Taking a Stand

by Rand Paul

  These Beltway elites say, “Trust us, we won’t violate your privacy.” But when the intelligence director is not punished for lying to Congress, how are we to trust them? Are we to trust them to seize and hold every American’s phone records? Remember, these are the same people who have only a 10 percent approval rating!

  The Constitution is clear: politicians should not collect such information without a warrant. Warrants must be specific to an individual, and there must be probable cause before the government is allowed to search any American’s private documents.

  The president created this vast dragnet by executive order, without congressional authority. As president, I will immediately end this invasion of our privacy.

  We need to return to our founding principles and stand up for the entire Bill of Rights.

  To defend the Bill of Rights, we must have a strong national defense. I believe national defense is the single most important constitutional obligation of our federal government. We should have a military that is second to none in the world, one that is ready to defend us from all enemies.

  To defend ourselves, we need a lean, mean, fighting machine that doesn’t waste money on a bloated civilian bureaucracy. The civilian bureaucracy at the Pentagon has doubled in the past thirty years, gobbling up the money necessary to modernize our defense. That’s why I will propose the first-ever audit of the Pentagon and seek ways to make our Department of Defense more modern and efficient.

  There is still so much promise for the future of America.

  Our future can include a road back to prosperity, back to respect at home and abroad. It can include a balanced budget and a simple, fair tax system. It can include a government that protects your rights and your security.

  It can include a Congress that is responsive to YOU, the people, and not the special interests. It can include a stronger, better military, in which our troops and our veterans are valued and not forgotten when they return home. It can include a plan to bring prosperity to our inner cities and real justice to all Americans.

  The path we are on now does not lead there. But there is time to change course.

  For the past six years, this president has had the wrong diagnosis for what ails our country.

  It’s time for a new way. A new set of ideas.

  A plurality of Americans are no longer Republicans or Democrats. These Americans want a new combination of beliefs. These Americans are fiscally conservative and also concerned with personal liberty. A philosophy that joins economic and personal liberty becomes a potent political force. Such a philosophy transcends typical political labels and parties—and crosses all classes.

  This philosophy of liberty defends the poor, defends minority rights, and protects the privacy of all of us.

  A candidate who champions this philosophy can unify the country. A Republican who defends the entire Bill of Rights, a Republican who demands that justice not disproportionately incarcerate people of color brings a message to the table that could transform electoral politics.

  Crowdpac looks at congressional voting records and scores representatives based on several indexes. On economic liberty, I rank as one of the most conservative members of Congress. On personal liberty, on the desire to be free of big-government surveillance, no one in Congress ranks above me.

  But what about issues outside of economic and personal liberty, how does a third way handle those?

  Simple: by following the instructions that have held us in good stead for 225 years.

  The Ninth and Tenth Amendments reserve most rights and privileges to the people. Power not explicitly given to the federal government is left to the states and people respectively, and this is not to be disparaged. Many of the contentious issues of the day can be left up to the states or to individuals themselves.

  So how about we take a stand together? America has much greatness left in her. We will thrive when we believe in ourselves again. When we believe in our founding documents. When we believe in economic and personal liberty again.

  I see an America where everyone who wants to work will have a job.

  I see an America strong enough to deter foreign aggression, yet wise enough to avoid unnecessary intervention.

  I see an America where criminal justice is applied equally, and any law that disproportionately incarcerates people of color is repealed.

  I see an America that creates millions of jobs by leaving more money in each and every community.

  I see our big cities once again shining and beckoning with creativity, and American companies offering Americans jobs.

  I have a vision for an America beyond partisan politics, beyond petty divisions, an America that is once again defined by her most cherished founding principles: Liberty and Justice.

  Acknowledgments

  I want to thank my family for their love and encouragement: To my wife, Kelley, for reading, rereading, and working to make the book better. I couldn’t have done it without you.

  To my sons William, Duncan, and Robert—I hope the example I set for you in daily life will help you as you become adults. And I hope things like taking a stand for what you believe in will stay with you, whatever path you choose in life. To my mom and dad, thanks for instilling in me a love of ideas and of writing. This is the third book I’ve undertaken in public life, but I have spent much of my life writing letters and drafting op-eds and speeches. Your examples and encouragement in those areas are very important to me.

  A special thank you also to Doug Stafford and Brian McDonald for their great ideas and for helping to put those ideas into words to bring this book together. Doug and Brian helped me sort through the jumble of a twenty-four-hour nonstop daily legislative and political whirlwind and craft it into the narrative it became.

  To my editor at Hachette, Kate Hartson, for her tireless and unflappable help and for remaining my cheerful and dedicated advocate. I’m grateful to publisher Rolf Zettersten for his support, to Patsy Jones for leading the marketing efforts, and to the entire Hachette team, especially production editor Carolyn Kurek—I appreciate your dedication to the book on such a tight schedule.

  Appendix

  The following is a list of almost 100 bills that Senator Rand Paul has authored since joining the Senate in 2011:

  These bills are available to read at www.congress.gov

  In Development—Prohibiting Youth Status Offenders Act

  In Development—Smarter Sentencing Act

  In Development—TREAT Act

  S.889—A bill to provide regulatory relief to alternative fuel producers and consumers, and for other purposes. (03/26/2015)

  S.855—A bill to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to permit Governors of States to regulate intrastate endangered species and intrastate threatened species, and for other purposes. (03/24/2015)

  S.837—A bill to modify the criteria used by the Corps of Engineers to dredge small ports. (03/23/2015)

  S.813—A bill to provide the Secretary of Defense with authority to transfer funds in order to mitigate the effects on the Department of Defense of a sequestration of funds available to the Department of Defense, and for other purposes. (03/19/2015)

  S.790—Economic Freedom Zones Act: A bill to provide for the establishment of free-market enterprise zones in order to help facilitate the creation of new jobs, entrepreneurial opportunities, enhanced and renewed educational opportunities, and increase community involvement in bankrupt or economically distressed areas. (03/18/2015)

  S.675—REDEEM Act (03/09/2015)

  S.663—A bill to repeal the violation of sovereign nations’ laws and privacy matters. (03/04/2015)

  S.652—Service Members and Communities Count Act of 2014 (03/04/2015)

  S.633—Stand with Israel Act of 2015 (03/03/2015)

  S.457—Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act of 2015 (02/11/2015)

  S.391—National Right-to-Work Act (02/05/2015)

  S.353—Justice Safety Valve Act of 2015 (02/03/2015)

  S.300—Audit the
Pentagon Act of 2015 (01/29/2015)

  S.264—Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2015 (01/27/2015)

  S.255—FAIR Act (01/26/2015)

  S.226—Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act of 2015 (01/21/2015)

  S.34—Defend Israel by Defunding Palestinian Foreign Aid Act of 2015 (01/06/2015)

  S.3015—Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act of 2014 (12/12/2014)

  S.2657—RESET Act (07/24/2014)

  S.2644—FAIR Act (07/23/2014)

  S.2567—REDEEM Act (07/08/2014)

  S.2550—Civil Rights Voting Restoration Act of 2014 (06/26/2014)

  S.2477—Egyptian Military Coup Act of 2014 (06/17/2014)

  S.2265—Stand with Israel Act of 2014 (04/29/2014)

  S.2216—Protect Small Business Jobs Act of 2014 (04/07/2014)

  S.2062—Constitutional Check and Balance Act (02/27/2014)

  S.1930—Uphold Our Promise to Veterans Act (01/15/2014)

  S.1919—A bill to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002 (01/14/2014)

  S.1852—Economic Freedom Zones Act of 2013 (12/18/2013)

  S.1731—Endangered Species Management Self-Determination Act (11/19/2013)

  S.1664—One Subject at a Time Act (11/07/2013)

  S.1663—Write the Laws Act (11/07/2013)

  S.1665—Read the Bills Act (11/07/2013)

  S.1469—Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act of 2013 (08/01/2013)

  S.1278—Egyptian Military Coup Act of 2013 (07/11/2013)

  S.1121—Fourth Amendment Restoration Act of 2013 (06/07/2013)

  S.1037—Fourth Amendment Preservation and Protection Act of 2013 (05/23/2013)

  S.1016—Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2013 (05/21/2013)

  S.1004—Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2013 (05/21/2013)

  S.956—A bill to permanently suspend application of certain agricultural price support authority. (05/15/2013)

  S.911—Emergency Transportation Safety Fund Act (05/09/2013)

  S.887—A bill to repeal the violation of sovereign nations’ laws and privacy matters. (05/07/2013)

  S.890—Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2013 (05/07/2013)

  S.785—Federal Employee Accountability Act of 2013 (04/23/2013)

  S.732—A bill to modify the criteria used by the Corps of Engineers to dredge small ports. (04/16/2013)

  S.643—Bonuses for Cost-Cutters Act of 2013 (03/21/2013)

  S.619—Justice Safety Valve Act of 2013 (03/20/2013)

  S.583—A bill to implement equal protection under the fourteenth article of amendment to the Constitution for the right to life of each born and preborn human person. (03/14/2013)

  S.558—Accountability in Grants Act of 2013 (03/13/2013)

  S.530—A bill to make participation in the American Community Survey voluntary, except with respect to certain basic questions, and for other purposes. (03/12/2013)

  S.15—REINS Act (02/26/2013)

  S.209—Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2013 (02/04/2013)

  S.201—A bill to prohibit the sale, lease, transfer, retransfer, or delivery of F-16 aircraft, M1 tanks, or certain other defense articles or services to the Government of Egypt. (01/31/2013)

  S.204—A bill to preserve and protect the free choice of individual employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations, or to refrain from such activities. (01/31/2013)

  S.158—A bill for the relief of Dr. Shakil Afridi. (01/28/2013)

  S.164—A bill to prohibit the United States from providing financial assistance to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed. (01/28/2013)

  S.83—Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2013 (01/23/2013)

  S.81—Default Prevention Act (01/23/2013)

  S.82—Separation of Powers Restoration and Second Amendment Protection Act of 2013 (01/23/2013)

  S.3576—A bill to provide limitations on United States assistance, and for other purposes. (09/19/2012)

  S.3360—Read the Bills Act (06/28/2012)

  S.3361—Write the Laws Act (06/28/2012)

  S.3359—One Subject at a Time Act (06/28/2012)

  S.3337—Access to Physicians in Medicare Act of 2012 (06/25/2012)

  S.3303—A bill to require security screening of passengers at airports to be carried out by private screening companies, and for other purposes. (06/14/2012)

  S.3302—Air Travelers’ Bill of Rights Act of 2012 (06/14/2012)

  S.3287—Preserving Freedom from Unwarranted Surveillance Act of 2012 (06/12/2012)

  S.3269—A bill to provide that no United States assistance may be provided to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed. (06/06/2012)

  S.3260—A bill to provide that no United States assistance may be provided to Pakistan until Dr. Shakil Afridi is freed. (06/04/2012)

  S.3259—A bill for the relief of Dr. Shakil Afridi. (06/04/2012)

  S.3079—A bill to make participation in the American Community Survey voluntary, except with respect to certain basic questions, and for other purposes. (05/10/2012)

  S.2470—Service Members and Communities Count Act of 2012 (04/26/2012)

  S.2327—A bill to prohibit direct foreign assistance to the Government of Egypt until the President makes certain certifications related to treatment of nongovernmental organization workers, and for other purposes. (04/19/2012)

  S.2269—Anti-Trust Freedom Act of 2012 (03/29/2012)

  S.2226—A bill to prohibit the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency from awarding any grant, contract, cooperative agreement, or other financial assistance under section 103 of the Clean Air Act for any program, project, or activity carried out outside the United States, including the territories and possessions of the United States. (03/22/2012)

  S.2196—Congressional Health Care for Seniors Act of 2012 (03/15/2012)

  S.2122—Defense of Environment and Property Act of 2012 (02/16/2012)

  S.2085—Cost Savings Enhancements Act of 2012 (02/09/2012)

  S.2062—Freedom from Over-Criminalization and Unjust Seizures Act of 2012 (02/02/2012)

  S.1955—A bill to authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products that are packaged for direct human consumption. (12/07/2011)

  S.1927—A bill to modify the criteria used by the Corps of Engineers to dredge small ports. (11/30/2011)

  S.1800—Parental Consent Act of 2011 (11/03/2011)

  S.1648—Emergency Transportation Safety Fund Act (10/04/2011)

  S.1326—A bill to implement the President’s request to increase the statutory limit on the public debt. (07/05/2011)

  S.1070—Fourth Amendment Restoration Act (05/25/2011)

  S.1072—A bill to provide for a good faith exemption from suspicious activity reporting requirements, and for other purposes. (05/25/2011)

  S.1073—A bill to require the Attorney General to establish minimization and destruction procedures governing the acquisition, retention, and dissemination by the Federal Bureau of Investigation of certain records. (05/25/2011)

  S.1076—A bill to modify the roving wiretap authority of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. (05/25/2011)

  S.1077—A bill to require judicial review of Suspicious Activity Reports. (05/25/2011)

  S.1071—A bill to limit suspicious activity reporting requirements to requests from law enforcement agencies, and for other purposes. (05/25/2011)

  S.1074—A bill to remove the extension of the sunset date for section 215 of the USA PATRIOT Act. (05/25/2011)

  S.1075—A bill to provide judicial review of National Security Letters. (05/25/2011)

  S.1050—Fourth Amendment Restoration Act (05/23/2011)

  S.768—Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011 (04/07/2011)

  S.299—REINS Act (02/07/2011)

  S.202—Federal Reserve Transparency Act of 2011 (01/26/2011)

  In addition, Senator Rand Paul has cosponsored hundreds of bills, including these:
r />   S.877—Police CAMERA Act with Senator Brian Schatz (03/26/2015)

  S.683—CARERS Act with Senator Cory Booker and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (03/10/2015)

  S.2567—REDEEM Act (07/08/2014) with Senator Cory Booker

  S.1752—Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 (11/20/2013) with Senator Kirsten Gillibrand

  Notes

  Chapter 2: A Medical History

  1. http://www.newrepublic.com/article/politics/75252/paleo-wacko.

  Chapter 3: Health Care: A Doctor’s Opinion

  1. https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentReportDetails.aspx?cid=13878

  2. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/mar/26/nepalese-doctor-a-sight-for-sore-eyes/?page=all.

  3. http://www.berkeleyhealthtech.org/docs/Vol.3.2.Hospital-Markets.pdf.

  4. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/09/business/turning-surgery-into-a-commodity-laser-eye-centers-wage-an-all-out-price-war.html.

  5. http://www.nytimes.com/2000/12/09/business/turning-surgery-into-a-commodity-laser-eye-centers-wage-an-all-out-price-war.html.

  6. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/27/health/Ebola-Doctor-Shortage-Eases-as-Volunteers-Begin-to-Step-Forward.html.

  Chapter 4: Getting to Work

  1. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/art/special/Desks/hdetail.cfm?id=2.

  2. Details of the fight are disputed in other volumes. According to Cassius M. Clay’s own memoir he was stabbed in the side, for example.

  3. William H. Turner and Edward J. Cabbell, eds. Blacks in Appalachia (The University Press of Kentucky, November 30, 2009).

  4. David Gergen, Ronald Reagan, Eyewitness to Power (Simon & Schuster), p. 238.

  5. http://www.npr.org/2011/06/04/136930966/how-much-is-14-3-trillion-it-s-a-brain-teaser.

  6. http://www.thenation.com/blog/159989/rand-pauls-right-about-military-budget-going-have-be-cut.

  Chapter 5: A New Kind of Republican

  1. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/12/us/politics/12rostenkowski.html?pagewanted=all.