It’s President’s Day 2016. And this election year, we’re bringing you a special edition of The Glenn Beck Program. Iowa and New Hampshire have now voiced their opinions in the primaries, but most of the country has yet to vote. Over the past several months, we have extended an offer to all of the presidential candidates to sit down and talk one-on-one in a long-form setting. Many of the candidates took us up on that offer; some did not.
We weren’t looking for gotcha questions, and we didn’t want sound bite answers. Anyone can do an interview where the politicians can give a polished and rehearsed answer. But we wanted to go in depth with the people who want to lead our country through, which will be no doubt, a very intense period in our nation’s history.
For those who participated, we discussed important issues, ranging from what to do about ISIS to Common Core to favorite Founding Fathers. It’s insightful and important even from those candidates out of the presidential race who could potentially be a vice presidential candidate.
Rand Paul:
- • Most Underrated President: Calvin Coolidge
- • You know, it's difficult because as a kid, I was always a huge Jefferson fan. I think Jefferson was probably the greatest of our Founding Fathers. I've come to like Madison a lot, you know, with the Bill of Rights and making sure how the Constitution was written. But I also think ultimately --- and I don't like. I'm not part of this glib, sort of New Age thing that, oh, we got to condemn them all for being slave owners. But it does make them imperfect. And I'm aware of that there were people --- you know, I loved William Lloyd HEP Garrison, an abolitionist, who even at the time when everybody thought slavery was okay stood up. The Adams --- you know, many conservatives, Libertarians, oh, they love Jefferson and don't like John Adams. I actually kind of appreciate the Adams for standing up against slavery in a time when it was accepted by everybody.
Ted Cruz:
- • Favorite Founder: James Madison, father of the Constitution
- • Favorite Amendment: I love the Tenth Amendment. I love the Second Amendment. But my favorite amendment is the first. Both free speech and religious liberty are foundational to every other liberty we have.
Ben Carson:
- • Favorite Founder: My favorite founder is going to be --- boy, that's a tough one --- between Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. They were all just terrific people.
- • Most Underrated Founder: Probably in terms of his intellect and ability, James Madison
- • Favorite Amendment: Probably the First Amendment
Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:
Below is a rush transcript of this segment, it might contain errors:
GLENN: One of the things we had fun with is talking to the candidates about their favorite founders and who they considered the most underunderrated president. Besides with another. Rand Paul. Most underrated president?
RAND: Coolidge.
GLENN: Good for you. That's the answer I've been looking for. Nobody has given that one.
In the Oval Office, there's a place where you're supposed to hang a picture of a president. It's right by the door in the Oval Office. Who is that picture going to be?
RAND: Does it have to be a president?
GLENN: It has to be a president. The tradition is --
RAND: If you're president, I'm thinking you can do whatever you want.
GLENN: Yeah, you can do whatever you want it's your room.
But generally you're trying to model -- you say, this is the guy I most identify with.
RAND: You know, it's difficult because as a kid, I was always a huge Jefferson fan. I think Jefferson was probably the greatest of our Founding Fathers. I've come to like Madison a lot, you know, with the Bill of Rights and making sure how the Constitution was written. But I also think ultimately -- and I don't like. I'm not part of this glib, sort of New Age thing that, oh, we got to condemn them all for being slave owners. But it does make them imperfect. And I'm aware of that there were people -- you know, I loved William Lloyd HEP Garrison, an abolitionist, who even at the time when everybody thought slavery was okay stood up. The Adams -- you know, many conservatives, Libertarians, oh, they love Jefferson and don't like John Adams. I actually kind of appreciate the Adams for standing up against slavery in a time when it was accepted by everybody.
GLENN: Sure.
RAND: I'll have to get back to you on that.
GLENN: You seem to jump to somebody that wasn't a president. Who was it?
RAND: Oh, you know, I was thinking thinking more of an economist. Either von Mises or Hayek as an economist.
GLENN: Wow.
RAND: I also am a fan of Friedman, as well. You know, the people who really talked about how important choice was for an individual, for prosperity, but also just for freedom itself.
GLENN: We also spoke to Ted Cruz who described his favorite founder and a possible change of face on US currency. Here's Ted.
TED: My answer is actually James Mazda. This is not as president, but for his role as father of the Constitution.
GLENN: You know, there's one space in the Oval Office. Right by the door. You have to hang a picture -- well, you don't have to. But tradition is you hang a picture of the president you're modeling yourself after. Who is that picture going to be?
TED: I haven't decided. But I will note in my office now, there's one picture that's 20 feet long, and that's a picture of Reagan in front of the Brandenburg Gate. So I would have to -- I would suspect the answer would be the same in the Oval Office, although it wouldn't be 20 feet long.
GLENN: Your favorite amendment.
TED: I love the Tenth Amendment. I love the Second Amendment. But my favorite amendment is the first. Both free speech and religious liberty are foundational to every other liberty we have.
GLENN: Favorite founder.
TED: Madison.
GLENN: Most underrated founder.
TED: Look. For underrated -- you know, Hamilton, there's this big move to throw him off the 10-dollar bill, which I think is terrible.
GLENN: I hate -- I hate Hamilton. He was their generation's progressive.
TED: He was a big government guy, but he played a critical part in strengthening the federal government. Coming from the Articles of Confederation, we needed a little bit more big government compared to an ineffective government.
GLENN: Yeah, he was --
TED: I'm glad Madison won the arguments. But I think Hamilton's role should not be erased.
GLENN: Sticking with the topic of immigration, Ben Carson weighed in during a rapid fire question and answer session.
The most underrated president in the United States, historically.
BEN: Historically?
GLENN: Historically.
BEN: That's -- that's a tough one. Probably -- probably John Adams.
GLENN: Worst president?
BEN: I think that's probably a toss up.
GLENN: You can give me more than one. This president not included.
BEN: I don't want to do it.
GLENN: Okay.
BEN: Only because I know there will be headlines the next day.
GLENN: Your favorite amendment?
BEN: Hmm. Probably the First Amendment.
GLENN: Your favorite founder?
BEN: My favorite founder is going to be -- boy, that's a tough one -- between Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, and Benjamin Franklin. They were all just terrific people.
GLENN: Most underrated founder?
BEN: Underrated, probably in terms of his intellect and ability, Madison.
Featured Image: Republican presidential candidates (R-L) Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), Ben Carson, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) participate in the Fox News - Google GOP Debate January 28, 2016 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines, Iowa. Residents of Iowa will vote for the Republican nominee at the caucuses on February 1. Donald Trump, who is leading most polls in the state, decided not to participate in the debate. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
