Paul On the Issues
AbortionPaul
said he views the fetus as a "human being [with] legal rights … from the day of conception." He reconciles his anti-abortion outlook with his libertarian views, saying, "I do not say that because our homes are our castles that we have the right to murder our children." He also believes that "the states have the right and the authority" to make laws regarding abortion. In 2003, Paul
said that the "solution" to the "ill-advised Roe v. Wade ruling" is for the Supreme Court to "recognize that for all criminal laws, the several states retain jurisdiction." A former practicing obstetrician/gynecologist, Paul
states that he never found abortion "necessary to save the life of a pregnant woman."
Compare McCain and Obama Church and StateIn a 2003 blog post, Paul
wrote that the Founding Fathers "envisioned a robustly Christian yet religiously tolerant America, with churches serving as vital institutions that would eclipse the state in importance." In 2002, Paul
introduced legislation that would,
in his words, "restore First Amendment protections of religion and speech by removing all religious freedom-related cases from federal district court jurisdiction." Two months after 9/11, Paul was one of only three Republicans to
vote against a sense-of-the-Congress resolution encouraging schools to set aside time for prayer or private reflection.
Compare McCain and Obama Death PenaltyPaul opposes the death penalty and would vote against it in "any legislative body he was a member of," according to campaign spokesman Jesse Benton. In 2005, Paul
praised the late Pope John Paul II for being an "eloquent and consistent advocate for an ethic of life, exemplified by his struggles against abortion, war, euthanasia and the death penalty."
Compare McCain and Obama EducationAsked during a May 2007 GOP debate for three "wasteful" federal programs he would eliminate, Paul
named the Department of Education first. In June 2007, however, he
criticized the war in Iraq for sucking up federal funds needed for education and other priorities. Although Paul
says he sympathizes with individuals who call for school vouchers – and he supports the right of states and local government to implement such programs – he objects to a federal voucher program because it would lead to "increased government control of private education."
Compare McCain and Obama EnvironmentIn a March 2007 TV interview, Paul
said that "there are reputable scientists on both sides" of the global warming debate. He objects to federal subsidies for oil companies and believes that U.S. foreign policy "contributes to global warming" because "we're in the Middle East to protect oil interests." Paul
endorses a private-property approach to environmental preservation, saying, "You do not have the right to pollute your neighbor's property."
Compare McCain and Obama Faith-Based InitiativesIn a 2003 statement, Paul derisively
labeled President Bush's
faith-based initiative "a neocon project" that "repackages and expands the liberal notion of welfare." In 2001, he
proposed legislation to "amend" the faith-based initiative by offering a tax credit for private donations to faith-based organizations that provide social services. "Churches should not become entangled with government subsidies and programs because truly independent religious institutions are critical to a free society," he said.
Compare McCain and Obama Gay MarriagePaul writes that while he opposes states being "forced" to accept same-sex marriage, he also
opposes a constitutional amendment that would prohibit gay marriage on the grounds that it would be a "major usurpation of the states' power." Paul
described the current military "don't ask don't tell" policy as a "decent" one, saying that disruptive sexual behavior of any kind should be dealt with: "We don't get our rights because we're gays or women or minorities. We get our rights from our creator as individuals. So every individual should be treated the same way."
Compare McCain and Obama Health CareIn 2006, Paul
wrote that "the problems with our health care system are not the result of too little government intervention but, rather, too much." The solutions, he argued, lie in allowing individuals to deduct from their taxes all of their health care costs, as businesses do, and in promoting "true competition" in the market for health care provisions. Paul has also
supported legislation permitting individuals to buy "negative outcome" insurance before major medical treatments in order to reduce "the burden of costly malpractice litigation."
Compare McCain and Obama ImmigrationIn a June 2007 debate Paul
asserted that he is "positively opposed" to amnesty and that the U.S. must stop encouraging illegal immigration by providing health care services for illegal immigrants. According to his campaign website, Paul
believes that while physically securing borders and coastlines is a top priority, existing laws must be enforced and "taxpayers should not pay for illegal immigrants who use hospitals, clinics, schools, roads and social services." In 2006, he
voted for legislation to erect a fence along stretches of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Compare McCain and Obama Iraq WarPaul has objected to the war in Iraq for having been "
sold to us with false information," being fiscally irresponsible and lacking both a
congressional declaration of war and
moral justification. He has
introduced legislation to revoke the president's authority to wage war in Iraq and favors a "
clear decision to leave." Referring to the Iraqi government, Paul
said that "the biggest incentive for them to take upon themselves the responsibility is just for us to leave."
Compare McCain and Obama PovertyIn May 2007, Paul
asserted that "subsidies and welfare" only provide poor people with "crumbs," while "the military-industrial complex and the big banks" receive "the real big welfare," further impoverishing the middle class and the poor. Paul opposes foreign aid,
writing that "the redistribution of wealth from rich to poor nations has done little or nothing to alleviate suffering abroad. Only free markets, property rights, and the rule of law can create the conditions necessary to lift poor nations out of poverty."
Compare McCain and Obama Stem Cell ResearchPaul backed President Bush's veto of congressional legislation to expand federal funding for non-embryonic stem cell research,
saying he doesn't oppose such research but objects to federal funding for it. The founding fathers, Paul also wrote, "intended to keep issues such as embryonic stem cell research entirely out of Washington's hands."
Compare McCain and Obama