Sen. Rand Paul's entrance into the 2016 presidential race, which follows Sen. Ted Cruz throwing his hat in the ring, helps Republicans shed their image as the party of old fogies, Rep. Louie Gohmert tells
Newsmax TV.
"I love the fact that we've got two guys that are not so long in the tooth as has been happening in some of our prior years," Gohmert said Monday on "The Steve Malzberg Show," referring to past GOP nominees Mitt Romney and John McCain.
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Gohmert, a Texas Republican, added that as Rand prepared to speak, he was reminded of concerns raised by Democratic pundit Bob Beckel on Fox News during the 2012 Republican National Convention.
"He said, 'I've taken a lot of comfort in the fact that watching Republican conventions, I saw nothing but white hairs, blue hairs, and no hairs' … [And] he said, 'It's really disconcerting that you guys have a [younger] bench,'" Gohmert said.
He added that the GOP is definitely becoming a younger and more diverse party than in years past.
"We have a lot of young people involved; we have a very diverse group of young people — race, gender," he said.
"We've got a great group coming along and it's exciting to see conservatives who really want less government stepping up and running for president. That's exciting stuff."
Gohmert, who is vice chairman of the House Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security Committee, told Steve Malzberg, he is not concerned by Paul's strong Libertarian roots.
"A little Libertarianism is a very good thing because we need a whole lot less government. So I don't think he would have to leave much aside," he said.
"I would welcome him saying what [Ronald] Reagan did before he got elected in 1980 — that he was going to cut the federal regulations by two-thirds, and by golly he did. That would be awesome."