The Republican You Tube Debate: Abortion pt. 1

These YouTube debates have been good. The questions are much more interesting than the one’s journalists generally ask and since the YouTubers themselves ask the question, each new round brings a new questioner. Some have an edge of resentment for politicians. Most offer an authentic perspective. Still Others were plants from Hilary Clinton’s campaign. These factors created a tension for the candidates that occasionally yielded more honest glimpses of their true personalities. Crucial since the stakes are raising because America is beginning to tune in.

The first religious question asked, “if abortion were illegal and a women got one anyway what should the punishment be?”

Ron Paul was up first and he began by claiming that the federal government shouldn’t dictate the punishment for abortion. Under his administration, it would be left to the states to decide, in part because it is such a controversial issue, he doesn’t think it should be “all fifty states the same way”.

He then said that the “abortionist” (an Orwellian term for a highly educated Professional Doctor who performs abortions, and therefore endorses it ethically) should be punished not the woman. Ron Paul is utterly opposed to abortion, probably stemming from his deep religious faith, after all he was nearly a Lutheran minister. If he believed in a more forceful Presidency, this could be a killer for his campaign, but since he would leave regulation to that states, its seen as consistent with his views.

Fred Thompson said same thing as Paul except he sounded more nervous, spoke less intelligently, and induced me to suicidal boredom. Grampa Fred puts the room to sleep again.

Tompson and Paul have the sense to know a modern political truth. Something we'll talk about more in the next segment; that it is politically deadly to be anti-abortion in a national campaign.