When did you first realize you supported Paul?

[AggieforPaul]

I had watched the GOP debate exchange between Ron Paul and Rudy. At that point I was anti-war, but not for the same reasons as Ron Paul. I thought the terrorists were disguising filth who hated us because we were rich free and Christian, but I was tired of fighting them because of its enormous cost of both lives and money. I watched the exchange and cheered Rudy on. Then I started seeing topics about the exchange online. I started writing out a post defending the idea that the terrorists hate us because we're rich and free. But I couldnt think of a SINGLE reason why that was true. Every argument I started to type up, I'd quickly backspace through after I realized how ridiculous I sounded.

I was wondering why Rudy didnt tout this supposed massive victory, and then i saw Paul on Blitzer, and it became pretty clear. Dr. Paul informed me that Bin laden cited our involvement in the mid east as a reason for attacking, and even the 9/11 commission report cited it as a reason. I read more about Rudy, and learned that he had been kicked off the 9/11 commission, had provided the NY firefighters with archaic radios on 9/11, etc.

I promised myself I would never let a politician like Bush feed me lines again without me questioning them. And that includes Dr. paul (luckily, every time Im skeptical of something he says, my research always tell me that he's either right, or that he at least has a solid argument)

[Jeremy]

When I stopped lying to myself.

[ItsTime]

when I realized I was tired of being a Neo Con.

[Eric23]

"We should take our marching orders from our constitution." - Ron Paul

[werdd]

i watched freedom to facism,and relentlessly researched the canidates to see who could get us off of this track. Im not a truther, but freedom to facism is a real eye opener and an excellent documentary, if that doesnt convert someone i dont know what will.

edit: Prior to that i supported guiliani because i thought he was the best guy

[piotr1]

After i watched "A New Hope" for the first time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG2PUZoukfA

[AggieforPaul]

I would have left Freedom to Fascism a lot better if he hadnt made the supposed illegality of the income tax the main focus of the movie.

[voytechs]

Pat Buchanan article on his website. Immediately googled and never looked back.

[bobmurph]

After watching this...

Ron Paul Courageously Speaks The Truth (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G7d_e9lrcZ8)

...it was game over

[werdd]

I would have left Freedom to Fascism a lot better if he hadnt made the supposed illegality of the income tax the main focus of the movie.

Well the income tax is unconstitutional...

[All4Paul]

Anyone who comes out against the Federal Reserve and Central Banking has my vote. Been following Ron Paul for about 3 years now.

[Janet0116]

"We should take our marching orders from our constitution." - Ron Paul

This, it really turned my stomach to hear the rest of those fools LAUGHING at the only man speaking truth and common sense.

That, combined with watching A New Hope, got me off my ass.

[Hangly Man]

1999

I was very active in protesting the war in Yugoslavia, and the only groups that consistently opposed war were the socialists and the libertarians.
I spent a lot of time on libertarian site antiwar.com, where I was exposed to Lew Rockwell and Ron Paul.

[Bilgefisher]

I saw his name on the 2+2 forums. He supported personal rights of poker players. (largest gambling forum on the net) Even cosponsored a few bills.

[quickmike]

When I found out he was running for president.

Ive known about RP for about 4 years since I started watching his speeches on his congressional site and always hoped someone like him would run who actually has a chance to win. When I found out he was running, I was like "Oh, shit yeah!!!"

[AggieforPaul]

Well the income tax is unconstitutional...

"amending the constitution is constitutional"-Ron Paul

I think the debate over what constitutes "income", and whether or not its ok that some states ratified a 16th amendment with a semicolon in the 5th paragraph while others ratified a 16th amendment with a comma in the 5th paragraph is a little dumb. Obviously they MEANT to legalize an unapportioned tax on wages. Even if Russo could prove they screwed up, they could always go back and word it the way they want it.

I think its better to focus on whether or not we actually NEED an income tax. Im not sure we do, but I think Russo's argument are a bit of a reach.

[MRoCkEd]

his exchange with rudy
i said, "who is that guy on the end"

I "googled ron paul"

[MayTheRonBeWithYou]

The first debate. It was the first time I had ever seen him and I was like W....T....F! He's like a dream candidate for me, since I am libertarian and also happened to have changed my views on foreign policy about 2 years ago. Ron just came from out of the sky for me.

[kushaze]

When I listened to a Ron Paul interview with NORML

[Dawg]

After I saw one of the early debates.

Ron said "out of Iraq now" and I was hooked! After a little research on Dr. Paul's political positions and his straight-forward honesty, I realized that he is the last hope for freedom and the return of democracy in America.

[FreedomWon]

I remember it well.
Saturday, September 1, 2007 @ 10:00 am
A colleague had emailed me the day before asking me to google Ron Paul.
That night a friend of mine visited me and gave me a Ron Paul pamflet.
Stayed up all night researching and started canvassing by email and phone the next morning.

[slamhead]

When I stopped lying to myself.

I totally agree...when I stopped lying to myself about this war and its spending. Always in the back of my head was...we could be doing this better. It is not a war of security but just a war of ideology that can be defeated along the lines of the KKK and neo nazi fascism. We could have put an end to this with some good intel and a $10,000 gravity bomb.

But the war is not my only reason...it goes much deeper. I am going to write about it in length probably in another post but a deciding factor for me that something is terribly wrong with this country is when I got a notice that I was going to be prosecuted if I did not renew the license for my dog.

[AParadigmShift]

A number of years ago, I noted an endorsement by a certain member of Congress: our Dr. Ron Paul, on the back of G. Edward Griffin's masterpiece "The Creature from Jekyll Island". Needless to say, I was intrigued that a member of the House Banking Committee would endorse such a book in a most open and unabashed manner. . . so began my admiration of Dr. Paul.

[mconder]

First time I saw that he ranked first on The New American Magazine Conservative Index back in around 1995.

[jclay2]

I first saw Ron Paul on Kudlow and Company and was sparked by his concern of spending and debt. I then stayed up nearly all night till 6 in the morning watching youtube videos and just getting enthralled with Ron Paul.

[Jon S]

well for me it wasn't so much as realizing it. i just recently turned 18, but back in july i said to myself "im gonna be old enough to vote i need to do some research" well i was watching zeitgeist one night on youtube (this wasn't part of my candidate research) and all the chips and nau stuff scared me and pissed me off. in the comments i noticed a LOT of ron paul stuff. so i was like "who is this guy" i went and checked him out and thought "WOW this is that guy from the colbert report the other day!" so i researched more and more for a few days (i literally stayed up entire nights) and decided to donate to him in august.

and i've been "bugging" people about him ever since.

[EotS]

I voted for Badnarik (LP) in 2004, then I bought and read his book "Good to be King" in the fall of 2006.

Spring of 2007, I went to Badnarik's website to see what he's been up to, if he was running again, or what.

His site said he was dedicating all of his time and energy to getting Ron Paul elected. I said to myself "who is Ron Paul?" and set about researching his name. Found the first debate on youtube. Then I tuned in to the second debate live. From there, I was "all in."

[singapore_sling]

I started looking at digg.com and lo and behold back in may there was some Ron Paul thing on the top 10 and I remember watching a TON of Ron Paul youtube videos that night and just being amazed.

[corsairtro]

Saw news stuff about Nov. 5th, googled, youtubed was hooked.

[Matthew Zak]

I was laying on the couch with my (now ex) girlfriend, and out of mild curiosity had the republican debate on. At this point in my life I was as apathetic as I had ever been, and had very little interest in anything those clowns had to say. I was so disinterested that I couldn't comprehend what anyone was saying, it was all murmurs, like on Charley Brown. But then I heard this:

"I believe in NO secrecy in government..."

And I was hooked instantly. Been on board ever since.

[Marceline88]

When he owned Rudy.....and the gates of Heaven opened and I met a REAL conservative who was intelligent, honest and peace loving.

He had me at Blowback.

[AFM]

When I saw him on Real Time w/ Bill Maher

[sgrooms]

saw him on real time with bill maher as well

[Paul4Prez]

As soon as I heard in January that he had formed an exploratory committee.

I voted for him in 1988, and have been reading his Texas Straight Talk columns for years.

[Galileo Galilei]

As soon as I heard in January that he had formed an exploratory committee.

I voted for him in 1988, and have been reading his Texas Straight Talk columns for years.

1988

I voted for Ron Paul in 1988 and have supported him ever since.

[homah]

The 2+2 forums made me aware of who we was and the exchange between Paul and Guiliani in one of the early debates got me truly interested in researching his positions.

[TheConstitutionLives]

He had me at Blowback.


LOLOL!

[justatrey]

Was watching some 911 Truth video on You Tube and noticed someone's message. It was something to the effect of "Ron Paul is our last hope, Google Ron Paul!".

So I searched his name on You Tube and watched the "Stop Dreaming" video (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWfIhFhelm8&feature=related) After this there was no question who I'd be voting for.

[Peppy690]

Digg on November 5th.... now i'm an addict

[derekjohnson]

The first time I saw a news article on him this summer. I hadn't paid attention to the debates, because I knew I would vote libertarian or constitution party in November, then I saw news on Paul and thought I finally had a candidate in a major party to support.

[MadTheologian]

I've heard of Paul since 2000, when I was surfing through the Libertarian websites. And when he announced his candidacy, I thought: "I. WANT. IN!!!"

[chinaCat]

I saw him on Maher as well, and I believe it was shortly after that an admin at a forum I visit brought him up. This was also right after the Rudy thing and I started doing my own research. I was hooked.

[BlueGecko]

When I realized dems were going to be socialist and other reps would be fascists

[slydecix]

I'd see him on digg, but never bothered to really look into him til November 5th. Now I'm absolutely hooked.

[icon124]

when i realized that i was in the false world of being affiliated with a party becuz ur family is and that's how it has to be....then i woke up and thought why the hell would i choose my candidate becuz im a so and so party....everyone should have an equal shot from every party....then one day i heard RP speak on Iraq and why they attack us....i used to think maybe it was becuz ppl hated the fact that we were a "free" country, but RP made so many strong points...I realized that we might have a really smart guy running for president...after listening to a lot of what he had to say I knew he was the one....but for the first 2 weeks or so i was in denial that a smart man was actually running for president....i always just assumed some rich man had a hook up and now he is running for president...cuz honestly thats usally how it ends up

[Azprint]

Stop Dreaming was point of no return for me.

[FreedomLover]

When I realized the extent that certain people would go to malign an old doctor who's done his best to follow the constiution in congress. I thought, "Is this the side I really want to be on? The side that uses fear and unfair arguments/insults to support a strategy of conquest that simply does not work?"

[xcalybur]

After the very first debate. The one before Ron Paul and Giuliani went at it.

[Dave Pedersen]

Aaron Russo's film "America: From Freedom to Fascism".. or somewhere along in there.

[southerntrendkill]

I have been a LP member beginning in 1991. Have heard Ron Paul on several Radio Stations over the years. So I guess that would be close to 17 years. But I supported the Constitution before I knew about Ron Paul!

[dshields]

I am the type of person that likes to know exactly how things work and to what end. When I was of the neo-con mentality I never really thought it through which is unusual for me. One day, I was arguing with a friend who was a Ron Paul supporter at the time and still is today and he accused me of spouting off neo-con talking points and to back up my arguments for our involvement with fact and reason. Naturally I spouted off a bunch of things (I always thought if you can dazzle them with brilliance baffle them with bull shit!) and ended the conversation.

After several days I found myself still thinking about that argument and felt that I really didn't have any reason or logic for my pro-war stance. In fact the more I thought of it the more I realized there is absolutely NO possible way we could keep pouring more troops and money in to nation after nation with the idea of changing them. It would be literally ENDLESS and impossible to accomplish, so then why do it? The way the neo-cons frame it is one nation at a time. Lets be honest, if they actually came out and said they wanted to conquer the whole middle east at once they would lose American support, but if they focus on one nation at a time they could easily depend on American's bad memory to aid them.

I guess it took quite a bit of reflection and thought so I can't say it happened at any particular moment but it happened none-the-less over time. However, I can say I remember the turning point if you will which was that argument with my Ron Paul supporting friend.

Dave

[Chase]

I saw the episode of Bill Maher where he was on satellite. In the interview, he stated that 9/11 might have been prevented if private citizens weren't forced to leave their 2nd Amendment rights at the gate. He also revealed that he was pro-war and pretty libertarian...

After the show, I called a friend and excitedly told him about how I found a Republican I might vote for in this election. My friend thought I was crazy (still does, sadly), but I've done a lot more research since then. I now understand a lot more about the issues and for the first time I have a candidate I'm truly excited about!

[DirtMcGirt]

after my first meetup group, it was a strange bunch of characters from every part of society and thats when i was officially "all in". i loved his message but until i personally saw all the groups he was bringing together.... Ron Paul is my hero and his message must be passed on to all our children, nieces, and nephews... Team Paul!!!!

[MikeStanart]

I always supported Ron Paul;

It was only until March of this year; that I knew he existed.

[Cap'n Crunk]

I took a couple online questioners that pairs you with a candidate. every quiz had me matching Ron Paul at like 98%. This got me interested. Some one on a gambling website, that has a politics section (http://www.therxforum.com/forumdisplay.php?f=102) posted the New Hope video. I fell in love. Stayed up all night watching videos and I don't think a day has passed since that I have not watched at least one Ron Paul video.

[2young2vote]

I was on some forums that were talking about the government regulating and taxing the internet and i was just sitting there thinking to myself "WTF". Then someone brought up Ron Paul and how he was against taxing the internet. After that someone asked "isn't Ron Paul the guy who always raises taxes and wants to regulate the internet?" There was no response so i went on google and did a little research.

I didn't like his Anti War ideas but i found out there would be a debate only a couple days later. So i watched the debate and in that one debate (the Ron vs Rudy one) Paul changed my entire view about the government. And of course i did more research and watched more videos until the point that i was 100% Ron Paul Republican.

[Cindy]

When I made my first donation. That's when I felt, I made my REAL commitment to support him.

There was nothing like the feeling of the first time I wore an RP shirt out in public, my first sign wave, and the first drive out with Ron Paul signage on my car.

Sending off my registration form to join the Republican party was when I knew, I've either

a) gone mad or
b) was deeply effected by something extremely extraordinary happening.

It's gone far beyond supporting RP to me. There is a movement taking place larger then one man that will not end with him or this election.

[southerntrendkill]

When I made my first donation. That's when I felt, I made my REAL commitment to support him.

There was nothing like the feeling of the first time I wore an RP shirt out in public, my first sign wave, and the first drive out with Ron Paul signage on my car.

Sending off my registration form to join the Republican party was when I knew, I've either

a) gone mad or
b) was deeply effected by something extremely extraordinary happening.

It's gone far beyond supporting RP to me. There is a movement taking place larger then one man that will not end with him or this election.

Amen! And I'm not the "organized religon type"! I feel it too.

[yongrel]

Penn Radio

[krott5333]

The debate in May, when Paul went at it with Giuliani.

I told myself early on I wasn't going to get involved with politics this time around. But then I'm watching the debate, Ron Paul says something that makes sense, and Rudy asks him to retract his statement. So me, never having heard of RP prior to this, thought to myself "This nobody is going to puss out and kiss Rudy's ass".. and then, no, the complete opposite. He stood his ground, despite the huge cheer for Giuliani. And I knew this was a man of principles.

I was watching the debate with my girlfriend of the time and we both agreed that RP was the only one that seemed trustworthy.

[zaffa]

The day that he went on the Colbert Report (first time that I had ever head of him) I just became entranced by his message of peace and prsperity.

[xd9fan]

when I left the GOP in 2005

[Cato58]

When I voted for him in 1988.

[xerigen]

I first saw him in some documentary by Michael Ruppert and thought "WOW! This guy will appear on a documentary and talk bad about the patriot act and the Iraq War?" This was sometime in 2006 I'd say. Then I saw him in America: Freedom to Fascism and was like "WOW! It's this guy again!" I saw him all over digg.com and in April or so I thought that I REALLY needed to do some research. I wasn't really completely sold until the Rudy/Ron exchange and after watching several youtube videos. The main reason was my thoughts of "I could NEVER vote for a Republican!" Boy, was I stupid.