n October of 2002, the night before the U.S. House voted to go to war in Iraq, my sister Beverly called to tell me a Knoxville television station had conducted a poll and found that 74 percent in its viewing area were in favor of the war, 9 percent were opposed, and 17 percent were undecided.
The next day, when I voted against going to war, I wondered if I was also voting to end my political career. This was clearly the most unpopular thing I had ever done.
About a year later, I was scheduled to give the lay sermon at a church in my district. The minister called the Monday before and very apologetically told me that a Deacon who was his largest contributor said he would leave the church if I was allowed to speak there. I told him I understood and agreed not to come.
But, very, very slowly, this very unpopular vote, much to my amazement, ended up becoming one of the most popular things I ever did.
Probably the two most respected foreign policy experts in this Country are Professors John Mearsheimer of the University of Chicago and Jeffrey Sachs of Columbia University.
Both men, and many others, have …read more
Source:: Ron Paul Institute