Ron Paul tells Jay Leno: 'Democracy isn't all that healthy in this country'

Appearing on Tuesday night's episode of NBC's "The Tonight Show," former Republican presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) again dismissed talk of a potential third-party run for the nation's highest office, and lamented that "democracy isn't all that healthy in this country."

"We talk a lot about democracy," Paul said. "We send our troops overseas. We want to spread democracy. But democracy isn’t all that healthy in this country because, if you’re in a third party, an alternate party, you don’t get in the debates. The truth is, if I would have tried in the last several years to do exactly what I have done in a third party, I probably wouldn’t have gotten — wouldn’t have made it to your show."

He also said it was unfortunately that the Republican Party's "tent" wasn't big enough for he and his supporters at the Republican National Convention (RNC), but added that he'd likely have been given a speaking role had he endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president. The RNC instead gave a speaking role to Paul's son, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).

The longtime Texas congressman also said he liked Clint Eastwood's faux argument with an empty chair because he was the only person to mention Afghanistan during the whole event. "I have a political theory that says the peace candidate always wins," he said.

This video is was broadcast by NBC on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012.

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