Post by John Liberty on Sept 30, 2013 16:40:40 GMT
Rand Paul, our amicable senator from Kentucky, is often praised for his attempt at uniting libertarians and conservatives into one movement. Continuing the work his father has done, he has continued to bring liberty minded people into the Republican Party to steer it back to it's party platform where it belongs. But could he be more of a uniter than we thought? He came to Washington railing against the party establishment. Once in the Senate, he became one of that body’s foremost critics of war and of increased military spending. He drew national attention for his defense of civil liberties. He filibustered for thirteen hours on the use of drones. He called for the restoration of the voting rights of felons, a little-remarked-upon issue except to civil rights activists, but one that could tip the balance of electoral politics in key states. He even is pushing for legalized hemp. Here's the strange thing. All of these are liberal issues. That's right. Could our freedom loving senator from Kentucky be easily able to grab liberal votes in his presidential election?
Paul's liberal stance on civil rights has won him some praise in unlikely corners, with staunch liberals like Medea Benjamin writing that Paul should be commended for his anti-war stance. The liberal website Truthdig.org has regularly praised Paul’s stances, and the site’s founder, New Left journalist Robert Scheer, has regularly sung the Kentucky Senator’s praises on a nationally syndicated radio show he appears on.
The idea of a Paul receiving praise from progressives is not new. Rand’s father Ron convinced many anti-war Democrats to join his crusade in his presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012. Rand, though, is different, speaking out not just on defense but on issues of criminal justice.
“A lot of Democrats have tended to be less than courageous on a lot of those issues,” said Michael Lux, co-founder of Progressive Strategies, a political consulting firm. “I think it is great that he is somebody who has a clear position on those issues, and I admire him for advocating strongly for it even if it I don’t agree with him on 98 percent of his economic ideas.”
Does this mean that Rand Paul could be a possible uniter on issues pertaining to social justice and foreign policy? Dean Serito, a former democratic party nominee, thinks so. “I think that as progressives we should say that what Rand Paul represents is encouraging for the entire state of American politics. He at least suggests the possibility of a transpartisan coalition around what I consider to be extremely important issues. You have to take strange bedfellows where they are.”
Rand's immigration policy also serves as a compromise between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Republicans want a secure border so that it is extremely difficult for illegal immigrants to get through. Democrats want a low security or no security border so illegals can come and try to make a life here in America. Rand Paul wants secure borders so that illegal immigrants can't come through, but he wants to make it easier to become legal citizens. This compromise could actually serve to fix something for once, instead of having the two parties bickering about it constantly.
This is a huge step for Paul and his fans. Rand Paul has not just managed to act as a bridge between libertarians and conservatives, but he could also serve to be a bridge between the right wing and the left wing! If Rand Paul were to get nominated he would not only bring the youth vote to the GOP, but he could also bring some liberal votes to the GOP! Rand Paul could be the most electable liberty minded individual that has set foot in the GOP for a while! The GOP would be wise to nominate Rand Paul in 2016, because another Romney is just going to lose votes for the GOP.
theconstitutionworks.blogspot.com/2013/09/could-rand-paul-unite-people-more-than.html
Paul's liberal stance on civil rights has won him some praise in unlikely corners, with staunch liberals like Medea Benjamin writing that Paul should be commended for his anti-war stance. The liberal website Truthdig.org has regularly praised Paul’s stances, and the site’s founder, New Left journalist Robert Scheer, has regularly sung the Kentucky Senator’s praises on a nationally syndicated radio show he appears on.
The idea of a Paul receiving praise from progressives is not new. Rand’s father Ron convinced many anti-war Democrats to join his crusade in his presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012. Rand, though, is different, speaking out not just on defense but on issues of criminal justice.
“A lot of Democrats have tended to be less than courageous on a lot of those issues,” said Michael Lux, co-founder of Progressive Strategies, a political consulting firm. “I think it is great that he is somebody who has a clear position on those issues, and I admire him for advocating strongly for it even if it I don’t agree with him on 98 percent of his economic ideas.”
Does this mean that Rand Paul could be a possible uniter on issues pertaining to social justice and foreign policy? Dean Serito, a former democratic party nominee, thinks so. “I think that as progressives we should say that what Rand Paul represents is encouraging for the entire state of American politics. He at least suggests the possibility of a transpartisan coalition around what I consider to be extremely important issues. You have to take strange bedfellows where they are.”
Rand's immigration policy also serves as a compromise between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party. Republicans want a secure border so that it is extremely difficult for illegal immigrants to get through. Democrats want a low security or no security border so illegals can come and try to make a life here in America. Rand Paul wants secure borders so that illegal immigrants can't come through, but he wants to make it easier to become legal citizens. This compromise could actually serve to fix something for once, instead of having the two parties bickering about it constantly.
This is a huge step for Paul and his fans. Rand Paul has not just managed to act as a bridge between libertarians and conservatives, but he could also serve to be a bridge between the right wing and the left wing! If Rand Paul were to get nominated he would not only bring the youth vote to the GOP, but he could also bring some liberal votes to the GOP! Rand Paul could be the most electable liberty minded individual that has set foot in the GOP for a while! The GOP would be wise to nominate Rand Paul in 2016, because another Romney is just going to lose votes for the GOP.
theconstitutionworks.blogspot.com/2013/09/could-rand-paul-unite-people-more-than.html