It's always great to read interviews with former NM Gov. Gary Johnson -- where else can you find a GOP candidate voice slamming Barack Obama for being a socialist, hitting Republicans for using "scare" tactics on health care, and arguing for a repeal of DADT?
Johnson's base seems to be his principles, which is always charming in a politician.
First, the socialism thing:
Q: The word socialist is getting thrown around a lot lately, particularly when it comes to some of the President’s policies. At the same time, he came out in the State of the Union and talked about cutting capital gains taxes, among other things. Do you think Obama is socialist?
A: Well, OK. So he talks about cutting capital gains, but it doesn’t happen. He talks about cutting health care costs, but it doesn’t happen.
So the actions are socialist. The words aren’t necessarily socialist, but the actions are.
Second, the health care thing.
Q: Do you think that Democrats dug their own hole, here? [With] Obama coming in promising change, hiring a bunch of Clinton people?
A: I don’t see this as ‘Democrats.’ I see Republicans going hand-in-hand with this. Going back a couple of months ago, when the health care debate was raging, Republicans ran ads that said, ‘Democrats are looking to cut your Medicare.’ Well, yes: Medicare has to be cut. Medicare has to be reigned in. And Republicans are using that as a scare tactic.
Well, where’s the blame there? There’s blame on both sides. There’s no shoving blame off to the Democrats with a strategy like that.
Third, the don't ask, don't tell thing.
Q: Where do you stand on ‘Don’t ask, don’t tell’?
A: That it shouldn’t exist. Gays in the military that are putting their lives on the line should be acknowledged as who they are. They’re no less patriotic. They’re equal human beings.
