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....
Ron Paul 2012!!!
»crosslinked«
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I LOVE YOU RON PAUL! You are such a inspiration to me! Such a inspiration to a new generation of patriots. FORGET PHONY PERRY! HES AS FAKE AS A 3 DOLLAR BILL! He’s a politician who will say one thing to get peoples attention, and not do what he said, but us Ron Paul supporters know better! He won’t take his voters away because we can see exactly what hes trying to do and we can see right through him!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Google: Get Ron Paul on 60 Minutes petition. Sign it! Go Ron Paul 2012!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
wow wolf, thanks for letting ron speak!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Yeah its true that they signed up to help our country but in all honesty we don’t need to be a mediator in a childish fight over something that is based on beliefs. As soon as we are out of there you will see how much of an impact it has on boosting the economy. Although we may be helping them with terrorists we are also not giving them the power they need to be a strong enough nation on its own. Freedom is what its about sir, and If you don’t want to live free then by all means don’t vote Paul!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The only thing Paul has a handle on is the Federal Reserve and related issues. His foreign policy would make George McGovern proud. Wake up, people. Isolationism does not work. It’s been tried before. Read your history books.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
4
Perry is a nasty little piece of filth.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
He talks good . Commen sense. Really? think he may be a little too soft to run this country. To hopeful, trying to see the good side. there is evil in the world. He dont seem to believe it. The reason we dont need to be in Iraq is because we are —-already there. Dont people get it. If we werent there, what the fuck you think would be going on? Dictators criminals running countries. Ok bring them home let them sort it out. A couple years go by. People be saying. look at america doing nothing
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
3
He talks good . Commen sense. Really? think he may be a little too soft to run this country. To hopeful, trying to see the good side. there is evil in the world. He dont seem to believe it. The reason we dont need to be in Iraq is because we are —-already there. Dont people get it. If we werent there, what the fuck you think would be going on? Dictators criminals running countries. Ok bring them home let them sort it out. A couple years go by. People be saying. look at america doing nothing
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
2
“Perry warns Bernanke might commit treason”
Lololololololol.
Gee, Perry, I think you might be onto something!
RON PAUL 2012
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
My friend went to Iraq and said that they had no reason to be there.
It is Israel’s (zionist) war…not America’s!!
Vote Ron Paul for the sake of the rest of the world if not America as well.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
Ron Paul speaks the truth. I as well as so many others want to see him win for the country and the world. He needs to toughen up and get serious with the news media now to get his views across to the american people.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
wisdom radiates from that man
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
he can possibly become the greatest president of the u.s. history….
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Who are the 7 douchbags who disliked this video?
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I was waiting for Wolf Blitzer to ask Ron Paul why he’s so anti-Semitic for being against wars that benefit Israel while costing US blood and treasure.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
5 
0
If the Red Phone in the White House rang at 2 o’clock in the morning, I sure as heck would want Ron Paul answering it. AND I VOTE!!!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
5 
0
Ron Paul scares everyone who stands to make a profit from things such as war. Sadly these are the people who also control the media and evidently leads to controlling the people…
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
5 
0
MONEYBOMB is on ronpaul 2012 . com !
Help spreading the message !!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
3 
0
This man’s message is the reason I started to use the “Like” button
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
7 
0
RON PAUL IS THE ONLY ONE WHO WONT BE BOUGHT OUT!!!!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What station cancelled Dr Pauls interview? I want to know so I can personally call them and make them aware that they have lost a viewer because of tbiased decision. I do not support BIASED news agencies… maybe that is why I am posting on YT?! Oh yeah, fuck CNN as well! Thumbs up if you are with me!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
“The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.” -James Madison
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
1 – Google Ron Paul in 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
Financial Enemy of Greece, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Portugal, & America – Jew
1. Goldman Sachs CEO, Lyold Blankfein – Jew
2. IMF Deputy CEO, John Lisky – Jew
3. Ex IMF CEO, Dominic Strauss - Jew
4. World Bank CEO, Robert Zoellick – Jew
5. Ex World Bank CEO, James Woolfesen – Jew
6. Fed Chairman, Ben Bernanke – Jew
7. Ex Fed Chairman, Alan Greenspan – Jew
8. Obama Treasury Secretary, Timothy Geithner – Jew
9. George Bush Treasury Secretary, Hank Paulson – Jew
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
RICK PERRY FULL OF SHIT!
!
!
!
!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0
Rich PArry is a phony! And, if you notice he says, “IF HE PRINTS BEFORE THE ELECTION…..he is fine with printing after.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Ron Paul is just pure class, first class, and the rest are just rabble. Ron Paul is so far above people like Blitzer, that it amazes me he even talks to him, but he is in the media, so he must. God, lets get him in office, and bring the troops home, please.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
Wolf Blitzer is a Zionist! He would love American Men and Women to die for IsraHELL in a war with Iran!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
We the seven billion of Earth want nothing but Peace, Love and Light on Earth always.We want the END of ALL WAR on this planet and the end of the NUCLEAR NIGHTMARE.
Official First Contact, the end of the TRUTH EMBARGO will soon be here
Ron Paul speaks for the compassionate HEART of AMERICA NOW
Love and protect Earth and her precious Air, Water and Soil by all means
Help us ban HYDRO FRACKING Worldwide as this poisons Trillions of gallons of fresh water 4 all generations
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
If you’re a Filipino who supports ron paul, please like “Ron Paul for Filipinos 2012″ on Facebook!
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Hey CNN and all others Ron Paul 2012! Got it you freaking media whore globalist puppet that’s the voice of truth and sanity no informed person want your slithering family stooges
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
I registered to vote in 2008 in order to vote for President Obama, believing all of his campaign promises. I don’t regret my vote for Obama at that time, and will vote for him again anytime over the Michelle Bachmans and Rick Perrys out there (but I will never forgive Obama for endorsing the attacking of Libya). However, I would vote for Ron Paul in a heartbeat, if he ever gets on the main ballot. Ron Paul is the only one I would vote for today, over Obama.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
4 
0
As it stands I will also vote for Obama over any of these corporate stooges and neocon nutcases.
I would however vote for Ron Paul in a heartbeat! He’s the best candidate period!!
Especially if he selects the Judge or Dobbs as a running mate.
If he does get the nomination there will be a lot of pressure on the Dr. to cave in and compromise his principles by selecting an establishment/corporate loser for V.P.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Stooge reporting wolf blitzer and CNN work for the status quo keeps bringing up the globalist argument Iran getting a nuke it’s one excuse after another to keep the war machine going but they have to deal with him now that there censorship has been exposed so they always argue the opposing view and agenda there so freaking transparent! There owned and they want to control the American opinion for the elite globalist agenda liars your all parasites and cut from the same controlling warmonger bra
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
1 
0
Ron Paul is my candidate! Incredible integrity! Independents and Democrats need to register as Republicans to vote for Paul in the primary.
Boycott mainstream media and let them know why; because of unfair reporting on Ron Paul.
The power is in the purse strings, and the masses hold the purse strings.
We cannot control anyone’s behavior except our own. If each of us acts, we will be unstoppable.
Report this comment
Like or Dislike:
2 
0