I Support Ron Paul for President

I’ve written here before about how I became involved in Republican Party politics because I wanted to make a positive difference. But, after a few years, I came to realize that I was not going to make any difference. The party system, Republican and Democrat, is less about principle and doing the right thing than it is about money, power, special interests, and patronage. It is rotten to the core. Even the best of men, with the best of intentions are sucked into the rottenness of the system. At the very least they are forced to compromise formerly-strong convictions about what they once understood to be right and wrong.

Yes, I am cynical. I’ve been far enough inside the beast to know it is out of control and does not serve the best interests of America.

There are, however, a few men who participate in the political system beyond the local level and refuse to be tainted by the snares of power and arrogance. Such men refuse to be bought. They refuse to compromise on the basic principles of right and wrong. But there are precious few such men. And if they do not bend to fit the system's mold, they are marginalized. In time, they get disillusioned (like me), and they either leave political office or loose reelection for lack of support. The system doesn't like “traitors.”

Only in the rarest of instances, and against all odds, does such a public servant remain in political office for any significant length of time. Only in the rarest of instances does such a man press on for years, steadfast in his principles. And only in the very rarest of instances, especially in modern history, does such a man run for president of the United States of America, and actually have a chance of achieving that position.

I firmly believe Congressman Ron Paul of Texas is such a rare man. Even the most politically cynical of citizens can not help but be encouraged by Ron Paul’s candidacy for our country’s highest office. Which is to say, I am encouraged by the very real possibility of Ron Paul actually winning in 2008.

In fact, with the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries looming large on the horizon, I’ve done something I have never done before. I’ve done something I thought I would never do. I contributed money to the campaign of a presidential candidate.

I have known about Ron Paul for 20 years. I have known him to be a champion of limited, Constitutional government, individual freedom, and a sound money system. Ron Paul is an honorable man, an intelligent man, a man of integrity, and a brave man. He is not a perfect man and therefore not a perfect candidate, but his track record clearly shows him to be a truly exceptional person who, I believe, can be trusted to do the right thing if elected to office.

I have a friend who has a lot of high level political experience. He is very astute. He loves Ron Paul. He believes he is, by far, the best candidate for President. But he says it is a virtual impossibility that Ron Paul will be elected.

My friend says Paul’s appeal is with the left and right fringes. He says the vast political body between those fringes is part of the “bread and circus” crowd. He insists they will not vote for Paul. He says Guiliani, Romney, Obama, and Clinton are part of “bread and circus” politics, and he believes Obama will prevail. That kind of talk gives me a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach.

I fear that my friend may be right. I fear that America will end up with the President it deserves, not the President in needs.

Nevertheless, I hope and pray for something amazing to happen in this next election, something that defies all the odds. It would be a flat-out miracle if Paul were to win this next election. But I believe in miracles.

Iowa and New Hampshire are the first arenas of battle and they are critically important. Paul must do well there. He can do well there. Fact is, he actually appears to be doing well there. If this man is willing to fight the good fight, against the odds, I will stand with him. I have supported him with my money. I am supporting him with this essay. Before the end of the year, I will probably contribute again.

If nothing else, my sons will know that I did something to try and help make a difference in this election. I supported a decent, godly man in a battle for right, against all the odds. This might well be the last opportunity for a long time to get such a good man into this office.

I urge you to check out the Ron Paul 2008 website. Read where Paul stands on the issues. Contribute money to help in the battle. Talk to your family and friends about him. Spread the word. Miracles do happen.

10 comments:

Phillidor5949 said...

Please consider contributing on the 16th of December.
Ron Paul needs the publicity of another big fund raising day.

There is an obvious media bias and it is sad. Rep. Paul is the one candidate of the crowd who has substantially differing views and he was not given much of a chance to articulate those views. Much time was given to marginal issues and small differences between other candidates' positions on the issues. I suspect many special interest groups have much to lose if a President Paul had a chance to use his veto pen. This is reflected in the lack of time given to Rep. Paul.

Anonymous said...

I am also supporting Ron Paul. One thing is for certain: among the "bread and circus" candidates, there is no choice. All are the same, and all are unacceptable. I have always voted republican in presidential elections (and am registered as such), but if these are the choices then I will either not vote, vote third party or write in an alternate. In my opinion, unless an acceptable candidate is nominated, then the best thing that can happen to either party is to lose the election. Send them a message. We need to tell them that we will NOT give blind support to appointed candidates just because they have an R or D after their names.

Anonymous said...

I know that he's already said that he wouldn't, but is there any chance that Ron Paul will change his mind about a third party run if he loses the rupublican nomination?

Brian G. Heyer said...

Herrick,
Thanks for putting your support of Dr. Paul out there for all to see.

Dr. Paul is the only one who doesn't want to run my life; he just wants to leave me alone.

Believe in miracles. To those that say, Ron Paul can't win, I add that 16 people are running for president, and 15 of them will lose. But we still have to fight for what we believe.

Who else besides Ron Paul has an accelerating campaign, with more donors and donations and more volunteers coming in?

Unfortunately, we're at the perfect storm for Ron Paul's issues: dollar crisis, war, federal debts, credit bubbles and vapor lock, etc. What Dr. Paul has warned us about for 20 years to coming to pass. He could not have made as big of a difference in any election cycle in the past few generations as this one. Now is our chance.

Keep pushing.

Brian

Brian said...

I am on board also. Folks call him nuts, so if freedom and liberty means being nuts then I am nuts too.

Herrick Kimball said...

Thanks everyone for the feedback on this essay.

In response to this endorsement of Ron Paul, Biblical agrarian blogger, Michael Bunker, has written a thought-provoking essay from a different perspective.

I consider Michael to be a friend and I appreciate what he has to say on this subject. I invite you to read his blog post at this link:

Why I Do Not Support Ron Paul For President

Anonymous said...

Ron Paul and his family are remembered every morning in my prayers.
I keep hearing that Congressman Paul doesn't have a chance to win the White House, but I know that is not true.
With God all things are possible.

OY said...

How truly moving. I'm right there with you. Rare is this opportunity and whatever the outcome, it will not be said that I did nothing for liberty.

Anonymous said...

I'm to for Ron Paul. I was so angry at with the GOP I was actually going to vote for for Hillary. So as to have have the people experiment in the real flesh what is socialism. I figured I lived in San Francisco for ten years I could take 8 more of the same thing. But them I heard about Ron Paul on the debate. It change my life. I send him money every pay check. Listen Gentleman, this war is not as important as our country. What is the use of Creating a democracy in Irak if we keep fracturing ourselves into pieces. Go Ron Paul.

Jaime, FL
excuse my typing for english is not
my native Language.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for speaking about Ron Paul and endorsing him - the more people that speak of him, the better chance we have of electing him. Getting him to win the Primaries is key!

I to am a fan or Ron Paul - and of your Whiz Bang Chicken Plucker and your site in general. We have a chance to take back our lives and live them as we are meant to live them.