabilities.

Rand Paul and Hillary Clinton don't have a lot in common, and what they do have, both sides might like to downplay. But the wrangling ahead of Paul's formal declaration that he's running for president shows one interesting parallel between the twothe way they're handling their respective minences grises, Bill Clinton and Ron Paul. Both men are being treated a little like crazy uncles in the atticthe type everyone knows about but doesn't acknowledgeand a little like wise gurus essential to victory.

In both cases, candidates seek to extend the reach of political dynasties. In both cases, the current candidates largely owe their prominence to earlier dynasts, and understand the fundamental political genius they bring to the table. But the current candidates (and perhaps more importantly, their advisers) also know that these founders like to talk and are liable to say something embarrassing and damaging, making managing them as essential as it is challenging.

In the case of Ron Paul, that meant that the retired U.S. representative and three-time presidential candidate was present at the Galt House Hotel for his son's big speech, but he didn't have a speaking part. That's likely to set the tone for the rest of the campaign, according to a report in The New York TimesRon Paul isn't going to do much appearing in public.

The 2016 Presidential Race: A Cheat Sheet

But Rand Paul also can't completely disown him. Sure, he's his father, but he's also the fount of the political movement that has propelled the Kentucky senator into the race. Even as Rand Paul has built his own political identity and showed his own considerable political chopshe's probably a more talented politician than his fatherhe relies on the grassroots operation his father built over the course of many years. His need for the credibility his father offers with libertarians will only grow more acute as he edges toward the Republican mainstream to compete in the primary, adopts more hawkish stands on defense and foreign intervention, and risks alienating more dogmatic libertarians.

The refusal to compromise that made Ron Paul so beloved of that crew also often got him into trouble with the broader public. Paul pere says what he thinks, even when he seems to be thinking very little. He's recently embarrassed his son with off-the-reservation comments about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the Ebola outbreak. Going further back, things get worselike the racist newsletter published under Ron Paul's name.

The Times' account of how Rand Paul's team is handling Ron Paul recalls another story in the Gray Lady two weeks agoabout how Hillary Clinton's team is approaching the challenge of dealing with Bill Clinton. A few caveats are in order: Clinton is a more talented and successful politician than Ron Paul, one of the most talented of the post-war era. He also can't hold a candle to Paul's fringe beliefs, and he's never published racist newsletters. But that doesn't mean he's not just as challenging for his wife's campaign to handle.

Hillary Clinton has had a long and successful career in public service on the national stage, from the Senate to the State Department, but she doesn't have the natural volubility of many politicians, and it's tough to imagine her getting to the national stage without a boost from Bill Clinton's experience. He remains shockingly popular, especially among voters who remember the late '90s. He is also widely acknowledged as one of the sharpest political minds of his generation, with an ability to pore over maps and polling data and synthesize it like few others. Those are both assets any campaign would want.

How to marshal those skills without also pulling in his downsides, though? Bill Clinton proved to be a big liability in 2008most notably when the man once hailed as "the first black president" incurred the wrath of black voters for criticizing Barack Obama and likening Obama's victory in the South Carolina primary to Jesse Jackson's wins there in the 1980s. Even his charisma and popularity can prove problematic, offering an unflattering contrast with the candidate herself. Last fall, when Hillary Clinton made her big return to Iowa, Bill won nearly as many headlines for his own speech and a gregarious gaggle with reporters.

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Ron Paul and Bill Clinton Pose Challenges for Hillary and ...

As he grew increasingly irritated with being asked about his position on abortion Wednesday, Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul finally told questioners: Go ask Debbie Wasserman Schultz "if she's OK with killing a 7-pound baby that's just not born yet."

Wasserman Schultz, the Weston congresswoman, is chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Wednesday, Paul would not say where, in his view, a pregnant woman's rights begin and those of the fetus end. The Kentucky U.S. senator wouldn't say what exceptions, if any, should be made if the procedure were to be banned.

In the past, Paul has supported legislation that would ban abortion except in cases of rape or incest or to save the mother's life. At other times, he has backed bills seeking a broader abortion ban without those exceptions.

Paul grew testy when pressed in the interview on the question of exceptions. "I gave you about a five-minute answer. Put in my five-minute answer," he said.

Later in the day, Paul was asked about the interview at a New Hampshire campaign stop. "Why don't we ask the DNC: Is it OK to kill a 7-pound baby in the uterus?" he said.

"You go back and go ask Debbie Wasserman Schultz if she's OK with killing a 7-pound baby that's just not born yet," Paul said. "Ask her when life begins, and ask Debbie when she's willing to protect life. When you get an answer from Debbie, come back to me."

Wasserman Schultz responded in a statement issued by the Democratic Party.

"Here's an answer: I support letting women and their doctors make this decision without government getting involved. Period. End of story. Now your turn, Senator Paul. We know you want to allow government officials like yourself to make this decision for women but do you stand by your opposition to any exceptions, even when it comes to rape, incest, or life of the mother? Or do we just have different definitions of 'personal liberty'? And I'd appreciate it if you could respond without 'shushing' me."

Her final comment is a reference to Paul's comment during a February interview with Kelly Evans of CNBC. She asked a follow up question while he was still talking, prompting him to say, "Shhh. Calm down a bit here, Kelly. Let me answer the question."

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Presidential candidate Ron Paul's response to abortion questions: Go ask Wasserman Schultz

Ron Paul doesn't figure to be a major part of his son Rand's presidential campaign despite Ron's having run in the last two presidential elections. Ed Reinke/AP hide caption

Ron Paul doesn't figure to be a major part of his son Rand's presidential campaign despite Ron's having run in the last two presidential elections.

Ron Paul stood off to the side Tuesday as his son Rand announced he was running for president.

There was no speaking role for the elder Paul, 79. There was no ceremonial passing of the torch of "liberty."

There wasn't even a hearty thank you or nod to the father's raucous presidential campaigns that laid the groundwork for the son's launch.

"I never could have done any of this without the help of my parents who are here today," Rand Paul said in Louisville, Ky., in the only section of his speech that made allusion to his father. "I'd like you to join me in thanking my mom and dad for all their help and support through the years."

Help and support with politics? Not so much.

Ron Paul looks on as Rand, a Kentucky senator, arrives for the announcement of his presidential campaign. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

Ron Paul looks on as Rand, a Kentucky senator, arrives for the announcement of his presidential campaign.

"With my parents' help," he continued, "I was able to make it through long years of medical training to finally become an eye surgeon."

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Like Father, Like Son? Not Exactly When It Comes To Rand And Ron Paul

Ron Paul : US resolution on Russia scarcely read by those who voted for it
The U.S. House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed a resolution denouncing Russia #39;s foreign policies. Former presidential candidate Ron Paul has called it one of the worst pieces....

By: Elsa Walsh

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Ron Paul : US resolution on Russia scarcely read by those who voted for it - Video

Civil Unrest In America 2015
MY WIFE IS HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER AND GOT THIS URGENT E-MAIL FROM THE SECURITY COUNCIL. OTHER WARNINGS ALSO.SHARE,PREPARE,BE AWARE.GOD SPEED,GOOD LUCK TO .

By: 2015 Finance Crisis

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Civil Unrest In America 2015 - Video

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Retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson on March 2 announced the launch of an exploratory committee. The move will allow him to raise money that could eventually be transferred to an official presidential campaign and indicates he is on track with stated plans to formally announce a bid in May.

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South Carolina's Lindsey Graham has said he'll make a decision surrounding a presidential run sometime soon. A potential bid could focus on Graham's foreign policy stance.

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Hillary Clinton continues to have an overwhelming lead over other possible 2016 Democratic presidential candidates. Although the former first lady and secretary of state has not said whether she'll run, a group of PACs and advocacy organizations have begun the process of raising money and aiding a hypothetical campaign.

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Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin is considered a possible Republican candidate, but he told CNN that his priority is to first help the GOP capture the Senate in next November's midterms.

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Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican rising star from Florida, was swept into office in 2010 on the back of tea party fervor. But his support of comprehensive immigration reform, which passed the Senate but has stalled in the House, has led some in his party to sour on his prospects.

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Election 2016: How Rand Paul is different from Ron - CNN.com

Washington Ron Paul, father of Rand Paul, has always been an original thinker.

As a longtime member of Congress from Texas, on paper a Republican but in posture a Libertarian, Congressman Paul rarely met a spending bill he could like. He was an avowed isolationist and civil libertarian, voting against the Iraq War and the USA Patriot Act. His nickname on Capitol Hill was Dr. No.

Paul was, and still is, the hero of the liberty movement. His three presidential campaigns once as the Libertarian Party nominee and twice as a Republican were a testament to his devotion to the cause. And his voters were devoted to him like no other candidates supporters.

Now his son, Senator Paul (R) of Kentucky, is following in his footsteps sort of. Hes more libertarian-leaning than big-L Libertarian. Hes a physician like his dad, but no one confuses him with Dr. No.

When Paul launches his presidential campaign Tuesday at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Ky., his father will be there. But his presence will reflect an uneasy reality for the freshman senator: The junior Paul needs his dad, and a similar devotion of core supporters, even as he needs to create some distance from him.

His father had a basic floor of support below which he wasnt going to go, but he also had a ceiling, says Dennis Goldford, a political scientist at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

The son seems to have a floor those so-called liberty and tea party Republicans but does he have a ceiling? Hes been trying to expand that, and reach out to younger people and minorities. We dont know how that might work.

Paul is not the only political scion competing for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Jeb Bush, son and brother of former presidents, is expected to jump in soon. For both Paul and Mr. Bush, the family name is a help and a hindrance. I am my own man is a core message.

But their challenges are different. The former Florida governor is grappling with Bush fatigue, precisely because his family has been successful at the highest levels of politics (three successful presidential campaigns) and because of the failings of his brothers presidency, namely an unpopular war and a near economic collapse. Paul fatigue isnt an issue. Rather, the younger Paul has to distance himself from his father precisely because he has views that are firmly outside the mainstream views that made his brand lively and unique, but also made it impossible for him to be elected president.

And unlike the former Presidents Bush, Ron Paul is still a public activist, adding to his sons challenge.

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Rand Paul is not Ron Paul, for better or worse (+video)

WASHINGTON --Rand Paul's campaign slogan is "Defeat the Washington machine." The Kentucky senator is running as an outsider, but even in this legacy-laden field, he may be the ultimate insider.

It's been less than three years -- not even one full presidential election cycle -- since former Rep. Ron Paul gave up his last presidential campaign, his third run for the White House. Now his son is set to make his own run. Rand Paul begins the daunting task of building a presidential campaign with unique advantages: the network his father built, the experience of running a modern campaign and the potential to tap into a loyal base of supporters. He enjoys name recognition that rivals that of his likely opponents. Rand Paul will seek to position himself as his own candidate and bring in some of his own political team. But the foundation of his father's campaign is intact-- for better and for worse.

While Ron Paul was never able to translate his core of supporters -- more than a million votes -- into primary victories, he ran well in several states and remained in the race longer than many GOP competitors. He even placed second in New Hampshire in 2012, with 23 percent of the vote.

If he can inherit his fathers network up here, that will be at least a significant initial advantage, University of New Hampshire political science Professor Dante Scala said. A crowded field might be good for Rand Paul. Maybe this will be a year like 1996, where 30 percent is enough to do not just well but really well in New Hampshire. (Pat Buchanan won the state's primary that year, with around 27 percent of the vote.)

While Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton are widely seen as dynastic candidates, Rand Paul is actually the only one who'll inherit an up-to-date campaign operation.It's been 15 years since a Bush appeared on a ballot -- before Facebook or Twitter, before donations could be made via website, before candidates posted YouTube videos.

Paul doesn't get just an extensive network. There is family knowledge that comes with the campaign. Jesse Benton -- who is married to Rand Paul's sister -- was a senior adviser for Ron Paul's two previous presidential runs, managed Rand Paul's Senate campaign and will now runa super PAC supportingthe 2016 campaign.

Ron Paul pursued a smart strategy by targeting states that held caucuses instead of or in addition to a primary. Aside from Iowa, which draws disproportionate attention as the first presidential test, most states that opt to use that process have very low turnout. Voters are required to attend a meeting at a specific time and place, driving down the number of participants and allowing a small but passionate group to tip the outcome.

Rick Santorum won the Iowa caucus in January 2012. Hardly anyone remembers that Ron Paul won the second, less publicized Iowa caucus, giving himmore delegates from the state than any other Republican -- a testament to his organizational power. He did the same in Louisiana and Nevada, picking up delegates at later caucus events after not winning on the main primary day.

The Republican field is unlikely to produce another candidate who appeals to the Ron Paul fan base. He built a coalition of voters who didn't traditionally participate in GOP primaries. It's unlikely that Bush or Ted Cruz or Marco Rubio could make strong inroads with those voters. "Add in any number of other possible candidates, and I dont see any having a better 'claim' on the Ron Paul vote than Rand Paul," said Eric Herzik, the chair of the political science department at the University of Nevada, Reno. "Rand Paul might not be a clear favorite in Nevada, but he will, like his father, have a base from which to build his campaign."

Ron Paul was virtually an isolationist who opposed foreign aid to almost every nation, wanted to drastically cut defense spending, and was one of only a handful of Republicans to vote against the war in Iraq.Rand Paul is the least hawkish Republican in the Senate, but he has tried to shed the isolationist label; he supports some foreign aid and hasn't fought funding the Pentagon. But he's still out of step with his party.South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham has been outspoken in criticizing Rand Paul's foreign policy positions.

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Election 2016: Rand Paul Inherits Father Ron Paul's Political Network

If you watched cable news at all this morning, you saw that all eyes were trained on Sen. Rand Pauls (R-KY) entrance into the 2016 presidential race. But what you might not have expected to hear was all the hoopla about Pauls father, the libertarian firebrand Ron Paul.

The elder Paul, a former congressman and GOP presidential candidate himself, pioneered the same appeal to young conservatives and libertarian-minded voters for which his son is currently known. While the two differ on policy in many areas, the general message remains the same: Less government, fewer foreign entanglements, criminal justice reform, and an end to NSA surveillance.

Ron will obviously not be irrelevant to Rand the elder libertarians hardcore fan base will be an important asset for the campaign. But unlike his father, the senator is more openly attempting to court traditional conservatives, as indicated by his recent rhetoric about radical Islam, same-sex marriage, and other wedge issues. To be blunt: Rand is not Ron.

And yet the media fixates on their connection, as if Rand isnt his own person. According to a TVEyes search of Fox News, CNN and MSNBC from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. today, Ron was mentioned 29 times during discussions and reports about his sons candidacy.

Just today, CNNs David Gergen said the younger Paul has daddy issues. MSNBCs Jos Daz-Balart declared the shadow of Ron Paul is looming large over his son. NBCs Kelly ODonnell said Rand was trying to create distance between him and his father by staging Ron off to the side, ensuring there is no hand-raising moment between father and son at the speaking podium. And CNNs Dana Bash suggested Rand has to be more mainstream than Ron in order to win.

Why is Ron so relevant when reporting or commenting on Rands presidential bid? Is it because of the seemingly outlandish things the elder Paul has said of late? Or is it because of his positions on the relevant issues?

Either way, his name comes up in a way that suggests Rand needs to answer for his father.

Meanwhile, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has yet to announce her presidential run, but how often will the media harp on the influence her husband, former President Bill Clinton, might have on her?Will they mention Bills potential influence close to 29 times during a six-hour period on the morning of her announcement?

Lets explore that possibility. Has anyone thus far argued that Hillary has husband issues? Or that Bill is looming large over Hillary? Would Hillary be at the whims of her husband if she were president? Such rhetoric could be considered sexist and yet, its perfectly rational to treat Rand as if hes not his own person, inseparable from his fathers more radical beliefs and words.

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Why Does Media Think Ron Paul So Relevant to Son Rands Campaign?