Transcript
Ashley Martella: We’re pleased to have with us on the line now, Texas U.S. Representative and GOP presidential candidate, Ron Paul. He was one of 5 Republicans from the Texas congressional delegation to vote against the so-called Budget Control Act of 2011, which is the debt ceiling increase. Thanks for joining us, sir.
Ron Paul: Thank you, good to be with you.
Ashley Martella: You write on the Hill’s Congress Blog, that there were no real cuts in the legislation, only cuts in projected spending increases. Please explain briefly.
Ron Paul: This is one of the most annoying things about the reporting on what we’ve been trying to do in Washington and what we pretend to be doing. They’re always talking about cuts, cuts, cuts and everybody is screaming, “You can’t cut this, you can’t cut that”. But there are no cuts, there’s a baseline CBO projection that automatically goes up year after year after year. And what they’re talking about is just cutting some of these proposed increases. So it’s a real misleading definition when they talk about cuts. If you had a cut, you would actually have to cut this year. Because anything we do for future years doesn’t hold water anyway, because you can’t tell the next Congress what to do. So it’s basically a fraud.
If they were serious about it and wanted to do it and make a point of changing the way we operate, they could freeze the budget and give everybody the same amount of money they got last year, and that would be, according to the way they calculate, a big cut, because we would be cutting all the proposed increases for the next years to come.
Ashley Martella: Well, you say if we were to go back to 2004 spending levels, we would have a balanced budget right now. Please crunch the numbers for us a bit.
Ron Paul: That is, 2004 would give us enough money to balance the budget right now, that’s like 2.4 trillion dollars. And even now if you freeze the budget, within about 5 years it would be balanced again. But nobody’s quite willing to do that because they think they have to have steady increases. But there’s a strong appetite for government and that is where the problem is. People don’t want to cut back on the militarism and the people don’t want to cut back on anything that looks like it might cut into their check they’re getting from government, and you know a lot of people are getting checks from the government.
Ashley Martella: Our budget has doubled in 10 years, you ask why. Why do you think it has?
Ron Paul: The appetite for government never ends, there are more retired people because of the demographics, less people are coming into the workforce, unemployment rates go up, they can’t control that. So the benefits go up automatically. And it’s endless, there’s always new programs; this week, after we passed that budget, there was a new program, brand new program out of thin air to go around the world and tell other countries what they should do about their religious freedom. And it was a small program, but the first year was going to be a million dollars. And I thought, “Well, why are they starting a new program in the midst of this?” But that is only one little program, I mean there are hundreds and hundreds of programs that are brand new and they keep doing it. They just won’t stop, it’s like an addiction. And they don’t stop because I don’t think they even realize the seriousness of how big this problem is.
Ashley Martella: The Tea Party helped elect candidates it thought would vote to end reckless spending by Congress. Yet, most of the Tea Party backed Republicans voted yes on the bill. Where’s the disconnect here?
Ron Paul: Yea, that’s a tough one, because I think the Tea Party people have helped because it has changed the atmosphere and at least they’re talking about this. But then it has to be awfully discouraging for all of us if they’re not voting against these kinds of programs where we raise the national debt and increase this Super Congress. I mean, it’s a real mess. It represents the fact that there are no easy solutions and people realize that when you do cut, there’s a political liability there. The Tea Party people got there because there was political liability to continue the spending. So that has to be ironed out and it will be ironed out pretty soon because we cannot maintain what we’re doing.
Ashley Martella: You expect there to be a backlash by the Tea Party against the Congressmen they backed who voted yes on this deal?
Ron Paul: Yea, I think there will be, but I don’t think it will be quite the same thing that happened last year when so many were routed. And there are going to be so many people who will be disenchanted. They’ll say, “You mean we did it, we worked hard, we changed the Congress, but we didn’t change the votes?” And I don’t know whether you can keep the people up, I think the people are going to get pretty discouraged one way or the other. But I think if things don’t improve and we don’t get our house in order and get control of this budget, I think there will be a lot of people who are saying, “You know, we sent you over there, but you kept voting for more spending”.
Ashley Martella: If Republicans should win back the Senate next year, as many predict, will that change anything regarding reckless spending?
Ron Paul: Let’s hope so, but it’s no guarantee. Just like I was complaining about when George Bush was in charge and we had the Senate and the House, we didn’t do a very good job. Then the battle becomes between the two factions within the Republican Party; you know, the conservatives versus the big spenders in the Republican Party. So you don’t know, it just depends on who shows up into the Senate. But certainly, the way it’s formulated right now, there’s no way that the conservatives can win a fight and have the Senate support it and then have the President sign a bill.
Ashley Martella: You announced a while back that you were retiring from the House after your current term. Why?
Ron Paul: Well, I wanted to concentrate on the race for the presidency. Last time I ran, I did both and it was distracting and I wanted to make sure that people knew I was very, very serious about the presidential run and I was also content to know that I would be, and am ready to leave the Congress too.
Ashley Martella: The latest Gallup polling shows you with 8% ballot support among all Republicans. Now that compares to 17% for Mitt Romney, and 15% for your fellow Texan, Governor Rick Perry, who hasn’t even announced yet at the time we are recording this. How do you get your numbers up?
Ron Paul: Continue to do what I am doing and just more so, because the numbers depend on which poll you look at. They have been improving, but it is not easy. That means we have to continue to campaign, we have to continue to raise money. We have had some TV out, we hope to have a lot more TV out and the numbers certainly will go up if we do well at Ames next week.
Ashley Martella: Texas congressman and Republican presidential candidate, Ron Paul. Thanks so much and good luck on the campaign trail.
Ron Paul: Thank you, good to be with you.
Ashley Martella: And thank you for watching Newsmax TV.
Processing your request, Please wait....
Social programs are the reason these nations have ‘no homeless’, not stronger family ties.
‘Waiting tables’ pays well, but how many millions of low pay jobs are there in USA? Many have no choice, it’s those jobs or no jobs. Unemployment is over 9%!
“church or RC” this helps, but charity has never been enough. Are there not still people in need on the streets of the cities?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ur so stupid dude ron paul the new puppet of the elite in power(rich ass jewsih’family like rothschild and rockefeller warburgs schiff etc..) , al quaeeda and bin laden r all bullshit to brainwash all the sheeps!! they want u all to vote for ron paul so the riots can start so they can apply martial laws with the military busting everybody who is not agreed with the new orld order orchestred by jewish richest familys who control everything from banks to media to army to everything
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ur so stupid dude ron paul the new puppet of the elite in power(rich ass jewsih’family like rothschild and rockefeller warburgs schiff etc..) , al quaeeda and bin laden r all bullshit to brainwash all the sheeps!! they want u all to vote for ron paul so the riots can start so they can apply martial laws with the military busting everybody who is not agreed with the new orld order orchestred by jewish richest familys who control everything from banks to media to army to everything
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
1 – Google Ron Paul 60 minutes Petition
2 – Petition – CBS News – 60 minutes – Get Ron paul go to change.org
3 – sign the petition
DO NOT SPAM MY COMMENT PLEASE.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I like Ron Paul, and I will vote for him… but I don’t like his association with the Tea Party… they are stupid warmongering fools… and Ron Paul is above all of them…
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron paul last hope for america…i agree! I really love america, but the machine has a deathgrip on us and the rest of the world is starting to hate our government. It took ronald reagen 3 times to get elected president and he is the republicans gandhi. I believe you can get alot further with words of peace instead of words of demands and threats of war.
»crosslinked«
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron paul last hope for america…i agree! I really love america, but the machine has a deathgrip on us and the rest of the world is starting to hate our government. It took ronald reagen 3 times to get elected president and he is the republicans gandhi. I believe you can get alot further with words of peace instead of words of demands and threats of war.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ron paul is a blessing from god. everbody needs to pray this will be our next president.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ron paul is a blessing from god. everbody needs to pray this will be our next president.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
This old fart (Ron Paul) simply doesn’t walk the talk. So how much in Federal funds has this guy sucked up for his constituents, and how many tax breaks has he supported for the big oil corporations operating in Texas? Show me any politician from Texas that has their head as far up Exxon Mobile arse as Ron Paul. Come on Ron, take one day in serving the public to attempt to change the ambiguities in the current tax laws for the better of the middle class! corporation
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
family structure is diff in EU countries, much more emphasis on family care and support, its not uncommon for men into their 30′s living /w parents and grandparents usually live w/ the family of their son or daughter when they get real old, the non-smart kids can wait tables w/o a hitch or have support from their familes (there again the prob that families in US have this idea that once your 18 good luck and dont come beggin attitude) people that cant help…church or RC
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
family structure is diff in EU countries, much more emphasis on family care and support, its not uncommon for men into their 30′s living /w parents and grandparents usually live w/ the family of their son or daughter when they get real old, the non-smart kids can wait tables w/o a hitch or have support from their familes (there again the prob that families in US have this idea that once your 18 good luck and dont come beggin attitude) people that cant help…church or RC
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t want to pay for lazy folks either, but the stats prove it’s cheaper to pay both for them and the people who truly need it (ie. public care costs 2/3 what private costs). Also (on a strictly moral level) if you screw over the lazy folks, you screw over the truly needy as well. Did you know there are European nations with no homeless?
“you should have studied harder or made more effort” many kids aren’t smart enough to earn a scholarship no matter how hard they study.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Spread the word about Ron Paul. Together, we can beat the media.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Why don’t you intelligently debate his positions (Which I seriously doubt you can) instead of making a dumbass comment. I’d also check his voting record for the last 30 years, he constantly votes for what he preaches. Of course you would know that if you actually had made the simple effort to actually research him.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron Paul 2012
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What I don’t like is that I “need” a good man to be president. How come I can’t with a group of people go down to Washington to fix REAL Preblems? Where is freedom? >:(
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
REMINDER: If you are a Rin Paul supporter who has crossed party lines, you must register as a REPUB if you want to make sure your vote counts in the critical primary. If you are in a closed primary state , U wont be able to vote REPUB if you are a registered DEM. a Lot of new voters don’t know it so change that affiliation and dont be cheated out of your vote – dont cheat Ron Paul out of the nomination ! U can change back after he wins if you want .
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
People, the news is going to ignore Ron. WE MUST USE THE INTERNET AND DO EVERYTHING WE CAN IN OUR POWER TO SPREAD HIS MESSAGE OF LIBERTY. POST SIGNS EVERYWHERE. POST THINGS ON FACEBOOK ABOUT HIM. TELL YOUR WAITER AND WAITRESS FRIENDS RON WILL ABOLISH ALL TAXES TAKEN FROM THEIR TIPS. HAVE RALLY’S IN YOUR TOWN AND RECORD AND POST THEM. WE MUST TAKE THIS COUNTRY BACK NOW!!! OUR FOUNDERS WOULD BE SICK IF THEY SAW WHAT WE’VE LET HAPPEN TO THIS COUNTRY THAT THEY FOUGHT AND DIED FOR. RON PAUL 2012!!!!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Why does the interviewer sound like a douche bag?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ron know best
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
R FOR REVOLUTION R FOR RON PAUL RON PAUL HOPE OF AMERICA 2012 IN 2008 people used to laugh at him but no more laughing because his predictions ARE right he is the most honest man in politics mahatma gandhi once said “First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.” Ron paul last hope for america 2012………..
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
When are you sheep going to quit following the goat in truth those who follow the goat end up in slaughter
illegals, they want them here, politicians are lying in case we quit buying they know they will buy and rich corporations will survive
The less we buy the more they will move out to other countries
we can start new helping the little guys in stores flee markets are good
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
He runs. runs, hes, losses, losses, how many times are we going to see this old far!! hes full of cra!! he just another bullshi!! like all the others they think there the messiah i can save the U,S, or the Earth and at the end there the same old Shi!! making you believe vote for me vote for me people are just like sheep its the rich that wins its them that control these mouths
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Flogging a dead horse Ron Paul should get out
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron Paul is the man
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If you notice these sayings are about our politicians, I remember a good comedian he was and old man from the south named Lawson stated we should get chains saws and run all these varmints out of Washington.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
June of 2012 look in the sky for the change comes. only the selected will know. the cunning will be finished with there plan the fire will go back and fro until the vial of darkness comes for some brings good and for others darkness the cunning will be no more {Hopi}
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
June of 2012 look in the sky for the change comes. only the selected will know. the cunning will be finished with there plan the fire will go back and fro until the vial of darkness comes for some brings good and for others darkness the cunning will be no more {Hopi}
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t always agree with Ron Paul,but i respect him.Most politicians whether GOP or Democrat or Labour or Conservative in England are worthy of total contempt.I think Paul is that rarity among Republicans,an honest,reasonable man.But i think he needs to look at the power of the Big Corporations and Financiers and curbing them as well as the power of DC.I think this guy sees the complexities and apparant paradoxes when looking at The Big Picture.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I don’t always agree with Ron Paul,but i respect him.Most politicians whether GOP or Democrat or Labour or Conservative in England are worthy of total contempt.I think Paul is that rarity among Republicans,an honest,reasonable man.But i think he needs to look at the power of the Big Corporations and Financiers and curbing them as well as the power of DC.I think this guy sees the complexities and aparan paradoxes when looking at The Big Picture.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
never going to get republican nomination and an independent will never win
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
ALL POLITICS ARE IMMERSED IN CORRUPTION!!!
Ron Paul talks a good game, but who doesn’t when they want to be elected? You will vote this buzzard in and we’ll be going through the same crap AGAIN!
There is NO option for the 2012 elections, FACE IT!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron Paul is a republican, Obama is a Democrat a moderate republican, cant you see what they are its all about money its money ,money, money all they can get. There mouth and pens are there power they mislead us all we need a new party.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
this ashley martella is a robot. why cant he talk/interview like a normal human being.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0