Ron Paul: GOP Needs To Change

Political Players is a weekly conversation with the leaders, consultants, and activists who are shaping American politics. This week, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with Texas Rep. Ron Paul about his candidacy for president, his competitors for the Republican nomination, and the agenda driving his long-shot campaign.

CBSNews.com: The L.A. Times poll came out this week and showed that nationally you are at two percent. Are you running to actually win the Republican nomination? Or are you running to make a statement about the war and other issues?

Ron Paul: Well, I do not think you ever run not to win. I think there are statistics that contradict some of the polls that we are looking at that makes us a lot more optimistic. When we look at the number of people who are joining the campaign, the money raised. So, in that regard, we are seen as a much more viable candidate than some of the national polls say. But it is still early. We are just starting to spend our money. I think the campaign is still yet to be won.

CBSNews.com: The vast majority of Republicans, at least at this point, support President Bush's foreign policy, which you've railed against. Has the Republican Party changed?

Ron Paul: Well, I think I support Bush's foreign policy in the year 2000. He was pretty clear on the criticism of what was going on under Clinton. He criticized nation building and policing the world. And he thought we should have a more humble foreign policy.

I am, in many ways, supporting the Bush policy of the year 2000. And many of the Republican traditions, in the past, always advocated a lot more caution in foreign policy. But I think you are right. I think, right now--although the party shifted from their traditions--yes, there are still a lot of Republicans who support this policy.

But you cannot win an election with a very, very narrow base of the Republican Party when 70 percent of the American people are sick and tired of the war and they want out of it. So, if the Republican Party wants to win next year, they have to have a candidate that is willing to change the foreign policy and not just keep digging a deeper hole for ourselves.

CBSNews.com: But why do you think the vast majority of Republican voters, and Republican candidates, seem to support the Bush foreign policy of 2007?

Ron Paul: I think they get trapped, you know--this whole idea that if somebody dies and you do not keep fighting and a lot more people die, then somebody has died in vain. And they are not willing to make a mistake, or admit that they have made a mistake.

In doing this, they continue to make the same mistake over and over again. They do not have the courage to change course when it needs to be done. And the American people want a change in course. I did not like the course that we went on. I did not like the change when we left our policies of the year 2000.

And I have been arguing the case that we should not have done it. Now, I am arguing the case that we ought to change our ways. And yet, they're digging in their heels and digging a deeper hole for themselves. And also, the harder they fight for this foreign policy, the worse they are doing. And the members of Congress I talked to up here behind the scenes are very, very concerned. They think that we are going to lose even more Congressional seats next year and that we do not have a plan, with this foreign policy, to win next year.

So I am much more with the American people than with maybe some of the Republican leadership that are sticking with Bush on this war.

CBSNews.com: Now you've said a number of times that Republicans behind the scenes are uncomfortable with his foreign policy. Can you name names and tell us which Republicans have said that they're uncomfortable?

Ron Paul: No. I would not do that. Because it was said in confidence. And, you know, they were just expressing themselves. But I think a lot of people know--and there are a lot of other outsiders who are assessing things who are saying the same thing--that nobody is predicting the Republicans are going to gain seats or come close to regaining control of Congress.

CBSNews.com: The other dark horse candidate who has gotten a lot of press attention recently is former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. But he only raised about one-fifth the money that you got last quarter.

Where is all this money you are raising coming from? Do you think it is mostly from Republicans who are disillusioned with the current policies? Or is it from people who ordinarily would not participate in the political process?

Ron Paul: I think there is a little bit of each, so some Democrats, some Independents, and some disgruntled Republicans that saw that we did not stick to our principles of limited government and balanced budgets and joined the entitlement crowd.

But, interestingly enough, it is our campaign that gets the most money from the military. And that is something that the other candidates do not want to admit.

CBSNews.com: Your position on Iraq polls is popular but your other libertarian positions on issues like privatizing Social Security, privatizing Medicare, privatizing a whole host of government functions, that does not seem to be a majority position in the country at all. How do you persuade people to change their minds about that?

Ron Paul: Well, it is also true that that has not been the most important issue in my campaign. Philosophically, I think those programs are doomed to fail. And most young people know that they are not going to get any Social Security. And that is why they are joining me when I said, "I would let you get out." And they love that.

Because all they are going to do is pay into it, and not get anything. But I really take a pretty soft stand on that. One thing that can be said is, I have never voted to spend one nickel out of Social Security funds. If I had my way, all that money would have been there. Because I do not spend it on this militarism and all the other wasteful programs. So, I am a true protector of the Social Security fund.

And the older people in my district have always, overwhelmingly, supported me. But my approach is toward a transition. I'm not calling for closing down any of these programs. Matter of fact, I do the opposite. I save hundreds of billions of dollars in rejecting this notion that we can run a world empire, cut the deficit, and then actually use some of those funds to tide people over who have become dependent. And this offers a way of helping people who are dependent without putting anybody out in the street.

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[usaprophet]

Most Americans just don''t seem to care that our country, along with the Constitution upon which it was founded, is being flushed-down the NWO toilet by our nations ruling elite. Most of Congress and the President warn and insite fear in the sheeple about the prospect of terrorism, while they at the same time fund and conduct illegal wars overseas that do nothing but encite the terrorism which their new Draconian Laws like the Patriot Act and The Real ID Act pretend to protect us from. Think about it. What would you do, if someone invaded the U.S. for no reason, and took over. You''d be mad as hell, and you''d be making trips to their country in order to give a little payback. Wake up America! It''s not about protecting you from terrorism, or saving our planet from Global Warming, or any of that fear-mongering garbage the tube feeds you 24/7. It''s about feeding the military industrial complex and facilitating the ruling elite''s ability to ratchet-down control over the American people, placing us into a total control grid where they can surveille, track and control everywhere we go and everything we do. It''s the groundwork for totalitarianism. I weep for my country, and for those of you who are so distracted, dumbed-down, or outright brainwashed by mainstream media, which endlessly regurgitates scientifically-crafted streams of information aimed at keeping their eyes closed to the realities of the world around them, that you fail to recognize this. Go Ron Paul!.

[badmofojim]

What we need is a real serious threat to the security of the US. We need a REAL war. Then the nation will start to come back together. This is the only way, No Democrate, or Republican, or Independant. Liberal or COnservitive can fix our nation in its current point. We need Russia to littlerly invade the US. Or North Korea to launch a Nuke. The US cant be fixed in the 4-8 years a single person is elected.

Thats what i think. If you think this Ron Paul guy is gonna magically fix the whole US within 4 years. Be my guest and belive that.

[usaprophet]

Like Ron Paul, I believe the biggest threat to your privacy is the government. We must drastically limit the ability of government to collect and store data regarding citizens'' personal matters. We must stop the move toward a national ID card system (e.g., The Real ID Act). Under this new law, states are currently issuing new driver''s licenses embedded with standard identifier data (RFID chips). Although, some states like Montana are refusing to comply. A national ID with new tracking technologies means we''re heading into an Orwellian world of no privacy. Ron Paul was one of the few members of Congess who voted against the Real ID Act. Also, under current medical privacy protection rules, which Ron Paul also opposed, insurance companies and other entities have access to your personal medical information. Finally, there''s the so-called Patriot Act, which Congressman, Ron Paul also voted against. As originally proposed, it expanded the federal government''s ability to use wiretaps without judicial oversight; allowed nationwide search warrants non-specific to any given location, nor subject to any local judicial oversight; made it far easier for the government to monitor private Internet usage; authorized sneak and peek warrants enabling federal authorities to search a person''s home, office, or personal property without that person''s knowledge; and required libraries to turn over records of books read by their patrons. Ron Paul sponsored a bill to overturn the Patriot Act.

[bareemperor]

No Republican can rescue the GOP from the dregs of the Bu$hCo slimepit.

Any candidate trying to maintain Republicon rule is wasting their money, a Democratic win is now guaranteed. The people will speak in 2008, and Diebold be dammed!

[cfin5]

Every so often our nation seems to drift away from our Constitutional moorage and likewise a real patriot will step up to the plate to put this in check. Ron Paul is this "man of the hour" that will do this. His voting record walk proves his campaign talk. I have heard hypocritical statesmen say we need a new constitution to live by. This attitude is far more dangerous to let grow than any war or issue we are entangled in. Folks! I have read good and plenty the writings of our founding fathers in regards to the issues of their day (nothing has changed since). If you think politicians are milk toast potlickers now, wait till you read up on the "quality" and "integrity" of the ones with whom we have to do concerning our national birth. And these politicians today act like they are so much wiser because of their increased knowledge that they alone can out trump Thomas Jefferson, Samual Adams, James Madison, etc..??? Knowledge is indeed the Sword of Good and Evil. And it will obey the name (national sovereignty, world globalism)of its wielder. Listen up Americans, the swords that our leaders have forged since 9/11/01 are double edged weapons, one side for terrorists, the other side for patriots. We can''''''''t afford to let this sword be wielded by the wrong person.........Ron Paul, the "ONLY" un-CFR, unsocialist, and pro-constitution candidate for ''''''''08! GO USA!!!

[cfin5]

beecuster,.......Why don''t you take the standard of judgment that you just used and go apply it to your own party. They''ve really accomplished to do nothing too. We are here supporting Ron Paul to get to the root of our nations problems and do something about it. If you want to keep swigging on the demoCRAPtic jug your one and the same as the republiCANTS. It''s nothing but a "DEMOPUBLICAN DUOPOLY" anyhow!

[cfin5]

You know, I''''ve been thinking today about some comment I read that stated Ron Paul was some kind of wuss. Nothing is further from the truth. Of all the candidates running for President he''''s got more guts than most of them put together. If congressmen/women wore "Constitutional Merit Stripes" on their sleeves for protecting the citizens rights like any sergeant in the military does. He''''d have those stripes from the tip of his shoulder clear down to his wrist........I hope Ron inspires a total new breed of politicians who love our Constitution like he does in ALL the parties. Ready to drop the gloves on anyone who dares to threaten it. That''''s the kind of leader Americans need and want folks! Because the liberty and freedom our Constitution creates is the FAIREST OF THEM ALL!......Ron Paul, the constitutional centrist choice in 2008! GO USA!!!

[gunownerdan]

CFR MEMBERS:
Hillary Clinton
Rudy Giuliani
Barak Obama
Mitt Romney
John Edwards
Fred Thompson
Bill Richardson
John McCain

Dr. Ron Paul is NOT a member of the CFR.
The CFR has hijacked American foreign policy and they control both parties.
Their main goal is the destruction of American sovereignty and our constitution in order to form a "North American Union" with Canada and Mexico.
Once our elite masters destroy the dollar, it will be easy to switch to the "Amero" and say goodbye to America as we know it.
Dr. Ron Paul is the ONLY anti-war and pro-liberty candidate running for president.
ronpaul2008.com
It does not matter

[cfin5]

nolesfan66,.......Go to (ronpaul2008.com) where you can find out everything you need and want to know about him my friend.

[usaprophet]

I support Congressman, Ron Paul for President. There is something homespun about Paul, reminiscent of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. He communicates with his constituents through birthday cards, August barbecues and the cookbooks his wife puts together every election season, which mix photos of grandchildren, Gospel passages and neighbors'' recipes for Velveeta cheese fudge and Cherry Coke salad. He is listed in the phone book, and his constituents call him at home. But there is also something cosmopolitan and radical about him; his speeches can bring to mind the World Social Forum or the French international-affairs periodical Le Monde Diplomatique. Ron Paul represents a different Republican Party from the one that Iraq, deficits and corruption have soured the country on. His school of Republicanism stands for a certain idea of the Constitution the idea that much of the power asserted by modern Presidents has been usurped from Congress, and that much of the power asserted by Congress has been usurped from the States. Though Paul acknowledges flaws in both the Constitution (it included slavery) and the Bill of Rights (it doesn''t go far enough), he still thinks a comprehensive array of positions can be drawn from them: against gun control; for the sovereignty of states; and against foreign-policy adventures like the one underway in Iraq, and soon Iran.