Rand Paul: Civilization cannot endure abortion
The interesting thing is when you’re in the neonatal nursery and you’ve got a one-pound baby, everybody acknowledges that that baby has rights, the Bill of Rights applies to that baby and nobody can hurt that baby… It’s a one-pound baby.
But a week before, even a full-term seven-pound baby has no rights, according to the way people are looking at it, and I think that is a big mistake…
I think, and I often say in my speeches, that I don’t think a civilization can long endure that doesn’t respect the rights of the unborn.
~ Sen. Rand Paul, as quoted by Examiner.com, August 12
[HT: Jill; photo via liberalironist.wordpress.com]

I have to do more research on his positions, but I’m slowly warming up to this guy. He’s even trying to reach out to the black community. I don’t know how much success he will have, but at least he is making the effort.
Eh, he would be better then McCain or Romney, he certainly would appoint the type of judges we need, the jury is out on how exactly he would go on several prolife issues. But making this kind of point is very helpful, especially with many libertarians who mysteriously somehow think the harm principle only applies to some individuals and rights are bestowed by government at birth.
Amen, and amen.
But a week before, even a full-term seven-pound baby has no rights, according to the way people are looking at it
That’s really not true. Just who, exactly, is advocating for “abortion on demand,” with no other requirements, when we are talking about a full-term, seven-pound baby?
“That’s really not true.”
What rights does a full-term unborn baby have? Looks like Rand Paul is talking about rights as enumerated in the Bill of Rights, which don’t apply to the unborn since legally they aren’t “persons”.
And what abortion requirements does Planned Parenthood not speak out against or fight legally?
I think the restrictions on abortion later in gestation constitute a limited form of personhood. The state is saying that it has an interest in the life at that point, and it’s weighed against the woman’s wishes and other possible things like danger to the woman.
Even for born people, the rights aren’t absolute. It’s also not like infants can “freely assemble,” etc.
I’m not sure, but I doubt Planned Parenthood rejects restrictions on third trimester abortions, in general. There are those who would put a blanket ban on abortion, and that would probably get PP speaking out against it – as many people would – due to the sometime medical necessity of abortion, in the admittedly rare case of danger to the woman.
Chris: Eh, he would be better then McCain or Romney
I don’t think Romney’s heart was really in it….
Not sure about Rand Paul, but his father may be a sticking point for a lot of people, him being so far “out there”….
I’m not sure, but I doubt Planned Parenthood rejects restrictions on third trimester abortions, in general.
Doug, Planned Parenthood openly supports the federal Women’s Health Protection Act (which would strike down all bans on post-viability abortion that don’t have an exception for the mother’s health). They also support New York Governor Cuomo’s Reproductive Health Act, a “trigger law” that would make third-trimester abortions legal in New York in the event Roe v. Wade is overturned to protect the mother’s health (current trigger law would allow abortion after 24 weeks only to save the mother’s life). According to Doe v. Bolton, however, the mother’s health is defined to include “all factors—physical, emotional, familial, and the woman’s age—relevant to the well-being of the patient.” So pretty much any reason can be used to justify a third-trimester abortion as long as there’s an abortionist willing to do one.
There are those who would put a blanket ban on abortion, and that would probably get PP speaking out against it – as many people would – due to the sometime medical necessity of abortion, in the admittedly rare case of danger to the woman.
But that’s not what Planned Parenthood is opposing. Aside from the personhood amendments (a tiny minority of pro-life legislation), the items they’re attacking won’t ban all abortions. They include parental consent, bans on abortions after 20 weeks (with exceptions for life of the mother and sometimes for lethal fetal abnormalities or rape), clinic regulations, and informed consent. A far cry from a “blanket ban on abortion”.