Paul is a die-hard libertarian, who won't vote for any bill before the House - no matter how worthy it may seem - if he can't find a specific provision in the U.S. Constitution that empowers Congress to do what the bill proposes. G-d bless Ron Paul, but not quite. Set your wayback machine to April 5, 2000, when the house was voting on HR 3660, To amend title 18, United States Code, to ban partial-birth abortions.
Mr. Paul voted, you guessed it, for passage. This bill attempts to allege federal subject matter jurisdiction using the following language:
Any physician who, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly performs a partial-birth abortion and thereby kills a human fetus shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 2 years, or both.
Performing an abortion in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce? PUH-leeze, Mr. Paul.
What is wrong with Dr. Paul voting for this legislation? It has the condition of affecing interstate commerce which the Congress has lawful authority to regulate. If a particular "abortion" (murder) does not affect interstate commerce then this piece of legislation would not apply to the case. It would have been hypocritical for Dr. Paul to have voted for the same legislation which did NOT have this condition attached to it.