December 13, 2007 03:47 AM UTC

Ron Paul and Ross Perot... they have more in common than just their initials.

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• by: GOPpundit

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

History repeats itself… this much we know. And in the vein of old cliché’s… “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Ron Paul is not going to win the Republican Primary. That, however, is unfortunately not the problem. I actually believe that there are healthy and substantive reasons for Ron Paul to run in the Primary. Like Tom Tancredo has done for immigration issues, Paul is elevating Constitutional issues and fiscal restraint and in doing so, he encourages Republicans to address these important issues.  But that is where the comparison ends.  Tancredo, who also doesn’t stand a chance to win the Republican Primary, will eventually support the candidate who does win. Ron Paul however, may be this election cycle’s Ross Perot. He looks frighteningly like the third party candidate that spoils the race and unwittingly leverages a liberal Democrat into the White House.

In 1988 Ron Paul, while still registered as a Republican, won the Libertarian Party presidential nomination. This is a pretty big issue in my estimation. I don’t have a problem with Libertarians; I know many and they’re damn fine people. I do have a problem with someone who’s values and agenda more closely aligns with the Libertarian Party running as a Republican; it’s a false representation and not fair to the voters. More to the point, Paul has demonstrated that he is not opposed to running with a different party if he feels it is helpful to his cause.

This leads me to the crux of the issue. While I trust someone like Tom Tancredo to eventually stand behind our Republican nominee I am quite concerned that Ron Paul will not follow suit. Ron Paul has enough money and enough supporters that he will change the election and it will cost the Republican party the presidency. While this would be welcome news for my friends on the Left, it would be a devastating development for Republicans.

It’s not my intent to attack Ron Paul or his candidacy efforts… I am interested in what others think of this potential situation and am very interested to hear what Ron Paul supporters believe about this potential situation.

If you are a Republican and a Ron Paul supporter will you urge Paul to back the Republican nominee if he fails in his bid?