Isn't Ron Paul really pro-choice?

[zadrock]

I've been thinking about Ron Paul's position on abortion, and I would have to consider him pro-choice. Here's why.

Being pro-choice isn't being pro-abortion (as many pro-lifers claim). It's about the ability to choose. Since Ron Paul would not attempt to outlaw abortion and would leave that decision up to the states, he is effectively pro-choice, since he is allowing the states to decide (or "choose") whether abortion should be legal.

The main difference between this position and that of most pro-choicers is at what level the choice takes place. It is RP's opinion that the choice take place at the state level. Pro-choicers (in general) believe that each woman gets to make that choice for herself. This difference can, of course, be significant, because if some state eventually does outlaw abortion, then a woman in that state no longer has the ability to choose. However, I still think RP is closer to being pro-choice than pro-life (in terms of the type of legislation he would support, not in his personal beliefs).

Another way to look at it - I think pro-life is synonymous with anti-abortion. Since RP would (reluctantly) allow abortions to continue, he is not anti-abortion and not a strict pro-lifer.

I don't mean to upset anyone by saying all of this and I welcome hearing others' opinions. I've been thinking about this quite a bit since I'm pro-choice and I've had to explain repeatedly to my liberal friends how I can support someone who is pro-life.

Z

 

[kg0]

No. I am pro-life and consider Ron Paul pro-life. But he's not as extremely pro-life as, say, Mike Huckabee. But he is still considered pro-life because he wants to overturn Roe vs. Wade. Obama and Clinton wouldn't do that. He's also, personally, a very strong advocate of life.

 

[mokkan88]

Ron Paul's actively tried to get life defined as beginning at conception. This would make abortion murder and negate Roe v. Wade.

 

[Fox McCloud]

uh...he's very pro-life...he's stated multiple times he thinks abortion is the equivalent of murder.

Leaving it up to the States doesn't mean he's "pro-choice" it merely means that he's a Constitutionalist. I'm sure that Ron sincerely hopes that all the States ban abortion...he just doesn't think it should be done at the Federal level.

It's kinda like the whole "gay marriage" thing--while he hasn't personally spoken out against it, his legislation, in several cases, has singled them out....but even then, he thinks it's a decision left up to the States.

I've always wanted to see Paul's personal voting record (when he votes on his own States' issues/representatives)...it would definitely show us his personal stance on a few things.

Remember, Ron isn't a cosmoLibertarian like the CATO Institute is--he seems to lean towards paleoLibertarianism (Like Jefferson and the likes)...which is 100% Libertarian at the Federal level, and mostly Libertarian at the State level...but they still have a few socially conservatives ideologies at the State level too.

 

[smallsheep]

Remember, Ron isn't a cosmoLibertarian like the CATO Institute is--he seems to lean towards paleoLibertarianism (Like Jefferson and the likes)...which is 100% Libertarian at the Federal level, and mostly Libertarian at the State level...but they still have a few socially conservatives ideologies at the State level too.

And on the local (county/city) level there's lots more room for socialism/communalism. Political systems (probably all of them!) could work if everyone can manage mutual respect. It's harder, I think, to have mutual respect for people you've never seen/met and live in a radically different place than you do.

 

[Fox McCloud]

And on the local (county/city) level there's lots more room for socialism/communalism. Political systems (probably all of them!) could work if everyone can manage mutual respect. It's harder, I think, to have mutual respect for people you've never seen/met and live in a radically different place than you do.

I disagree that it works at the local level (I will agree though, that it works better at the local level than the Federal level...but it'll still fail).

I'm still waiting for a particular county, or even a township or even district to go psycho nuts on everyone else and take the ascent to anarcho-capitalism.

now THAT would be awesome.

 

[RustyBrewster]

Ron Paul's actively tried to get life defined as beginning at conception. This would make abortion murder and negate Roe v. Wade.

states could simply re-define murder in their penal code to exclude fetuses still.

 

[Kade]

Ron Paul's actively tried to get life defined as beginning at conception. This would make abortion murder and negate Roe v. Wade.

I've been trying to say that.

That is a BLACK mark on Ron Paul, and the pro-choicers here need to know that.