May 20, 2008 12:37 PM

Libertarian presidential contender Wayne Allyn Root

Note: The Rocky's chat software crashed during the chat. Wayne Root answered several of the questions by e-mail.

Mark_Wolf(Q) You were a longtime Republican. Why did you become a libertarian?
Wayne Allyn Root: (A) 2 main reasons...#1) Republicans talk a good game...but then they get elected and they do nothing about their talk. They talk like limited government libertarians. But they don't walk the walk. The expansion of government under Bush truely made me sick. #2) Social issues. I'm a Barry Goldwater Libertarian...meaning I'm fiscally conservative...but socially tolerant. I want government out of my wallet...and my bedroom. Republicans on social issues have become the very definition of BIG BROTHER.

Mark_Wolf(Q) How would you deal with illegal immigration? Do you support stronger border enforcement?
wayne_allyn_root(A) You had to ask the most difficult question for a Libertarian? LOL. I'm more of a Ron Paul Libertarian on this one. But it is a complex issue. Libertarians generally believe in open borders. Under the CURRENT situation that is dangerous (because of the hreat of terrorism) and disasterous(because it will lead to he BANKRUPTCY of the USA). If we could end welfare and entitlements of all kinds for immigrants tomorrow, I'd support "open borders." But we all know thats not going to happen. Even then I'd demand tight border security to screen for disease, criminal background, terrorism associations. But in theory I love immigrants. I'm a 2nd generation Amrican. My grandparents were Russian Jews who came to Ellis Island in the early 1900's. My grandfather Louis Root died in the "poor ward" of a Brooklyn hospital leaving behind a family of 8 with no job, no income, no insurance. Yet they NEVER took a dime in welfare or government aid. All 7 kids got a job. 4 of the 7 became business owners. All 7 lived the American Dream- WITHOUT any government assistance. If immigrants would do that today- I'd say "Let them all in." If they'd sign a contract to accept no government aid of any kind for 20 years- then they could all come in to work and achieve the "American Dream." But that is not realistic in todays world. Instead millions will come in...demand welfare, fod stamps, free education, free medical care, free school meals and worst of all- Social Security. So until we end wefare as we know it, we must seal the border and stop the mssive migration of poor and needy folks who will literally bankrupt our country and destroy the American Dream for hard-working tax-paying folks (because of high taxes).

kodijack(Q) And what is your position on Iraq? I don't see how we can withdraw immediately, but I think that its the smart thing to do.
wayne_allyn_root(A) Iraq is another complicated issue with no easy answers. Republicans want to stay too long. Democrats want to run with a tail between our legs- and if we leave too soon...leave $2 billion of weapons and ammo behind, as well as endanger our friends that stuck by us...who would undoubedly die after we left. I think the real solution is to never allow another Iraq to happen in the first place. Congress must authorize war. Period. As the constitution states. I believe in a NON-intervenionist foreign policy. I believe we should cut foreign aid drastically. And cut military spending and bases around the world. Give the savings back to U.S. taxpayers. Lets get out of Japan, Germany and South Korea. Why are we paying for their national defense? Those are rich countries. This is tantamount to global welfare. Back to Iraq. The only common sense answer I can see is declare victory...the surge worked...sectarian violence is down...we got rid of Saddam...Democracy is in place...we achieved our goals...now make plans to get out within a reasonable amount of time...12 to 24 months...thereby allowing an orderly withdrawl...and giving the Iraqis time to build their own army, police and security.

Mark Wolf: Former Republican Congressman Bob Barr has entered the Libertarian Presidential race. What's your view of his candidacy? And do you think other disaffected and high-profile Republicans may join him?

Wayne Allyn Root: Bob is a fine man. He'd make a good candidate for the Libertarian Party. But not as good a candidate as I would. LOL. All kidding aside, Bob is a politician, a lawyer, a lobbyist (he has a PAC) and a former federal prosecutor. All the media in D.C. are going wild over his entry into the race. I can see why- he's one of them! A quintessential D.C. insider. His resume sounds like every politician in D.C. presented to voters by the failing 2-party system.

The LP is an anti-establishment, anti-staus quo, anti-tax, anti-government, anti-"D.C. insiders" party. Is that the best resume to lead "America's Third Party?" I think my background provides the ideal image for the LP. I'm a small businessman...homeschool father of 4 young kids...2nd generation American...son of a butcher...and CITIZEN POLITICIAN. I'm a throwback to what the Founding Fathers envisioned for a President in 1776. I'm the quintessential ANTI-politician. I think American voters disenchanted with McCain and Obama will flock to my story.

Mark Wolf: How would you propose to deal with the rising price of gasoline?
Wayne Allyn Root: Again, no easy answers. The long-term solution is weaning America off it's dependence on oil. But the short-term solution is more oil- DOMESTIC oil. We should be drilling in Alaska (ANWR), drilling off Gulf of Mexico, drilling off Cal and Florida coasts. We should be cutting rules and regulations and red tape to encourage the building of more refineries. We should be building more "clean coal" plants. We should be building more nuclear plants. Like France, nuclear energy could (and should) supply a majority of our U.S. energy needs. Hand in hand with this...government needs to stop trying to deciding winners vs losers. Look at the disaster politicians creating by pushing ethanol. Now we have food shortages and food inflation. Ethanol was a big mistake. Government NEVER does anything right. Thats why we need less laws, less politicians, less government.

Mark Wolf: John McCain, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have proposed national healthcare plans that call for government-provided insurance. What is your reaction to those plans?

Wayne Allyn Root: Government screws up EVERYTHING it touches. Look at Hurricane Katrina, the Walter Reed Hospital scandal, the ost-war planning in Iraq. You want to trust those same bureaucrats with your health? What does governmet do efficiently? Any government involvement in health care will ruin the health care system and threaten to bankrupt the country. Have you investigated the government-run systems in UK and Canada? Their residents hate them. Do you want to wait 18 months to fix a cavity? Do you want to wait 2 years for a hip replacement or shoulder surgery? Do you want to lose your choice of doctors? Do you want to pay gigantic new taxes to fund it all? With all those huge taxes in Canada, when Belinda Stronach- a political leader and one of the richest women in Canada- was treated for Cancer, guess where she went? The good 'ol USA (California). Doesn't that say it all? Case closed. Let the free market thrive in health care.

Freedom, choice, competition- that's always the best answer. Give consumers the freedom to buy health insurance in any state with no limits, mandates or regulations. That way my family can shop for a cheaper policy among those offered in any of the 50 states. Competition works.

Decouple the employer from health insurance. That way we can leave our jobs without worrying about losing our health insurance. Then give taxpayers a dollar for dollar tax deduction on our taxes. Raise the limits on Health Savings Accounts. And get the lawyers out of the process- stop frivilous lawsuits and cap damage awards with tort reform.

One more thing- freeze Medicaid spending and distribute the funds to all 50 states as a block grant- better decisions (and cost savings) are made on the state and local level.