Ron Paul on Meet the Press

Bruno Somerset, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Dec 23, 2007 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

Republican Presidential candidate Ron Paul appeared on Meet the Press this morning, giving many Americans their first extended exposure to him and what America would look like under a Ron Paul presidency. In an often tense exchange with moderator Tim Russert, he laid out a vision that, while unique among all of the candidates, may have done little to make inroads among Republicans but will appeal to Libertarians and some Independents.

Congressman Paul advocated abolishing the Internal Revenue Service and the income tax, claiming that the money the government already receives from various other sources (excise taxes, tariffs, etc.) would keep funding at the same level as ten years ago. He would also bring American troops home from all overseas bases, where he says they're simply not needed any more and in fact do more harm than good. This redeployment home would save billions of dollars every year.

"You can start saving immediately by changing the foreign policy and not be the policeman over the world," Paul told Russert. "We should have the foreign policy that George Bush ran on. You know, no nation building, no policing of the world, a humble foreign policy. We don't need to be starting wars. That's my argument."

The tersest exchange occurred when Russert challenged Paul on the numerous spending earmarks for his Texas Congressional district, and the fact that he advocates term-limits while remaining in Congress for 18 years. Paul was noticeably flustered on several occasions, and gave some unsatisfactory responses, especially with regard to spending in his district.

As to why he puts earmarks in bills while still calling for spending cuts, Paul had this answer:

"I put it in because I represent people who are asking for some of their money back," he said. "But it doesn't cut any spending to vote against an earmark. And the Congress has the responsibility to spend the money. Why leave the money in the executive branch and let them spend the money?"

Russert clearly was unsatisfied with this explanation, and it will likely ring hollow with anyone outside of his own constituents; the $400 million in earmarks for his district he has put in spending bills over the years makes his anti-spending rhetoric ring somewhat hollow.

From his calls to abolish the CIA and his characterization of America as moving toward fascism, Paul may have gained support in some corners, but certainly did not help his chances among the Republican faithful that will vote in next month's Iowa Caucus.

Sources:

Meet the Press; URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22342301/

Published by Bruno Somerset

I am a novelist & freelance writer living in Texas. I write mainly on arts and entertainment, politics and religion, with the occasional sports and humor piece thrown in to keep things interesting. View profile

Ron Paul on Meet the Press

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