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Title: TEXAS CANDIDATE TAKES LOW-KEY APPROACH AT HOME
Source:
HOUSTON CHRONICLE
URL Source: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4976449.html
Published: Jul 18, 2007
Author: RICHARD STEWART
Post Date: 2007-07-18 11:57:56 by rowdee
Keywords: RON PAUL, CLASSY, CANDIDATE
Views: 47
Comments: 1
VICTORIA — When U.S. Rep. Ron Paul recently gave the keynote address at a ceremony presenting overdue medals to 24 veterans, he talked about patriotism, the country's debt owed to veterans, the need for a strong military and strong personal freedom. What he didn't mention was that he's running for president. Nobody else on the program said anything about his presidential campaign or even that he's also running for an 11th term in Congress. "It didn't seem appropriate," Paul, R-Lake Jackson, said after the July 3 ceremony. Most of the country may know Ron Paul as the candidate who created an uproar during a debate when he said America's involvement in the Middle East invited the 9/11 attacks, or as the man who very publicly sent Republican front-runner Rudy Giuliani a list of history books to study. But on this day, the 71-year-old, 10-term congressman was in his home district, not on the presidential campaign trail. It's not like he couldn't have used the 150 or more votes of those in an auditorium at Victoria College. Few polls have given him more than 1 or 2 percent of the vote in the crowded race to become the Republican presidential nominee. Instead, he talked again of his belief in a strict constitutionalist and minimal government that doesn't get involved in foreign wars. He said Congress has not faced up to its constitutional responsibilities since World War II by insisting that only it has the power to declare war. And he quoted Benjamin Franklin, warning that those who give up freedom for security "will have neither." Most of the 24 veterans getting medals had earned them in Vietnam or Korea, both undeclared wars of the type, like the current war in Iraq, that Paul has opposed. But the veterans gave him a warm welcome anyway. "We may not always agree with you on legislation," Dr. Peter Riesz said to Paul as he presented Paul an engraved stone from a Normandy beach in commemoration of the D-Day invasion, "but we do appreciate your strong support of veterans." Victoria County Judge Donald Pozzi, who was there to receive four medals for his service in Vietnam, said Paul's opposition to almost all governmental programs sometimes raises the ire of local politicians. Those votes have earned Paul the nickname of "Doctor No." At the same time, Pozzi said, "his office has often been very helpful when we call on them for assistance. We've gotten help on FEMA issues and veteran issues." Friends and enemies For many at the medals ceremony it was much more basic. "I tried with the Army to get my medals for 39 years," said Louis Hodges Jr. of Seadrift. "It took Ron Paul's office three weeks to get them for me." Paul is a veteran himself. It was the Air Force that first brought him to Texas in 1963. He had grown up in Pittsburgh and attended Duke Medical School. The Air Force sent him to Kelly Air Force Base near San Antonio to be a flight surgeon. In 1968, his medical education finished, he heard that the only obstetrician/gynecologist in Brazoria County was retiring. He and his wife, Carol, moved to Lake Jackson. In the years since, he's delivered more than 4,000 babies, and he has five children of his own. His stand that the U.S. should abolish income taxes, foreign aid, stay out of foreign wars, go back on a commodity-based money standard and do away with most governmental programs has won friends and enemies. "I think he's right on everything," said Philip Spenrath, the mayor of the Wharton County town of El Campo, who also teaches government and coaches high school basketball. "I admire the way he stands up for the Constitution," he said while waiting after the medals ceremony to meet Paul. Other local officials don't always share the same opinion. Joe King, county judge of Paul's home county of Brazoria, wouldn't even talk about the congressman. "Let's just say we have a difference of philosophical views and leave it at that," King said. Galveston County Judge James Yarbrough said he once introduced Paul to a gathering that included a lot of NASA-related engineers and other officials. "He told them right away that he has always voted against their programs," Yarbrough said. "He doesn't mind telling what he thinks about an issue, even though the crowd hearing it might not like it." Defying the critics But Paul has plenty of critics. After Paul said in a recent GOP presidential debate that terrorists attacked the United States because U.S. military forces have been active for years in the Middle East, Michigan GOP Chairman Saul Anuzis said Paul's remarks were "off the wall and out of whack," adding, "I think he would have felt more comfortable on the stage with the Democrats in what he said." Former Paul aide Eric Dondero wrote, as he announced plans to run against Paul for the House seat in 2008, "My former boss looked like a complete nut case." Still, Paul has reported raising nearly $2.4 million from April through June and $3 million for the year, while spending $646,000, according to financial reports to the Federal Election Commission. As he stood cheerfully with veterans and their families for photographs, Carol Paul stood smiling and waiting. The couple recently celebrated their 50th anniversary. A Ron Paul White House would be lively, she laughed. "We'd have all our 18 grandkids running around the place." Chronicle reporter Harvey Rice contributed to this report. I thought this was a good article because I don't see the reporter sugar-coating it in either direction, or lambasting, as the case may be. I believe it shows Ron as he really is. There are times to 'educate' and there are times to 'ask for votes'. I think people like the approach. Just running off at the mouth with a 'rah rah rah vote for me because my bullshit is louder than yours' doesn't cut it with more and more people. Talk is cheap. Ron has his record to back up what he says--the others can only point out how badly they fail the Constitution. It's obvious from the article that not everyone agrees with Ron's message, and that' OK...they afford him the respect that he affords to others==and that is nice to see.
U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Lake Jackson, has earned
both friends and enemies with his stance on U.S.
involvement in foreign wars.
Nick de la Torre: Chronicle In fact, in certain settings, Ron Paul won't even speak of the presidential race
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