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Former Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) joins Alan to share his thoughts on the 2012 presidential race and his current run for Congress.
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Congressman Alan Grayson -- running once again for congress from Florida.
Candidates in 2012.
Congressman thank you very much both brilliant and appreciated as a way to put it have you been following this tragedy at Sanford Florida.
And we've been talking to the stand your ground law that apparently gives you a lot more latitude.
To shoot at somebody who's not even on your -- -- in your house if you feel you're being threatened.
Well the author of the standard ground on thirty said that the tragedy to referring -- not covered by that law.
And I've listened to the tapes.
The 911 tapes and it seems pretty clear that the a person Russia trip on -- and was pursuing him.
-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Against African American so.
You know the -- convened a grand jury in the feds are getting involved that's probably the right thing to -- Well we have a hate crimes act in this country -- both federal and state jurisdiction.
You've been pretty outspoken about this presidential race and -- -- you know tonight of course and Illinois.
And Romney won but the Republicans and I'm pretty excited about any of their candidates aren't.
No and I think it's -- has been a wide none of them has won the nomination yet because the roles such losers.
Can't think if anyone I think that would make the president who's running on the for the Republicans and you don't -- my the only one who really consequences is Ron Paul and the reason for that is that there is some common ground there -- understand his positions on the against the war and I do agree with them.
I understand students' civil liberties and I Griffin.
And if you think thing if -- somebody like that somebody who's actually a man of principle has absolutely no chance of getting the Republican on the yeah.
Well the delegate count would favor Romney it is playing -- Santorum and seems and a -- in -- got there you go to Puerto Rico and -- got to learn English.
He what he did he think you want them the male vote but he says you know whenever -- an outlaw and go after people who make porn.
So he's thirty loss of women vote on birth enjoyment he's got left who's who is not getting who has already alienated.
And I think he's actually running for Pope.
It is an elected official -- it's an elective.
Jobs so I think that's what exactly do.
They.
You commented on the whole pornography issue.
And -- -- Santorum says America is suffering from a pandemic of harm from pornography.
And it is toxic to marriage is in relationships.
What is the role of government there.
I'm wondering how he knows that.
What are you suggesting the movement I'm just wondering how to become to that conclusion what what is the evidence -- exclusion if he's speaking from personal experience.
You know and -- you know you're taking is -- don't watch it.
Right.
Yeah yeah yeah I -- Seems pretty obvious to me if you're against porn don't watch it.
This is an eight billion dollar a year industry.
You know and he's gonna go after.
I mean you you it's probably it's likely that -- will get the nomination correct.
I don't know I you know they're clearly most Republicans do not wanted to have the nomination if there have been one unified opposition.
Up to this point it was Romney vs pac.
And equitable wrapped up the nomination along time ago and most Republicans simply don't want them.
And they don't -- -- because they recognize that at the foot for upper but he says whatever you think needs this city get people's votes and that's just not where Republicans are right.
He's likely to get the end delegates eventually at least he's ahead now and in -- there's a brokered convention.
And if he is the nominate an area you're an expert on which is health care.
Is you know when he instituted so called Romney care where now if people call -- -- bomb the care.
He was for the individual mandate as has been.
A bunch of Republicans.
Including Newt Gingrich and yet they're gonna fight the president against this and hope.
That the Supreme Court rules against -- month.
I think that there's a more fundamental principle involved here it wasn't so much that he -- forward and the individual mandate.
He was -- universal health care and that's something it makes him intolerable.
The most Republican voters most Republican voters do not want to see -- president a man who thinks that when you're execution be able to -- -- doctor.
Yet -- have a I think your line was when you're in congress.
The Republican plan is don't get sick.
That's right and and it's it's unfortunate that you have to swear 120 revivals and have seven angels -- -- I know it right statement supported you against the idea that you simply believe that people who were -- -- the people see a doctor that's.
We're the mind -- is right now in the heart right wing Republican Party.
What happens though it's a Supreme Court even before the election decides that he could go 54 they vote along party lines.
Against the mandate hurting the president.
Never watching it very closely that the mandate is only at a tiny part of what the build them.
That the bill accomplish its coverage for thirty plus million more American.
Let's from -- -- when -- -- helped them you don't respect by means other than the individual mandate.
And I haven't seen any significant.
Decisions so far many of the lower courts.
That there's anything other than the mandate is unconstitutional.
So I think we will continue to make progress toward our goal which is actually 3000 year old -- A goal of simply helping sick.
We're gonna get the single Payer or at least the public option or some that -- covers.
All Americans and is simply -- John Conyers and what a 39 page proposal bill that would and a lot simpler right.
I haven't heard any good argument against the public option as closely as I've been following this now for a year after year after year.
I think I've only heard nattering about socialism and marxism and everything held -- cliche you can think of but the fact is that we've spent.
Billions upon billions of dollars in this country making sure that wherever -- -- in this country.
There's a Medicare provider could help you and we allow only one fix for the population have access to that system.
If we had a public option we wouldn't be wasting -- system and make it unavailable to the other 56.
What's happening in your own race -- you're not running in exactly the same district they've gerrymandered correct in Florida.
No I mean that because the population growth in Florida we have two new districts in Florida my old district was divided in half and as you can imagine I'm running in the democratic half of the district.
So my the alliance has changed dramatically but about half of the people in the district are people who -- represented before.
So what are your chances at this point -- or any polling that's been done.
I think they're good but the thing that they have been we've done polling and typically looks good but the thing is that it doesn't matter how things look in March what matters how things look in November.
And last time things look very good for -- in March but I had provide million dollars of outside tour money spent against me in September and October.
And that led the result that you -- on November.
So we we need all the help that we can get.
You think it's got -- mark auction are we don't know much about them I mean you know all the at all and you know.
I mean market famous for only one thing he put out an Internet.
Which depicted Barack Obama are our first African American president at the captain of the slave ship.
Haven't played she was populated only by white children.
That's all you need to know about more -- I presume this will come up during the meat of the campaign.
I think you know so but I I think he really mistreat our district very badly.
If you think that that's gonna give him any votes.
How you doing well raising money in developing a a -- game there.
-- the new world -- already we already have a hard ground game in motion we we have people who worked have a thing for us every day.
I do things like collecting absentee ballot request.
But it edition I'm really pleased to see how many people come to the web site -- -- dot com.
And support our campaign already believe or not we -- almost 40000 people.
-- already contributed to the campaign.
Which gets -- halfway to where we were last time without the congress last time.
-- 80000 people contribute to our campaign which was substantially more than any other democratic member of congress.
You think you're a senator rubio gets on the -- on the Republican side.
I don't know but they'll be sorry if they do.
Because he's got a lot of skill -- implement clause that it's tiger tees and here.
No I really -- that's almost but we still that I mean this is somebody who had one of those famous Republican Party of Florida credit cards.
-- used to -- -- -- the personal expense to them I look forward to -- explanation.
Of Hawaii from other people should papers back -- What what did he -- use taxpayer dollars for back waxing and on other kinds of expense and.
He used party money for it and that's the contributions that go to the party for reasons other than -- -- I say so this is -- kind of stuff we could see coming up -- fifty becomes a national candidate.
I'm sure that I mean the entire Republican Party of Florida has that problem it it is it's a fundamentally corrupt party.
-- and that it could run this state is if it is this you know who would who successfully.
Oh well I thought that she will be flown at that congressman I appreciate you -- -- -- is always an.
We'll be following your campaign appreciate to -- thank you thanks very much as.
