rand paul speech full transcript

8/12/2019 Rand Paul Speech Full Transcript

1/36

Rand PaulSpeech Full Transcript &

Video Electing Lovers of Liberty

CPAC 2014Arguably, the most dangerous man in America after Barak

Insane Obama. What this lunatic is for and against should

rightly frighten non-libertarian Republicans, former or neo-

Reagan Democrats, and every kind of independent voter.

Hey, Republicans! Want to losethe White House, again?

Nominate this fookin' eejit. Proof that these are Libertarians,

not Conservatives: Rand Paul won the Straw Vote, again...

i

ii

iiiivvvi...and lastlyvii

Saturday, March 8, 2014 6:02

0

(Before It's News)

Of all the CPAC 2014 speeches I have heard, and I havent heard them all, Rand Paulreceived more robust applause than anyone. to this time that Ive heard. As withJohn Boltons speech, this one will make you stay awake at night, thinking, thinking.
http://washingtonexaminer.com/gallery/articleid/2545294http://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://washingtonexaminer.com/gallery/articleid/2545294http://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2014/03/cpac-2014-rand-paul-speech-full-transcript-electing-lovers-of-liberty-2818354.htmlhttp://beforeitsnews.com/opinion-conservative/2014/03/cpac-2014-rand-paul-speech-full-transcript-electing-lovers-of-liberty-2818354.htmlhttp://washingtonexaminer.com/gallery/articleid/2545294http://static01.mediaite.com/med/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/rand-paul.jpg.jpghttp://www.washingtontimes.com/multimedia/image/conservativesjpeg-09278jpg/


2/36

Rand Paul

Pull-Out Quote:

Theres a battle going on. Dont forget, there is a great battle going on for the heart andsoul of America. The Fourth Amendment is equally as important as the SecondAmendment, and conservatives cannot forget this. ~ Rand Paul

Begin transcript

Imagine with me for a moment, imagine a time when liberty is again spread from coastto coast. Imagine a time when our great country is again governed by the Constitution.Imagine a time when the White House is once again occupied by a friend of liberty. Youmay think Im talking about electing Republicans. Im not. Im talking about electinglovers of liberty.
http://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Rand_Paul_50.jpghttp://beforeitsnews.com/r2/?url=http://www.maggiesnotebook.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Rand_Paul_50.jpg


3/36

It isnt good enough to pick the lesser of two evils. We must elect men and women ofprinciple, and conviction and action, who will lead us back to greatness. There is a greatand tumultuous battle underway for the future, not of the Republican Party but the futureof the entire country.

The question is, will we be bold and proclaim our message with passion or will we besunshine patriots retreating under adverse fire? Will we be firm in our convictions, or willwe cower, defeated, and meekly dilute our message? Will we water-down the Bill ofRights, or will we be all on fire, like the unstoppable William Lloyd Garrison? For 30years, Garrison stood, as politicians whimpered, and compromised and left their fellow-man in bondage. Garrison would not, he could not sit quietly by. He rose above thosepoliticians who would leave the country half-free, half-slave. His voice was unwavering:I will be as harsh as truth and as uncompromising as justice. I will be in earnest. I willnot equivocate, I will not excuse, I will not retreat an inch and I will be heard.

Will you, Americas next generation of liberty lovers, will you stand and be heard?

The sons of liberty who fought against British soldiers writing their own warrants, wouldtoday, make a bonfire of secret orders issued by federal police. The sons of libertyrisked everything to guarantee your right to a trial by jury. They would today, call out tothe president, they would say, we will not be detained, spied upon nor have our rightsabridged. We will not submit and we will not trade our liberty for security, not now, notever.

Yet, as our voices rise in protest, the NSA monitors your every phone call. If you have acell phone, you are under surveillance. I believe what you do on your cell phone is noneof their damn business.

I believe this is a profound constitutional question: can a single warrant be applied tomillions of Americans email, credit cards. Your government says, and Im telling youtruth, this is what your government maintains, they say you dont own your records, thatyour Visa statement does not belong to you. I disagree, the Fourth Amendment is veryclear, warrants should be issued by a judge, warrants must be specific to the individual.A single warrant for millions of Americans phone records, hardly sounds specific to theindividual. Warrants are supposed to be based on evidence of probable cause, that anindividual has committed a crime. Generalized warrants, that dont name a singleindividual, and seek the records of millions of individuals, goes against the very fabric ofthe Fourth Amendment.

John Adams wrote that James Otis protest against generalized warrants was the sparkthat began the Great American Revolution.

Theres a battle going on. Dont forget, there is a great battle going on for the heart andsoul of America. The Fourth Amendment is equally as important as the SecondAmendment, and conservatives cannot forget this.


4/36

Will we sit idly by and let our rights be trampled on? Will we be like lemmings, rushing tothe comfort of Big Brothers crushing embrace, or will we stand like men and women ofcharacter and say, we are free, and no man, no matter how well-intentioned, will takeour freedom from us?

Daniel Webster anticipated our modern-day saviors, who wanted to save us from havingtoo much freedom. He wrote good intentions will always be pleaded for everyassumption of authority. Its hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made toguard the people against the dangers of good intentions.

How will history remember Barack Obama? For those who believed that PresidentObama would somehow be a champion of civil liberties, Roger Waters might ask, Didthey get you to trade your heroes for goats? Did they get you to exchange a walk-onpart in the war for a lead role in a cage?

I dont question President Obamas motives, but history will record his timid defense of

liberty. When Congress passed legislation allowing for the indefinite detention of anAmerican citizen without a trial, he shamefully signed it while promising not to use sucha power. A great president, though, would have risen to the occasion. Instead of merelysuggesting that he wouldnt use this dreaded power, a great president would have takenpen in hand and vetoed this abomination. A great president would have loudlyproclaimed, Congress cannot, and must not, overturn the right to a trial by jury. A greatpresident would have protected us from the prying eyes of the NSA. A great presidentwould have proclaimed, I will not abide it.

The Constitution will not abide it. Our forefathers fought for the right to a trial by jury sothat not one innocent man would be wrongly imprisoned. Remember Richard Jewel?

Everybody thought he was the [Centennial] Olympic [Park] bomber. He was convictedon television with no jury, no trial. Only problem was, he didnt do it. If he had been ablack man in the south in the 1920s, he might not have lived to prove hisinnocence. Anyone with a memory of the times in our history, when we didntadequately defend everyones right to a fair and impartial trial, should stand now and beheard. We must defend our rights.

Justice cannot occur without a trial. This fact should be abundantly clear to any groupthat has ever been persecuted. You can be a minority by the color of your skin or theshade of your ideology. Anyone who has ever paddled up-stream, anyone who has everbeen a minority of thought or religion, anyone who has ever taught their children at

home or sought to pray to God without permission, should be alarmed that anygovernment might presume to imprison without a trial.

Whether you are black or brown or white, man or woman, you should fear a governmentthat maintains the authority to imprison without trial, without a jury.


5/36

Madison wrote that we would not need a Constitution to protect us if government werecomprised of angels. Guess what? Madison readily admitted we werent ever likely tobe governed by angels.

It isnt so much what President Obama has done, although hes done a lot, none very

little good, but its not what hes done with his usurpations of power as much as it is theprecedent that it sets for lawlessness that may follow. If the Executive Branch caninitiate war, if the Executive Branch can detain citizens without trial, if it can amendlegislation, if it can declare to Congress that Congress is in recess, then government,unrestrained by law, becomes nothing short of tyranny.

Montesquieu recognized this. He wrote that when the Executive Branch usurps thelegislative authority, when the president says, I can write the laws, watch me, hes got apen, hes got a phone, he doesnt care what the law is, a tyranny will ensue and wemust stop this president from shredding the Constitution.

It isnt just the harm that this president is causing, its the future harm that he allows bydestroying the checks and balances that once restrained each of the branches ofgovernment. Progressives, by their own assertions, dont want to be bound by anyoriginal intent of the Constitution or its authors. They believe the Constitution iswhatever the majority says it is. Progressives believe that a majority may separate youfrom your rights.

Jim Crow, the Japanese internment, todays indefinite detention without trial, when weallow our God-given rights to be abridged by a majority vote. Our rights are inherent.They are inseparable from our person. Our rights are innate, they come from ourCreator and no government can take them away from us.

The Constitution merely codifies what exists before all time. Mr. President, we will notlet you run roughshod over our rights. We will challenge you in the courts. We will battleyou at the ballot box. Mr. President, we will not let you shred our Constitution.

Our future hangs in the balance. We can debate a jobless recover, an alarming debt, abothersome and abusive regulatory state, but know this, you cant have prosperitywithout freedom. It isnt a message of the haves or the haves-not, the rich versus thepoor; its a message for anyone who wants to own their own destiny.

Americas greatness will not flicker if we believe in ourselves, believe in our founding

documents, believe that all men are created equal and everyone can succeed. Thatbrings freedom and brings it, with it, not only great prosperity but extraordinarygenerosity.

Anybody think its great to be poor in Cuba? America is the most generous nation onearth. We cant forget about it, but it came with our freedom, they go together. It is goingto take all of us together. Its going to take a national revival of liberty. Americasgreatness, Americas exceptional character its not in our DNA, but its in our


6/36

republic, its in our founding documents, its in a republic that for the first time in historyrewards all individuals, regardless of birth, gender, ethnicity. Its a republic that restrainsthe government, not the individual.

Your task is not to minimize the loss of freedom, not to clutch at what weve got left,

your job is to maximize your liberty, so lets do it together. Lets take a stand. When thepresident refused to rule out droning of American citizens, I took a stand, I filibustered.

Some things are worth fighting for. When I discovered that the NSA spied on, and wascollecting every American citizens records, I took a stand. I sued the president.

It is decidedly not a time for the faint of heart. It is a time for boldness and action. Thetime is now. Stand with me. Let us stand for liberty. Thank you and God bless America.

End transcript.

Senator Rand Paul CPAC 2014 Speech Electing Liberty Lovers (video)If you would like to receive Maggies Notebook daily posts direct to your inbox, no ads,no spam, EVER, enter your email address in the box below.

i Rand Paul wins 2014 CPAC straw poll, Ted

Cruz finishes a distant second

RubioandRyan,GOPleadersinCongressallseebigdropsinsupportBy HSeth McLaughlinH and HStephen Dinan

-

The Washington Times

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., speaks at the Conservative Political ActionCommittee annual ... Hmore >


7/36

Related Stories

HCPAC 2014 straw poll results Paul urges conservatives to fight for libertyHCPAC 2014: Rand

Question of the Day

HIsRubiorightwhenhesaystheU.S."mustbeinvolvedinleadingtheworld"?

Yes

No

Undecided

Other

HLogin to Vote

HView results

HSen. Rand PaulH demolished his competition in the 2014 Washington Times/CPAC

presidential preference straw poll on Saturday, winning 31 percent of the vote nearly three

times the total of second-place HSen. Ted CruzH.

The poll also found a strong plurality of attendees at the Conservative Political Action

Conference believe marijuana should be fully legalized, with 41 percent saying its time to

change the law and tax it. Another 21 percent said it should be legalized only for medicinal

purposes, while just 31 percent said it should remain illegal in all cases.

HSEE ALSO: CPAC 2014 straw poll results

In the presidential poll, HMr. CruzHs 11 percent was a big improvement for the freshman

senator, who won just 4 percent in last years straw poll. Neurosurgeon HBen CarsonH was third

with 9 percent and New Jersey HGov. Chris ChristieH was fourth with 8 percent in results that

signal growing discontent with the HGOPH establishment in Washington.


8/36

Indeed, CPAC voters now have an unfavorable view of Republicans in HCongressH, with 51

percent saying they disapprove of the job the HGOPH is doing on Capitol Hill. Just last year the

HGOPH had a 54 percent approval rating, and in 2012 they held a 70 percent approval rating.

But a series of tough votes over the last few months that saw Republican leaders work withPresident Obama to boost spending and raised the governments debt limit have deepened a rift

between the HGOPHs leadership on Capitol Hill and conservative activists around the country.

That could be one reason why HRep. Paul RyanH, the Wisconsin Republican who wrote

Decembers budget deal that boosted spending in 2014 and 2015, saw his standing with CPACvoters cut in half from 6 percent support in last years presidential straw poll to just 3 percent

this year.

HSen. Marco RubioH suffered an even bigger drop, falling from 23 percent and second place in

2013 to seventh place, with 6 percent, this year.

I like HTed CruzH, I like HRand PaulH, I like HMike LeeH. I like HRubioH, but less now than

I did a year ago because of immigration, said HDavid FitzwilliamH, 83.

HSEE ALSO: Rand Paul urges conservatives to fight with him for liberty

For HMr. PaulH, the victory is his second in a row, and he saw his support climb from 25

percent last year to 31 percent this year.

He is the only true liberty candidate who focuses on civil liberties more than anybody else,

said HAl SeltzingerH, 36, from Baltimore. I think the way the nation is going today with the

government and the president going against the Constitution that we need someone who holdsstrict to the Constitution and whose voting record is pretty solid when it comes to the

Constitution.

HMr. CruzH also jumped from just 4 percent last year when he was a newly sworn-in senator

to his 11 percent this year.

HMr. CarsonH, who gained prominence with a 27-minute speech challenging Mr. Obama when

the two appeared at the 2013 National Prayer Breakfast, is also on the rise. In last years strawpoll, taken just after that speech, he garnered 4 percent of the vote, but jumped to 9 percent this

year.

I love HTed CruzH, I love HRand PaulH, but HBen CarsonH is all of the above, said JeanCarlton, a 71-year-old CPAC attendee who said the doctors lack of Washington experience was

a big plus.


9/36

For his part HMr. ChristieH, who has faced political troubles back home in New Jersey after his

staffers caused a traffic jam on the George Washington Bridge to punish a town mayor, seems to

be holding steady among activists. He rose from 7 percent last year to 8 percent support this

year.

In his speech to the conference on Thursday, HMr. ChristieH argued that the HGOPH needs to

not only pick a conservative champion, but pick a candidate who can get elected.

We cant govern if we cant win, he said.

That resonated with some CPAC straw poll voters.

I think he has the best chance in the general election. I am less optimistic about his chances in

the primary, but he seems to be more palatable to Independents and Democrats. I think

electability is the main concern, said Matthew Smith, a 19-year-old student at Yale University.

This years straw poll listed 25 potential candidates, which is far more than usual. The high

number signals just how wide open the HGOPHs presidential contest is with two years to go

before the first caucuses and primaries.

On the Democratic side, meanwhile, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton easily

leads the rest of her partys field in national and state polling.

Previous versions of The Washington Times/CPAC poll showed that the audience that gathers inWashington leans younger and more libertarian than the conservative movement throughout the

country, which likely gives HMr. PaulH a boost with this crowd here.

Indeed, his father, then-Rep. Ron Paul, won the straw poll twice on a similar libertarian-mindedmessage, though he struggled to translate that support into votes when it came to primaries and

caucuses.

The straw poll was conducted between Thursday and Saturday afternoon, and 2,459 votes were

cast.

Copyright 2014 The Washington Times, LLC. HClick here for reprint permission.

Read more: Hhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/mar/8/rand-paul-wins-2014-cpac-straw-poll-ted-cruz-finis/#ixzz2vTqXC7tuHFollow us: H@washtimes on Twitter

iiPaul the Younger: Libertarian vs. the GOP

By Jennifer Rubin


10/36

March 7 at 6:05 pm

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) spoke late Friday afternoon at the Conservative Political ActionConference. It was very similar to last years speech, which suggests one of the many problems with thespeech is its generic praise of liberty and an other-worldly take on the government as our real enemy.

FILE - In this Nov. 6, 2013 file photo, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. speaks on Capitol Hill inWashington. The debate about whether to continue the dragnet surveillance of Americans phone recordsis highlighting divisions within the Democratic and Republican parties that could transform the politics ofnational security. While some leading Democrats have been reluctant to condemn the National SecurityAgencys tactics, the GOP has begun to embrace a libertarian shift opposing the spy agencys broadsurveillance powers _ a striking departure from the aggressive national security policies that have definedthe Republican Party for generations. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. (Associated Press/J. Scott Applewhite)

First, it was filled with rubbish. In going for a big applause line from a room of 20-somethings,Paul suggested that the NSA is listening to all our phone calls. This is false, and it is disturbing if hedoesnt understand the difference between metadata and the content of phone calls. The portrait of a

government on the verge of tyranny might stir his fathers former fans, but it is quite divorced from whatthe NSA does and whether its program is constitutional.

Does Rand Paul really think the Constitution doesnt allow enemy combatants to be held atGitmo? Apparently so and he thinks the poor detainees are like innocent minorities with whom weshould commiserate: Justice cannot occur without a trial, he said. That fact should be abundantly clearto any group that has ever been persecuted. You can be a minority by the color of your skin or the shadeof your ideology. Anyone who has ever paddled upstream, anyone who has ever been [in the] minority ofthought or religion, anyone who has ever taught their children at home or sought to pray to God withoutpermission should be alarmed that any government might presume to imprison without trial.

Thats the sort of condescending talk (Hispanics should be in favor of letting terrorists go free orcome to the homeland for trial?) that will go over well with non-traditional Republicans? Even if it does find

some takers on college campuses, it will infuriate the large mass of Republicans who increasingly takenational security seriously. He really is planning on running to President Obamas left on these issues.

Second, Pauls spiel is certainly indifferent to if not at odds with what is going on in the world.Should we be alarmed that Iran is getting the bomb, Russia is invading a neighbor and there is a war ofgenocidal proportions in Syria? No, the greatest danger is the governments (nonexistent) eavesdroppingon your phone calls. Not only is his shtick divorced from world events, but it also is entirely alien to theexperience and concerns of most Americans who are worried about health care, the economy, themiddle-class squeeze, etc. Other than people exactly like those in the ballroom, who is going to find thisthe most compelling message out of all the Republican contenders agendas? He keeps saying he willreach out to African Americans and Hispanics, but the crowd that love him was overwhelmingly white andmale. And if he is serious about immigration reform (he told Silicon Valley he was), he kept it to himself.

Third, there is no sign that his message and appeal will be any different than his fathers. He isafter all a libertarian, not a mainstream conservative, and his disinclination to speak about anything buthis paranoid vision of the government leaves little room for reform or problem-solving. This one-note fearof government has limited selling power in the Republican Party, most especially during times of risinginternational threats.

Fourth, hes still sporting his jeans look, which he had last time. Its condescending to the youngpeople who were by the way all dressed in suits and ties and its decidedly unpresidential. Is hegoing to slum his way through a campaign? Its the sort of cheap appeal to young voters that Ronald


11/36

Reagan, for example, never needed. He provided a hopeful, concrete agenda that offered young peoplean optimistic vision. If you dont have that, you try to get by with jeans and a lot of pop music references.

And finally, when Paul says he doesnt care about electing Republicans instead preferringlovers of liberty you have to wonder why a Republican Party dedicated to electing majorities and

governing would find that appealing. Once again, the CPAC niche isnt broad enough to win a middle-sized states primary, as his father demonstrated, let alone the nomination.

Rand Pauls problem is that by offering such a stark libertarian view he severely limits his appeal.What if you want limited government and a robust military? What if you want limited government and apatient-centered health care? What if you want limited government and education reform? What if youwant limited government and someone who will stop Iran from getting the bomb? There are two or threecandidates, at least, who youd look to first.

Rand Paul is the perfect CPAC speaker, but for this very reason his presidential appeal is not yetclear. In the real world there are problems that need attending to, and Paul simply doesnt seem likesomeone youd entrust with the office of the presidency. You cant argue with Paul that the presidentshould love liberty, but we elect someone to execute the laws and to govern responsibly. What evidence

is there that Paul will be able to do that? The last time a freshman senator and ideologue with noexecutive experience ran for president it didnt work out too well. In the search for simple competence isthat too much to ask? Rand Paul wouldnt be at the top of most peoples list.

iiiRand Paul Highly Electable Libertarian

Unlike Eccentric Father Ron

Added by HAlana Marie BurkeH on March 7, 2014.Saved under HAlana Marie BurkeH, HOpinionH, HPolitical RightH, HPoliticsH,

HU.S.HTags: HpaulH, Hrand paulH


12/36

At this weeks Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) Republican Senator Rand Paulfrom Kentucky fired up conservatives with his emphatic defense of civil liberties, the Fourth

Amendment and his passion for holding President Obama accountable for shredding the

Constitution. Unlike his eccentric father Ron, who ran in the 2012 presidential election, RandPaul is shaping up to be a strong contender for the 2016 election. With his levelheaded

personality and consistent commitment to liberty and fiscal responsibility, Paul is considered a

highly electable Libertarian even by those who take issue with his foreign policy views.

Undetermined is whether plagiarism allegations associated with his lawsuit against Obama andthe National Security Administrations (NSA) surveillance tactics will have long-term effects on

his electability.

Rands father Ron Paul was never really considered electable despite his passionate Libertarianbase partly because of his eccentric communication style. While sometimes as cute as a little

Keebler cracker elf, Paul senior was mostly off-putting and his delivery involved too much

giggling and not enough dignity. He also carried some questionable baggage that cast doubt onhis character. Case in point were some newsletters in the early 1980s and 1990s with his

masthead on them that were racist and anti-gay.


13/36

Ron Paul continues to claim he had no knowledge of the content of his own newsletters but wide

held skepticism on how this could have been possible still dogs him to this day. Add in his

isolationist foreign policy beliefs and his statement that Iran has just as much a right to nuclear

weapons as the United States and you have a dead in the water presidential campaign.

Rand Paul, on the other hand, while holding mostly the same Libertarian views as his father,

expresses them in a certain manner that indicates personal strength and an air of wisdom that

belies his relatively young years. His demeanor, unlike his fathers, is reassuring even when he is

delivering a message not entirely palatable to Republicans and conservatives.

Paul consistently maintains his composure under media pressure. He even did so while

filibustering for 13 hours straight against CIA director John Brennan on the floor of the Senate

ostensibly to get President Obama to stop using drones against U.S. citizens. His highly

developed communication skills will be a key component of his future campaign successwhether it is for the office of the president in 2016 or his re-election to the Senate. Undetermined

is whether Americans are truly ready for a Libertarian president.

At CPAC, Paul spoke to the crowd and said he is not about promoting the election ofRepublicans, what he wants is to elect lovers of liberty and he chastised Republicans for

meekly diluting the conservative message. He further demanded that people not elect

Republicans that do not adhere to undiluted conservative values. Paul received huge applause forhis comments regarding Obamas NSA surveillance of ordinary citizens telling the crowd that

even as they gathered, the NSA was monitoring every phone call they made. According to Paul,

what ordinary Americans do on their personal cell phones is their own damn business and his

statement brought attendees to their feet.

Paul has called for boldness and action and he has asked people to stand with him for liberty.In a time when Americans are truly wondering if their constitutional rights are subject to

interpretation by a government grown massively bloated and subjectively intrusive, Paulsmessage has tremendous appeal. On foreign policy Paul did state in a 2013 Heritage Foundation

speech that he sees the world as it is, considers himself a realist and is not an isolationist. His

words alone may not be enough to reassure those who believe America is correct in its role as anexceptional and benevolent benefactor to other nations, regardless of the financial burdens of that

role. In any case, compared to his eccentric father Ron, Rand Paul is highly electable and in 2016

Americans may be ready to vote for a president willing to rein in a bloated government and

restore liberty and fiscal responsibility.

Editorial By Alana Marie Burke

ivRand Pauls Starkly Libertarian CPAC

Speech: We Must Defend the Rights of All


14/36


15/36

Commongroundbetweenwarringcousins.

By HChris Moody, Yahoo NewsH | Yahoo News Fri, Feb 7, 2014

HEmailH HShareH H1294 Tweet

HPrint


16/36


17/36

If successful, Pauls effort could be the start of a fresh form of fusionism on the right that could

be a significant asset if he seeks the White House in 2016.

Instead of adopting a hard line on issues like drug legalization and non-interventionism like his

father, former Texas Rep. Ron Paul, the younger Paul speaks about these topics in a way hehopes will spark collaboration instead of squabbling. And it seems to be working.

Pauls efforts were on display Wednesday night at a gala for the HAmerican Principles ProjectH,a conservative group that opposes abortion and same-sex marriage and aims to promote religious

liberty. The group's board includes Maggie Gallagher, one of the foremost advocates against

same-sex marriage and Robert P. George, the chair of the U.S. Commission on InternationalReligious Freedom. APP is led by Francis P. Cannon, a conservative activist who authored Ha

rebuttal reportH last year to calls within the Republican Party to de-emphasize social issues.

Speaking to a few hundred APP supporters at Washington, D.C.'s Mayflower hotel, Paul,

knowing his audience, began by conceding that libertarian, is still a bad word to some. Afew in the audience nodded.

But libertarian, or liberty, doesnt mean libertine, Paul said. To many of us, libertarian means

freedom and liberty. But we also see freedom needs tradition.

Such appeals are part and parcel of what for Paul has become an ongoing campaign to reachsocial conservatives. Last June, Paul spoke at the Faith and Freedom Summit, a conference

organized by former Christian Coalition Executive Director Ralph Reed, where he accused the

Obama Administration of Hfunding a war on Christianity abroad.H In October, Paul addressed

students of Liberty University, a school founded by the late televangelist Jerry Falwell.

Pauls tone was softer Wednesday, when he argued that conservatives should support libertarian-

backed initiatives like prison sentencing reform for non-violent drug users, and to take a stronger

stand on defending the Fourth Amendment, which protects against unlawful searches.

To illustrate his point, he highlighted a law in his home state of Kentucky that prohibits anyone

convicted of a felony from voting.

A felony could be growing marijuana plants in college, he said. I think there are things we

can and should talk about as Christians. We believe in forgiveness. I think the criminal justice

system should have some element of forgiveness.

A few years ago, Pauls rhetoric may have gotten him accused of being soft on crime within

Republican circles. But today, as the party is desperately seeking fresh inroads with black and

Hispanic voterstwo groups that are disproportionally affected by anti-drug laws, compared towhitesPauls message is starting to resonate. Theres evidence to suggest that these ideas are

gaining support within the Republican Party. Utah Republican Sen. Mike Lee is currently

working with Illinois Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin on a bill that would reduce or eliminatemandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders. Meanwhile, Texas Republican


18/36

Sen. John Cornyn is making a push to provide increased rehabilitation for some incarcerated

offenders.

I think these are things we can look at, Paul said. And Im not talking about legalization.

What Im talking about is making the criminal justice system fair and giving people a secondchance when they serve their time.

The audience greeted his suggestions with a standing ovation at the end of the speech.

Libertarians have been great promoters of free markets and economic freedom, Cannon, the

groups president, told Yahoo News after the speech. But within the movement, the question ishow to marry that with both an expression that talks to workers rather than businesses, and I

thought Paul was looking for a way to revive that fusionism now. I thought he did a great job.

It's a message Paul delivers often, from colleagues on the Senate floor and evangelical pastors in

Des Moines to African American students and immigration reform activists, and could be histicket to the presidential campaign trail in 2016. The Republican candidate who can effectively

capture the imagination of conservative voters in Iowa and unite them with center-right

Republicans in New Hampshire--the first two electoral contests on the presidential nominationcalendar--will be in a strong position heading into the primary season. It's far too early to tell, of

course, whether Paul can pull it off.

Looking to 2016, he arguably has an advantage over his father, who made three unsuccessfulWhite House bids during his political career. The younger Paul's "fusionist" approachwedding

libertarian economics, traditional values and novel policy ideas could appeal to a broader set

of Republican voters. And it might also, critically, alienate fewer of them.

Its worth noting that the senior Paul Hmade respectable inroads within the social conservative

community in Iowa in 2012H. But with the right tone and message, his son is hoping to takes

things even further.

viRand Paul boldly proclaims libertarian

views at CPAC

By HCharlie SpieringH | MARCH 7, 2014 AT 4:55 PM

TOPICS: HBELTWAY CONFIDENTIALH HRAND PAULHHCONSERVATISMH HLIBERTARIANISMH HCPACH


19/36

When he spoke to the packed ballroom at CPAC on Friday,

Sen. Rand Paul emphasized one thing:...

When he spoke to the packed ballroom at CPAC on Friday, Sen. HRand PaulH emphasized one

thing: Liberty.

That appeared to satisfy the legions of young people who filed into the hall to see the more

HlibertarianH Republican senator from HKentuckyH, and it appeared to be Paul's primary goal.

"Imagine a time when our great country is governed by the Constitution, imagine a time when

Hthe White HouseH is once again occupied by a friend of liberty," he said. "You may think I'm

talking about electing Republicans -- I'm not, I'm talking about electing lovers of liberty."

HSign Up for the Politics Today newsletter!H

That line would have been a slam-dunk for a conference of libertarians, but it drew a loud cheer

from the standing-room-only crowd in the room.

In the past, Paul has slipped in his more libertarian views into a more big-tent conservative

speech sprinkled in with a few few wise-cracking red-meat jokes.

This time, however, Paul focused on the issues his biggest supporters love him for: HCivil

libertiesH and the right to HprivacyH against an ever-intrusive federal government.

"What you do with your cell phones is none of their damn business," Paul shouted, as the young

people cheered and gave him a standing ovation.

It's natural for presidential hopefuls to fire up their most ardent supporters in this early stage in

the process. Paul appeared to be doing exactly that.

It helped that Paul spoke to a friendly crowd. The packed CPAC audience was noticeablydifferent from the ones that filed in to watch other potential 2012 candidates such as Sens. H Ted

CruzH, R-Texas, and HMarco RubioH, R-Fla., and Gov. HChris ChristieH of New Jersey on

Thursday.

In fact, the usual clusters of Students for Liberty and the Campaign for Liberty activiststraditionally at CPAC appeared to ignore the first day of the conference, and showed up for the

second day.

The disciplined fans of Paul filed in ahead of time, packing the hall for former Sen. H RickSantorumH's speech as well as the speech of the HAmerican Conservative UnionH's Al


20/36

Cardenas. Campaign props are no longer allowed in the CPAC ballrooms but Paul fans were

easily spotted in the crowd wearing red "Stand With Rand" t-shirts and stickers.

Paul's speech Friday represented the coalition he believes will help leverage the Republican party

back to victory: Traditional conservative activists that file into these political conferences eachyear, combined with the large group of young libertarian types that only show up for their

favorite liberty-loving politicians.

vii

Rand Paul on Abortion

Click here for H6 full quotes on AbortionH OR Hbackground on AbortionH.

Thousands of exceptions follow from maternal health. (May 2013) Coarsening of our culture led to 50 million unborn deaths. (Sep 2012) My opponents call me libertarian but I'm pro-life. (Feb 2011) Life begins at conception. (Jul 2010) HOpposesH federal abortion funding. (Aug 2010) Prohibit federal funding for abortion. (May 2011)

Rand Paul on Budget & Economy


21/36

Click here for H24 full quotes on Budget & EconomyH OR Hbackground on Budget & EconomyH.

The sequester is the law of the land: can't compromise on it. (Oct 2013) We cannot continue to borrow $50,000 per second. (Mar 2013) Sequester doesn't cut spending; it just slows rate of growth. (Mar 2013) FactCheck: US borrowing $30,000 per second, not $50,000. (Feb 2013) Borrowing $50,000 per second is not sustainable. (Feb 2013) America needs Adam Smith, not Robin Hood. (Feb 2013) Penny Plan: Each $1 by one penny & balance budget by 2019. (Feb 2013) Keep the sequester, and increase it to $4T. (Feb 2013) Not every military dollar is necessary,nor every entitlement. (Aug 2012) Roll back federal spending to 2008 levels. (Jan 2012) We are borrowing $40,000 per second. (Jan 2012) Government not serious about controlling spending. (Feb 2011) Larger government is not a solution for economy. (Feb 2011) Bank bailout represented everything wrong with Washington. (Feb 2011) Debt crisis is approaching a point of no return. (Feb 2011) Bank bailout was bad policy & helped no banks in KY. (Oct 2010) No federal bailouts of private industry. (Jul 2010) Demand a Balanced Budget amendment. (Jul 2010) Limit federal spending growth to per-capita inflation rate. (Jul 2010) Sponsored bill increasing debt limit to $16.7 trillion. (Jul 2011) Supports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge. (Jan 2012) Disapprove of increasing the debt limit. (Jan 2012) Sponsored auditing the Fed & its actions on mortgage loans. (Feb 2013) Endorsed Liberty Candidate: End the Federal Reserve. (Sep 2010)

Rand Paul on Civil Rights


22/36

Click here for H8 full quotes on Civil RightsH OR Hbackground on Civil RightsH.

Redefining marriage leads to economic and moral problems. (Jun 2013) No national law on same-sex marriage; leave it to states. (May 2013) Let states decide same-sex marriage; don't federalize it. (Mar 2013) Illegal to impose racial segregation in the private sector. (May 2010) Opposes same-sex marriage. (Nov 2009) Voted NO on reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act. (Feb 2013) HOpposesH affirmative action. (Aug 2010) HSupportsH Amendment to prevent same sex marriage. (Aug 2010)

Rand Paul on Corporations

Click here for H5 full quotes on CorporationsH OR Hbackground on CorporationsH.

Cut corporate tax in half to create millions of jobs. (Feb 2013) Punishing the rich means the poor lose their jobs. (Aug 2012) Obama's "You didn't build that" insults American workers. (Aug 2012) Expand lending caps for credit unions to small business. (Mar 2012) Rated 14% by HUFCWH, indicating a pro-management voting record.

(May 2012)

Rand Paul on Crime

Click here for H2 full quotes on CrimeH OR Hbackground on CrimeH.

Defend trial by jury & oppose unlawful searches. (Feb 2013) Stop over-criminalization in vague laws like Lacey Act. (Sep 2012)

Rand Paul on Drugs


23/36

Click here for H6 full quotes on DrugsH OR Hbackground on DrugsH.

Don't promote marijuana but don't jail non-violent criminals. (Mar 2013) Tackle drug problem; no one cares where funding comes from. (Oct 2010) Community treatment instead of federal anti-drug programs. (Aug 2010) Drug abuse isn't a pressing issue; 10-20 years is too harsh. (Aug 2010) Favors legalizing medical marijuana. (May 2010) Exclude industrial hemp from definition of marijuana. (Aug 2012)

Rand Paul on Education

Click here for H2 full quotes on EducationH OR Hbackground on EducationH.

Allow school choice for everyone, white, brown, or black.(Feb 2013)

Support homeschooling and parental responsibility. (Jul2010)

Rand Paul on Energy & Oil

Click here for H9 full quotes on Energy & OilH OR Hbackground on Energy & OilH.

Unelected EPA should not regulate greenhouse emissions. (Oct 2010) Energy crisis stems from too much government intervention. (Jul 2010) Voted YES on barring EPA from regulating greenhouse gases. (Apr 2011) Signed the No Climate Tax Pledge by HAFPH. (Nov 2010) HSupportsH renewable energy tax credits. (Aug 2010) Cap-and-trade has no impact on global temperatures. (Jul 2010) Explore proven energy reserves & keep energy prices low. (Jul 2010) Let states lease energy rights on federal lands. (Jun 2013) Endorsed Liberty Candidate: tax incentives for US-based alternatives.

(Sep 2010)

Rand Paul on Environment


24/36

Click here for H2 full quotes on EnvironmentH OR Hbackground on EnvironmentH.

Voted NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and Great Lakes ecosystems.(May 2013)

Rated 20% by HHSLFH, indicating an anti-animal welfare voting record.(Jan 2012)

Rand Paul on Families & Children

Click here for Hbackground on Families & ChildrenH.

No issue stance yet recorded by OnTheIssues.org.

Rand Paul on Foreign Policy

Click here for H5 full quotes on Foreign PolicyH OR Hbackground on Foreign PolicyH.

Against terror but first comes preserving the Constitution. (Jul 2013) As only democracy in Mideast, Israel is important ally. (Feb 2011) Exit the UN; maintain US sovereignty. (Nov 2010) Rated 0 by HAAIH, indicating a mixed Arab/Palestine voting record. (May

2012) Endorsed Liberty Candidate: US abroad unconstitutional & unaffordable.

(Sep 2010)

Rand Paul on Free Trade

Click here for Hbackground on Free TradeH.


Rand Paul on Government Reform


25/36

Click here for H11 full quotes on Government ReformH OR Hbackground on GovernmentReformH.

Term limits if budget can't get balanced. (Feb 2013) Conservatives should criticize GOP when they grow government. (Feb

2012) Our legislative victory: an end to earmarks. (Jan 2012) Federal contracts should include no-PAC clauses. (Feb 2011) Instead of bringing home the bacon, bring home politicians. (Feb 2011) FactCheck: No, Kagan never she'd regulate vegetable eating. (Feb 2011) Lobbyists' sole goal is to rip you off. (Jul 2010) No Pork Pledge: decrease earmarking; increase transparency. (Aug 2010) Identify constitutionality in every new congressional bill. (Jul 2010) Audit federal agencies, to reform or eliminate them. (Jul 2010) Moratorium on all earmarks until budget is balanced. (Jul 2010)

Rand Paul on Gun Control

Click here for H8 full quotes on Gun ControlH OR Hbackground on Gun ControlH.

Don't let the liberals tread on the Second Amendment. (Feb 2013) Patriot Act violates your gun rights. (Feb 2011) 2nd amendment is only as good as the fourth amendment. (Sep 2010) Supports 2nd amendment; vote against restricting handguns. (Jul 2010) Voted NO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10 bullets. (Apr

2013) HOpposesH restrictions on the right to bear arms. (Aug 2010) Rated AQ by the HNRAH, indicating a pro-gun rights voting record. (Aug

2010) Endorsed Liberty Candidate: no point in keeping guns you can't access.

(Sep 2010)

Rand Paul on Health Care


26/36

Click here for H10 full quotes on Health CareH OR Hbackground on Health CareH.

ObamaCare cuts hundreds of choices down to just four. (Nov 2013) It's Congress' job to fight to change ObamaCare. (Oct 2013) ObamaCare is still unconstitutional, despite Supreme Court. (Aug 2012) Restrain ObamaCare from using Commerce Clause. (Feb 2011) Obamacare will cost $3T & health insurance still goes up 15%. (Oct 2010) Replace over-regulation with free market principles. (Jul 2010) Voted NO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax & spending cuts.

(May 2011) HOpposesH government-run healthcare. (Aug 2010) Defund, repeal, & replace federal care with free market. (Jul 2010) Repeal any federal health care takeover. (Jul 2010)

Rand Paul on Homeland Security

Click here for H17 full quotes on Homeland SecurityH OR Hbackground on Homeland SecurityH.

Allow challenges to NSA in open court, not FISA court. (Nov 2013) Give trials to Guantanamo detainees. (May 2013) Filibuster to establish no drones on citizens in America. (Mar 2013) 13-hour filibuster against drone strikes targeting Americans. (Mar 2013)

Only Judiciary can detain and drone, not the President. (Mar 2013) Cut defense spending as part of cutting all federal spending. (Jan 2012) The Patriot Act is intrusive; it's what the Founders feared. (Feb 2011) Put defense spending on the table for reducing budget. (Feb 2011) Defense should be largest part of much smaller budget. (Feb 2011) How much of what is spent on defense is actual "defense"? (Feb 2011) Remove waste from last decade's doubling of military budget. (Feb 2011) Warrantless searches overstep Constitutional powers. (Sep 2010) Treat armed service members like heroes. (Jul 2010) Defense policy is influenced by the makers of weapons. (Feb 2010)

Voted NO on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps. (Feb 2011) HSupportsH banning homosexuals in the military. (Aug 2010) Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty. (Mar 2013)

Rand Paul on Immigration


27/36

Click here for H6 full quotes on ImmigrationH OR Hbackground on ImmigrationH.

Legal status, but not citizenship, for illegal immigrants. (Mar 2013) We will find a place for illegal immigrants in America. (Mar 2013) Replace de facto amnesty with bipartisan reform. (Mar 2013) See immigrants as assets, not liabilities. (Feb 2013) Obamacare treats illegal aliens because it's illegal to ask. (Oct 2010) No amnesty; respect the law. (Jul 2010)

Rand Paul on Jobs

Click here for Hbackground on JobsH.


Rand Paul on Principles & Values

Click here for H16 full quotes on Principles & ValuesH OR Hbackground on Principles & ValuesH.

We don't need new principles, just to stand by those we have. (Mar 2013) America's exceptionalism is notion that all should be free. (Feb 2013) I am a Christian but not always a good one. (Sep 2012) Sometimes evil people win, and saintly heroes are martyred. (Sep 2012) Wife Kelley gave Randal Paul his nickname "Rand". (Feb 2011) My victory was part of a much larger Tea Party movement. (Feb 2011) Being Ron Paul's son means being unique-minded independent. (Feb

2011) Met Wife Kelley at age 26 in Atlanta. (Feb 2011) Moved to wife's home in Kentucky & raised three boys. (Feb 2011) Accused of belonging to secret society NoZe Brotherhood. (Oct 2010) I'm "a pro-life Christian"; denies worshiping "Aqua Buddha". (Oct 2010) This is not Wendell Ford's seat; it's the people's seat. (Oct 2010) This election really is about the president's agenda. (Oct 2010) A career doctor, not a career politician. (Jul 2010) Son of Rep. Ron Paul; endorsed by Sarah Palin. (Apr 2010)

Rand Paul on Social Security


28/36

Click here for H6 full quotes on Social SecurityH OR Hbackground on Social SecurityH.

Raise the retirement age to deal with Baby Boomers. (Feb 2011) Raise retirement age gradually; allow opting out. (Feb 2011) I've never challenged constitutionality of Social Security. (Oct 2010) Raise the retirement age for people under age 55. (Oct 2010) Social Security is a Ponzi scheme. (Aug 2010) HSupportsH private retirement accounts. (Aug 2010)

Rand Paul on Tax Reform

Click here for H10 full quotes on Tax ReformH OR Hbackground on Tax ReformH.

Stand firm and say NO to any MORE tax hikes!. (Feb 2013) Opposed to increasing taxes during recession. (Feb 2011) Joe Taxpayer gets stuck with the bill for budget deficit. (Feb 2011) Balanced budget amendment to pay to extend $4T Bush tax cuts. (Oct

2010) Lower taxes encourage spending, saving, and investing. (Jul 2010) Taxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes. (Aug 2010) HSupportsH flat-rate federal tax; opposes increased tax rates. (Aug 2010) Adopt a single-rate tax system. (Jul 2010)

Repeal tax hikes in capital gains and death taxes. (Jul 2010) Supports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge. (Jan 2012)

Rand Paul on Technology

Click here for H3 full quotes on TechnologyH OR Hbackground onTechnologyH.

I don't mind spying on terrorists, but not on all Americans.

(Jul 2013) FactCheck: Free "Obama phones" actually started in

1984. (Feb 2013) Voted NO on authorizing states to collect Internet sales

taxes. (May 2013)


29/36

Rand Paul on War & Peace

Click here for H6 full quotes on War & PeaceH OR Hbackground on War & PeaceH.

No involvement in Syria, even if gas attack proven. (Sep 2013) No US interests in either side of Syrian war. (Sep 2013) No US weapons to kill Christians in Syria. (Aug 2013) It is unacceptable not to hate war. (Sep 2012) Opposed to Iraq War; no direct threat & no declared war. (Feb 2011) Would have voted against a declaration of war against Iraq. (Feb 2010)

Rand Paul on Welfare & Poverty

Click here for Hbackground on Welfare & PovertyH.


VoteMatch Responses

H(Click here for VoteMatch quiz)H

VoteMatch

Question & Answer(Click on question for

explanation and background)

Based on these stances:(Click on topic for excerpt & citation)


30/36

Strongly Opposestopic 1:HAbortion is a woman's

unrestricted rightH(-5 points on Social scale)

Thousands of exceptions follow frommaternal health: HOpposes topic 1HCoarsening of our culture led to 50 million unborn

deaths: HStrongly Opposes topic 1HMy opponents call me libertarian but I'm pro-life:HStrongly Opposes topic 1HLife begins at conception: HOpposes topic 1HHOpposesH federal abortion funding: HOpposes topic1HProhibit federal funding for abortion: HStrongly Opposestopic 1H

Strongly Opposestopic 2:HLegally require hiringwomen & minoritiesH(+5 points on Economic scale)

Illegal to impose racial segregation in theprivate sector: HOpposes topic 2HHOpposesH affirmative action: HStrongly Opposes topic2HNO on reauthorizing the Violence Against WomenAct: HOpposes topic 2H

Opposes topic 3:HComfortable with same-sex marriageH(-3 points on Social scale)

Redefining marriage leads to economic andmoral problems: HStrongly Opposes topic 3HNo national law on same-sex marriage; leave it tostates: HFavors topic 3H

Let states decide same-sex marriage; don'tfederalize it: HFavors topic 3HOpposes same-sex marriage: HOpposes topic 3HHSupportsH Amendment to prevent same sexmarriage: HStrongly Opposes topic 3HHSupportsH banning homosexuals in the military:HStrongly Opposes topic 3H

No opinion on topic4:

HKeep God in the publicsphereH(0 points on Social scale)

(No votes on which to base response)


31/36

Strongly Opposestopic 5:HExpand ObamaCareH(+5 points on Economic scale)

ObamaCare cuts hundreds of choices downto just four: HOpposes topic 5HObamaCare is still unconstitutional, despite

Supreme Court: HStrongly Opposes topic 5HRestrain ObamaCare from using CommerceClause: HOpposes topic 5HObamacare will cost $3T & health insurance stillgoes up 15%: HStrongly Opposes topic 5HReplace over-regulation with free market principles:HStrongly Opposes topic 5HHOpposesH government-run healthcare: HStronglyOpposes topic 5HDefund, repeal, & replace federal care with freemarket: HStrongly Opposes topic 5HRepeal any federal health care takeover: HStronglyOpposes topic 5HNO on the Ryan Budget: Medicare choice, tax &spending cuts: HFavors topic 5H

Favors topic 6:HPrivatize Social SecurityH(+2 points on Economic scale)

Raise the retirement age to deal with BabyBoomers: HOpposes topic 6HRaise retirement age gradually; allow opting out:HFavors topic 6HSocial Security is a Ponzi scheme: HStrongly Favorstopic 6HHSupportsH private retirement accounts: HStronglyFavors topic 6H

Strongly Favorstopic 7:HVouchers for schoolchoiceH(+5 points on Economic scale)

Allow school choice for everyone, white,brown, or black: HStrongly Favors topic 7HSupport homeschooling and parental responsibility:HStrongly Favors topic 7H

Favors topic 8:HHuman needs overanimal rightsH(-3 points on Social scale)

NO on protecting ocean, coastal, and GreatLakes ecosystems: HFavors topic 8H


32/36

Strongly Opposestopic 9:HStricter punishment

reduces crimeH(+5 points on Social scale)

Defend trial by jury & oppose unlawfulsearches: HStrongly Opposes topic 9HStop over-criminalization in vague laws like Lacey

Act: HOpposes topic 9H

Strongly Favorstopic 10:HAbsolute right to gunownershipH(+5 points on Economic scale)

Don't let the liberals tread on the SecondAmendment: HStrongly Favors topic 10HSupports 2nd amendment; vote against restrictinghandguns: HStrongly Favors topic 10HHOpposesH restrictions on the right to bear arms:HStrongly Favors topic 10HRated AQ by the HNRAH, indicating a pro-gunrights voting record: HStrongly Favors topic 10HEndorsed Liberty Candidate: no point in keepingguns you can't access: HStrongly Favors topic 10HNO on banning high-capacity magazines of over 10bullets: HStrongly Favors topic 10H

Strongly Opposestopic 11:HHigher taxes on thewealthyH

(+5 points on Economic scale)

Cut corporate tax in half to create millions ofjobs: HStrongly Opposes topic 11HStand firm and say NO to any MORE tax hikes!:HStrongly Opposes topic 11H

Opposed to increasing taxes during recession:HOpposes topic 11HLower taxes encourage spending, saving, andinvesting: HStrongly Opposes topic 11HTaxpayer Protection Pledge: no new taxes: HStronglyOpposes topic 11HHSupportsH flat-rate federal tax; opposesincreased tax rates: HStrongly Opposes topic 11HAdopt a single-rate tax system: HStrongly Opposes topic11HRepeal tax hikes in capital gains and death taxes:HStrongly Opposes topic 11HSupports the Taxpayer Protection Pledge: HStronglyOpposes topic 11H


33/36

Favors topic 12:HPathway to citizenship forillegal aliensH(+2 points on Social scale)

Legal status, but not citizenship, for illegalimmigrants: HFavors topic 12HWe will find a place for illegal immigrants in

America: HStrongly Favors topic 12HReplace de facto amnesty with bipartisan reform:HFavors topic 12HSee immigrants as assets, not liabilities: HStronglyFavors topic 12HNo amnesty; respect the law: HStrongly Opposes topic12H

No opinion on topic13:

HSupport & expand freetradeH(0 points on Economic scale)

(No votes on which to base response)

Strongly Favorstopic 14:HMaintain US sovereigntyfrom UNH(+5 points on Social scale)

Sponsored opposing the United NationsArms Trade Treaty: HStrongly Favors topic 14H

Opposes topic 15:HExpand the militaryH(+2 points on Social scale)

Not every military dollar is necessary,norevery entitlement: HOpposes topic 15HPut defense spending on the table for reducingbudget: HStrongly Opposes topic 15HDefense should be largest part of much smallerbudget: HFavors topic 15HHow much of what is spent on defense is actual"defense"?: HStrongly Opposes topic 15HRemove waste from last decade's doubling ofmilitary budget: HOpposes topic 15H

Treat armed service members like heroes: HStronglyFavors topic 15HDefense policy is influenced by the makers ofweapons: HStrongly Opposes topic 15H


34/36

Favors topic 16:HStricter limits on politicalcampaign fundsH(-3 points on Economic scale)

Federal contracts should include no-PACclauses: HFavors topic 16HLobbyists' sole goal is to rip you off: HFavors topic 16H

Favors topic 17:HStay out of IranH(+2 points on Social scale)

Opposed to Iraq War; no direct threat & nodeclared war: HStrongly Favors topic 17HWould have voted against a declaration of waragainst Iraq: HStrongly Favors topic 17HEndorsed Liberty Candidate: US abroadunconstitutional & unaffordable: HOpposes topic 17H

Opposes topic 18:

HPrioritize green energyH(+2 points on Economic scale)

Energy crisis stems from too much

government intervention: HOpposes topic 18HSigned the No Climate Tax Pledge by HAFPH:HStrongly Opposes topic 18HHSupportsH renewable energy tax credits: HStronglyFavors topic 18HCap-and-trade has no impact on globaltemperatures: HStrongly Opposes topic 18HExplore proven energy reserves & keep energyprices low: HOpposes topic 18HLet states lease energy rights on federal lands:HStrongly Opposes topic 18HEndorsed Liberty Candidate: tax incentives for US-based alternatives: HOpposes topic 18HYES on barring EPA from regulating greenhousegases: HOpposes topic 18H

Opposes topic 19:HNever legalizemarijuanaH(+2 points on Social scale)

Don't promote marijuana but don't jail non-violent criminals: HStrongly Favors topic 19HCommunity treatment instead of federal anti-drugprograms: HOpposes topic 19H

Drug abuse isn't a pressing issue; 10-20 years istoo harsh: HOpposes topic 19HFavors legalizing medical marijuana: HStronglyOpposes topic 19HExclude industrial hemp from definition ofmarijuana: HOpposes topic 19H


35/36

Opposes topic 20:HStimulus better thanmarket-led recoveryH(-3 points on Economic scale)

The sequester is the law of the land: can'tcompromise on it: HOpposes topic 20HGovernment not serious about controlling

spending: HOpposes topic 20HDebt crisis is approaching a point of no return:HStrongly Opposes topic 20HLimit federal spending growth to per-capita inflationrate: HStrongly Opposes topic 20HSponsored bill increasing debt limit to $16.7 trillion:HStrongly Favors topic 20HSupports the Cut-Cap-and-Balance Pledge:HOpposes topic 20HExpand lending caps for credit unions to smallbusiness: HFavors topic 20H

Disapprove of increasing the debt limit: HOpposestopic 20HRated 14% by HUFCWH, indicating a pro-management voting record: HOpposes topic 20HSponsored auditing the Fed & its actions onmortgage loans: HOpposes topic 20H


36/36

Rand Paul is a Conservative-Leaning

Libertarian.

Click here for Hexplanation of political philosophy.H

Click here for HVoteMatch quiz.H

via http://www.ontheissues.org/default.htm

rand paul speech full transcript

Documents