Rep. Ron Paul Defends Controversial AIDS Comments

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It anyway is at or near the top -- most recent polls congressman Ron Paul who comes to us from include Texas congressman happy new year and welcome back to FOX News Sunday.

Thank you same to you Chris.

At four years ago you were running for president and you've got 10% of the vote on the Iowa Caucuses as we say in the latest to Moines register poll.

You're 22% why do you think you are getting so much more traction.

Here -- Iowa this -- Well it isn't because it takes a message that's my message have been the same for thirty years is the same -- four years ago but the world -- change the -- -- I've talked about economic policies for a long time warn about financial bubbles in the correction that was coming.

And -- and that has arrived and people now are saying the economy is a big deal spending is a big deal that -- is a big deal.

This is what I've worked my whole career on trying to warn people about.

But also in foreign policy I get tremendous support.

On my position which the other candidate or it's dangerous believing in the constitution you shouldn't go to war -- you declare the war.

So this is the kind of thing that people -- -- under title wars.

70% of the -- -- people want us out of Afghanistan.

It's bankrupting us we spent four trillion dollars that went into debt in these last ten years.

And I'm deeply you know concerned about civil liberties so.

These issues strike a chord with the people.

And I think that is a reason and more so now -- even four years ago but a lot more than maybe twenty or thirty years ago.

Because right now the evidence is of the loud and clear the government is feeling and what they pretend they're going to do force and that's why the people are looking for.

-- different answers.

On the other hand.

Congressman in the latest Des Moines Register poll in those final two days.

It shows some evidence of a slide and in fact Santorum.

Passes you and you falling to third what can you do about that slides there.

I think the guy's been cast stand up.

The the ups and downs of the other candidates has been characteristics they come and they go.

And they all belong to the status quo one thing is is.

The people who make a commitment to the campaign for liberty and the constitution limited government going after the Fiat.

What say -- put this all together how liberty and free markets and a sound foreign policy come together.

They don't dessert so our numbers aren't going to go down and our people they're not gonna leave us as a -- on the other ones that come and ago.

So I think our -- will continue to grow even these last couple days in the caucuses are gonna treat -- well but.

The the real test is going to be on Tuesday night so we'll have to wait and see how it turns out.

Not surprisingly.

Congressman with your new strong standing in the polls has come new scrutiny especially about some -- letters.

That came out under your name in the eighty's and ninety's in which there were comments made that were quite frankly racist and homophobic now you say.

That you were the publisher of -- -- letters not the editor -- so you didn't know everything that was in them.

I want to ask you about out a book that you'll -- back in 1987.

Called freedom under siege -- when I ask you about some of the comments and not.

-- -- That book you wrote this the individuals suffering from aids certainly as a victim frequently a victim of his own lifestyle.

But this same individual victimized -- innocent citizens.

By forcing them to pay for his care question.

Congressman do you still feel that same -- Well I.

I I don't know how you can change science -- -- sexually transmitted diseases.

I was caused by sexual act ticket activity and when his -- -- it spreads diseases.

That's been known you know about 4500 years some -- -- these diseases are spread.

So if it's if -- fault comes with people because of their personal behavior and a free society people do dumb things.

But it isn't to be -- as a burden on other people innocent people why should they.

Have to.

Pay for the consequences -- -- as a sort of -- -- I've nationalistic or socialistic attitude but in a free society people are a lot -- act the way they want but they're responsible -- -- coming out -- live television right visionary or did they should be -- Congressman do you think that that someone who suffers from aids should not be entitled to health insurance as opposed to let's say somebody you -- A -- heterosexual -- for transmitted disease.

Well I never sit down.

I'm just saying that it people out when you talk about what they do their big big victimize other people by making us pay for them what do you mean sir.

Well it depends what the insurance company does and the ones who determine that but they shouldn't there should be a losses are denied that there's no way I'm in the market should -- -- this stuff.

People people who you know people who are pregnant -- -- they can't go and buy insurance so insurance they're supposed to be insurance so if fop.

If people are smokers don't they have to pay more sometimes you get your insurance cheaper.

If you're -- nonsmoker.

So I'm talking about to let the market sort this out and let insurance sort this out.

But not having dictates by the government isn't saying.

That show us how much do they have sent your behavior doesn't matter you know if if if -- drink to -- should you go out and and if you do harm somebody who suffer the consequences of such a way with health marriage you don't have a right.

To demand that somebody else take care of you because of your of your habits but -- And money in -- Ajax or you don't have lost.

Let me just interrupt and I'm sorry but we have we have limited time only wanna get to the other two candidates as well I want to ask you -- one other thing that you wrote.

In your book back in 1987.

About sexual harassment in the -- -- -- this.

Why don't this is about the victims of sexual -- -- why don't they quit.

Once the so called harassment starts obviously the morals.

Of the harass or cannot be defended but how come up around C.

Escaped some responsibility for the problem you sad that sexual harassment should not be a violation.

Of someone's employment rights.

Well the whole thing is -- you have to get a better definition of sexual harassment if it's just because somebody told a joke and somebody was offended they don't have a right to go to the federal government.

And have a policeman coming out and put penalties on those individuals I mean I have to say well maybe this is not a very good environment -- have the right to work there -- not work there.

But if sexual harassment involves violence is libertarians we we knew who who we are not very opposed to anybody so if there's.

Any violence -- you still don't need a federal law against harassment he just need to call police and say there's been ten tennis -- has been attempted rape or something.

So you have to separate those two out but because people are insulted by you -- you know who really behavior.

I don't think we should make a federal case out of -- I don't think we need federal laws to deal with that.

And and people should deal with -- home.

Congressman that you have an ambitious a very ambitious agenda as.

What you would do as president is say you could -- one trillion dollars in spending in the first year you say you would shut down.

Five cabinet level departments but I want to look at your record.

Of effectiveness as a member of congress for more than twenty years the Washington Post found.

That -- was sponsored 620.

Measures over your years in congress just four made it to the house floor for a vote and only one.

Of those 640 measures only one was signed into law to sell the Galveston custom house to a historical society.

-- that record why are you suddenly gonna become so effective as the president.

Whether you just made it may not boy in the more -- -- be able others sickened out of Washington.

And the people who have been enjoy argument pass and all of -- -- voting no all the time and vote against no -- that these appropriation -- So I -- the in the visa has -- it -- -- now the people are saying.

The government doesn't work that debt is too big -- and it -- work.

But the country hasn't changed to elect me the country has to change they have to go back to believing in the constitution and personal liberties in a different foreign policy.

Which means that congress will change but just that fact that you can elect the president like myself.

The pressure than is on the current congress because congress you know don't have strong beliefs and as long as the pressure from the people.

Or in the right direction and this is where our campaign is excelling weather is that with Tea Party movement to discuss -- -- American people.

They're sick and tired of all this so -- represented that so of course why would they pass my laws I wanted to stop this long time ago that's why I went to Washington for.

But the highest changed now the opportunity is there and -- series contender so this is why -- -- -- optimism and racking -- and so I'm not so much excitement.

Congressman we have about less than thirty seconds left I want to ask you one final question you.

And congresswoman Bachmann is about to be on got under quite a -- this week when her state chair.

State senator Kent Sorenson jumped ship from her campaign.

To your campaign she alleges that -- sad -- your campaign was paying down.

To jumps out simple question.

Did your campaign or anyone connected with your campaign or -- speaking on -- half of that or any third party vendor did any of them offer money.

To Kent Sorenson to come on board your campaign.

-- -- if she has the evidence she should bring it forth because if she makes -- like that she should be able to defend it but -- that did not happen.

Well she's gonna get an opportunity right now congressman fall we want to thank you so much for talking with us today happy new year again.

We'll see -- back here in Iowa tomorrow thank you sir.

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Rep. Ron Paul Defends Controversial AIDS Comments

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