Galt's Gulch
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I’m Rand Paul and I’m running for President of the United States of America. Ask me anything!

Posted by RandPaul 8 years, 7 months ago to Politics
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I'm Dr. Rand Paul, devoted husband and father, senator from Kentucky, and 2016 United States presidential candidate.

I am running for president to return our country to the principles of liberty and limited government. I am an advocate of a balanced budget amendment, term limits, and privacy reform. I’m proud to be here in Galt’s Gulch with you today and will be back at 4PM ET to provide answers to your questions.

Ask me anything.

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EDIT 3: Radio Interrupted post-show with the Atlas Society: http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts...

EDIT 2: A full summary of questions and answers by Dr. Paul can be found here: http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts...

EDIT 1: 09.22.15 4:50PM ET: The Senator had to cut it short to keep a date with Wolf Blitzer (CNN). Check out his farewell comment here: http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/posts...

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PROOF: https://twitter.com/RandPaul/status/6...

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FROM SCOTT: Dr. Paul will be here at 4PM ET. Post your questions here now as comments below. IF YOU HAVE MULTIPLE QUESTIONS, PLEASE POST THEM AS INDIVIDUAL COMMENTS. Try and keep the questions brief so the senator can get through as many as possible. Also, make sure to vote on the questions (and this post) as the best will rise to the the top of the list.

At 4PM ET, refresh this page with your browser to see the Rand’s replies as they come in.

Also, make sure to join us at 4:30PM today for a special edition of GULCH LIVE: RADIO INTERRUPTED ( http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/g/the... ) for exclusive live commentary from the Atlas Society's David Kelly, Aaron Day, Will Thomas, and Ed Hudgins.

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DONATE TO RAND’S CAMPAIGN: https://secure.randpaul.com/

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DONATE TO FREEDOMWORKS: https://donate.freedomworks.org/contr...
DONATE TO THE ATLAS SOCIETY: http://atlassociety.org/donate

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NOT YET A GULCH PRODUCER?
- Create a new Galt's Gulch Account: https://galtsgulchonline.appspot.com/...
- Upgrade an existing Galt's Gulch Account: http://www.galtsgulchonline.com/accou...

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  • Posted by bwendland24 8 years, 7 months ago
    Will you just turn the prison industrial complex into a drug treatment industrial complex. how pro-marijuana are you are you for decriminalization! and I don't want the jargon that we will see where the states go I want your honest opinion blatant and open don't try to hide it. the majority of Americans want decriminalization of marijuana anyway.
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  • Posted by Navyengr 8 years, 7 months ago
    Dr Paul.

    Hi, I've been on board with you and your father since 2007. I voted Bush in 2004, but I've never voted for anyone else but Liberty candidates since then.

    I'm an engineer for the US Navy and I'm proud to protect our ships and our sailors and give our warfighters what they need to win.

    I also happen to be Muslim.

    My beliefs are consistent with the Constitution of this nation. But lately I've been very disturbed by ant-islamic comments from Republican candidates and even voters claiming to be part of the Liberty movement.

    I won't be seeking the highest office any time soon. I'm an engineer and I build things. But what should I tell my kids when they ask about following in the footsteps of their icon - President Rand Paul? Is there any place for us in the Republican party or the Liberty movement?
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  • Posted by davidmcnab 8 years, 7 months ago
    Dr Paul, can we please address the matter of free trade versus "free" trade?

    Free trade is when 2 or more countries relax their tariffs and allow each others' goods to pass their respective borders without impediment.

    "Free" trade is when some countries relax their tariffs, but notice other countries aren't relaxing theirs. And if the tariffs are relaxed, the other countries instead levy all kinds of subtle market barriers.

    The USA is notorious for preaching free trade, but practising "free" trade. Successive governments have been compromised through undue lobbying influence from livestock farmers, and numerous other industry interest groups, such that the USA has insisted on free access to trading partners' markets, while keeping major parts of their own markets closed.

    Dr Paul, are you willing to commit yourself (and any government you lead) to eliminating this hypocrisy once and for all, such that the USA starts conducting itself with integrity as an honest trading citizen of the world?
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  • Posted by iowagarrett 8 years, 7 months ago
    Rand, Donald Trump has accused the media of not being "fair" to him in their questions. Would it be "fair" to point out that in recent years Trump has been active in the pro wrestling scene, having a run-in with "The Boogeyman" and firing cross dressing wrestler "Santina Marella" and now thinks he's qualified to take on ISIS and Putin? ;-)

    LOVE FROM IOWA!!!!

    https://youtu.be/nYcfsLfwQcM (marella)

    https://youtu.be/u2vJN3st5T4 (the Boogeyman)
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  • Posted by joeschmoses 8 years, 7 months ago
    Dr. Paul, I am a student that's followed your campaign really closely, and have been at work promoting your campaign to everyone that I know. From the beginning you have proven to be the only candidate that continuously fights for the entire bill of rights, limited government, and freedom on a continuous basis. But I'm constantly seeing people support big government candidates...

    Is it ever disheartening working so hard to protect the freedom of Americans when so much of the population seems to support candidates that would take us to war, and increase the size of government?
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  • Posted by BMAndr3ws 8 years, 7 months ago
    I'm going to ask this again. Forgive me if you've already answered this. Why after spending so much time as Senator fighting against illegal spying and the NSA, and repealing the "Patriot" Act would you not grand Snowden a pardon if he were to return to the U.S.? I am a huge supporter, but your stance on this issue really bothers me and many other of your supporters as well.
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  • Posted by Taco303 8 years, 7 months ago
    Hello ,Dr.Paul
    My question is about minority outreach and poverty.After 50 years since the war on poverty was declared,it's obvious both parties haven't done a great job on this issue.And Republicans,once the party of civil rights seems to have lost their way and I believe the Democrats take advantage of the black and latino voters The question to you is will you continue and be willing to go out of the 'comfort zone' of most Republicans and visit more poor communities and urban areas like Baltimore,Oakland,Detroit,Chicago,Philadelphia and tour the devastation,poverty, and urban blight of these communities?It's not right that in the richest country in the world,so many of our cities look like 3rd world countries,but yet we can send money overseas to nation build there when we should be building here .The Democrats have let us down and many Republicans ignore us.Thank you.
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  • Posted by starznbarz 8 years, 7 months ago
    Senator, Some of the folks in the house and one in the senate have begun to name names and provide detailed information regarding the two faced tactics of most career politicians. I believe that helps us, the employer, publicly call out those folks in the year before elections, do you agree with this tactic and will you join in?
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  • Posted by Lonecrowe 8 years, 7 months ago
    Where do you stand on 'net Neutrality?" Its a touchy subject for me because I make executive decisions for 3 different ISP's we own. Would you allow private corporations forge their own contracts between themselves or would you stifle some of the monopolies that are taking place to break things down into better competition?

    I'm ok with not allowing corporations to get "too big" and crush innovation etc. Let the smaller local companies thrive and innovate unhindered. Similar to libertarian principles.

    I'm wondering how you feel about the subject..
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  • Posted by MikeDRFilms 8 years, 7 months ago
    Tell us more about your immigration reform ideas. Do you eliminate welfare and entitlements for illegals? I know Trump has been riding this one out since he entered the race and I think a better understanding of your plan would help to steal some of his thunder.
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  • Posted by Keating 8 years, 7 months ago
    Your campaign used memes to devastating effects against Hillary. why have you not done so against the far more mockable Donald Trump?
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  • Posted by PROOF 8 years, 7 months ago
    Why were you so quiet at the most recent debate? You have to jump in there and fight for center stage....the american people want a leader who fights to get on that elevator first rather than let everyone else on and be left behind...we need to see the fight in you Rand.....
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  • Posted by VannyBananny 8 years, 7 months ago
    I am solid on voting for Rand Paul I changed my party so that I can vote for you in the Florida primaries. YEEEssssS! BTW Thanks for all that you do! When will you be having a rally or meet and greet in Miami/Ft. Lauderdale?
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  • Posted by 1volsfan 8 years, 7 months ago
    I am of the firm opinion that war is not the answer to bettering relations with other countries . If elected president, what would your plan be as to bettering relations between us and countries that may consider us to be enemies such as many Middle Eastern countries, North Korea, etc and especially Cuba? Your father's answer was opening up the marketplace between US and other countries. Is that your stance or do you have another idea?
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  • Posted by mari 8 years, 7 months ago
    Many are worried that "they" won't let you win the primary or the election. Many say they are blocking you already. Senator can you really win?
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  • Posted by Tuner38 8 years, 7 months ago
    What is your strategy for reducing government to it's fundamental nature. Are you going to articulate why government has no business in business and why taxation is theft?
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  • Posted by PROOF 8 years, 7 months ago
    Why would you not force monsanto to properly label the food they sell to citizens....I thought you were all about transparency...i think transparency is most especially important when you are talking about corporations that are as large as governments...while i do advocate for the right of small businesses to be left to their own devices, don't you think large corporations should be treated more like mini-governments when it comes to transparency?
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    • Posted by JoeE 8 years, 7 months ago
      I think the answer is right in your first words "why would you not force". Less force, more freedom.
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      • Posted by PROOF 8 years, 7 months ago
        when corporations get as big as governments, they have the power to force their products on the masses in a monopolistic way.....While i am afraid of government getting too big and powerful, i am also afraid of corporations getting too big and powerful....
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  • Posted by iowagarrett 8 years, 7 months ago
    Dr Paul, your father had a lot of success with a very simple policy proposal: No Taxes on Tips. As I'm sure you'll recall this was a proposal which said that servers should keep what they earn, specifically the tips that they earned should not be taxed. Do you think that implementing this proposal, at a time when the minimum wage discussion is so prominent on the national political stage, might be a tactic/proposal you would consider pushing to the forefront of your campaign?
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  • Posted by VannyBananny 8 years, 7 months ago
    We need more jobs here. There are even more unemployed than the news is admitting and the ones I know unemployed have a college education never ran into trouble with the law and are even getting rejected by Burger King. What can you do so that we don't have so many unemployed people who want to work?
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