Paul also ran for president in 1988 and 2008 on libertarian platforms. He was first elected to Congress in 1976, serving until 1985. Following his run for president in 1988, he was reelected to the House of Representatives in 1996 and has served in Congress ever since.

Paul has been a leading and vocal critic throughout his career of U.S. foreign assistance and embraces an isolationist view of America’s role in the world. A member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, he has sponsored or cosponsored several bills to cut the International Affair Budget, withdraw from the United Nations, and avoid military intervention in various foreign conflicts. He has consistently voted against free trade agreements. He has often said that he believes in a non-interventionist government. He voted against authorizing and then against reauthorizing the president’s Emergency Program for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and against the bill and appropriations act that created the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

Paul on America’s Global Leadership

“On foreign aid, that should be the easiest thing to cut. It’s not authorized in the Constitution that we can take money from you and give it to people in other countries. To me, foreign aid is taking money from poor people in this country and giving it to rich people in poor countries, and it becomes weapons of war. You know, no matter how well motivated it is. I would cut all foreign aid.” (GOP Las Vegas debate, October 2011)¹

(On Iran) “We have 12,000 diplomats in our services. We ought to use a little bit of diplomacy once in a while.” (GOP Sioux City Debate, December 2011)²

“The costs of trying to run the world are unsustainable, and we simply don’t have the money. Morally, it is inexcusable for the U.S. to pick sides in such conflicts overseas, no matter how odious either side may be. Financially, it is no longer possible.” (From Congressional website, May 2011)³

“Foreign aid is taking money from the poor people of a rich country and giving it to the rich people of a poor country. There’s nothing wrong with staying out of the internal affairs of foreign countries when it’s none of our business.” (Conservative Political Action Conference, February 2011)⁴

“Forcibly taking money from the United States and sending it overseas is unconstitutional and immoral. The energy that lobbying groups and celebrities expend for charitable causes here on the Hill could be better put to use actually addressing problems. It is sadly symptomatic of the trend toward bigger government that instead of private fundraising efforts, people put their hand out to Congress. It is unfortunate that some activists prefer funding taken by force, to donations freely given. These efforts, though wellmeaning, are misguided. The truth is all the foreign aid in the world will not transform Africa into a thriving, healthy continent.” (Op-ed posted on Paul Congressional website)⁵

“The economic growth of Africa depends on African entrepreneurs, liberalized trade policies, and political and economic freedom. The best thing we could possibly do for Africa and for our own country is to stop sending misguided aid, and stop protectionist trade practices that prevent African farmers and producers from competing in our markets.” (Guest Blog on Free Liberal, March 2008)⁶

Paul on Trade

“Not only do I not want a North American Union, I want us out of the U.N., the IMF, the World Bank, the WTO, NAFTA and CAFTA. NAFTA has nothing to do for free trade. It’s a pretense to lower tariffs, but it’s a reason to go talk to the WTO to raise tariffs. We need free trade. That’s very, very important. But you don’t get that by world government.” (GOP Value Voters Debate, September 2007)⁷

Videos

1. http://politisite.com/2011/10/18/transcript-cnn-wrlc-western-republican-presidential-debate-las-vegas-october-18-2011-full-text/
2. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/2012-presidential-debates/republican-primary-debate-december-15-2011/
3. http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1834&Itemid=69
4. http://dailycaller.com/2011/02/11/ron-paul-calls-for-end-to-foreign-aid-applauds-house-for-not-extending-patriot-act/
5. http://paul.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1729&Itemid=69
6. http://freeliberal.com/archives/003260.php
7. http://www.ontheissues.org/2008/Ron_Paul_Free_Trade.htm