Pauls agree to disagree
January 5th, 2011
07:28 PM ET
12 years ago

Pauls agree to disagree

(CNN)-The 112th Congress is a family affair for GOP Congressman Ron Paul and his son, Republican Senator Rand Paul. But that doesn't mean they always agree.

Speaking with CNN's Chief National Correspondent John King, the two Pauls diverge on whether the House Republican pledge to cut $100 billion dollars from the federal budget in the first year is realistic.


In an interview for CNN's "John King, USA," Congressman Paul commented on an apparent backtrack from the original GOP promise. The elder took a conservative tack, explaining that instead of a failure, Republicans are now "facing up to reality."

"I mean they don't have the votes, they don't have the support, I predict the budget this year will be bigger than last year. I don't think the budgets are gonna shrink because just the cost of living increase and other things, there's so much momentum, I don't have high expectations that we're gonna be cutting much of anything."

Senator Paul, the freshman, had a more hopeful point-of-view: "I'm a little more optimistic than that actually and I think actually we're introducing a bill that will be $500 billion dollars in cuts…We will push the leadership…the tea party does want spending cuts, we do want to reduce the deficit, and I'm more optimistic. I think we will get some concessions.

And when asked how Americans should respond if Republicans cannot keep their promises, the father-son team traded places on perspective.

Rand Paul responded "[Americans] should kick them all out and send us all home."

Ron Paul countered "Well I think they should kick the people out who voted incorrectly. If we've been voting the right way, why would you get kicked out for that?

Hopefully they can settle any disagreements before the sun goes down; Sen.-and-Congressman Paul will be sharing a residence in DC during the congressional term.

Watch John King's exclusive television interview with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi Thursday @ 7 p.m. ET on CNN's "John King, USA."


Filed under: Rand Paul • Ron Paul • TV-John King U.S.A.
soundoff (4 Responses)
  1. D-NICE

    Ron Paul makes sense some times, but other times I think he is kook. He was on Colbert last night talking about the gold standard. He went on and on about how much better gold is than paper money, but then goes on to say once you buy gold you will be given a gold certificate. A PEICE OF PAPER!!! I get the point that it is backed by gold, but still it seems a little silly. It would be nice to know what actually motivated the Pauls. Both of them seem to be in outer space sometimes. Could it be aqua buddah?

    January 5, 2011 07:41 pm at 7:41 pm |
  2. vic nashville tn

    How he plan to cut budget ? so far no plan

    Election over 2 months back today no plan

    January 5, 2011 08:00 pm at 8:00 pm |
  3. w l jones

    We the people of America in for a ride before the ink dry on these new Rep. they are taking 100 billion x7 equal 7oo billion dollars in economic activity out of our economy plus tax right off on fund raising. God help us.

    January 5, 2011 08:42 pm at 8:42 pm |
  4. S.B. Stein E.B. NJ

    The problem is that neither of these Pauls are willing to consider that taxes need to be raise. There is no way that we can safely and responsibly cut the government to the size they want. It would put people in danger and leave people and the envirnoment vulnerable to abuse and destruction. There are rules for a reason - people don't always do the proper thing; many do but some don't.

    January 5, 2011 09:05 pm at 9:05 pm |