As former GOP presidential candidate Jon Huntsman appeared as a guest on Tuesday's The Tonight Show, host Jay Leno wondered why the Republican Party became so interested in social issues and theorized that a moderate Republican should be able to get elected President, as he suggested that a Republican who is liberal on social issues might appeal to someone like himself who "couldn't care less about social issues."
After Huntsman recounted that Republicans are currently having a debate about what the party should be like, Leno made a crack about Republicans being afraid of condoms. Leno:
See, I don't know what it is. When I was a kid, Republicans were about defense and fiscal responsibility. Now it's about, "A condom? Oh, my God, get that out of here." I mean, when did it become the party of all these social issues?
After Huntsman talked about his own candidacy, Leno continued:
But it seems like a moderate Republican would win because people think, "Oh, I like some of the business side." But, like, to me, I couldn't care less about social issues. I think gay people should be allowed to get married and do whatever they want. It doesn't bother me. But keep the banks strong, keep defense strong. But there's no, are moderates extinct?
Below is video of the relevant portion of the Tuesday, February 7, The Tonight Show on NBC:
