Americans have lost faith in politicians, and for good reasons. Taxes, spending, and the national debt continue to rise, special interest bribes riddle the Congress, courts, and executive branch, and our schools are in shambles. Yet our government continues to wage a ceaseless assault on the American people’s rights to make their own choices. It has done so through the USA Patriot Act, the REAL ID Act, the War on Drugs, McCain-Feingold, and countless other initiatives. The endless and inept foreign policy of interventionism of the establishment politicians has put our country in grave danger not only of a destructive war with Iran but a new financial crisis.

The 2008 election thus comes at a critical time in the history of the United States and the world.

We endorse Ron Paul for president because we believe he is the candidate best able to solve these profound problems. We come from a broad and diverse range of academic fields and specialties. We unite under the banner of liberty and are proud to announce our support for Ron Paul.

Dr. Ron Paul will be a unifying president. He was a star athlete who worked from his teenage years onward to earn his way through college. He graduated from Gettysburg College and the Duke University School of Medicine, before proudly serving as a flight surgeon in the U.S. Air Force during the 1960s. He and his wife Carol moved to Texas in 1968, where he began his medical practice in Brazoria County. As a specialist in obstetrics/gynecology, Dr. Paul has delivered more than 4,000 babies. Together Dr. and Mrs. Paul have five children, eighteen grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Ron Paul has served in Congress, on and off, since the mid-1970s for a total of ten terms. He has been called “the one exception to the Gang of 535” on Capitol Hill and “the Taxpayers Best Friend.” He is highly regarded for his honesty, integrity, and commitment to principle. Paul does not flip-flop on the issues, nor does he apologize for his consistent voting record. His vast experience, calm and reasoned temperament, expertise on policy issues, commitment to family, and overwhelming regard for American principles make him uniquely qualified to serve in the oval office.

A Paul administration would dramatically reduce the size and scope of the federal government over our lives and liberties. President Paul will work to abolish the Internal Revenue Service, emphasize free trade and diplomacy over confrontation, cease the war on drugs, which has destroyed the lives and liberties of the poor in inner cities, and end our error-ridden system of federal capital punishment. To accomplish these goals, and ensure that those in greatest need do not suffer during the transition, Paul will bring home the troops and abandon our ruinously expensive and futile effort to police the world.

Paul is the only presidential candidate with a proven record of defending academic freedom across-the-board. He has stood against efforts by both the political right and left to restrict the free discourse of ideas in higher education. He strongly opposes the use of speech codes to restrict academic freedom. For the same reason, he has spoken out against the so-called Academic Bill of Rights and other proposals that would empower politicians to impose “ideological balance” in the classroom. As Paul points out, these “speech codes of the right” would, if implemented, create a chilling effect on free and creative academic inquiry and teaching.

We, members of academic institutions across the world, endorse Dr. Ron Paul for President to restore the American principles of peace, individual liberty, personal responsibility, and limited government. We urge you to vote for Dr. Paul in your state’s Republican primary.

We invite other academics to add their names to this statement. Those who wish to do so can contact David T. Beito at davidbeito@hotmail.com.

Bradley Smith - 3/5/2008

You appear to have a very low threshold for suffering "abuse." Suck it up a bit.

Glenn Rodden - 12/16/2007

I am unclear why people are supporting Ron Paul. He claims that he is against government intervention in the lives of citizens, but he wants to the government to regulate my reproductive life. He says he is against big government, but he wants a huge federal government program to stop illegal immigration.

Could one of his supporters please clear up these contradictions?

Rodney Porter - 12/14/2007

Jena - indeed so - expecting Rudy or Hillary, or any of the media-approved candidates, to work for change is asking for more than one can imagine.

I had intended to sit out this election and hope the country could somehow survive. Ive voted for my last lesser-of-evils candidate. Not playing that anymore. Ron Paul drew me out of a cynical catatonia.

Contrary to the media song that "all is well" - this country is in trouble. With a principled man like Ron Paul in the office of the president we might have one more chance.

There is some kind of an event upcoming on the 16th which looks interesting. Rod

Serge Lelouche - 12/8/2007

I actually enjoy abuse Brad. A lot.

David T. Beito - 12/6/2007

For an updated list of signers, see here.

Serge Lelouche - 12/6/2007

"Your courageous pioneering statement will be seen as a tipping point for the emergence of many more in academia who actually have brains to match their degrees"

"no smart people left in this country"

Sudha Shenoy - 12/6/2007

Where's the abuse of others (here)?

Serge Lelouche - 12/5/2007

Ron Paul's campaign is caricatured as consisting of out-of-touch Internet maniacs who (typing away in attics wearing their fingerless gloves) heap absurd praise on themselves and abuse on everyone else. Reading the comments to this piece, I get the impression that the caricature is spot on.

HNN - 12/5/2007

2007 December 5 Wednesday 15:08 GMT

This is so gratifying!

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for raising the perceived profile of Ron Paul supporters.

The media has no clue yet. The Ron Paul Revolution is bigger than that of Barry Goldwater, bigger than that of Gene McCarthy, and appeals to participants of both. Bobby Kennedy Democrats and Ronald Reagan Republicans arm-in-arm, embracing the world.

Your courageous pioneering statement will be seen as a tipping point for the emergence of many more in academia who actually have brains to match their degrees.

Mahalo nui loa,
Indy

L. M. Indy Schneider, L.Ac.
University of Hawaii New College Class of '71
Now residing in Sakura Cherry Blossom City, Tochigi, Japan

Jena Marie Seroski - 12/5/2007

Thank God (or whoever). I was afraid that there were really no smart people left in this country especially after hearing calls for change in our government and then hearing people supporting Rudy or Hillary.

Steve Grycel - 12/5/2007

Bravo! Three cheers for the great academics supporting a solution to the woes of our nation. Your endorsement of Dr. Paul for President makes me proud to be an American. Thanks to all of you for your well considered and timely endorsment.
-Steve Grycel

Oscar Chamberlain - 12/5/2007

While I disagree profoundly with some of Ron Paul's positions, I am glad to see your endorsement. A debate among scholars concerning the different candidates can only be helpful.

Like I said in a post on the Obama support statement, I hope that some of the signers here will extend the debate in this context and address some of the tougher issues that his candidacy would raise.

Dan Druck - 12/4/2007

I greatly respect your courage and initiative in making your endorsement. I agree with Lou Kalmer, your endorsement will encourage Americans to see the merit and legitimacy of Ron Paul's platform and that our country really, really needs him at this time. I hope you are successful in building your list of endorsements and am most grateful for your efforts. I intend to spread the word by posting a link to your endorsement in a number of forums. THANK YOU!!!!

lou j kamler - 12/4/2007

It would be great if the academics for Ron Paul could really make their support be known. I believe a group such as this could really lend credibility to the only candidate in this election who understands the situation the US is in (especially economic situation)and where it is heading. The other candidates, media commentators, and other Americans just don't understand a lot of what RP believes in because they lack the education and logic of certain fields such as economics. Continue to support RP and educate everyone!