In an interview with The Guardian, Libertarina presidential candidate Gary Johnson sarcastically referred to himself as an “idiot.”
After Johnson had a contentious exchange with an interviewer from HBO, Paul Lewis, a reporter for The Guardian, asked, “Is it the same questions you get again and again?”
Johnson responded, “I am an idiot. I am the dumbest guy you’ve ever met in your whole life.” When Lewis queried whether Johnson was being sarcastic, Johnson said ruefully, “I hope it’s sarcasm … ‘Here is what you answered, so obviously you’re a dummy; how do you respond to you’re being a dummy.’” He protested, “Well, I’m not a dummy; I’m not. And yeah, I’m human.”
When Lewis asked why Johnson was “doing so badly” despite the huge unpopularity of the two major presidential candidates, Johnson answered, “I would argue just the opposite; this is phenomenal. We got 12 million bucks; we’re at 10% plus in the polls; we’re leading among independents, among young people, among active military personnel. This is a celebration!”
Lewis pointed out that Johnson’s polling average has dropped to roughly six points; prompting Johnson to argue, “Well, this Real Clear Politics; this was one of my yelling points earlier, is that, you know what? Pick your poll. Pick your poll. If you want to say I’m at 6.1%, yesterday I was in Virginia; 15%, New Mexico I’m at 24. I don’t know where 6.1% comes from; I have no idea.”
When Lewis stated that the 6.1% figure was an average from all of the polls, Johnson snapped, “Then why are you here then, at 6.1%? Why are you even interviewing me? I don’t get it. If I’m doing so poorly, is this to preside over a funeral here? It’s not a funeral; it’s a celebration.”
“Why are you even interviewing me? I don’t get it. If I’m doing so poorly, is this to preside over a funeral here?”
Gary Johnson
Lewis asked Johnson to explain the success of Evan McMullin in Utah
Johnson answered, “He’s from Utah. He’s on the ballot in eleven states, so he can’t win the presidency. He’s ensuring that Hillary Clinton will win Utah. You know what? He is what he is. I begrudge no one for entering the race.”