Comments on: Is Ron Paul’s position on abortion inconsistent with his other views? http://txfx.net/2007/12/22/is-ron-pauls-position-on-abortion-inconsistent-with-his-other-views/ Mark Jaquith's blog about capitalism, freedom, WordPress, the web, and personal topics Wed, 02 May 2012 07:17:58 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4-beta4-20838 By: John http://txfx.net/2007/12/22/is-ron-pauls-position-on-abortion-inconsistent-with-his-other-views/comment-page-1/#comment-402480 John Sat, 02 Feb 2008 01:47:20 +0000 http://txfx.net/?p=1610#comment-402480 I'm not a woman ;) I think ladiliberty's comment hit the nail right on the head. I’m not a woman ;) I think ladiliberty’s comment hit the nail right on the head.

]]> By: ladiliberty http://txfx.net/2007/12/22/is-ron-pauls-position-on-abortion-inconsistent-with-his-other-views/comment-page-1/#comment-345157 ladiliberty Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:30:57 +0000 http://txfx.net/?p=1610#comment-345157 Hmmm Speaking as a woman I had that first impression too. However the year is 2008 democrats out number republicans and many GOPers are liberal, most states would ban late term abortions just as they are banned now, but that would be it... I can't imagine that if any states did ban abortion entirely it would be more than the few bible belt states. That said a woman could still cross state line to acquire an abortion if need be. It would stop our tax dollars from funding said abortions, it would hopefully slow dpwn those women that do use it as a form of birth control..Putting it into a state level decision is constitutional... Hmmm Speaking as a woman I had that first impression too. However the year is 2008 democrats out number republicans and many GOPers are liberal, most states would ban late term abortions just as they are banned now, but that would be it… I can’t imagine that if any states did ban abortion entirely it would be more than the few bible belt states. That said a woman could still cross state line to acquire an abortion if need be.

It would stop our tax dollars from funding said abortions, it would hopefully slow dpwn those women that do use it as a form of birth control..Putting it into a state level decision is constitutional…

]]> By: Rob http://txfx.net/2007/12/22/is-ron-pauls-position-on-abortion-inconsistent-with-his-other-views/comment-page-1/#comment-309715 Rob Sat, 05 Jan 2008 05:06:09 +0000 http://txfx.net/?p=1610#comment-309715 <blockquote cite="http://txfx.net/2007/12/22/is-ron-pauls-position-on-abortion-inconsistent-with-his-other-views/">There are several problems here. First, they misrepresent Paul's position on abortion by simply describing is as "pro-life." His position is a bit more specific. While Paul personally opposes abortion, his political position is that is shouldn't be a federal issue. It should be up to the states. And as President, he'd have no effect on state decisions. This is not at all inconsistent with his constitutional principles.</blockquote> To be fair to his critics, support for an entirely state-mandated approach to abortion is a <em>de facto</em> support for its being outlawed across much of the US. The cynic in me wonders whether he'd be so willing to give that right to the states if he was personally opposed to abortion. It's not so much that it's incompatible with his constitutional position but rather that it's incompatible with a liberal view on abortion. Whether that's important enough to not vote for the man is obviously up to individual voters, but I don't think it's particularly irrational for it to turn you off from him completely...I know it's one of a few things that would preclude me from voting for him were I an American, anyway.

There are several problems here. First, they misrepresent Paul’s position on abortion by simply describing is as “pro-life.” His position is a bit more specific. While Paul personally opposes abortion, his political position is that is shouldn’t be a federal issue. It should be up to the states. And as President, he’d have no effect on state decisions. This is not at all inconsistent with his constitutional principles.

To be fair to his critics, support for an entirely state-mandated approach to abortion is a de facto support for its being outlawed across much of the US. The cynic in me wonders whether he’d be so willing to give that right to the states if he was personally opposed to abortion.

It’s not so much that it’s incompatible with his constitutional position but rather that it’s incompatible with a liberal view on abortion. Whether that’s important enough to not vote for the man is obviously up to individual voters, but I don’t think it’s particularly irrational for it to turn you off from him completely…I know it’s one of a few things that would preclude me from voting for him were I an American, anyway.

]]>