Where Ron Paul Stands on Issues of Import to Latino Voters

Republican presidential candidate, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, listens to a question during a town hall style meeting in Meredith, N.H., Sunday, Jan. 8, 2012. (AP Photo/Stephan Savoia)

Ron Paul, at 76 is the oldest candidate in the Republican primaries, but the Texas Republican congressman is driving young voters and independents to the polls with his Libertarian flare.

His campaign is fueled by an enthusiastic and emphatic base that boasts an "us against the world" attitude and blames the mainstream media for blatantly labeling Paul as "unelectable."  To them he is a rock star.

But where does the former practicing obstetrician stand with Latinos?

Supporters say Paul is a defender of the constitution, someone who predicted the housing bubble and financial crisis, and a candidate that can transcend race because of his libertarian principles that emphasize personal liberties for all. Others say he is a libertarian radical, pointing to his foreign policy and his plan to phase out, eventually, programs like Medicare and Medicaid.

Paul's campaign has been in the spotlight recently with allegations that newsletters sent under his name in the 90's included racist, anti-Israel, or anti-gay comments, including a 1992 newsletter in which he said 95% of black men in Washington "are semi-criminal or entirely criminal." Paul has strongly denied that he wrote or condoned the newsletter language.

Paul finished third in the Iowa Caucuses last week and is now, according to some polls, is running second place in New Hampshire.

This is Paul's third push for the White House.

Fox News Latino has compiled a list of some issues key to Latinos, and where Paul stands on them.

Immigration

Ron Paul has spoken strongly against reforms that would legalize the status of undocumented immigrants.

Moreover, Paul wants to end automatic birthright citizenship granted to all children born in the United States, regardless of the immigration status of their parents.

Paul believes illegal immigration takes a toll on public services. Perhaps one of his more controversial stances is his belief that mandated hospital emergency treatment for undocumented immigrants should end entirely and should be the responsibility of charities and charitable people. He believes churches not the state should provide services for undocumented immigrants.

Although Paul has said in an interview with Jorge Ramos, of the leading Spanish-language network Univision, that he thinks it impractical to kick out 11 to 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the country and would want to work out a program of assimilation, he did not provide any details of what that would consist of.

Conversely, Paul believes the legal immigration should be more generous - allowing more legal immigrants into the United States.

Border Fence

"I don't think the fence can solve the problem. I find it rather offensive."

While the libertarian conservative Paul supports strengthening border authority under civilian control, he has always voted against putting troops (under military control) on the border.

Foreign Wars and the Military

Ron Paul's foreign policy --and policy towards military spending-- differs dramatically from those of the other GOP hopefuls.

Paul promises to end U.S. involvement in all foreign wars. He wants to focus the military on securing U.S. borders, and he is a strong critic of the Patriot act --promising to direct the intelligence community’s efforts spying on foreign threats and not on  Americans.

Economy

Paul has called for eliminating the central banking system, the IRS, and he once wrote a book titled "End the Fed," referring to the Federal Reserve. He blames the reserve and the central bank for causing monetary inflation and would like to see gold reintroduced as currency.

Ron Paul promises to cut a $1 trillion dollars during the first year in office, balance the budget by 2015.  His budget outlines a plan to cutting "federal waste" by cutting 10% of the federal workforce, slashing congressional pay, and curb excess travel.

The Libertarian has even pledged to take a salary as president that is equal to the median American worker at $39,336 a year.

Paul wants to extend all Bush-tax cuts, abolish the death tax, and end taxes on personal savings.  Paul also wants to lower the corporate tax rate to 15%.

But Paul's efforts to reign-in government spending go well beyond the discretionary budget items listed by most other candidates. Paul believes "entitlements are not rights," and the 76-year-old outlines a plan that makes Social Security, veterans’ benefits, and Medicare voluntary programs. This  would allow, he argues, younger workers to opt out of the programs, while upholding promises to present-day seniors and veterans.

Health Care

Dr. Ron Paul has spent an entire career in the medical profession as an obstetrician and has he believes that the nation's healthcare system should be about freedom - not force. He is adamantly Pro-Life.

He has called for the eventual elimination of Medicare and Medicaid. Paul wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act or Obamacare, the law that mandates nearly everyone have health care insurance by 2014 or be fined, and believes charities should provide health care to the uninsured. Paul has also said the modern health system “is overly corporate and not much better than a socialized healthcare system.”

"The freer the system the better the healthcare," Paul says. “I really want to promote these medical savings accounts so people can put their money aside and get it off their taxes, and buy their own insurance and pay cash to their doctors."

Where Rick Perry Stands on Latino Issues

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Where Mitt Romney Stands on Latino Issues

Where Jon Huntsman Stands on Latino Issues

Where Newt Gingrich Stands on Latino Issues

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