Ron Paul is met with boo's at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference for calling Republicans 'hypocrites' and saying the President is not a 'socialist'

US Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) was met with both disapproval and applause on Saturday during the Southern Republican Leadership Conference for describing Republicans as hypocritical when they call for a return to Constitutional values while supporting un-declared foreign wars.

Paul said that Republicans and liberals both like to spend. But Republicans spend money on different things. They like embassies, and they like occupation. They like the empire. They like to be in 135 countries and 700 bases.

Don’t you think it’s rather conservative to say, ‘Oh it’s good to follow the Constitution? Oh, except for war. Let the President go to war anytime they want.’ We can do better with peace than with war.

While most of the other speakers at the event used plenty of right-wing rhetoric for easy applause, Washington Post reporter David Weigel reported that the Congressman stuck to the outrage over American foreign policy that has defined his platform.

"The reason why the American people have awoken is because the country is broke and the people in Washington won't admit it." Paul also added that President Obama is not a 'socialist', as he has been labeled by the Tea Baggers and the Fox News wing-nuts.

“He’s a corporatist, the president takes care of corporations and corporations take over and run the country.” Paul said instead.

Most political commentators believe Paul is vying with Mitt Romney for the top slot of the straw poll of this weekend's conference.

Watch portions of Rep. Paul’s speech at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BfNpRoCbY5E&feature=player_embedded