ABSTRACT
Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) is one of the more interesting characters in modern American politics. Trained as a medical doctor, Paul was first elected to Congress in 1976. He was defeated in a run for the Senate in 1984 and as the Libertarian nominee for president in 1988. Paul was again elected to the U.S. House in 1996 and in 2008 he ran for the Republican nomination for president. While he was never a serious threat to win the Republican nomination, Paul did become an Internet phenomenon, gaining a large following and raising a total of $34.5 million, including $6.3 million in 24 hours on December 16, 2007, the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, in his famous “moneybomb” fundraiser. Ron Paul is credited by many with inspiring the grassroots Tea Party Movement.
