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Reason Magazine Editor-in-Chief Matt Welch on why Tea Party members and Libertarians support Rep. Ron Paul over Mitt Romney.
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What's he parties it libertarians not exactly mad about mad South Carolina governor Nikki LA once backed by the Tea Party now getting back glass from the Tea Party after putting your tips behind Mitt Romney.
Reason magazine editor in chief -- welts cheers that criticism he's libertarian more than a T -- here but agrees if its Romney vs Obama.
Still they voted or third choice but -- on.
-- -- it's a two person charts but would you just hold your nose and vote -- -- Romney or what what do you do.
Well right now as far as I am aware there's been two elections in the primary season so it's a little bit premature to talk about very good progress two two -- -- -- and the Republican Party has to decide.
Whether it's going to responded to four years Barack Obama and a populist uprising against bailout economics.
By nominating a guy who has no credible plan to cut government and that's -- Mitt Romney is.
I think before that happens there needs to be a thorough going debate on why that is happening -- they coughing up basically to Republican version of John Kerry.
So if -- little history but I mean who who'll always your candidate.
Well I'm rooting for -- -- Paul to continue to.
Come a good second place he's -- -- right now who's looking in the teeth of a almost European style fiscal crisis that's looking us right now right face right now and saying he's gonna cut governed by a trillion dollars next year.
Mitt Romney right now is running to the left of Barack Obama on Medicare he's criticizing -- for cutting Medicare.
He's criticizing Rick Perry for calling the Social Security a Ponzi scheme and he's talking about drastically -- jacking up military spending what are you gonna cut.
Mean you gotta cut something word of borrowing forty cents on the.
We know they're not that's not -- about one but obviously.
There are those little baby a bit more pragmatic to in the party did you know and who say they share your zeal about you know cutting spending and all that.
But I I think the figures word these exit polls that a New Hampshire encourages -- wrong.
That half of the conservatives who voted it in the end for Mitt Romney though not great personal sands of the former governor.
The -- -- because they thought he had the best chance of winning.
And it and and and that was that and and that guys like you.
You know who could could topple that and hand the election.
To President Obama -- -- -- Well I send not a Republican -- of in many ways they're right but Republicans are bleeding market share even in this I know I had to pull I think you don't want segment if you had a choice between the two.
Would you just headed out debt.
Everybody wants to to break it down to just a choice between -- -- but we have more choices that's the fact and.
The only -- I'd be let's say the general election on this I don't give -- hypothetical Bissell bear with my simplicity.
But if it were Mitt Romney and -- -- Barack Obama and you're quite right to say it's way too early to say that's the case but if that is the case are you saying he would sit the election out.
I would probably go for third party in that case for sure if someone held a gun to my head.
I always go with firing the person who's in office but no one's holding a gun to my head hurt -- -- -- -- party candidate Ralph Nader.
Luckily that's not going to be the case the Gary Johnson's running for the Libertarian Party candidate he didn't really catch fire in the Republican.
The primaries but -- he's gonna put up a good -- but let's talk now about where the Republican Party is going to go and are we going to actually.
Come -- with some sort of of of credible plans to cut the crisis in front of us -- otherwise we're gonna have to make that decision without being able to to planet ourselves it's gonna be made for us so at some point Republicans are gonna have to get serious about cutting government.
So -- a lot of mainstream.
The members of both parties look at a Ron Paul great respect for -- -- right resuming direct he speaks his mind is consistent on its policies.
But take into their extremely worrisome -- that there is a disengagement to it is.
Is use of the world's of that debt that some see as the -- need it not dangerous what what do you say.
Sure I mean I don't begrudge anyone for not supporting anybody but I think what we're gonna see.
-- Ron Paul's gonna run to the Republican can convention.
-- to see him try to influence what the other people are talking about the debate which you already has done.
When it comes to what they talk about -- Federal Reserve and so on.
He's going to try to push the Republican Party in a direction.
Towards liberty towards limited government towards constitutional isn't the question is is -- Republican Party and that nominee if it's not hand.
Are they going to try to accommodate those views and the people who believe passionately about them.
And will they do in a way that's credible to the people who follow him -- it's a -- open question.
Very well -- very very -- since I'll -- thoughts thank you very much.
Reason magazine editor.
