Who's Who Among Presidential Candidates is a series of distillations of individual candidates' views on 24 topics loosely grouped into four categories, as presented on non-partisan website On The Issues.
Ron Paul
US Congressman Ron Paul represents Texas's 14th congressional district, including Galveston and surrounding Gulf Coast areas. Although he is a registered Republican, he was the Libertarian nominee for President in 1988.
INTERNATIONAL ISSUES
Foreign Policy - Supports non-intervention.
Homeland Security - Favors elimination of the Department of Homeland Security, opposes the Patriot Act and the Iraq War.
War and Peace - Believes US intervention incites hatred and attacks like 9/11.
Free Trade - Voted NO on multiple free trade agreements (2003-2005), voted YES on withdrawing from the WTO (World Trade Organization) (2000).
Immigration - Supports measures to prevent illegal immigration, supports facilitation of legal immigration.
Energy and Oil - Supports continued exploration and drilling.
DOMESTIC ISSUES
Gun Control - Supports the Second Amendment (right to keep and bear arms).
Crime - Opposes the death penalty, supports alternative sentencing.
Drugs - Supports legalization of medical marijuana and industrial hemp.
Civil Rights - Voted NO twice on same-sex marriage ban (2004, 2006).
Jobs - Voted NO on minimum wage increase (2007).
Environment - Low rating from League of Conservation Voters (political voice of national environmental movement).
ECONOMIC ISSUES
Budget and Economy - Supports the Balanced Budget Amendment.
Government Reform - Suggests eliminating Department of Education, Department of Energy, and Department of Homeland Security.
Tax Reform - Supports elimination of income tax, the Federal Reserve, and the IRS.
Social Security - Voted YES to raise contribution limits to IRAs and 401(k) plans (2001), voted NO on amendment to Social Security Lockbox bill (1999).
Welfare and Poverty - Voted YES on Section 8 Housing budget increase (2006), supports elimination of federal role in welfare.
Technology - Opposes regulation of the Internet.
SOCIAL ISSUES
Education - Voted NO on No Child Left Behind Act (2001), supports elimination of federal role in education.
Health Care - Mixed record on public health issues according to the American Public Health Association, supports elimination of federal entitlement to Medicare.
Abortion - Pro-life voting record, opposes federal funding for abortion, opposes human embryonic stem cell research.
Families and Children - Voted NO on establishment of AMBER alert system (2003).
Corporations - Mixed record on business issues according to the US Chamber of Commerce.
Principles and Values - Believes in the supremacy of the Constitution, weighs all votes against it.
SUMMARY
Based on how his views align with the VoteMatch quiz topics, Ron Paul is classified as a moderate Libertarian. His voting record indicates that over time, on some issues he has moved away from the conservative end of the spectrum. However, his records on abortion, energy and oil, and the environment remain staunchly conservative.
His strict interpretation of the Constitution is the reason for some of his more radical recommendations, such as the elimination of several federal departments and Cabinet positions. Other stances are not radical per se, but are not in line with the Republican platform -- such as his opposition to the death penalty and his support for the legalization of medical marijuana. His continued opposition to the Iraq War and the Patriot Act also run contrary to the views held by the majority of Republicans.
Interestingly, he was the only Republican to vote against establishment of the AMBER alert system -- and Dennis Kucinich also voted against that bill.
While Ron Paul is a registered Republican, running for the Republican Presidential nomination, his views are mixed -- much more so than the other Republican candidates.
