Ron Paul: The World's Most Popular U.S. Congressman

Months after his long-shot bid for the Republican presidential nomination ended, Rep. Ron Paul has become a hot ticket on the international stage. Unlikely as it may seem, Paul, a Texas Republican, is the most popular member of Congress outside the United States, if foreign television appearances are any indication.
Paul expected his international influence to diminish after the quixotic presidential campaign. In fact, it's gone the other way. "It's actually building," he told the Huffington Post. "It really truly baffles me. I see myself as somebody who's been saying the same thing for about 30 years and not too many people paying any attention."
How much international media does a typical member of Congress do? "Practically none," says a top House GOP communications aide. Foreign media appearances are so rare, he says, that the party doesn't track them.

Turn on Russia Today any given afternoon and you're likely to see Paul waxing political. A Paul-seeking viewer could also find him on the BBC and other outlets in Great Britain -- "too many to count," says the spokesman, Jesse Benton, for his ongoing Campaign for Liberty) -- or on stations in Canada, Holland, Sweden, Australia, Brazil and Argentina. He's also routinely asked to appear in person. "Dr. Paul currently has invitations to speak all over the world, including Turkey, The Czech Republic, the U.K and Hong Kong," says Benton. "Yes, we do get more foreign media requests than we can accommodate," affirms Rachel Mills, his congressional spokeswoman. In the last month, she says, he's appeared on Italian National Television, Russia Today, BBC and Iran's Press TV. A number of others were declined for lack of time, she said.

"When he is a guest, ratings increase. He is huge on the internet and CNN, Fox are trying to utilize that as well," said a journalist who works for a foreign network. "Also, when Dr. Paul was running for president, a lot of his interviews on the mainstream made him look like a lunatic...that has changed dramatically." Paul reads the Constitution strictly and votes against any bill he thinks goes outside Congress' authority as granted within it. He strongly opposes sanctions and U.S. military interventions in foreign affairs and favors legalizing drugs, gambling and other vices. He deems the American government "broke."

www.huffingtonpost.com...

I thought this was a great article which talks about why Ron Paul has gained so much popularity..here in the USA...and the world. It's all about the message. Freedom, individual liberty, and non interventionalism.

I had no idea that he had so many followers in so many countries. The whole world seems to know about this man which is probably because of his dislike of American foreign policy. He preaches the complete opposite of Obama...and Bush for that matter.

I agree - USA - Make a revolution soom, and put RP "Your Last Hope" to the white house now!

He was the only candidate - others were just puppets.

Ron Paul probably scares the bejesus out of TPTB. The greater RP's following becomes ,the looser TPTB's strangle hold on the truth is.
IT's a thousand wonders that something hasn't happened to the man,he is pure poison to their living lies.

Even as a staunch Liberal I have liked Ron for many years. Many Liberals and Democrats that I know like him as well.

I might not agree with all his policies, but like Kuchinich they are both men of character.

The heart of the problem has always been the Fed and global bankers, Ron needs to keep up the fight.

[edit on 22-6-2009 by AllexxisF1]

I find it amazing that television ratings actually go up when he is being interviewed. Who can say that for any other US Congressman? I know I can't think of any.

People actually look forward to when he is on one of the major media channels and actually take time to watch.

Look at the map link in the article ...it shows all of the countries that have visited CampaignforLiberty.com...which was started by RP and his supporters. It's quite amazing really.



[edit on 22-6-2009 by David9176]

I don't get why he is so popular.

He will never be in a posistion to run for President. I think we need to find a new basket to put all our eggs into. 10 years ago he would have made the perfect politicion.

Instead of going on television promoting himself, he should find a younger politicon and endorse him or her.

That would really help America.

All this is very good to hear. I am an avid Ron Paul supporter, and still have a Ron Paul 2008 bumper sticker on the rear of my van, which drives some people, and some cops crazy. One cop even told me I would have to remove it, and I told him I would when he showed in the Constitution that the First Amendment was no longer in there.

I hope he continues with his talks and speeches, he is the only one I can trust, after all.

reply to post by David9176


Translation - the biggest do-nothing in American politics has lots and lots of time to fill up the airwaves on foreign news channels.

I'm glad Kucinich actually busts his skinny little butt. Ron Paul is like all Libertarians - he expects things to just magically happen for him.

reply to post by TheWalkingFox


What are you talking about? He wrote the bill to audit the Fed which could be one of the most important pieces of legislation in a long time. How can you say he doesn't do anything?

Originally posted by Bullhorn
reply to post by TheWalkingFox

 

What are you talking about? He wrote the bill to audit the Fed which could be one of the most important pieces of legislation in a long time. How can you say he doesn't do anything?

Because, besides that one thing, he really doesn't do anything.

He spends more time on televison promoting himself which doesn't really help anyone.

Alot of good that bill did, didn't the Fed just gain more power recently?

reply to post by jd140


Well, the bill has yet to pass. Obviously I'm not qualified to say whether or not it has a realistic chance of passing, but if it does it would help tremendously.
The fact that the Fed was basically given dictatorial power over the economy is hardly Dr Paul's fault. Let's just hope he is successful in his quest to audit the Fed and even if that's the only thing he'll ever accomplish, he will have done more for this country than any Congressman I can think of.

Originally posted by JanusFIN
I agree - USA - Make a revolution soom, and put RP "Your Last Hope" to the white house now!

He was the only candidate - others were just puppets.

They would kill him off and then it would be obvious what their plan is....That is why it wouldn't work in the current system.

Although I do think RP is the man for the job.....He is the most honest politician I have ever heard speak and he seems like a guy who is a normal guy who just happens to be a congressmen unlike the other greedy arrogant bastards.

reply to post by Bullhorn



So by your own admission he hasn't actually done anything but write a bill, that hasn't even been passed. Hardly says anything good about him, does it?

reply to post by jd140


I didn't admit anything. Actually I haven't been following him for too long so I don't know every single thing he did all these years in Congress. This piece of legislation is extremely important and if he succeeds, that's good enough for me even if he had previously never done anything.

reply to post by TheWalkingFox


You seem to have a pattern here on ATS..... Ron Paul does more than any congressman we have. But mostly and more importantly he is waking up young Americans to an oppression that most do not perceive. This is the best thing anyone has done in some time. Sounds like you just want it all done for you.


But there has always got to be one of you somewhere.

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Originally posted by TheWalkingFox
reply to post by David9176

 

Translation - the biggest do-nothing in American politics has lots and lots of time to fill up the airwaves on foreign news channels.

50 Sponsored Bills in the 111th.
70 in the 110th.
79 in the 109th.
76 in the 108th.
68 in the 107th.

What a lazy S.O.B..

www.house.gov...

Its too bad that he is getting so much attention elsewhere in the world but not enough in the country where it really matters.

Paul has some good ideas. i like his views on our modern policies in america.
i hope we can keep this alive and move on it to make our country a real boy, not just a wooden lying one with an elongating nose.

Huffington Post likes Ron Paul?

Just another reason for me to stay skeptical.

From the Source Article .

Paul's popularity extends to the ground level in foreign countries. His website draws readers from all over the globe, as this graphic world map shows. Paul's YouTube videos get high in Ireland, Great Britain, Australia, the Czech Republica, New Zealand and Poland

To my knowledge Ron Paul has never been interviewed on New Zealand television . Still for me the most telling part of the article is the fact that those who want to know about or have an interest in Paul will find out about him including Kiwis . I have dealt with Paul political views elsewhere on the boards so I won't cover old ground .