Rand Introduces the Life at Conception Act:

[Matt Collins]

Matt, no point in winning the primary and losing the general 60/40

Incorrect. Goldwater lost the general but since he was the nominee he was able to exert a huge influence on the GOP for many decades to come.

 

[itshappening]

The facebook generation do not want to ban abortions, are you kidding?

totally inconsistent Rand. Change strategy. They will view what you're trying to do here as bizarre and will not look at anything else in your platform. You make it a referendum on banning abortion and you lose. Maybe not in Iowa but virtually everywhere else.

 

[supermario21]

The country is far more polarized now than during the Goldwater era. 200 EV is a Republican minimum these days barring an extremely seismic shift. Other than Romney's win in North Carolina of 3% I think the next closest Romney state was an 8% win.

 

[whoisjohngalt]

Incorrect. Goldwater lost the general but since he was the nominee he was able to exert a huge influence on the GOP for many decades to come.

Incorrect. The next GOP nominee was statists big-gov drug-war-starting Nixon. Then Ford... He influenced Reagan long before he became the nominee and we saw what great impact that had.

You trying to tell us that getting crushed in the general and losing our best advocate in the Senate would be worth it? Put down the crack, son.

 

[Matt Collins]

Obviously half the population is of the opinion that it isn't murder and will never be convinced otherwise, so framing it such does nothing to change the minds of anyone on the fringe.

We are not a democracy so it doesn't matter if the majority is ok with it or not.

Beyond that, abortion is so much more clandestine than murder that the two cannot and never should be compared.

No, you are intentionally and violently ending the life of another human being without provocation. It's the same thing.

 

[twomp]

Matt, no point in winning the primary and losing the general 60/40

I wouldn't bother with Matt Collins. He is a paid employee. Rand Paul could burn children alive and Matt Collins would be here saying that they the kids worked for The Federal Reserve or something. He has only 1 agenda here and that is to promote his boss.

 

[Matt Collins]

Incorrect. The next GOP nominee was statists big-gov drug-war-starting Nixon. Then Ford... He influenced Reagan long before he became the nominee and we saw what great impact that had.

You trying to tell us that getting crushed in the general and losing our best advocate in the Senate would be worth it? Put down the crack, son.

You fail to understand the ramifications of Goldwater being the nominee actually had on the GOP long-term

 

[Matt Collins]

I wouldn't bother with Matt Collins. He is a paid employee. Rand Paul could burn children alive and Matt Collins would be here saying that they the kids worked for The Federal Reserve or something. He has only 1 agenda here and that is to promote his boss.

No, I am not a "paid employee" for Rand or any of his organizations. Nice try though

 

[July]

This will likely cost Rand some of the new liberal/progressive fans he just made with the filibuster, or at least, given them serious pause.

 

[whoisjohngalt]

We are not a democracy so it doesn't matter if the majority is ok with it or not.

No, you are intentionally and violently ending the life of another human being without provocation. It's the same thing.

Oh yeah, great point, Matt. Why do we want majority support on issues. All that matters is that we are a Republic so all rights will be protected regardless of majority opinion.

That's why drugs are legal, coerced taxation doesn't exist and... oh wait? Oh, you need the majority to pass laws you say? Whats that? Congress votes on laws based on the opinions of their constituency (when there isn't too much lobbyist push back) to get reelected? Fuck that nonsense. If you don't think we need to grow our numbers, you are an idiot.

 

[Mr.NoSmile]

Flashback: Reid apparently did not allow this to come up for discussion.

http://thehill.com/video/senate/234747-reid-rejects-pauls-life-at-conception-amendment-to-flood-bill

An exasperated Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that he would not allow a vote on an amendment clarifying that life begins at conception, which Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered to a flood insurance bill...Senators are working on an agreement on which amendments to the bill might come up. Paul's amendment, introduced on Monday, is called the Life at Conception Act, and would "ensure equal protection for right to life of each born and preborn human person."

Will there even be any foul if this bill fails to pass, anyway? I mean, again, I doubt it will garner enough support in the Senate.

 

[itshappening]

You fail to understand the ramifications of Goldwater being the nominee actually had on the GOP long-term

So Rand wants to be the next Goldwater and lose in a landslide or does he want to be president? If the latter I suggest he drop this and adopt "leave it to the states" language while cleverly pivoting back to how crap the economy is, if the former then I suggest he absolutely run on banning abortions nationwide and make it a central theme of his campaign.

 

[supermario21]

Abortion is a messaging issue. Pro-life candidates have won national elections many times. As long as you don't sound like an ignorant moron talking about it people won't care.

 

[tsai3904]

This will likely cost Rand some of the new liberal/progressive fans he just made with the filibuster, or at least, given them serious pause.

This isn't a new issue though. I'm sure most people already assumed most Rs, including Rand, hold this position.

His Senate website has had his position on life posted for years:

Sanctity of Life

I am 100% pro life. I believe abortion is taking the life of an innocent human being.

I believe life begins at conception and it is the duty of our government to protect this life.

I will always vote for any and all legislation that would end abortion or lead us in the direction of ending abortion. I support a Human Life Amendment and have co-sponsored the Life at Conception Act as federal solutions to the abortion issue. In addition, I support a Sanctity of Life Amendment, establishing the principle that life begins at conception. This legislation would define life at conception in law, as a scientific statement.

It is unconscionable that government would facilitate the taking of innocent life. I strongly oppose any federal funding for abortion and will stop the flow of tax dollars to groups like Planned Parenthood, who perform or advocate abortions.

In January 2011, Representative Christopher Smith (R-N.J.) introduced the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R.3). This bill would prohibit any funds authorized or appropriated by federal law to pay for any abortion or health benefits coverage that includes coverage of abortion. H.R. 3 has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, House Energy and Commerce Committee, and the House Ways and Means Committee where it awaits further consideration.

In January 2011, Senator Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced the Life at Conception Act (S. 91), which I co-sponsored. This legislation would declare the right to life is vested in each human being beginning at the moment of fertilization. S. 91 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, of which I am not a member, where it awaits further consideration.

I have stated many times that I will always vote for any and all legislation that would end abortion or lead us to in the direction of ending abortion. There are many ways we can work toward this ultimate goal and items we can hope to accomplish in the near term. I strongly oppose any federal funding of abortion and will attempt to stop the flow of tax dollars to groups who perform or advocate for abortion.

In addition, I believe we may be able to save millions of lives in the near future by allowing states to pass their own anti-abortion laws. If states were able to do so, I sincerely believe many -- including Kentucky -- would do so tomorrow, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Before 1973, abortion was illegal in most states. Since Roe v. Wade, over 50 million children have died in abortion procedures.

I would strongly support legislation restricting federal courts from hearing cases like Roe v. Wade. Such legislation would only require a majority vote, making it more likely to pass than a pro-life constitutional amendment.

As your Senator, there are many ways I can help end abortion. I will fight for each and every one of them.

http://www.paul.senate.gov/?p=issue&id=3

 

[whoisjohngalt]

You fail to understand the ramifications of Goldwater being the nominee actually had on the GOP long-term

Rolling your eyes really drives your point home, but how about elaborating instead. Where do we see the incredible value. In Bush 1 or 2? McCain? Romney? Down ticket? The GOP has slid massively backwards from the libertarian stances of Goldwater largely because he had his ass handed to him. How about some legitimate arguments?

 

[kcchiefs6465]

Would this bill effectively end Plan B?

 

[Havax]

People who say abortion is murder are making a religious statement. You are injecting your weird belief in a "soul" and that the second the sperm hits the egg, that thing has a soul.

 

[itshappening]

Abortion is a messaging issue. Pro-life candidates have won national elections many times. As long as you don't sound like an ignorant moron talking about it people won't care.

No, it's not a messaging issue... even with a GOP supermajority in congress they will never ban abortions and will never touch it. Whoever spouts this nonsense is doing it so to please evangelicals. No pro-lifer has actually done anything in congress.

 

[cheapseats]

I'm not so sure that Rand isn't being smart about this by bringing it up so early. By the time the serious campaigning rolls around, everyone will be worn out of talking about the topic and the social conservatives will have a stronger bond to Rand...

Alas, people NEVER tire of pontificating about Abortion . . . so much SAFER than taking on the Military Industrial Complex.

...giving him a larger base of support from which to springboard into the general.

A more IMPASSIONED base, no doubt, but I think NOT larger.

Not least 'cuz he'll split with Santorum, or whichever Holy Roller is on deck.

It is better that he brings up the topic than his political enemies.

It IS better for him to declare his positions, than to get GOTCHA'd into admitting them.

 

[Darguth]

People who say abortion is murder are making a religious statement. You are injecting your weird belief in a "soul" and that the second the sperm hits the egg, that thing has a soul.

Not in the slightest. Abortion can be argued as akin to murder without dealing with anything metaphysical (such as a "soul").