I have to say, last night’s debate in SC is the first one I have actually enjoyed. Maybe that has something to do with the fact that it drives me up the wall when a question is addressed to all of the candidates, and only half of them are allowed to answer before they move on to the next question. Maybe. That said, it must be easier when there are only four of them, because they actually did a good job of it last night.
Now then. I like Santorum and Paul. I thought Romney was oily four years ago, and still do. Gingrich… just rubs me the wrong way, aside from the fact that I don’t really trust him. He’s witty, sure, and seems to be a great “debator” – but they elected the last President merely because he could “speak like a president,” and look where that got us.
Anyway. Santorum premuch went after Gingrich and Romney, for the most part focusing any attacks entirely on them. But he and Paul did get into a lively exchange about abortion when Santorum pointed out that Paul only got a 50% rating from some group that looks at how politicians have voted on legislation, etc regarding pro-life endeavors.
(To which my father chimed up in the background, “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything; it all depends on what was attached to said legislation.” Hear, hear!)
So, they basically went roundy-round about federal pro-life laws versus state pro-life laws and whose jurisdiction it technically falls under, and such. Santorum fell on the side of federal, and Paul, as usual, fell on the side of state, arguing that abortion is a violent crime, and we already let states have jurisdiction when it comes to handling other violent crimes, such as murder or burglary.
I found the whole exchange interesting, especially when it was pointed out that law follows morality, not the other way around. I don’t know that I’ve ever heard a politician argue that you have to change the heart if you ever have a hope of changing the law, although I have heard it on many a pro-life website…
Anyway. I came across this in my RSS feed today, and after watching Santorum’s incredulity over Paul’s remarks last night, I’m a bit incredulous myself.
Santorum attacked Paul at CNN debate for leaving abortion to states, but look what he said in 2003…
The Daily Paul only excerpts his last paragraph, but if you click through, you can read the whole interview.
Back then, he argued that things like sodomy and abortion were states’ issues rather than federal ones. ‘If they want it in their state, they can have it… in their state,’ basically.
…what changed, Rick?
Edited to add:
For those of you who may have missed the debate but would like to catch up on it, I believe you can find it at CNN.com.
