GENE SIMMONS: If I Became President Of The United States…

Fish Griwkowsky of the Edmonton Sun conducted an interview this past Friday (December 5) with KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons during the rock star's visit to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to cut the ribbon on a new Future Shop (see video below) while simultaneously promoting his new Guitar Hero axe.

When asked what he would do if he was president of the United States, Simmons replied, "You couldn't pay me enough. Because a lot of people would try to knock me off. Because I don't give a s---. I have a Schwarzeneggerian point of view. Which is if you have enough money to say, to do ... what you think is right that you're elected for, there are no political repercussions and you don't care. Not about your party, not about anything.

"So Schwarzenegger disagrees with the Republicans down there and wants women to have the right to determine their birthing rights — and the Republicans down there go nuts.

"I (also) like guys like Joe Lieberman, a Democrat who supported John McCain. Because, 'My country, right or wrong,' is actually a foolish idea. No, my country right, and if it's wrong I gotta try and fix it. If your political party's wrong, you've got to have the integrity of self.

"So if I became president, if you deal drugs, I'd have public executions on the spot. Watch how fast drug use goes down. And [points to the Edmonton Sun photographer] if he's a drug addict, into cocaine and stuff like that, and he's been given (an ultimatum) and you're not off of it, you will find your (butt) in the tundra of Alaska chopping wood.

"Because you're not allowed to be in this society and torture everybody else, by stealing money from your mom (for example),because nobody has the guts in this permissive society to get the cancer out.

"And some of that means that individual rights have to be curtailed. Too (expletive) bad. Because nowadays, everybody locks their doors because they're afraid that, you know, crack addicts will come in and you can't even kill the guy. 'Excessive violence.' What are you talking about? The guy just broke into your home! Kill him!

"So, you don't want to put me in charge. Drug problem? It would disappear. Gangs? I'd have snipers. Ooh, take them out, fast. You won't have gangs for long. [Affects street swagger]: 'Man, we like to go shoot!' [Back to Simmons]: You'll be dead. You won't know who got you."

Read the rest of Simmons' response from the Edmonton Sun.

Gene Simmons playing Rock Band during a visit to Edmonton, Alberta, Canada to cut the ribbon on a new Future Shop: