Sarah Palin, Joe Biden and ..Wayne Root? Woo Interviews the Other VP Hopeful
So much has been made of Republican Vice Presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, since she was selected, Democratic running mate, Joe Biden, must feel like the red headed step child. But there is another Vice Presidential candidate. He's running on the Libertarian Party ticket. His name is Wayne Root. And while Sarah Palin may not be granting interviews, Wayne Root is and he decided to sit down with Gambling911.com reporter, Jenny Woo, for a candid interview.
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Wayne Root took time out from his busy schedule to tell Gambling911 what he's been doing and what he stands for.
"We covered topics like the UIGEA, the Congressional Effect Fund, and his very controversial patent lawsuit, one that was brought against a few individuals very close to the Gambling911 organization in fact.
Some of you may already be supporters of this Libertarian candidate or some of you may not. You might be a Democrat, a Republican or undecided. You just may rethink your decision after this interview or feel even stronger that you've made the right decision. Either way read this interview and then decide. You can also keep up with Wayne Root at http://www.rootforamerica.com.
Oh, and like Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, Wayne Root is very much an accomplished speaker and someone who is not afraid to cut to the chase. He's also a quick wit and a bit of a pit bull himself...minus the lipstick.
Jenny: How did you and Congressman Barr initially join forces and decide to run for office?
Root: I was running for President throughout the 2008 primary season. Bob Barr was at the time on the Libertarian Party National Committee- and certainly the most well known Libertarian in America (as a 4-term Congressman). During the Presidential campaign season, we became friendly and were fans of each other¹s talents. At the Libertarian Party (LP) Convention in Denver in May we joined forces to win the nomination. I threw my support to Bob- and urged my delegates to vote for him as President.
He threw his support to me- and urged his delegates to vote for me as Vice President. We are very similar in our politics. We were both lifelong Republicans- until a few years ago. We were both disciples of our hero Barry Goldwater. We both feel that the GOP abandoned us. The party that supposedly stands for smaller government brought us the biggest government ever- by dramatically increasing spending; by spending a trillion dollars on an unnecessary war in Iraq; by violating our civil rights with warrantless wiretaps; by banning online gaming with the UIGEA; by getting involved even in the last moments of our personal lives (see Terri Schiavo). Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan are most certainly rolling over in their graves.
I have seen "Big Brother" and it's BOTH the Democrats and Republicans. I call them big and bigger, dumb and dumber. Both parties crave power- and They'll do anything to gain it and keep it. They both believe in legally bribing the electorate to gain power. The only difference is who they legally bribe. But either way- the taxpayers lose. Politicians want to control every aspect of our lives. They violate the Constitution almost every day. And they waste our tax dollars bribing special interest groups in order to stay in power. The only difference is who they legally bribe.
Democrats bribe the poor (by promising to redistribute money through welfare, entitlements and huge tax increases on successful people); trial lawyers; teachers unions; environmental groups; illegal immigrants (by promising to reward criminal behavior with citizenship and entitlements); and state and federal employee unions (even if it bankrupts our nation).
Republicans bribe oil companies; pharmaceutical companies; defense contractors (Haliburton and Blackwater); Agi-Business (corporate farmers); and they give away billions of our tax dollars on "corporate welfare".
The only answer is to vote for a third party alternative that wants to cut out all the waste; all the earmarks; all the bribery; all the welfare- for individuals and corporations; dramatically cut foreign aid (that is wasted on tin-pot dictators who steal all the money anyway); dramatically cut military bases around the globe; and bring all this money home- AND HAND IT BACK TO THE TAXPAYERS. As Thomas Jefferson said, "The government that governs least, governs best." We need to elect Bob Barr and Wayne Root-whose goals are to give power back to the people and to make government so small, you won¹t even notice it anymore. When we are done, the U.S. Government will be so small that it will be a one-line listing in the white pages of your local telephone directory.
Jenny: What does Barr/Root stand for?
Root: It's simple- smaller government, less spending, less waste, lower entitlements, dramatically lower taxes, and more freedom. "Internet Freedom" is a good example. Poker players and gambling enthusiasts had their rights violated by UIGEA. As Americans we have a right to do WHATEVER we want in our own bedroom, on our own computer, with our own money. Whatever the question is, the answer is simple: It's none of the government¹s damn business!
Jenny: How are the citizens of the U.S. receiving your campaign and how is your candidacy going?
Root: The Libertarian Party is certainly "America¹s Third Party." We have been the most successful third party in this country since our founding in 1971. In the 2007 election, the Libertarian Party won about 24% of all the local races across the country (where we ran a candidate). That's quite remarkable. Now we need to transfer that kind of success on the local Level to the national level.
This November we will be on the ballot in 46 to 48 states. Barr/Root is polling at 5 percent to 6 percent nationally (in latest Zogby poll)- which is 6 to 7 million votes. In Nevada, my home state, we are polling in the double digits (10 percent). Are we going to win the election? The odds are long. But I got into this from day one with a 16 year plan.
My goal was to set all-time records for Libertarian votes in 2008. We are on pace to shatter that record. We will build a foundation for success in 2008. Then we will use that foundation to build success over the next decade. Four years from now (in 2012) we'll reach Ross Perot-like numbers (19 million votes).
By the way, Ross Perot's campaign manager, Russ Verney, is our campaign manager. Then in 2016 or 2020 we'll be a credible threat to win the White House. Along the way I expect to elect a Congressman, Senator and Governor or two. That's a realistic game plan.
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So who is Wayne Root?
Pictured: Wayne Root and his family
He is a business mogul, television celebrity, TV producer, best-selling author, and professional sports handicapper, based in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Root was born in Mount Vernon, New York, the son of the late David and Stella Root. His father was a butcher from Brownsville, Brooklyn, who dabbled in third party politics as one of the original founders of the New York State Conservative Party. He has been married to a former Miss Oklahoma, Debra Root, for over 16 years. The couple have four children: Dakota, Hudson, Remington, and Contessa.
Root graduated as Valedictorian from his high school, then graduated from Columbia University in 1983 as a Political Science major (in the same class as Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama).
Much has been made of Sarah Palin's religious platform, but Wayne Root brings a whole lot more to the table in that regard. Root was raised Jewish but has since converted to evangelical Christianity.
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Jenny: You had said, "My greatest asset is the common sense of a common American citizen." Have you been getting a lot of supporters because they see you as a common American citizen?
Root: Yes, I'm a VERY different kind of candidate in many ways. I'm not a lawyer, lobbyist, or lifetime politician. I'm a son of a butcher, small businessman (with 35 employees), home-school father (of four young children) and CITIZEN POLITICIAN. I've never worked for government. Never done business with government. Never taken a check from government (other than an IRS refund of my own money). I believe in smaller government and lower taxes simply because I want the taxpayers of America to keep more of their own money. I believe in the average American. I think the American people can make better decisions about what to do with their own money than the government. My hero Ronald Reagan said it best. He said, "The nine worst words in the English language are "I'm from the government and I'm here to help'."
My campaign philosophy is simple- Open your wallet, look inside, vote for me, and I promise to stay the hell out of there! It's your money, it's your property. You should keep more of it and decide how to spend it- NOT government. When Barack Obama talks about change- get ready to run for your life. Big-government, tax-and-spenders like Obama already grab most of your income, now they want your change too!
Jenny: You obviously have your supporters. But what do you say to the doubters and detractors who say things like, "I hope you choke on the money Root." Or "Wayne, in the end you will choke yourself and we will all stand by and enjoy it!"
Root: I laugh it off. I say that everyone successful and high profile has their share of detractors. It's called jealousy. It goes with the territory. It's unfortunately natural that successful people have their share of critics. The more successful you are, the more critics and detractors you'll have. My favorite saying in life is, "If you don't have critics, you're doing something wrong. So work harder so you can earn more critics!"
My problem is that I don¹t have enough critics. Donald Trump and Bill Gates and Richard Branson and Dan Snyder (owner of Redskins) and Jerry Jones (owner of Dallas Cowboys) and George Steinbrenner and Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton all have far more critics than me- and far more money. I'm not as successful as I'd like to be. I need to work harder, make more money and attract more critics.
Tomorrow, we go one on one with US Vice Presidential candidate Wayne Root about the Unlawful Internet Gaming Enforcement Act (the Republican platform included an amendment that wants all gambling outlawed), how his sports handicapping career may have impacted his candidacy and why he is so adamant about home schooling.
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Jenny Woo, Gambling911.com Senior Correspondent
