Ron Paul: No Third-Party Bid for Me

WSJ ^ | October 5, 2007 | Susan Davis

[Baladas]

For presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, the quest for the Republican Party nomination is an all or nothing game.

While Paul ran for the White House in 1988 on the Libertarian ticket, earning 0.47% of the vote, the lawmaker told Washington Wire Friday that he’s not going to make a separate effort to get on the general election ballot if the Republican nomination doesn’t come through.

“The thought does not cross my mind about a third party,” Paul told us today after speaking at the Americans for Prosperity conference, a forum for fiscal conservatives. “I did it and I know what the problems are. Unfortunately this country does not offer democratic opportunities. There’s too many rules and laws and bias against an alternative party whether you’re left or right or wherever you’re coming from. You can’t get on debates, you can’t get on ballots.”

Paul’s camp has shot down suggestions since he launched his campaign that he might try a third party bid. But the question seems increasingly salient after Paul’s recent financial successes. He raised a notable $5 million in the third quarter and reported $5.3 million in the bank — more than candidates like Sen. John McCain of Arizona. Paul insisted, however, that he’s not interested in being a potential spoiler in 2008. “That’s the way it stands,” he said.

[Baladas]

Good, Ron Paul consciously doesn't want to become the Ross Perot of 2008 and help elect another Clinton.

[Red_Devil 232]

Thank God!

[Rennes Templar]

That’s a relief!

[dead]

The thought does not cross my mind about a third party

That’s not a “I will not run on a third party ticket” declarative statement. That’s a "I haven’t thought about it just yet" statement.

I don’t think he will, I’m just pointing out that he left himself a bit of semantic wiggle room there.

They always do.

[weegee]

Ron Paul would draw the truther vote away from Hillary.

[weegee]

He already belongs to a third party ideology. He just isn’t willing to run under the banner officially.

[Vanbasten]

Phew!

[Baladas]

Yes, but he also talks about what it was like in 1988, experience is the best teacher.

[Badeye]

He would have hurt the Dems more with a third party run in my opinion. His views are more in line with the leftwing than the rightwing.

[TexasCajun]

Thank you

[mnehring]

Unfortunately this country does not offer democratic opportunities.

Typical Ron Paul quote... sounds like Algore, if he doesn't win, he blames the system, never thinking to look in a mirror.

[bassmaner]

His views are more in line with the leftwing than the rightwing.

Only on 1 issue. But that issue is a deal breaker.

[logician2u]

He would have hurt the Dems more with a third party run in my opinion. His views are more in line with the leftwing than the rightwing.

Yeah, right, Badeye. You bet.

Ron Paul is for drastically reducing the size of the federal government, elimination of the income tax, deregulation of business (and the internet, especially) and limiting the federal government to those functions specifically designated to it in the United States Constitution. (See this Wikipedia article for all of Ron Paul's positions.)

Would you care to retract that statement of yours, or would your rather look for a left-winger who shares even 1/10 of Ron Paul's political views. I'll be waiting.

[mnehring]

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[mnehring]

Don't be fooled by Paul propaganda on Wikipedia.. Paul is no Conservative.

Ron Paul's Voting Record (ya, ya, I know, there is an excuse for all of these, state's rights are more important than stopping abortion and fixing the border, Ronnie is making a statement, or everyone else was voting against it and he was just playing the game, yadda, yadda, yadda)

Here are some more ‘Conservative(sic)’ votes by Paul:

Voted NO on federal crime to harm fetus while committing other crimes.

Voted NO on forbidding human cloning for reproduction & medical research.

Voted NO on barring transporting minors to get an abortion.

Voted YES on funding for alternative sentencing instead of more prisons.

Voted NO on more prosecution and sentencing for juvenile crime.

Voted NO on military border patrols to battle drugs & terrorism.

Voted NO on allowing school prayer during the War on Terror.

Voted NO on allowing vouchers in DC schools.

Voted NO on passage of the Bush Administration national energy policy.

Voted NO on implementing Bush-Cheney national energy policy.

Voted YES on barring website promoting Yucca Mountain nuclear waste dump.

Voted NO on speeding up approval of forest thinning projects.

Voted NO on reforming the UN by restricting US funding.

Voted NO on requiring lobbyist disclosure of bundled donations.

Voted NO on prohibiting lawsuits about obesity against food providers.

Voted NO on prohibiting product misuse lawsuits on gun manufacturers

Voted NO on prohibiting suing gunmakers & sellers for gun misuse.

Voted NO on decreasing gun waiting period from 3 days to 1.

Voted NO on emergency $78B for war in Iraq & Afghanistan.

Voted NO on $266 billion Defense Appropriations bill.

Voted YES on more immigrant visas for skilled workers.

Voted YES on providing $70 million for Section 8 Housing vouchers.

Voted NO on promoting work and marriage among TANF recipients.

Voted NO on treating religious organizations equally for tax breaks.

Let's also not forget Paul's Pork Projects (that he voted for before he voted against when he calls them unconstitutional but he is just playing the game when he submits them because everyone else does it.. yadda yadda yadda..)

[WinOne4TheGipper]

I did it and I know what the problems are. Unfortunately this country does not offer democratic opportunities.

Because we're a republic, not a democracy.

You can’t get on debates,

Sure you can. If you're relevant. Do they expect the Republican and Democrat candidates to sit there while waiting for the candidates for the Libertarian, Constitution, Green, Socialist, Communist, Worker's World, Reform, etc parties vie for the other 4-5% of the vote?

[mnehring]

Paul is the one who keeps submitting bills over and over in Congress to take away a State’s right to decide who to run elections and allow anyone who can get 1,000 people to sign a petition to be on the ballot.

[SJackson]

I did it and I know what the problems are. Unfortunately this country does not offer democratic opportunities.

Sure it does Ron, you could have ran in the Democratic primaries as easily as the Republican.

[SJackson]

Unfortunately this country does not offer democratic opportunities. There’s too many rules and laws and bias against an alternative party whether you’re left or right or wherever you’re coming from. You can’t get on debates, you can’t get on ballots

You can’t get on debates

You can’t get on ballots

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

"Unfortunately this country does not offer democratic opportunities."

Nobody's keeping you here, baby.