Here & Now

Paul Nehlen Discusses His Candidacy For Congress

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

THAT’S A HARLEY YOU HEAR ROARING THROUGH PAUL RYAN’S CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT THIS WEEK. THE MAN ON THE BIKE IS RYAN’S GOP CHALLENGER PAUL NEHLEN SEEN HERE IN HIS FIRST POLITICAL AD. THE DELAVAN BUSINESSMAN’S CAMPAIGN THROTTLED UP RECENTLY WITH AN ENDORSEMENT FROM FORMER V.P. CANDIDATE SARAH PALIN. PAUL NEHLEN JOINS US NOW. WE DID INVITE INCUMBENT CONGRESSMAN PAUL RYAN TO JOIN US. HE WAS UNABLE TO SCHEDULE AN INTERVIEW. BUT THANKS FOR BEING HERE.

PAUL NEHLEN:

THANKS FOR HAVING ME FREDERICA.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING AGAINST SPEAKER PAUL RYAN FOR HIS CONGRESSIONAL SEAT?

PAUL NEHLEN:

WELL AS I’VE SAID BEFORE, I WAS A SUPPORTER OF PAUL RYAN’S AS RECENTLY AS 2014 BUT PAUL RYAN HAS BEEN THE MERCENARY CHAMPION OF THIS INDUSTRY DESTROYING TRADE BILL TRANS-PACIFIC PARTNERSHIP. AS A MANUFACTURING GUY, I STARTED OUT IN MANUFACTURING WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD AS A MAINTENANCE MECHANIC. AND I WORKED MY WAY UP TO RUN THAT BUSINESS. I'VE RUN BUSINESSES AROUND THE U.S. RUN BUSINESSES IN WISCONSIN. I’VE RUN BUSINESSES OVERSEAS. I WAS IN CHARGE OF EUROPE, THE MIDDLE EAST AND AFRICA FOR A FORTUNE 500. PAUL RYAN IS DISINGENUOUSLY SETTING UP U.S. MANUFACTURING FOR FAILURE. HE IS SIGNING AWAY A TRADE DEAL THAT IS GOING TO EXPORT OUR JOBS OVERSEAS AND BRING WORKERS TO REPLACE US IN OUR OWN JOBS HERE AT HOME. WE’RE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE ARE NOT THE UNITED STATES OF ASIA. SO I’M STANDING UP TO PUSH BACK AGAINST PAUL RYAN WHO IS WORKING ON BEHALF OF HIS SPECIAL INTEREST BUDDIES IN D.C. 83% OF PAUL RYAN’S CAMPAIGN FINANCING CAME OF OUTSIDE OF OUR DISTRICT. THE VAST MAJORITY OF THAT CAME IN THE FORM OF LARGE DONATIONS FROM D.C.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS ABOUT TRADE. YOUR WEBSITE SAYS THAT YOUR COMPANIES HAVE ACTUALLY BROUGHT JOBS BACK FROM MEXICO AND CANADA. WHAT I WONDER IS WHAT HAS THAT DONE IN THE BOTTOM LINE?

PAUL NEHLEN:

IMPROVED IT. WE MADE IT BETTER. WE MADE OUR BUSINESSES STRONGER. WE CAN COMPETE IN THE UNITED STATES WITH ANY COUNTRY. I’VE HAD EMPLOYEES ALL OVER THE GLOBE. I’VE RUN FACTORIES IN CHINA. I’VE RUN FACTORIES IN MEXICO AND CANADA. ALL OVER THE GLOBE. IF YOU’RE A SMART BUSINESS PERSON, LABOR IS ONLY ONE PART OF THE INPUT. YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD PRODUCTS. YOU HAVE TO HAVE GOOD COST OF INPUT. PAUL RYAN IS TRYING TO UNDERMINE THE LABOR INPUT PIECE OF THAT. THAT’S WHAT HE IS DOING. THAT’S WHAT HIS GROUPS ARE DOING.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

DO YOU ENDORSE DONALD TRUMP?

PAUL NEHLEN:

I’VE SAID I WILL SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE IS, AS PAUL RYAN SAID THERE, THE VOTERS AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE SPOKEN. THE REPUBLICAN VOTERS HAVE SPOKEN AND SAID DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO BE — IS LIKELY GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE. WE’RE NOT AT THE CONVENTION YET BUT HE WILL LIKELY GOING BE THE NOMINEE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

SARAH PALIN SAYS SHE WILL CAMPAIGN FOR YOU AND EXPECTS TO CANTOR PAUL RYAN REFERENCING THE 2014 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY LOSS OF ERIC CANTOR, THE HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER. HOW DO YOU EXPECT SARAH PALIN TO BE AN ASSET TO YOUR CAMPAIGN?

PAUL NEHLEN:

I THINK SHE’S GOTTEN MY NAME OUT. CERTAINLY SHE DRAWS NATIONAL ATTENTION. AND SAME THING WITH MICHELLE MALCON OR THE TEA PARTY PATRIOTS CONSERVATIVE FUND. I WENT TO THE U.S. BORDER THIS PAST WEEK. I’VE BEEN THERE. I’M STILL PULLING DIRT OUT OF MY EARS AS A MATTER OF FACT. IT IS COMPLETELY OPEN. THERE ARE SOME SECTIONS THAT MAY BE SECURED BUT THERE ARE PEOPLE DYING IN WISCONSIN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE CHEAP MEXICAN HEROIN IS GETTING OVER THE BORDER. THAT’S WHERE IT’S COMING FROM. THESE TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE CARTELS ARE TRAFFICKING HUMANS AND DRUGS. THEY’RE MAKING EQUAL AMOUNTS OF MONEY I’VE COME TO FIND OUT. I WAS IN THE LAREDO SECTOR. AND I WAS IN THE EL PASO SECTOR. I DIDN’T TELL BORDER PATROL I WAS COMING BEFORE I WENT DOWN THERE. THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SET UP THIS FAKE POTEMKIN VILLAGE OF LOOK AT ALL THE SECURITY WE HAVE. THERE ARE RANCHERS WHO HAVE BUILT AND ARE MAINTAINING BARBED WIRE FENCES. THAT’S OUR SOUTHERN BORDER. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND HOW PAUL RYAN THINKS THAT IT’S OKAY TO HAVE CHEAP MEXICAN HEROIN COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES. I REFUSE TO SIT BY AND WATCH OUR CHILDREN DIE BECAUSE OF CHEAP MEXICAN HEROIN GETTING INTO THE UNITED STATES.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

I HAVE TO SUGGEST THAT PAUL RYAN IS NOT OKAY WITH CHEAP MEXICAN HEROIN COMING INTO THE UNITED STATES.

PAUL NEHLEN:

WHAT HAS HE DONE ABOUT IT? HE’S BEEN IN CONGRESS FOR 18 YEARS. THE BORDER IS UNSECURED. AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED. AS FAR AS MANY VOTERS ARE CONCERNED, PAUL RYAN’S FAILED. PAUL RYAN’S FAILED AT SECURING THAT BORDER.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

PAUL RYAN MEANWHILE IS TREMENDOUSLY POPULAR IN HIS DISTRICT. HIS LAST PRIMARY OPPONENT LOST 94% TO 6%. HIS FAVORABILITY IS IN THE 80% RANGE ACCORDING TO LOCAL POLLSTERS. AND WISCONSIN VOTERS ALSO DIDN’T GO FOR TRUMP. WHY DO YOU THINK YOU CAN UPSET ONE PAUL RYAN?

PAUL NEHLEN:

WELL, THERE IS A GREAT POLL THAT JUST CAME OUT. I’M ONLY FOUR WEEKS INTO MY CAMPAIGN. AND I’M ALREADY AT 15%. NOW, YOUR VIEWERS WILL KNOW THAT WEEK ONE I WASN’T AT 4%. I WASN’T AT 3 1/2%. I WAS PROBABLY 0% WEEK ONE. WEEK TWO I WAS PROBABLY 0.1%. BUT I’M NOW AT 15%, IN FOUR WEEKS. I’VE NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE IN MY LIFE. I HAVE BEEN A BUSINESSMAN MY WHOLE LIFE. MANUFACTURING GUY. I’M AN INVENTOR, I HAVE U.S. PATENTS. I’VE GOT GLOBAL PATENTS AS A MATTER OF FACT. SO I LIVE IN WISCONSIN BECAUSE WE’VE GOT A LONG TRADITION OF MANUFACTURING AND ENGINEERING. AND THIS IS WHERE I CHOSE TO LIVE. I LOVE IT HERE. AND I’M GOING TO FIGHT ON BEHALF OF WHETHER YOU’RE A DEMOCRAT OR YOU’RE A REPUBLICAN OR YOU’RE A LIBERTARIAN OR YOU’RE A TEA PARTIER, I AM FOR JOBS FOR AMERICANS. I AM FOR BORDER SECURITY. SO PAUL RYAN IS FOR PAUL RYAN.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WE NEED TO LEAVE IT THERE. PAUL NEHLEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PAUL NEHLEN:

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.