Transcript
John J Duncan, Jr.: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to my friend, Ron Paul. I have now served in Congress for 24 years, the last 16 of which I have served with Congressman Paul. During all of that time, I have never once seen him waver or stray from the commitment to liberty and freedom and his promise to uphold and defend our constitution. I can assure that no one runs for office wanting to make people mad. In fact, many of the other people who run for office have a stronger desire to be liked than most people. Thus, I feel certain that at times it has been hurtful to Congressman Paul to be the only member out of 435 to vote ‘No’ on some popular bill or some seemingly harmless resolution. Yet, on many occasions, he has been the only ‘No’ vote on some issues. Yet, because of his courage and sincerity and steadfast belief in free-enterprise, private property and individual freedom, he has earned the respect and admiration of almost everyone with whom he has served on both sides of the aisle.
When there was tremendous pressure, especially on the Republican side to vote to go to war in Iraq, only 6 Republicans voted ‘No’. Three of those were very liberal Republicans, and 3 were very conservative. The three conservative ‘No’ votes came from John Hostettler of Indiana, Congressman Paul, and myself. It is probably accurate to say that during the 16 years Congressman Paul and I have served together, no two members have voted more alike than we have. Most of that time, we have arrived at our decisions separately and independently, but we also have discussed many votes over the years and I attended most of the meetings of the Liberty Caucus that Congressman Paul has hosted in his office with a wide variety of speakers. One national magazine about 4 years ago gave just 3 members 100% ratings on the freedom-index: Congressman Paul, Congressman Jeff Flake of Arizona, and myself. Last year, I was very surprised when the national tax payers union ranked me as the most fiscally conservative member on all 338 spending votes, but the only reason that Congressman Paul was not first was because he missed many votes during his run for the White House.
There have been articles and comments and questions about who would be the next Ron Paul in Congress. But really no one can replace Ron Paul or fill his shoes or be the next Ron Paul. He has achieved a fame and a following and a position of influence that is almost miraculous, considering his unique independence. He is such a kind, humble, almost bashful person, that I know he’s been amazed by the numbers that have turned out to support him, and especially the following he has among young people. After all, there’s nothing cool or hip about him, but several million college students and 20-somethings love the name. I think his appeal lies on his principle stands on the issues, the concern young people have for their future and where this country is headed, and the fact that Congressman Paul is real, there’s nothing fake about him. He believes what he says and says what he believes, and then sticks by it even when it is not ‘politically correct’. Financial columnist, Charles Goyette, probably summed up Congressman Paul’s time in office best in a column a few days ago. He wrote, “Politics has ways of bending lesser men and molding even the well-intentioned to become servants of the state. The tools are many: Congressional leadership bribes and bestows its favors, from plum committee assignments to nicer Capitol offices. The parties reward the lockstep-marchers, too. For those who stay in step, there are endorsements and campaign funds. Meanwhile, for those who march to a different drummer …” well, “… and then there’s the simple social pressure to which men whose eyes are not focused on a polestar of principle soon succumb. The description you’ve heard of Washington, that you have to go along to get along, is all too true.” Mr. Goyette concluded by writing, “Ron Paul never succumbed. He never sold out for a better assignment, a nice office, lobbyist largesse, or shallow conviviality”.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, I think words written in the 1930 Novel called ‘The Lion’s Den’ fit Congressman Ron Paul. The words describe a fictional congressman named Zimmer. The author, Janet Fairbank, wrote, “No matter how the espousal of a lost cause might hurt his prestige in the House, Zimmer had never hesitated to identify himself with it if it seemed to him to be right. He knew only two ways, the right one and the wrong. And if he sometimes made a mistake, it was never one of honor. He voted as he believed he should, and although sometimes his voice was raised alone on one side of the question, it was never stilled”.
Processing your request, Please wait....
I watched your video on how Paulites piss you off. I see you have your plate after your trolling comment. In my experience with those who admire Ron Paul, none are new to politics. I can’t speak for your experience with Paulites, but my passion for politics was not absent before I heard of Paul and it wont end after he’s gone. Grouping people with such wide sweeping assumptions is…. frustrating. I appreciate your civility in discussions though, it is a rarity in my experience.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I misinterpreted your history comment. I agree we should be informed by the mistakes of history. Back to my original comment, you make the same assumption that billions make without blinking an eye. You assume that if government doesn’t provide it (education, medical research funding, transportation systems, defining commodities) then it wont happen. Whenever a communal system with forced participation (government) tries, the result is worse than if it had been left to individuals. more inc
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
So you assume without the Dept. of Education, 20% of the population today would be illiterate and there would be few colleges? You see the silliness there?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
it takes almost no time to look up literacy rates since the department of education formed… it’s simple to look up the history of the land grant colleges, crucial in our engineering excellence for decades… and still.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What kind of a silly response it that? Why don’t you show me how much better the education system in the United States has gotten since the creation of the Dept. of Education? Wouldn’t that make more sense? No one is calling for an end to public education, states and counties have every right to do such if they choose. The federal government, on the other hand, should not be involved at all. I’d like you to show me where it helps, as most of us can see it doesn’t.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
what numbers what plan ?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
his numbers don’t add up and he alludes to secret parts of his plan.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ok, show me the private education system that educates a nation, take any of the top 20 most well educated countries.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I took it as clear learning from history is about not repeating the same mistakes. I’d like to see a simulation. A free market requires a lot of stuff, like a commodity market requires definitions of commodity qualities or else you can’t sell futures. These rules conform systems the behavior of which can be studied and anticipated, and a system can be engineered with known qualities. That’s what we have to do. Not just go back to some jungle of eden.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
you are projecting a lot, actually, I’m entirely aware of geopolitics, wanna talk about it? You assume I support the mainstream because I’m against RP but you don’t u nderstand, RP is not the whole of all the undercurrent in politics against the machine control. That’s the point, you guys don’t even realize it’s possible to disagree with RP and not be for that machine. What has he accomplished? He’s brought you a message a lot of us already knew, this scheme.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
never had a flu shot. Is your command of what’s going on in the world limited to these minutia? like the biggest problem in the us is a flu shot that I personally have never gotten?
study some history… do you know how we started the WWII war in the pacific going back to the 1800s?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
that just means you didn’t understand it.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ha ha ha!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I thought we were beyond simple name calling here.Maybe you could try to respect yourself with some level of intelligence and make your statements a little less like “high middle school” …..oh well ..freedom of speech(for now)
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Keep up the good fight Rep. Duncan.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You are not alone, I am also a recovering neo con. I once thought I was an independent/ free thinker, but in reality, i was not.
I also thought Dr.Paul was just a nut case when I first saw him in 08. But in reality I was the nut case
-Had no idea I was being controlled by the party’s who prayed on my post 9/11 emotions.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
You are not alone, I am also a recovering neo con. I once thought I was an independent/ free thinker, but in reality, i was not.
I also thought Dr.Paul was just a nut case when I first saw him in 08. But in reality I was the nut case
-Had no idea I was being controlled by the party’s who prayed on my post 9/11 emotions.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I like how he says “After all there is nothing cool or hip about the man, but tons of college students and 20 somethings love him.” that is everyone loves honesty and down to earth logic.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m not sure I agree that nobody can replace Dr. Paul. He, himself has said that he wasn’t trying to gain the presidency for his own interest, but to advance the cause of the liberty movement. He has also said that the message is spreading and more people are becoming liberty-minded. This means that we could likely see more liberty oriented members of government and even a presidential candidate in the years that follow. Ron Paul isn’t selfish enough to believe he was the last one.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
After having spent a few hours looking over Duncan’s record, I think this is our guy for 2016!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
God Bless you man!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Awesome. At least SOMEone noticed he was retiring and showed some respect. I’d really like to see a compilation of such comments on Dr. Paul’s retirement by Nancy Pelosi, John Boehner, Obama, Bernanke, Geithner, et al. Of course we’d never get any sincere thoughts from any of them – just self-serving rhetoric, but I think it is incredibly insulting for them all to simply ignore this great Lion of Liberty as he fades from public view.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
why ?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
his personal positions on abortion, and homosexuality, however he has a constitutional position (i.e. state rights), so I see no hypocrisy. I strongly disagree with his position on global warming and I’m very concerned about what his opinion on secularism, because it does seem to lean towards a closer fit of the two. The rest of his policies I don’t see anything inherently wrong with socio/economic or it seems reasonable enough. I respect the man greatly, even though I am his political opposite
»crosslinked«
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Which of his positions do you disagree with most strongly?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Liberty knows not about race. Tyranny is universal, too…
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I am happy to say that I get to vote for Congressman Duncan, since I live in Knoxville, Tennessee. Mr. Duncan embodies and shares the same principles that drew me to Congressman Paul and his presidential campaign.
It is disturbing that Congressman Duncan notes that there are basically only three Congressman that are currently standing up for liberty. God help us.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
thanks faggot piece of shit.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
1
It’s great that this is in the Congressional record.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron Paul brings a tear to my eye !!!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I love the guy, don’t agree with Paul on some things, but he is not a politician. He is worth respecting
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The dude kinda bi-polar. In some Ron Paul’s Vid he trolls and some he spreads the message of Liberty.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The dude kinda bi-polar. In some Ron Paul’s Vid he trolls and some he spreads the message of Liberty.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I had no idea who this Rep. Duncan guy was
Sure glad I know now !
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
politics wont save us because the majority hates individual freedom.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0