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Rand Paul's spectacular answer to an abortion question smacks both Democrats and the media



Rand Paul's spectacular answer to an abortion question smacks both Democrats and the media
Yesterday, a reporter from the AP tried a standard, and very tired, left wing media play. He attempted to corner Rand Paul on the question of abortion by demanding that he outline every circumstance under which he'd allow an exception to a ban.
It's a hypothetical game that they love to play because it's fraught with danger for whoever is forced to answer. Since there are no actual facts to address, just possibilities, politicians leave themselves open to all kinds of subsequent attacks. Unfortunately for the AP, Senator Paul wasn't interested in playing along. He turned the question into a tool - one he could use not just on the reporter, but on DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Dems nationwide. "What's the DNC say?" Paul answered. "...Why don’t we ask the DNC: Is it OK to kill a 7-pound baby in the uterus?” “You go back and go ask [DNC chair] Debbie Wasserman Schultz if she’s OK with killing a 7-pound baby that’s just not born yet. Ask her when life begins, and ask Debbie when she’s willing to protect life. When you get an answer from Debbie, come back to me.” ...And Debbie took the bait. She released a statement through the DNC:
“I support letting women and their doctors make this decision without government getting involved. Period. End of story. Now your turn, Senator Paul. We know you want to allow government officials like yourself to make this decision for women — but do you stand by your opposition to any exceptions, even when it comes to rape, incest, or life of the mother? Or do we just have different definitions of ‘personal liberty’?”

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Clearly, that's a dodge. Ms. Schultz didn't actually answer Senator Paul. She didn't offer any indication of when she believes life begins, she didn't address the specific 7-poud baby question, nor did she say that there were any circumstances in which she'd be willing to protect the unborn. That leaves her and her party with a problem.... As Senator Paul responded on CNN:
“It sounds like her answer is yes, that she’s OK with killing a 7-pound baby. ...Debbie’s position, which I guess is the Democratic Party’s position, that an abortion all the way up until the day of birth would be fine, I really think most pro-choice people would be uncomfortable with that”
And he's right. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's statement is radically out of line with the vast majority Americans. That's the brilliance here. She can't backtrack without alienating the hardcore leftists who elected her, and anyone running against her can force her to defend the fact that she feels there should be no limits on abortion whatsoever. The damage, though, doesn't have to be limited to Ms. Schultz. Campaigning GOPers should now take her response to every other Democrat - particularly those running in swing states - and shove it in their faces. Ask them if they agree with the leader of their party that late term and partial birth abortions should be legal and on-demand with out restriction. Force every Democrat to either defend or denounce the position. Every. Single. Last. One. This should be the standard play for any GOP candidate facing a hostile media. Don't answer the question they give you because it is, almost without fail, a trap. They will never offer you a fair shake, so use their inquiries against them and your opponents. Force them to get a legitimate answer from the Democrats, and then use that answer as a wedge. Republicans? Are you paying attention? Rand Paul just treated you to a master class in how to use the media to your advantage. Learn from it. Senator Paul's initial answer can be heard at around the 8 minute mark in this clip.


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