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Vintage Video: 1988 Ron Paul Slams Chubby Drug War Advocate
By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 14, 2011
Modified Sep 14, 2011
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By
Christopher Robbins
Published Sep 14, 2011
Modified Sep 14, 2011
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Ron Paul, besides having legions of fans that will break your kneecaps if you speak ill of him, has been advocating for the end of the War on Drugs for many years. Young people enjoy hearing him talk about this because Knife Hits are in the Constitution. Aside from the "legalize heroin" thing, it makes good sense! Here's Dr. Paul appearing on the proto-shouty-rightwing program The Morton Downey Jr. Show in 1988, forcefully advocating his position before a chunky young Republican who advocates that we "use the military" to enforce the country's draconian (and racist) drug laws.
As Paul astutely notes, it's foolish to think "some monolithic government is gonna make you take care of yourself and be a better person…Why don't they put you on a diet, you're a little overweight!"
WOW! Who is this hirsute young Congressman from Texas? Is he available to be president? Obama supposedly had a Drug Czar that was going to stop the pointless "war" but that didn't pan out was before he and his administration turned out to be centrist lackeys maintaining the status quo for the corporate class. You live and you learn!
Somewhat less endearing is Paul's position that the government should not be in the business of assisting the sick and poor, as evidenced in Monday's GOP debate when Wolf Blitzer asks Dr. Paul what should be done about an uninsured, previously healthy man on the brink of death. Try to NOT be disgusted when his supporters gleefully agree that "society should let him die."
Paul's own campaign manager, Kent Snyder, who "more than anyone else encouraged and pushed Ron to run for president," died of pneumonia in 2008 at the age of 49. He was uninsured, and left a $400,000 medical bill for his mother.
Tagged
2012
2012 election
drug war
gop
obama
republicans
ron paul
war on drugs
Christopher Robbins
Christopher Robbins is a New York City reporter covering transportation, affordable housing, local politics, and criminal justice. His work has also appeared in New York Magazine, The Village Voice and The New York Times. Chris is a graduate of Patrick Henry High School in Roanoke, Virginia, and enjoys biking to Fort Tilden in the summertime.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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