No, Paul is not a modern Conservative (what was meant by the term "Neoconservative" before it became a derogatory term). However, I would contend that Paul's positions embody the original meaning of 'conservatism' more closely than any Neoconservative (not used derogatorily) of our day.
From tonight's speech, here is a quote from Paul about this topic (pardon any mistakes, as I transcribed while he was speaking -- paragraphs added after transcription, obviously):
I think the problem is that it's become difficult to define what being Conservative means. I think that's our problem.
'Conservative' means we have smaller government and more liberty, and yet, if you ask what we have done, I'd say we've lost our way completely.
Our rhetoric is still pretty good, but when we get in charge, we expand the government. You talk about Dodd Frank; we gave them Sarbanes Oxley. We gave debts as well, you know, when we're in charge.
So if it means limiting the government, you have to ask the basic question, 'What should the form of government be'? The founders asked that question, had a revolution, and wrote a Constitution. They said that government ought to be to protect liberty. It's not to run a welfare state. It's not to be the policemen of the world.
So how can you be a Conservative and cut foodstamps, but not cut spending overseas? Not a nickel or penny that anyone will cut on the Conservative side on overseas spending. We don't have the money. They're willing to start world wars.
So I say, if you're Conservative, you want small government across the board, especially in personal liberty. What's wrong with having the federal government out of our personal lives?
So we have to decide what 'Conservative' means and what 'limited government' means. I have a simple suggestion: We have a pretty good guide, and if we followed the Constitution, the government would be very small, and we would all be devoted Conservatives.
Do you disagree with his assessment of what Conservatism means. Does it not mean having smaller government and more liberty?
- Genuinely Curious in Akron