Ron Paul wins CPAC straw poll
Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) won the straw poll at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) for the second year in a row! The reaction of numerous media outlets, politicians, and even the speakers announcing the results of the poll, was to dismiss its validity and minimize its importance. But personally, whenever Ron Paul wins something, I’m happy. If nothing else, it shows that among the most enthusiastic conservative activists, Paul has a lot of support.
Another good sign was that former New Mexico governor and fellow libertarian-leaning Republican Gary Johnson came in third, tied with New Jersey governor Chris Christie. However, the second place finisher was Mitt Romney. Romney, in my opinion, is almost exactly the opposite kind of potential candidate as Paul.
Ron Paul has a consistent set of beliefs that he articulates well in TV interviews and speeches and fights for in Congress, as evidenced by his voting record and the bills he introduces. His beliefs are a departure from the status quo, and they alienate some people, but he is okay with that because he knows that he is right. Mitt Romney, on the other hand, is one of all too many politicians who are so moderate and eager to compromise that they don’t seem to stand for anything at all. Romney flip-flopped on abortion as he moved from Massachusetts politics to the national stage, and he signed into law the same individual mandate in Massachusetts that Democrats enacted nationally, and that most Republicans have finally realized is wrong. He does not come across as particularly passionate or even sincere in his beliefs. In short, he appears to do whatever he thinks will make him popular.
I hope the Republican presidential nominee in 2012 is someone like Paul, not someone like Romney.