Ron Paul: Elizabeth Warren is a 'Socialist'

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, called Massachusetts U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren a socialist and suggested public school is also a socialist thing on Tuesday during a day-long series of interviews hosted by ABC News and Yahoo.

The libertarian leaning Republican was asked to respond to a quote from a now-famous viral video in which Warren, a consumer advocate who is challenging Republican Sen. Scott Brown, defends the role of government. Warren argued that those who built the wealth in America were able to do so in part because the government provided them with infrastructure, educational opportunities and security, leading her to say that part of the underlying social contract is you take a hunk of that and pay forward for the next kid who comes along.

When ABC News report Terry Moran asked Paul why Warren was wrong, the Republican presidential candidate responded simply: Because she's a socialist.

Paul: Public Education Is Socialism

Paul went on to say that public schooling is also a socialist enterprise since it is run by the state.

I preach home schooling and private schooling and competition in school, he said. Paul has controversially stated that, if elected, he would work to dismantle the entire Department of Education, along with the departments of Housing, Urban Development, Commerce, Interior and Energy.

Paul added that Warren's entire argument is absolutely wrong because governments are always destructive in the creation of wealth Moreover, he denied that the federal government is necessary to maintain large-scale projects such as national infrastructure, arguing those responsibilities should be shifted to local government or private enterprises.

During the interview, Paul also delved into his stance of foreign policy, saying that U.S. allies -- such as South Korea, Taiwan or Israel -- would not receive immediate assistance from a Paul White House if they were attacked.

Not all of the questions focused on the hard issues. Paul also revealed that his favorite junk food is chocolate chip cookies, and that, despite all the jokes about his age -- he turned 76 in August -- he knows how to use an iPad.