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Presidential Hopeful Buddy Roemer joins Tom and takes jabs at fellow candidates including Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney
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He Roemer former governor of Louisiana former congressman.
Is here in the studio welcome I -- you look through the television box we -- on the TV show.
A month and a half ago or so and this whole business about running running for president.
And I I -- I've got to play this because of a result some of you that -- -- you remember this there was a lady who called this program name was Carol -- in Dallas Texas.
She called -- And she demanded that we have governor Buddy Roemer -- so here here's a call from Carol.
When that the bank.
Organize -- mention people.
But it is a qualified.
Candidate.
And I think that people like you could you need to have guy on our all about it and.
-- and book but but Buddy Roemer hobby let's get let's get governor Romer on.
And and so we did end now he's he was in the building today is that we.
We lesson Yoon thank you so -- -- rest is history -- up to 2% in the last national -- -- -- all the -- all right there you know backtrack now and she brought up the whole business about debates he has and we don't see you won the debate panel right then -- got to -- revenue entries is driving me -- -- I mean I Iran taking no big chicks and me understand me folks.
I think Washington DC.
Has become corrupt place and by that I mean.
Big -- stand first in line.
And you stand will need down the line and they write the tax code.
They put earmarks in the bill.
They suffer indignant -- from China and because they make money they don't do anything about it I really think if you -- to take a broom.
And clean Washington powerful lobbyist and -- we could turn this country around and we can do it and just a couple of years I'm very optimistic.
But I think we're -- country in decline and I think we're owned.
Not the special interest.
Well we talked about a lot on this program governor.
And in my contention is the the problem is structural.
I have an old friend of mine who was a democratic congressman that went up pretty high in the ranks.
In the Democrat party in congress and he told me he says here's the deal.
He says the only way you get in the leadership -- Uganda the rank pretty -- -- says yeah.
He's the only way you get in the leadership to be from a safe seat and what do you mean -- as well some place where -- here easily going to be reelected you don't have to spend much time in the district.
Because being a leader in congress -- you got to spend a lot of time.
Working whatever your particular offices in congress not working for the people in your district because you know they're going to vote for you year in and year out.
So how do you get rid of the old guard.
Is the old guard the leadership is in these safe seats to people are just good people like -- You start at the top.
He'd get a president free to leave.
You get some -- Are some -- Who's qualified to be the leader of America.
And get them to stand up for campaign reform you have a person actually run for press.
Who's our congressman and governor and a successful businessman.
And have a hundred dollar limit on what you take and -- -- me and Americans to join -- Tom.
You have to reform the system now there are lot of ways to do it could be a ground -- at the bottom.
But the average American doesn't.
Care about Washington he never goes he -- no -- caucus operates he doesn't know how decisions are made.
He thinks that tax code was built -- specialist.
Is that a -- I mean the average American special -- -- the average American doesn't trust his government.
And didn't spend much time worried about it he just wish they would do better and spend less money.
Now so it could start at the bottom but I don't see it happening in Louisiana.
We -- ran for governor some 25 years ago in a corrupt state.
Against Edwin Edwards who's a great politician but -- corrupt man and he ended up going to dependent -- And and corruption was the issue there -- other good people -- and Tom but they didn't limit the money they didn't fully.
Just elected simply because you said of the people I'm not corrupt and I'll show you by -- -- hundred dollar and I'll prove it how will I will do move.
What I preach all right -- -- by -- here's what happened to you you have for people that don't know the history.
You're governor you're the first governor sitting governor ever say I'm switch -- parties you went from the Democrat to the Republican Party.
And and Dave duke beach you.
Yeah David duke and it -- is an open primary in Louisiana now to give the full story.
That is there's no party designation to everybody runs together and the Democrats I was a Democrat.
The Democrats did a poll and they came down Ron Brown hit of the Democratic Party member and a router he came d'antoni said buddy don't switch.
He said I know you think you're state needs to parties when I looked at the legislature it was a 144 members 138 -- -- -- Democrats.
You know and that gets solar power corrupts so I switched parties but before I did they came down and showed me a poll.
Which is that in the primary I would lose nine and percent.
Of my expected vote.
And finish fourth in that race.
And I guess I was arrogant -- home of youth you've been there and he knows nothing like being forty -- you -- know everything and a half an -- will need to parties.
I'm closer to Republicans -- I am Democrats.
I'm gonna switch parties I'm gonna win this -- Internet and I did it anyway I -- by half a percentage point.
In a very tough election after.
I had balanced the budget.
After I'd done tax reform yeah.
After I had kicked everybody -- moved in the -- to turn Louisiana around we took -- -- -- from 12% to below six.
That's what you do -- cut you don't make friends.
You make policy.
And here's the deal about you though -- you are you you downplay you you you play.
Like a friend of mine who's from the south you play that you know -- boy from the south got a guy.
But you you graduated.
From Harvard -- -- inner harbor went to Harvard when you were sixteen.
Years of age.
Graduated from from Harvard -- played that down years do your she or nothing you're smartly going Harvard up I did not.
I've daddy did that an -- area.
I did I did go to Harvard I graduated in 1964.
You're a kid you obviously I was a kid I went I was the youngest person Marc Klaas I think I was sixty.
When I got I don't campus to start school.
I graduated and economics.
And government and then I got a master's degree from the Harvard business group in banking and finance.
I have a good education but -- where I learned not practicality.
-- common sense.
Own a farm in north Louisiana.
Go one up with a mother and father and four sisters and Brothers.
Working together as a family unit I'll never forget the lessons learned and that's who I am not Harvard Harvard was fine.
All right so you go on you get into politics -- successful in business she got a great education.
You would you go into government you're -- congressman you run for governor Linda switch seats.
And then boom here out.
And we haven't heard from him.
Along this road what made you all of a sudden in 2011 say I'm going to get that -- We'll have been active in business and and I learned some things -- built three great banks.
Over that twenty year period of time.
My latest bank is nearly a billion dollars in size it's very profitable he got no bailout -- bombing I'm proud of our independence.
But I learn -- I'm not a Smart now it's when I was in Hartford I just know more.
I'll learn more I -- hands on experience here's how you turn this country around -- You put America first.
Not to re election not your party you put America first you ask independents and Tea Party leaders.
Democrats to work we view as a Republican and you rebuild America you stand up to China.
You say no more free trade we won't fair trade -- and we are getting killed so these are the things that -- -- -- I can I can I can see the audience through this microphone right now and they're not either this audience stands for and supports what you're talking about yes.
Most of America and a solo but I haven't been -- -- -- now.
Now related deaths might that's might how do you train I don't have an easy answer.
And an apple plaid in the Republican debates all -- in debates.
I've been turned down every time at first it was because was -- a formal candidate.
Then McCain more formal candidate -- -- because I didn't have 1% in the national polls then I did have 1% they changed it the next debate to 2%.
Then I got 2% they changed in the last two -- he had to raise I have Romanian dollars and ninety -- -- Why haven't done that Tom my average gift is forty dollars and 35 cents -- mean I have I have got to make my case to the American people.
-- percent of the American people know that I'm -- And two out of five of those support me.
No other candidate can say debt.
My job is to not worry about the 2% growing my job is to get to 5% bigger.
I'm need to be in a debate.
It's important to Newt Gingrich it's important Mitt Romney it's and it's critical to me because I'm not -- I'm not famous I haven't -- Fox News I haven't been.
I haven't been enough.
Interviewing for the job have been building a company have been growing jobs and in my taxes I've been raising a family.
I have been getting qualified.
To work we -- to lead America and what I need to figure out now is how -- -- on the national stage and one of the things.
That I'm contemplating.
Is joining American select.
That's a -- -- group.
Across America that will be -- all fifty states balance they've been working for you you can third party here on talk and a third party version it's a unity party.
Or I would pick it Democrats like a Joseph Lieberman -- each image as an example.
To work together to rebuild America and not be -- hostage.
-- special interest who -- the party's what does it do for me Tom.
It gets me -- the national stage the debate would be between the Republican.
Mitt Romney's -- The Democrat.
Barack Obama.
And the unity party Buddy -- And America will be fastened.
Usually that we've had many shows talking about it should you be at their -- -- -- -- -- -- are hunting for somebody -- we're talking to governor Buddy -- I have to take a break here governor will be right back folks don't go away and I appreciate you coming into the studio -- -- -- -- building and I know you've got to -- -- I -- you're going back problem back to New Hampshire as well you don't you have basically moved to -- to him.
I have I have an apartment in Manchester -- brown every new not to give it away if anybody wants to come visit.
But I'm there six out of every seven -- Here's the local -- been able to give you exposure and -- as you told more and more when you -- on my TV show you said.
You're betting you're betting the farm on and I'm betting the -- on New Hampshire -- Republican.
And by the way if I end up doing a unity party Americans elect -- do -- as a Republican I'm proud of the Republican.
And how much closer to those values economically.
Then -- alternative party but a unity party takes a Republican and a Democrat put -- together but back to New Hampshire.
It's a small state to congressman.
It's about a third the size of Louisiana.
I'm good retail politics shake hands -- -- babies I listen.
I listen I listen a lot and we -- building our numbers up in New Hampshire.
But I'm not credible as a candidate Tom because I'm not on the debates.
Every citizen is not in the -- to the campaign yet.
So he sees me speaking at a meeting and they'll come up to me after a -- -- patients sometimes.
That the citizens will come out.
-- -- rumor how come we never heard of fees and how come you've not been only debate so debates have more power now than they used to have.
Because they they affect your credit bill -- And the audiences for these debates are usually there's there's many more debates to come but the problem is New -- in six weeks -- in January 10 the and I might not be able to make display without a debate.
That I want to make let me say this -- two debates before January -- national.
They're going to be hailed in New Hampshire and I am being considered one of whose -- I -- consider.
For both debates I know what I'm talk is that why you're here in the bill and now -- on accident I'd deny everything he listened to me -- I wish I could say I had some strategy I don't I'm just throwing everything you against the wall -- You've got to eat -- that this thing is is that we still see this huge number of people.
-- and they say well I was only here for this guy's only for that guy but there's this huge number that say I don't know who long for -- Palin and that I might be a huge bigger number 40% say they're willing to vote for somebody other than the person they've picked yeah.
It's wide open.
And knew that what happened a year ago when I ran I knew that I would be unknown for a long time.
-- -- the debates would bring me to the front of the pack not necessarily the winner.
But to the front of the pack I knew that -- issue campaign reform is what he's actually necessary to turn this country around and I looked at the other candidates.
Instead they're decent.
But they can -- hold the lead.
And they have well you have brought up during the break you are talking and you said you have rules say you said that you'd like to debate news because -- is the ultimate insider.
Revealed from a now -- Just the opposite Newt Gingrich and Buddy -- -- were both fairly bright although what they knew his fairy -- We both have experience in congress the difference the years I've been governor.
And it private businessman and -- -- lived -- government as a lobbyist is a historian.
As an advisor.
He is mr.
Washington in sat.
And I don't think he sees the corruption sometimes you can see Washington better.
15100 miles away from Baton Rouge.
I see Washington is corrupt and owned about the special interest if nude and I would debate.
He would be.
-- -- any interest.
Mitt Romney.
Mr.
steady -- But it bug but mr.
flip flop I mean he's got all this -- Every one of them has baggage sits in his is flip -- -- it's it's watney he was way ahead in New Hampshire now that that comeback there's not science.
He's coming back -- -- Jon Huntsman spending a ton of money in New Hampshire he's climbing in the polls.
But he's an apologist for China.
-- just -- on the debate he thinks trade with China spy and an already free.
-- John -- -- China is unfair and they're stealing our jobs.
I would hope Tom and I won't you.
I -- you'd have to give me a positive ball if you could.
-- need to be on the debate not for -- political reasons bush for the issues that drive me corruption in the capital.
And -- fair trade with China there -- the two keys to turning America.
Well -- a I've -- try to do my part.
-- -- from Dallas can't get her partner we got you on the TV show we've got John here in so up for people that.
Wanna know more information about to find out what you what your website.
Buddy Roemer dot com and Romer is spelled.
Our old EU only ER Buddy Roemer dot com and it's all right there in front of DIE I know you wanna -- -- money some people we need it.
But a hundred dollars is a Mac -- -- and as it got.
