Former Texas Rep. Ron Paul said Monday that in America, “we do not really have democracy.”
Appearing on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Paul was asked about the possibility of a viable third party candidate.
Paul replied, “Not really. I think the people are left with very poor choices and no real contest.”
“In this country we do not really have democracy,” former presidential candidate insisted. “Even if we were really, really super happy with the Libertarian candidate, do you think they’d get into the debates? No, the debates are run by the Republicans and Democrats. They’d find a way of excluding them.”
He added that a third party candidate in a presidential debate would only occur if “you’re a billionaire and could put enough pressure and the media capitulates and [says] ‘Maybe we ought to talk to a third party candidate.'”
Paul then said that “overall, foreign policy won’t change with either party in a significant manner, spending is going to continue, government intervention, the Federal Reserve is going to keep manipulating interest rates and never face up to the fact this country has lived way beyond its means and the debt is incomprehensible and all we know is it’s going to grow and grow.”
“The personal fighting is a distraction from the real issue which is personal liberty and the bankruptcy of this country and the failure of our foreign policy. That’s where the problem is,” Paul argued, in the interview flagged by Politico.