Ron Paul Abortion question
Submitted by whatever5678 on Thu, 01/19/2012 - 10:33Ok so, I am not suggesting in any way this is a make or break issue for me but it will be for some and adds to some level of inconsistency with Dr. Paul that I do not like to see.
In Liberty Defined, Ron talks about Abortion and while he is personally against it he A. Doesn't think it is the goverments role to use it's force upon the people to tell them their morality is wrong. something like, "government cannot change the morality of the people". and B. Did not discuss wanting to put an amendment in the constitution making abortion illegal. He did urge for Doctors to not perform this and to stick to the hippocratic oath.
However, I have seen some of his commercials (online not on tv) and just read some excerpts from the pro-life forum he attended yesterday via sattilite that he wants to amend the constitution to in effect eliminate abortion. Furthermore, he did try and get some bill into congress defining life at conception (I forget what it was called sorry) that was a little while ago.
So, my question is which is it? Does he want to amend the constitution like he said yesterday (apparently per the news vehicle I read this in) or encourage people to not do this (have abortions) but not use govt. to overturn or constitutionally amend therefore pushing more govt. intervention into the bedroom.
This could be a tipping point for many dems that are encouraged by his anti-war, trustworthy stance and then they pull back when they see this. Likewise, it could end up hurting with social conservatives who want a constitutional amendment etc. but hear about what he says in his book liberty defined and question what he means and his authenticity to this important issue for them.
Maybe I am forgetting the specifics of the book but I remember the gist and I think I have it accurate. Anyone want to correct me or clarify for me it would be great!
Perhaps the Best Video Primer
This is an excellent presentation of Ron Paul's views on abortion and why he is the only Republican candidate who is truly pro-life. Probably the best and most succinct presentation I have seen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQKctZ2FyKc
(The whole series is excellent for Christians in general as it lays out Ron Paul's positions and their Biblical foundation.)
The video posted below by Don't Tread On Me
is a direct speech by Dr. Paul that covers all aspects of the debate. Bottom line, the morality of a culture is supreme; then the State's legislative prerogative in cases of violence; then the potential for a Constitutional amendment if the culture supports such a radical step.
This is one of Pauls weakest
points. Murder is murder no matter what state you live in. Paul looks bad for sitting on the fence on this issue. He says that it is a states issue but as we all know the deviant liberal left will take any abortion ban to federal court to have it overturned.
When will Paul address the problem of the courts trying to legislate from the bench. No one had to get the court to decide whether birthing a baby was legal or whether marriage between a man and a woman was legal. The deviant liberals have used the courts the make legal what otherwise in commonly known to be criminal and immoral.
Paul's "leave it up to the states" stance doesn't really hold water for those who see the slanted legal battles that will ensue. There are truths that should be universaly upheld such as the right to life.
Life
Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
We are a country that promotes life that's what he is saying with any of the answers given.
If someone's Liberty or Pursuit of Happiness ends another person's Life they end up in jail. I'm not calling for those who have abortions to be jailed but what I am saying is can we use some consistency in our logic?
Liberty is promoted above all but when it takes the life of another human that is "endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights." then we have a problem.
The bottom line is we need to promote Life more in our country and we haven't been doing that.
Also, Ron is consistent on this as well by opposing other forms of taking life like the death penalty, the war on drugs, unnecessary wars, etc.
"Once you become knowledgeable, you have an obligation to do something about it."- Ron Paul
I am having this debate with someone (friend of a friend) on fb
This was the exchange-
Her:
Quote from Ron Paul: "the federal government has no authority whatsoever to involve itself in the abortion issue." Really? what about murdering a person outside of the womb? Can the federal government not involve itself in that either?
Me:
murder is handled by the state as any violent act is handled.
Her:
Trish, if say, Arizona, decided that murder was okay, would the federal government not step in? Not trying to be snide, really curious..
about an hour ago · Like
Me ( after posting youtube link on his abortion stance):
The government cannot regulate morality. The Church must step up and change people's hearts and prick their consciences. The 180 movie is doing just that and I feel reaching people one by one and redeeming them is our only true hope to end the murders of innocent babies.
I then copied and pasted his stance from the issues portion of his official site.
I think that
he's personally pro-life and anti-abortion, but he wouldn't use the power of the Fed Gov to force states to conform to a federal mandate when their state populations may wish to be governed otherwise. I think he would like to see the overturning of Roe v Wade, and return the power to each state to decide their own laws on the subject, instead of being forced to allow abortions the way Roe v Wade is being used as a bludgeon on the states.
It's a sticky wicket any way you slice it.
Any candidate is going to get major flak about any position they take on this issue. Heck, even if you take a pro-life position, some pro-lifers say you "aren't pro-life enough".
As for the Amendment process, that isn't something that the President does, and it requires super-majority support from the states, and the legislatures, to ratify.
I don't see that happening, so I think that is a moot point.
Watch Video
Whatever...You should watch the entire 24 minute video from last nights forum to put Dr. Paul's comments into context. Amending the Constitution was mentioned because of the way some of the questions were framed. I thought his performance in this forum was great and I think this vid. answers any questions that you may have on Dr. Paul's abortion views.
http://youtu.be/Hv7wNgZWU9c
Quality of the video...
The quality of the video is terrible. No way can I get anyone to watch that for 20 minutes. Can it be found elsewhere??
fair enough
I concede without the DP yesterday I was all outta whack and didn't know what was what! My point, I didn't get to see or listen in to this as I may have if the DP was up and may find the answers within.
It just concerns me that this is an issue that many on both the left and right will often rally behind as a make or break issue. And if there is a clouded view it could impact support. But, again, I will hang tough until I get home from work and get a chance to check out the vid you sent. My hope is that he falls in line with what his book says because, frankly, that's what I have been telling others and is more down my path of thinking. That we should work to eliminate abortion but through persuasion and cultural shift rather than govt. intervention at the federal level.
thanks!
This was mentioned by someone live streaming the event.
I think he said he wouldn't be against a constitutional amendment. When I talk to folks, the two things I hear most are bigot and doesn't want the govt telling people what to do with their body. I can convince them about the bigot issue (that it's false), but I have the same question as the post re: pro life. Answers? Is it that one of his pillars is that you can do what you want so long as you don't hurt others? And that the zygote constitutes haman life and therefore is an other? Just thinking out loud because unlike the newsletters that he didn't write, this can be a real issue. It's clear ALL GOP would think this, but only RP would be honest in raising it...even if only at a pro life event.