Ron Paul rouses conservatives with talk about raw milk, hemp and gold

Talk of gold and silver, unpasteurized milk and hemp brought conservatives to their feet during a speech Friday by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas).

The libertarian-leaning Republican presidential candidate delivered zingers directed at the Federal Reserve and U.S. foreign policy. But some of his biggest applause lines during a speech at the Republican Leadership Conference were more esoteric issues.

"I think we ought to vote for the right to drink raw milk!" he exclaimed in a riff against government regulation and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Paul called for the legalization of hemp for use in clothing and manufacturing and took a "no new regulations" pledge.

Many of the Texas congressman's remarks focused on boilerplate issues, but he also voiced criticism of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya, criticizing President Obama for not seeking approval for the military action in Libya.

He also voiced familiar criticism of the Federal Reserve. Paul called for allowing the trade of gold and silver as an alternative currency to the U.S. dollar.

"It's time to not only audit the Fed but also, in due time, get rid of the Federal Reserve," he said.

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