Rand Paul in Speeches at 2012 Values Voters Summit

On Abortion: Coarsening of our culture led to 50 million unborn deaths

The coarsening of our culture towards violent death has more consequences than war. Tragically, this same culture has led to the death of 50 million unborn children in the last 40 years. I don't think a civilization can long endure that does not have respect for all human life, born and not yet born. I believe there will come a time when we are all judged on whether or not we took a stand in defense of all life from the moment of conception until our last natural breath. Source: Speech at 2012 Values Voters Summit Sep 14, 2012

On Principles & Values: I am a Christian but not always a good one

I'm a Christian, a husband and a father. I'm faithful to my wife and my family. I try to be good at all those things, though, of course, we all fall short of perfection in our lives. I try to adhere to the tenets of God's word in the New Testament. I take seriously my oath to defend the Constitution. And I try to fight for truth and my values regardless of the political outcome, regardless of how popular or unpopular they may be.

My faith has never been easy for me, never been easy to talk about and never been without obstacles. I do not and cannot wear my religion on my sleeve. I am a Christian but not always a good one. I'm not completely free of doubts. I struggle to understand man's inhumanity to man. I struggle to understand the horrible tragedies that war inflicts on our young men and women.

Source: Speech at 2012 Values Voters Summit Sep 14, 2012

On Principles & Values: Sometimes evil people win, and saintly heroes are martyred

I've always had trouble grappling with the tragedies that I've encountered in medicine. As a medical student and as a physician, I struggled and struggle with inexplicable disease, terminal tumors in children. When bad things happen to good people, when bad things happen to innocent people, I don't always know what to say or what to think.

My first patient as a medical student on the surgical service was a beautiful young woman who unfortunately presented with metastatic melanoma to her ovaries. She didn't die during my time caring for her, but I knew enough to know that her time was limited. And I struggled to understand her tragedy and how tragedy could occur in a world that has purpose and design.

Like most doctors or like most people, really, I struggle with sometimes caring too much and sometimes caring too little. I struggle to understand how evil individuals sometimes reap earthly rewards and saintly heroes are martyred by their fellow man.

Source: Speech at 2012 Values Voters Summit Sep 14, 2012

On Principles & Values: America's crisis is not fiscal, but moral & spiritual

Dostoevsky wrote that I did not arrive at my hosanna through childlike faith, but through a fiery furnace of doubt. My faith has never been easy for me, never been easy to talk about and never been without obstacles. I do not and cannot wear my religion on my sleeve. I am a Christian but not always a good one. I'm not completely free of doubts. I struggle to understand man's inhumanity to man.

I think there is crisis in our country. It's not just a fiscal crisis. I think it's a moral crisis. I think it's a spiritual crisis.

I don't think the answer is in any politician. I don't think the answer is in any particular law. I think the answer really is that we need to somehow find our way back to God. And I think we find that by taking the time from our busy lives, from everything around us, taking the time to reflect what are the important things. I hope we will reflect, and I hope we will find spiritual renewal as a country and a people.

Source: Speech at 2012 Values Voters Summit Sep 14, 2012

On War & Peace: It is unacceptable not to hate war

I'm not a pacifist, but I do think it unacceptable not to hate war. I'm dismissive of those who champion war as sport and show no reluctance to engage in war. Any leader who shows glee or eagerness for war should not be leading any nation. I believe truly great leaders are reluctant to go to war and try mightily to avoid war.

Though I detest violence, I could kill someone who injured or threatened my family. Though I hate war, I could commit a nation to war, but only reluctantly and constitutionally and after great deliberation. I believe that though some would find this a contradiction in terms that there is a such thing as a Christian or just theory of war, that a just war is a war of self-defense. At the same time I'm conflicted. I don't believe Jesus would have killed anyone or condoned killing, perhaps not even in self-defense. I'm conflicted.

Source: Speech at 2012 Values Voters Summit Sep 14, 2012

The above quotations are from 2012 Values Voters Summit. Click here for other excerpts from 2012 Values Voters Summit. Click here for other excerpts by Rand Paul. Click here for a profile of Rand Paul.
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Page last updated: Dec 05, 2018