Way back in 1995, the U.S. House of Representatives was debating an amendment to impose tighter water pollution rules at federal facilities. Then-Rep. Duke Cunningham (R-Calif.) wasn't having any of it.

"I look at the individuals that are offering this. Is there any shocking doubt, the same people that would vote to cut defense $177 billion, the same ones that would put homos in the military, the same ones that would not fund BRAC, the same ones that would not clean up --"

At that point, Cunningham was interrupted.

"Mr. Chairman," said then-Rep. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

"Sit down, you socialist!" barked Cunningham.

Sanders didn't sit down. After a few procedural hurdles, he came after the notoriously sharp-elbowed conservative.

"My ears may have been playing a trick on me, but I thought I heard the gentleman a moment ago say something quote unquote about homos in the military," Sanders said. "Was I right in hearing that expression?"



"Absolutely," Cunningham responded. "Putting homosexuals in the military."



"Was the gentleman referring to the thousands and thousands of gay people who have put their lives on the line in countless wars defending this country? Was that the groups of people that the gentleman was referring to?"



"You have insulted thousands of men and women who have put their lives on the line," Sanders continued. "I think they are owed an apology."

Watch the exchange in the video below:

The nefarious homosexual agenda did not ultimately undo Cunningham's congressional career. Corruption did. In 2006, he was sentenced to more than eight years in prison after being convicted of taking $2.4 million in bribes from defense contractors.

Zach Carter is a co-host of the HuffPost Politics podcast "So, That Happened." Subscribe here or listen to the latest episode below: