Orthodox for Ron Paul

Wow! What a letter. I've been a Huckabee man and somewhat suspicious of Paul (probably because his followers are, well, nuts...), but I'm going to give him a second look. And maybe a few $$$.

Ron Paul is the Ross Perot of our generation. A thorough-going crank who nonetheless talks sense on one or two issues of major importance. Perot's one sensible issue was the national debt, and he provided a real service in the '92 election by making Bush Sr. and Clinton address it more seriously than they wanted to. Paul's service in this election is in making other Republicans (and perhaps even Hillary) face unpleasant (to them) facts about Iraq and constitutional limits on the Presidency.

But he's still a crank. Read his views on economics, on foreign policy, on race, on almost any issues except the ones noted above, and one must conclude that Ron Paul is a man of unhealthy fixations and a disregard for contradictory evidence. Definitely not presidential timber. But he's having a healthy influence in the race, nonetheless.

I am also an Orthodox Ron Paul supporter, and I support him for a number of reasons:

1) I decided months ago that I was a) going to find a pro-life Democrat and vote for him/her in the election, b) find an anti-Iraq/Iran war/anti-Patriot Act Republican, or c) abstain.

When I started watching the debates, I soon found that the Dems couldn't furnish me a candidate, but that the GOP could. This surprised me.

As I dug deeper, I found out that Paul is the only candidate running who is pro-life across the board - on abortion, the death penalty, and just war. He's also so principled that he hasn't signed up for a Congressional pension, lobbyists won't bother with him, and he votes his conscience on each issue, not just party line. As an OB/GYN, he delivered 4,000+ babies, and when those who were on Medicare needed theirs delivered, he delivered them for free instead of charging the taxpayers.

I like the fact that he advocates a vastly reduced Federal Gov't, with state and local government taking up any slack. This way, the people are closer to their government, and it has less of a propensity to get so huge and powerful that corruption is quite so simple to hide.

I'm not comfortable with every stance he takes on every issue (e.g. gun control). But I firmly believe that, if elected, he'll do this country more good than anyone else in the running.

As far as Mr. Trevino's comments go, I understand he's postulating. But I personally know more than a few Orthodox who support Paul...many young converts, many not. And they support him for a whole spectrum of reasons. And I think his post hoc ergo propter hoc idea is a bit too convenient - and dismissively so - to be helpful in further discourse.

Here in Walla Walla, the local Ron Paul Meet up group is loaded with Orthodox Christians.

It's interesting to me that the consistent critique against Paul is that he is a "crank." Nothing more than name calling. Never any real substance. Sure Joel (above) lists "economics, foreign relations, race" but no substance.

Paul is likely the most accomplished economist in Congress (Greenspan, Friedman and Bernanke all agree with him on the Gold standard). Listen (on YouTube if you don't want to read his books) to him take on the FED and Bernanke. Bernanke ends up agreeing with him. His book on Foreign Policy is outstanding and shows how prescient he has been and continues to be. Had Congress listened to him in the '90's, we wouldn't be in the mess we're in now.

As for accusations against him about race, they have long ago been debunked, yet his opponents continue to falsely accuse him.

Read Paul's works (rather than the comments of those who have nothing to say other than "crank") and you'll see why so many speak of him as the only political hope for America.

If there is another Pro Life, Anti War, Pro Civil Liberties/Constitution (which allows us to pursue the Orthodox way of life without persecution) candidate other than Dr. Paul, please let me know. This is one candidate I would hope the Orthodox community would have the insight to support.
-Aaron Hinde, Santa Cruz, CA