You're watching...
Reason TV Editor-in-Chief Nick Gillespie discusses the libertarian vote in 2012 and the impact of Ron Paul’s Presidential run on the national politi...
Also in this playlist...
Auto-advance: ON
Auto-advance
This transcript is automatically generated
Thank you Kevin -- -- they return to Iowa today in an effort to win over voters there the most recent to -- register Paul.
Shows he's almost tied with Herman Cain -- came came out of nowhere and how he's tying what Mitt Romney.
What is popularity Neary popularity -- -- It might seem to -- twelve match up between the former Massachusetts governor or Newt Gingrich against the president.
And that's the case does that leave libertarians with anyone -- vote -- who better to ask -- reason dot com editor in chief -- -- Nick welcome here let let's assume that it's going to be -- ground am not saying that it is but let's assume that it is.
What will small government libertarians like you and I.
Do with a -- a fire in their bellies from that.
Ron that is certainly not I mean I think will be a lot of crying and probably a lot of drinking on Election Day that's -- those are the only two options Iceland is there another option well here you know there is the -- all parties and -- more distant third party that you you I think you'll see a lot of third party melt as well as people not going to the polls.
Even among those small government Republicans.
Not to mention hardcore libertarians between 72 and 88.
Libertarians voted about 70% small -- -- libertarians people believed in you know free minds of free markets.
Voted what about a -- -- go ahead and voted about 70% for the GOP candidate race since 98 that has not been the case it's been about 46%.
I think -- Romney nomination given that.
This is a guy who when you start looking at his record much less what he's been saying lately you know about Obama -- and Romney Karen all of that.
There is virtually nothing in Romney candidacy for a libertarian -- wants low taxes and fiscal.
Fiscal conservative -- and social -- He.
-- that's constitution stay within the -- the government stay within the confines of the constitution that government is best which governs least.
Defensive war zone and he would.
Ratchet up George Bush's Barack Obama's foreign policy to make it more muscular than it's been about how does that even appeal.
To Ron Paul's 13%.
Or even the basic -- of small government Republicans it does not and I mean I think this is part of the problem that people talk about with somebody like Romney.
He will probably become you know the betting market still say he's gonna be the candidate.
And that will be a lackluster candidate will be like Bob Dole in ninety could could a Mitt Romney -- Newt Gingrich or any Herman Cain.
S why -- the and it can be libertarian good reason -- by putting the right person on their ticket or is that just ambulance because the vice president -- -- Dick Cheney really doesn't make much price I mean I think that that would be interesting and I think the real question is not who the Republican candidate -- but what is the effect of Ron Paul and to a certain degree Gary Johnson have.
Through the course of the nominating process.
Ron Paul you know bar none is the libertarian standard bearer and he he might affect he had a major effect on anti war rhetoric in the 2000 and -- and he's.
-- would you know everybody is anti war now -- he's bringing the super excited around -- -- true well and Gingrich and a number of all while we don't even even Newt Gingrich said we have to bring the troops home front we don't need them there any longer.
But Ron -- succeeded in changing the debate it's now very very acceptable to talk about today either at -- the -- ending the Fed.
Suppose -- plus 13% of the Republican Party which is about.
Seven or 8% of the national electorate stay with.
Him you know this is I'd I suspect that Ron Paul will have.
The regardless of what happens -- have the single largest write in candidacy for president since Eugene V steps or something like that I mean this is a guy.
Who has a hardcore base who -- principled stays on message and that message less spending less intervention more freedom.
That's the message that the Republicans or the Democrats could take to the -- to the White House.
But neither of them wants to do that because it would give up power to their party apparatus nickel -- it was a pleasure thanks for joining us the revolution continues right here.
