Rand Paul

Rand Paul is an American physician and politician who has been serving as the junior United States Senator for Kentucky since 2011, alongside Mitch McConnell. He is the son of former United States Representative Ron Paul and has been involved in politics for many years, running for office in Kentucky and being endorsed by Tea Party movement groups like the National Rifle Association and the Club for Growth. Paul has also been associated with libertarianism and has been influenced by the ideas of Ayn Rand, Friedrich Hayek, and Milton Friedman. He has written several books, including The Tea Party Goes to Washington and Government Bullies, which have been published by Center for American Progress and Cato Institute-affiliated publishers.

● Early Life and Education

Rand Paul was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and grew up in Lake Jackson, Texas, where he attended Brazoswood High School. He then went on to study biology at Baylor University, before attending Duke University School of Medicine, where he earned his Doctor of Medicine degree. During his time at Duke University, Paul was heavily influenced by the works of Friedrich Hayek and Ludwig von Mises, and he became interested in libertarianism and the ideas of Ayn Rand. After completing his residency in ophthalmology at Duke University Hospital, Paul moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky, where he began practicing medicine and became involved in local politics, attending meetings of the Kentucky Republican Party and the Federalist Society.

● Career

Before entering politics, Paul worked as an ophthalmologist in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and he was a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Medical Association. He also founded the Southern Kentucky Lions Eye Clinic, which provided free eye care to low-income individuals and was supported by the Lions Clubs International and the United Way. Paul's entry into politics was influenced by his father, Ron Paul, who ran for President of the United States in 1988 and 2008 as the nominee of the Libertarian Party and was endorsed by Pat Buchanan and the National Review. Rand Paul has also been involved with various think tanks and advocacy groups, including the Cato Institute, the Heritage Foundation, and the American Conservative Union, and has spoken at events hosted by the Federalist Society and the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.

● Political Positions

Paul has been a strong advocate for limited government and individual liberty, and he has been critical of big government and government spending. He has also been a vocal supporter of the Second Amendment and has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association and the Gun Owners of America. Paul has also been a strong critic of the Federal Reserve System and has called for a return to the gold standard, a position that has been supported by Ron Paul and Lew Rockwell. He has also been influenced by the ideas of Murray Rothbard and Hans-Hermann Hoppe, and has spoken at events hosted by the Mises Institute and the Property and Freedom Society. Paul's views on foreign policy have been shaped by the ideas of Non-interventionism and isolationism, and he has been critical of United States foreign policy and the War on Terror, which he believes has been supported by the Project for the New American Century and the American Enterprise Institute.

● Senate Career

Paul was first elected to the United States Senate in 2010, defeating Trey Grayson in the Republican primary and Jack Conway in the general election. He was re-elected in 2016, defeating Jim Gray in the general election and was endorsed by the Senate Conservatives Fund and the Club for Growth. During his time in the Senate, Paul has been a member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where he has worked with Ted Cruz and Mike Lee to advance conservative and libertarian causes. He has also been a strong supporter of border security and has called for the construction of a border wall along the United States–Mexico border, a position that has been supported by Donald Trump and the National Border Patrol Council.

● Personal Life

Paul is married to Kelley Ashby Paul, and they have three children together, William Paul, Duncan Paul, and Robert Paul. He is a Christian and has been involved in various charitable organizations, including the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. Paul has also been a strong supporter of school choice and has called for the expansion of charter schools and vouchers, a position that has been supported by the Heritage Foundation and the Cato Institute. He has also been a vocal critic of socialized medicine and has called for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act, which he believes has been supported by the Obama administration and the Democratic Party. Paul has written several books, including Government Bullies and Taking a Stand, which have been published by Center for American Progress and Cato Institute-affiliated publishers, and has spoken at events hosted by the Federalist Society and the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.