Transcript
Wolf Blitzer: The Republican presidential candidates are focusing largely on two early primary states today, New Hampshire and South Carolina. Michelle Bachmann and Ron Paul are looking to build on their first and second place showings in the Iowa Straw Poll last weekend.
And joining us now from Manchester New Hampshire, the Republican Congressman Ron Paul, he’s a candidate for President of the United States, Congressman thanks very much for coming in.
Ron Paul: Thank you Wolf, good to be with you.
Wolf Blitzer: Thank you, at that last Republican debate, you really differentiated yourself from all the other Republican candidates, there I say the Democratic candidate, that will be the president of the United States, as well, when you made it clear that on national security and foreign policy, you want to bring American troops home immediately from Iraq, Afghanistan, Germany, South Korea. Is that right?
Ron Paul: That is correct and immediate of course can be qualified a little bit, you know it takes a few days to get over there and pick them up. No, as soon as possible, the American people are with me on that, the majority respond in that manner, I don’t think we can afford it anymore, I don’t believe it’s in our best interest to be there because I think it undermines our national security.
Wolf Blitzer: So including Germany and South Korea, bring those thousands of troops home?
Ron Paul: Yeah, you know, the immediate benefit before you reorganize and decide how big the Army and Navy should be is, just think of all those troops spending all that money back at home. A few years ago and they’re thinking about then, again to close down all the bases here at home. Well there are some bases in this country that probably shouldn’t be open, but the ones overseas are more important to be closed down than the ones here, so I’d bring the troops home and have them spend all their salaries here at home, ‘cause Germany actually likes us to be over there for economic reasons, that helps them, helps their economy as well as the other countries. So I would say the immediate effect would be even the psychological benefit of knowing, “Wow, things are changing, he’s bringing these troops home, this is going to help our economy.”
Wolf Blitzer: And I just want to clarify your position on Iran, do you believe Iran represents no real threat to the United States?
Ron Paul: No real threat, I think it’s a threat just like there’s a lot of threats around the world, but if you compare it to what? Compare [...] Soviets that we stood down, they had 30,000 nuclear weapons and that’s when I was in the military during the Cuban crisis, is when I was drafted. So yes, there’s always some threat but there’s not that much from a country like Iran, they can’t even produce enough of their own gasoline, they don’t have any intercontinental ballistic missile…
I see this so similar, Wolf, to what was happening to the lead up to the war in Iraq because remember they kept saying “Oh there are Al Qaeda over there, and there’s weapons of mass destruction, we have to go in there” and it turned out not to be true. Just think of the tragedies that have occurred since then.
So, no, I don’t think it’s a real threat and our CIA as well as United Nations does not argue the case that they’re on the verge of having a nuclear weapon, so the last thing in the world we should be talking about is a war, and remember just recently Bob Gates coming home, he says, “Anybody that’s thinking about another war needs their head examined” and I think that’s the way the American people feel.
Wolf Blitzer: Because the president and other top officials they express fear that the Iranians are working to try to build a bomb even though they may not be on the verge of having it, they’re in the process of trying to develop one, you don’t agree?
Ron Paul: Well I think they certainly would have an incentive but we haven’t been able to verify it, that’s what my argument has been. But I even extend it one step further, what if in one year from now they have one nuclear bomb, what are they going to do with it? They can’t deliver it, and if they try to, they’d be wiped off the face of the earth because there’d be retaliation.
So they aren’t that threat that people play them up to be. Matter of fact, Iran has a pretty good history of not invading other countries and looking for these kind of fights. The last time they were in a war is when we instigated Iraq’s invasion of the Iranians, so no, I just don’t see that as a major threat. I see the radicalization of Islam fundamentalism as a result of our foreign policy going back all the way to 1953.
Wolf Blitzer: For years, you’ve been an outspoken critic of the Federal Reserve, the Central Bank in effect here in the United States. Now Rick Perry, the governor of Texas, your opponent for the Republican presidential nomination, he’s going one step further and blasting Ben Bernanke, the chairman who was originally named by President Bush. Let me play the clip and then we’ll discuss.
Rick Perry: If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I don’t know what you all would do to him in Iowa but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas. I mean, printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treacherous, uh treasonous in my opinion.
Wolf Blitzer: Alright Congressman, your fellow Texan, what would you do to Ben Bernanke if he came to your state?
Ron Paul: I’d try to educate him, I’d try to explain to him why he’s embarked on a terrible course of history and that he’s not going to be remembered well unless he changes his way. But hopefully, you’ve never heard and at least I try never to make it the individual as much as the philosophy, the Federal Reserve System. Sometimes they’ll ask me, “What would you do, would you immediately get rid of Bernanke, will that solve our problems?” And it really doesn’t, it’s the system, it’s the Federal Reserve System, it’s the fiat money, it’s no backing to the currency, the monetization of debt, the way they do it in secret, the $15 trillion that they worked with in the bailout, the way they bailed out foreign central banks and foreign governments during the crisis, and a third of that money went over there.
So I would say it’s the philosophy, it’s the monetary policy that we have to deal with, so he is not my target even though I hopefully address it in a different manner when he’s before the committee and try to ask him questions to expose what he’s doing in running the monetary system.
Wolf Blitzer: So did Rick Perry cross the line in talking about treason, talking about getting ugly, I mean you know your governor, tell me, is he temperamentally qualified to be president of the United States?
Ron Paul: Well, it may surprise you, I don’t know the governor; I don’t recall ever having met him.
Wolf Blitzer: Really?
Ron Paul: No, I haven’t met him, I didn’t know he had an interest and I don’t know exactly what he’s up to, so I just don’t use that language. I would think that he wasn’t being literal, I just don’t believe that he believes that but those words did come out of his mouth as you just revealed. But I think it’s different, in politics it’s very easy to target somebody thy name and target your opponents and talk about them specifically; in many ways I try not to do that.
Wolf Blitzer: It’s hard for me to believe, he’s been governor for 10 years and he doesn’t know one of the most distinguished members of the Congressional delegation, but let me move on because we’re almost out of time. Has the national news media been fair to you?
Ron Paul: Well a lot other people say they have not been…
Wolf Blitzer: What do you say?
Ron Paul: Well, I think candidates have this belief that they’re never treated really fairly, but generally speaking I would say it was really weird and in that sense I guess that verges on what people are saying, it was very unfair that I did pretty well in Ames and achieved a bit of a victory from our perspective, and then to have five networks not take any interviews, and then we had one major network on Monday morning that got cancelled at the last minute, so it was definitely different.
But I don’t dwell on the word fairness and what am I going to do about it, I just try to keep doing my job and presenting my case and I figure we’d probably sort of won that little argument because we did get many, many interviews and many, many things on the Internet where I think we benefited by showing, what are they afraid of? Why can’t they recognize what Ron Paul is doing? So I would…
Wolf Blitzer: I was wondering, sorry for interrupting. but I just want to ask you one final question, a Twitter follower asked me to ask you, if you don’t get the Republican nomination, would you consider running as an independent?
Ron Paul: I haven’t thought about that, right now I’m concentrating, I’m in a middle of a race, I described it today as like, I used to run track. I don’t think much about the end, I just run hard and see how things come out. but as far as contemplating third party, that has not given me any serious thought at all.
Wolf Blitzer: Congressman, I’ll see you September 12th when CNN hosts the Republican presidential debate in Tampa Florida. Good luck.
Ron Paul: Thank you, Wolf.
Processing your request, Please wait....
Did CNN cut him off on purpose??? 2:11
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
You are my SUPER MAN Dr. Paul!!!!!! You will be the president of United States or I cut my BA**S!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
301 views??? with 332 likes????? really hope this isn’t being done on purpose to keep Ron Paul off the radar.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
If you haven’t seen it watch “The Obama Deception HQ Full Length Version” now on youtube and (if you like it) please RE-POST to every youtube video you can find the time to.
We need real change and it starts with getting the truth out there. Bachmann, Perry and Romney would just be more of the same..
R.P. 2012
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
God Bless that man. He will be in my prayers and in my deeds. 200 hundred years from now, maybe his picture will be festooned on library walls in the Peoples’ homes.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
so glad he’s running
American’s last hope
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
My fellow Americans, this is what a real LEADER looks like!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
The 1 dislike is most likely a Bush and Obama supporter.. .
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
He’s so humble.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Ron would be the best president ever!!! Bring the troops home and rebuild this shitty economy!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
How often do you see someone in politics get asked a question and they immediately divert the question or better yet, answer the question with a question?? Ron Paul just sat through a barrage of questions, and answered EVERY ONE directly, never pointing fingers or blame. Stand up guy that I hope leads this Country SOON!!!!!
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
It’s clear to me now that Neocons secretly love the traitor Obama. Why else would they promote two faced faux conservatives like Perry or Bachmann or Mutt Romney. They’ve made a profit bashing Obama while they look for someone just like him to support. and now, they spend more time bashing Paul, making them look like the fools they really are. If we boycott the MSM by contacting their major sponsers and refusing to buy their products we could put an end to this treason instantly.
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
and again the same questions – running as an independent. are these questions from real people or from media bots ?
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
LOL Perry sounds like Bush! Especially his speech with the lousy stuttering. He is boring!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What was with the blackout at 2:13 and what did Ron say at that point?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
on Bernanke – perfect and true answer
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Dunno if I’d want a guy who is a creationist and doesn’t believe in separation of Church and State as POTUS… just saying.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
How do I donate to Ron Paul’s Campagin?
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Good Interview by Wolf Blitzer, however do you see the ISOLATIONIST? up on the screen. The Blackball of Ron Paul has Backfired on the MSM Elite.. Don’t you find it odd that in the last 2 Years Ron Paul is on every Network especially Fox and Fox Business when it comes to the Fed. Where is Romney, Perry, and Bachmann M.I.A. because the Media knows that these clowns are just Puppets.. We owe it to this man for him to be the Nominee after all he has done for Us. Ron Paul Birthday Money Bomb 8-20-11
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I love this guy!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
About time he mentioned that even if Iran has a nuke, they have no way to deliver it. Israel is in range (maybe), but who cares about Israel? They can defend themselves after all the funding we gave them in the past. Let Iran nuke Israel. Then both places will be glass and the world will be much more peaceful. By the way, the last portion of my post was nothing more than a sarcastic joke.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What was with the blackout at 2:13 and what did Ron say at that point?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Everyone please email CNN and other networks to stop labeling Ron Paul as an Isolationist, that label is deceiving and they know it. Ron Paul himself said that he has a policy of “non-intervention”.
It is very important that his message is policies are not deformed by the mainstream media in an effort to undermine him. Let’s be honest, the corporate media doesn’t want him so that’s where we come in. This has to be a collective effort to spread the proper message to a wider audience.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
keep saying this Congressmen and you will get so much public support
say it over and over again!
and the banks we need JUSTICE for these crooked banks
you will capture the progressives and democrats who have a conscience
say it over and over again because they are thick headed
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
they keep misquoting him on the same damn things !! isolationist ? how many times does he have to correct them ? are they dumb or they are hoping the audience is dumb enough to believe it ?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Man finally a Dude with just common sense! no fucken fancy shit and bold promises like obama fuck. We need this leader!!! RON PAUL 20-FUCKEN-12!!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I’m not American but all i can say is this man would make a great leader. I hope he wins
Ron Paul 2012
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Ron Paul! A real American President!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The guy is willing to give up his golden years to be president in one of the worst times in American history because HE LOVES THIS COUNTRY and WANTS TO FIX IT. Not because he “wants to be president”.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Man how is he not tired of saying the same thing millions of times to these retards and criminals.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
he said bernanke was a treasonist just to try and steal your votes DR. P!
RP2012
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If Ron Paul runs as an independent, he will win. FACT. If there is a landslide, even voter fraud cannot save the Republicrat machine.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Troops there wasting our money…? The biggest fucking welfare program ever.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron ,We Love You! Heart & Soul, Wallet & Watch.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
MONEYBOMB SATURDAY AUGUST 20TH!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Any time they ask him about a third party run they are being unfair. He’s going to win the Republican nomination, so a third party run isn’t even thought about.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Rick Perry is an idiot.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Wow, a fair interview…from Wolf Blitzer even! Dr. Paul is truly a class act.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
RON PAUL!!! FREEEEEEEDOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
RON PAUL – CLASS ACT! THINK HOW MUCH BETTER THE WORLD WOULD BE WITH A INTELLIGENT SMART HUMANITARIAN LEADING BY EXAMPLE – AS WE ALL SHOULD……. F OFF NWO !
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron Paul 2012 We love you!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Thanks Wolf.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron did excellent job in this interview. Looks very Presidential!!! Good job Ron.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Vote Ron Paul or play hide and go seek in the dark with Wesley Snipes and Seal.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
If you are angry at the media, let them know!
FOX news room 212-301-5800
FOX 212-301-3000
CNN news desk 404-827-2751
CNN news desk fax: 404-827-3368
CNN 404-827-1500
MSNBC 201-583-5000
COPY_ AND PASTE THIS EVERYWHERE!!!!
Ron Paul will win this….or we all lose…..
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
He should run in a 3rd party and KICK ALL THE BUMS OUT!!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Ron Paul = Morpheus waking us up to the real world
the majority of politicians = the agents protecting the Matrix
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
No thumbs down from shills on this one yet?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
wow perry sounds just look Bush
Like or Dislike:
0 
0