Usually, when candidates make television appearances, the objective is to win over viewers, not insult them. However, Ron Paul took a different approach in this clip from The Morton Downey Jr. Show, a right-wing talk show that aired from 1988 to 1989. When Paul appeared on the show, it would have been in between the terms he served as a member of the House of Representatives. It should be noted that Paul’s actions are apparently not out of line with the show’s tone, as host Morton Downey Jr. reportedly yelled at audience members frequently.
Naturally, Paul’s comment is consistent with the Libertarian views he still holds today. Just as he feels the government ineffective at policing drug usage, he similarly thinks the government has failed to make people responsible for their own bodies. He feels that citizens should be able to make free decisions as to what they eat, drink, smoke and otherwise put into their bodies.
In the 2024 campaign, Ron Paul’s position on health care, however, is somewhat less radical than you might expect. He believes in increasing the number of free-market healthcare options by allowing citizens to purchase health insurance across state lines and making everyone eligible for Health Savings Accounts. He also wishes to dismantle various functions of the FDA and FTC to stop them from “interfering with Americans’ knowledge of and access to dietary supplements and alternative treatments.”
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