Clad in blue jeans, a navy blazer and a red tie, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul appeared on The Daily Show's first one-candidate debate on Wednesday night, a day before the prime-time Republican debate.
Dubbed by The Daily Show as "GOP Debate: Singles Night," the event featured Paul discussing war in the Middle East, the economy, gun control and drugs while sharing a drink with the show's host, Trevor Noah. Paul declined to participate in Thursday night's official GOP debate after he was relegated to the "undercard" debate because his poll numbers were too low to allow him to take the main stage with the likes of Donald Trump.
Paul started his Daily Show debate standing behind a wooden podium but quickly sat next to Noah, who swiveled the stand around to reveal a range of bourbon bottles labeled for typical debate topics. Bourbon is made is Paul's home state of Kentucky.
Noah said he'd take a swig of bourbon whenever Paul didn't answer his question sufficiently, but Paul created his own rules: drinking for every mention of Trump, Warren Buffett or tai chi.
When pressed by Noah on bombing the Middle East, Paul said, "I'm not saying we can't defend ourselves, but we have to think about what we do before we do it and think about the ramifications of doing it." He went on to criticize the policies of Democratic nominee for president Hillary Clinton and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, Paul's rival for the GOP nomination.
Sticking to his libertarian principles, Paul said he doesn't want the government to tell people "what to smoke, what to drink and what to read" and said people should be "left alone." Asked why Americans need guns, Paul said he has shot his gun "two times" and said that guns act as a deterrent for burglars. Paul also suggested putting signs in schools warning people that the building is armed.
Paul said he was boycotting the "undercard" debate in part because he's a "unique voice."
