Many people misunderstand Dr. Paul's position on abortion and state's rights.
Dr. Paul has authored the "Sanctity of Life" bill, which would ensure the pre-born are considered legal "persons". This would render ALL abortion as murder.
He has also authored the "We the People" act which would allow states to outlaw abortion without interference from the federal gov't or the courts.
Currently abortion is determined at the federal level - and abortion is allowed in ALL 50 states. Giving the fedgov more power always backfires.
The benefit of the state's rights tack is that you don't have to support ANY abortion at all - other people might in their jurisdiction, but you don't have to at all. OTOH, with most of the bills out there, you are actually supporting abortion IF certain conditions are met (waiting period, parental knowledge, sees ultrasound, etc.)
For those who think Dr. Ron Paul (Ob-Gyn who has delivered over 4,000 babies) is not pro-life because he supports state's rights:
http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/ron-paul-takes-abortion-most-important-issue-our-age
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=EQKctZ2FyKc
http://videoshare.politico.com/largevideobox.php?bcpid=15202024001&bckey=AQ~~%2CAAAAAETmrZQ~%2CEVFEM4AKJdTuyIpuP1qAGTXNjTDbKHvZ&bclid=1201016315&bctid=1020615711001
http://www.amazon.com/Liberty-Defined-Essential-Issues-Freedom/dp/145550145X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1310751986&sr=1-1#reader_145550145X - excerpt from abortion chapter of his newest book.
ALL violent crime has ALWAYS been handled at the state and local level. If your wife or daughter was raped (God forbid) would you call congress - or would you call your LOCAL police and prosecute in your LOCAL courts? Doe that make you pro-RAPE because you deal with it locally? Of course not. Neither does it make Dr. Paul pro-abortion for dealing with it at state level. In fact it is consistent to handle abortion just like any murder.
To put the final nail in the coffin of the false claim that Dr. Paul supports states making abortion legal:
http://
I believe the federal gov't has a role to play. I believe Roe v. Wade should be repealed. I believe federal law should declare that life begins at conception. And I believe states should regulate the enforcement of this law, as they do other laws against violence.... We should allow our republican system of gov't to function as our Founders designed it to: protect rights at the federal level, enforce laws against violence at the state level. - Dr. Ron Paul PersonhoodUSA pledge addendum
He does NOT want states to make abortion legal. He wants states to enforce that it is murder. In fact he says for a state to not do so would be a violation of Art. 4 Sec. 4 of the constitution.
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When Ron Paul says it should be left up to the States, what exactly is he against the Federal level doing? Is he against an amendment to the Constitution similar to the 13th which would simply ban all abortion at every level (Federal, State and private individuals)? If he is against such an amendment, why?
ReplyDeleteHe is against the Federal gov't doing ANYTHING not expressly given to it by the constitution, good or bad. If we give the fedgov power, even for a good thing, it will almost certainly backfire on us.
ReplyDeleteWe gave them the power to define marriage, and we have nothing but trouble.
Abortion is handled at the federal level NOW. How's that working for you?
If there was a duly passed amendment, Dr. Paul would support it, because that would be constitutional. However it would still be dangerous to give the fedgov such power. We don't have Washington, Jefferson, Monroe, and Henry running the show today.