The Colbert Report Season 6 Episode 65 Gary Johnson
- May 10, 2010
Gary Johnson, the former Governor of New Mexico and the Libertarian Party's 2012 presidential nominee, sits down with Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report to discuss his run for president in 2016. Johnson, who has previously expressed interest in running for the presidency as a Libertarian candidate, talks about his liberal fiscal policies and his more conservative social stances.
As always with Colbert, the interview is not without its humorous moments. When Johnson asserts that he is not a fringe candidate, Colbert quips, "You may not be the fringe, but you're definitely hanging off the edge." Johnson also gets grilled on his views on climate change, the legalization of marijuana, and his notorious inability to name a foreign leader in a previous interview.
Throughout the interview, Colbert challenges Johnson on his policies and his party's chances in the upcoming election. Johnson expresses his belief that the two-party system is flawed, and that there is room for a third party to gain ground. However, Colbert is quick to point out the uphill battle that any third-party candidate faces, noting that the last time a third-party candidate won a state in the presidential election was in 1968.
Ultimately, the interview serves as an interesting and thought-provoking examination of third-party politics, as well as a chance for Gary Johnson to defend his policies and beliefs to a national audience. Despite the lighthearted tone of much of the interview, it is clear that both Colbert and Johnson take the issues at hand seriously. Overall, this episode of The Colbert Report is a must-watch for anyone interested in third-party politics in America.