Freedom Quote by Gary Johnson

"I'm absolutely a Ron Paul fan" is less an ideological manifesto than a piece of political signaling engineered for a particular tribe. Gary Johnson, speaking as a libertarian-leaning candidate trying to widen his lane, isn’t just praising a rival; he’s borrowing a brand. Ron Paul, especially in the 2008-2012 era, functioned as a shorthand for anti-establishment credibility: anti-war, anti-Fed, suspicious of bipartisan consensus, and allergic to the moralizing theatrics of mainstream politics. Declaring fandom is a way to tap that energy without having to litigate every policy detail.

The word "absolutely" does the heavy lifting. It’s an intensifier meant to preempt doubt: not a casual nod, not a strategic alignment, but a full-throated identification. That matters because libertarian politics is notoriously factional. "Fan" is also tellingly informal. It frames politics like culture - you follow people, not platforms - and it tries to humanize a position that can read as doctrinaire or cold. Johnson is saying: I get it, I’m one of you, I’m not here to lecture you with spreadsheets.

The subtext is pragmatic. Paul’s supporters were young, online, and intensely loyal, but often skeptical of anyone who looked like a diluted copy. Johnson’s line attempts a delicate move: acknowledge Paul as the authentic origin point while positioning himself as the viable continuation. It’s an appeal to inheritance, not imitation: let me carry the torch into a race where he can’t or won’t.