Stephen Colbert talks pot, politics with Libertarian Party's presidential and VP nominees

Gary Johnson and William Weld talk to Stephen Colbert on Late Show

(Image credit: Late Show)

Stephen Colbert interviewed the Libertarian Party's presidential slate on Thursday's Late Show, and he asked presidential nominee Gary Johnson and running mate William Weld why they're running. "Explain to the people out there, what's a libertarian," Colbert said. "Sell people on the libertarian idea." Johnson noted that he and Weld were both Republican governors of blue states, and explained their agenda as "the notion that people should be able to make their own decisions in their own lives. Always come down on the side of choice." Johnson said that for him, that means legal marijuana and legal abortion, gay rights, and no foreign wars.

"I like to say that I want the government out of your pocketbook and out of your bedroom," Weld explained. This year, "with the Democrats you get the government in your pocketbook, and with the Republicans it's much worse, because you got the government in your bedroom." Johnson embraced the label "fringe" candidates, applied by Donald Trump, noting, among other things, his long advocacy for legalizing pot. "I think, by 'fringe,' I think what he's saying is the majority of Americans are fringe, and that's just not the case."

Colbert also asked Johnson and Weld about the bad things they've said about Trump, and Johnson called his bleeped-out descriptor a "misfire," while Weld embraced his critique. "Who do you think you'd draw votes away from the most?" Colbert asked. "Hillary or Donald?" "I think more from the Rs," Weld said. "There's a lot of Rs out there that haven't signed on with Trump yet. We've got to be what they're waiting for." In the few polls, "there have been more votes from Hillary, to this point," Johnson added. "I think when all is said and done, it will be equally from both sides. And we wouldn't be doing this if there weren't the opportunity to actually win, but we've got to be in the presidential debates to make that happen." Watch below. Peter Weber

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.