Paul: US election not democratic

Press TV
October 31, 2008

Congressman Ron Paul has criticized the election system in the US, saying that the system is not very democratic for third parties.

In an exclusive interview with MSNBC, the former Libertarian Party’s nominee for president in 1988 also said that he had no other way except becoming a Republican candidate in 2008.

When asked why he did not try to be the nominee of the Constitution Party or the Libertarian Party in 2008, Paul said, “Mainly because the laws are very biased against some people doing that.”

“Some won’t even allow you to do it. The system is not very democratic for third parties and alternate choices. All the rules and all the laws are written by Republicans and Democrats, and it’s very hard to get into debates,” he added.

“If I hadn’t been in the Republican primary, I wouldn’t get into the debates. It’s very hard to get on ballots, although they’ve done relatively well. It takes a lot of money. They’ll spend half their money just getting on ballots. The system is very biased against competition.”

He added that a large number of Americans do not have a good choice in the November 4 election.

Criticizing two presidential candidates, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, Paul said that both candidates supported the same foreign and monetary policy.

“Unfortunately, the two major candidates aren’t even talking about Syria, Pakistan, and the things that are important,” he concluded.