Ron Paul, 80s TV Star

For those of you too young to remember, Morton Downey Jr. was a chain-smoking telelvision host, who presided over much mayhem — physical and intellectual — on his syndicated TV show. Liberals were often called “pabulum pukers” but the real fun lay in the violence and angry crowds.

Turns out presidential candidate Ron Paul once appeared. I love the kicker.

Man: OK, you’re solution on stopping the drug trade is, is just give up. Give up the war on drugs. I say zero tolerance, we use the military for aid, we stop it from getting in the country and we cut it off at the source. Why, why give up the moral fight?

Congressman Paul:The only thing I give up on is a tyrannical approach to solving a social and medical problem and we endorse an idea of altruism and self-responsibility. Family, friends and churches solve problems rather than saying some monolithic government is going to make you take care of yourself. It’s a preposterous notion and it never worked and it never will. The government can’t make you a better person it can’t make you follow good habits. Why don’t they put you on a diet? You’re a little overweight.

(H/T National Taxpayers Union)