Ron Paul Garners Praise from Prominent Conservative

After watching the Republican presidential candidates debate on Monday night, a prominent conservative offered some words of praise for U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.

Ken Connor, currently with the Center for a Just Society and formerly with the Family Research Council, and well-known to Floridians for leading the state chapter of the Christian Coalition and running for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in 1994, on Friday offered his thoughts on the Republican field and had some kind words for Paul.

Of all the candidates, Congressman Ron Paul deserves credit for having the most fully developed view of the role that government should play vis-a-vis the economy, noted Connor. In a word, according to Paul, it should be very little. An avowed libertarian, Paul stressed the importance and wisdom of letting the market determine economic winners and losers instead of leaving it up to politicians and their special interest constituencies.

Reason and experience prevent me from embracing the unadulterated laissez-faire idealism that animates Mr. Paul and his most ardent followers (recall Madison's observation that if men were angels, government wouldn't be necessary they aren't and it is); nevertheless, it is refreshing to hear a Republican espouse a coherent and unapologetic stance on issues of economic liberty, added Connor. The economic meltdown and subsequent recession were caused by greed, corruption, and recklessness on Wall Street and on Main Street.Bankers and lenders and traders who attempted to game the system for inordinate gain should have been allowed to crash and burn; and immature, indulgent citizens who dug themselves into a financial quagmire trying to have it all should have been left to reap the consequences of their unwise actions.