Why I'm Voting for Ron Paul

First, let me say that I'm critiquing just the Republican candidates. The fact that I find most of them to be flawed doesn't mean that I think one of the Democrat candidates might be a better president. I believe that despite their flaws any one of them would be a better president than any one of the Democrats.

I'm voting for Ron Paul primarily because I think he is the best candidate. But I'm also voting for him on the principle that we should always vote for the candidate we believe to be the best without regard to his or her perceived electability. Many political pundits seem to believe that you should vote for your second choice if you think voting for your first choice might help one of the other candidates win. I say this is hokum. How can we ever expect to get the best person in office if we continue to use that logic?

The reason Paul is considered by many to be unelectable is that his strong beliefs in minimal government and minimal foreign involvement seem radical when compared to the platforms of the other candidates. Well, perhaps they are radical but it might be what we need to get this country back on track. The Democrats talk a lot about change. You want change? Vote for Ron Paul.

What do I find wrong with the other candidates? None of them can decide what they really believe in terms of the government's role in our lives. I'm afraid all of them would increase it. None of them are really clear on what they would do about illegal immigration. I'm afraid all of them would do too little. All of them say they will protect us from terrorists. I'm afraid some of them would get us involved in unnecessary conflicts that we can't afford.

I don't want a Mormon to be president. There's too much about that religion that I don't understand. I don't want a Baptist preacher to be president. He has clearly indicated that his religious beliefs will guide his actions as president. That can be a big problem for those whose beliefs don't coincide with his or those who don't think religion should influence government. That eliminates Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee.

Rudy Giuliani's politics appear to have dramatically changed since he was mayor of New York City, yet he wants us to vote for him based on his performance there. John McCain has never met a government power he couldn't embrace. His sponsorship of restrictions on political speech is enough to disqualify him. Fred Thompson supported McCain's political speech bill.

I hope enough people vote for Ron Paul to cause the established political machines to notice. If so, an "electable' candidate who espouses at least some of Paul's positions might be found for the 2012 race.

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