By Cliff Boyer

In what was at times a heated exchange, Ron Paul defended his libertarian positions Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press."

Moderator Tim Russert focused on the amount of money Paul's Texas district receives in federal funding. His district has been among the top in Texas in receiving federal assistance since 2000. In the first nine months of the 2006 fiscal year, his district received $4 billion in aid.

Paul voted against the bailout for Hurricane Katrina victims, yet as Russert pointed out, most of the money Paul's district receives is for flood control aid. Paul himself sponsored 10 earmarks for his district in the water resources bill that was passed over President George Bush's veto.

"You're confused," Paul told Russert. "You've got it all mixed up. The whole process is corrupt -- it's the system. I'm trying to change the system."

Paul has touted cuts in taxes and spending but he seems to differ from his fellow Republicans who usually prioritize cuts in domestic spending and entitlements. Paul instead would start with foreign policy and advocates closing military bases in Europe and Asia and bringing troops home.
"If you brought our troops home we'd save hundreds of millions of dollars," Paul said.

Paul advocates cutting the size of the federal government as well, including eliminating the Department of Education. He says the goal is "to cut spending and reduce government to a constitutional size."

He wants to make all medical expenses tax deductible and to give doctors the freedom to collectively negotiate with insurance companies to drive down the cost of medical care.

Immigration is a hot-button issue for many Republicans and Paul is in step with many of the major proposals put forth by the presidential candidates. He wants to secure the borders and to enforce visa rules and regulations. He is against "amnesty" and wants "true immigration reform."

Paul calls for the decriminalization of drugs and calls the war on drugs "absurd." He thinks the focus on drugs is too expensive and one more instance of government interference in private lives.

"We're not moving toward a Hitler-type fascism, but we're moving toward a softer fascism," Paul said. "Loss of civil liberties, corporations running the show, big government in bed with big business."

Paul has said that he has no intention of running as an Independent if he doesn't receive the Republican nomination.

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