Speeches to Conservative Political Action Conference, Feb. 26-27, 2015

Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY., won this year's Conservative Political Action Conference straw poll. His father Ron Paul won the CPAC straw vote in two previous years; and Rand also won in 2013.

Their speech excerpts and others below....

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Civil Rights     Ben Carson: Don't let the PC police label conservatives as extremists.     Carly Fiorina: I don't just Tweet about equal pay; I lead on pay standards.

Crime     Rand Paul: Defend the whole Bill of Rights, including speedy trials.     Rand Paul: Defend the 4th & 5th Amendments against Big Government.

Drugs     Ted Cruz: 2014: federal enforcement; 2015: let states experiment.     Ted Cruz: I disagree with states legalizing pot, but it's their right.     Rand Paul: End hypocrisy and over-criminalization of marijuana.     Scott Walker: Opposes Colorado's legalization of marijuana.     Ted Cruz: Let states be laboratories of democracy on marijuana.

Education     Carly Fiorina: Make sure that every parent has a choice.     Jeb Bush: Federal government should create choices, not standards.     Donald Trump: Opposes Common Core.     Jeb Bush: Common Core is not a federal takeover.     Ben Carson: Private schooling better than Common Core public schooling.

Energy & Oil     Tom Steyer: CPAC panel discussion: "What Tom Steyer Won't Tell You".

Environment     Bill Flores: Attack EPA ozone standards and power plant caps.

Foreign Policy     Carly Fiorina: I know the leaders of the Mideast; Obama & Hillary do not.     Marco Rubio: I have a clear strategic vision of America's role in world.     Marco Rubio: Obama has no ISIS policy to avoid upsetting Iran.     Rick Perry: Our allies doubt us and our adversaries test us.     Ben Carson: Don't just sit around waiting to see what other people do.     Carly Fiorina: Advised CIA on Russian affairs after 2007.

Government Reform     Carly Fiorina: Hillary shouldn't accept foreign money in her PAC.

Health Care     Ben Carson: Obamacare is about restriction and control.     Sarah Palin: Vouchers for veterans' health care outside the VA system.     Ted Cruz: Washington wants ObamaCare, the people want liberty.

Homeland Security     Ben Carson: Shia-led Iran is more dangerous than ISIL.     Gary Johnson: Government transparency on 9/11 secret reports.     Mike Pence: The time has come to dramatically increase defense spending.     Rand Paul: National defense should be unencumbered by nation building.     Sarah Palin: Let veterans apply skills to skip state certification.     Rand Paul: Kids are concerned with privacy & the surveillance state.     Sarah Palin: Dozens of veterans per day commit suicide; VA should help.     Scott Walker: Build up U.S. military to take out ISIS entirely.     Scott Walker: Ensure against radical Islamic terrorism on American soil.

Immigration     Donald Trump: We need strong borders; we need a wall.     Jeb Bush: There is no plan to deport 11 million people.     Marco Rubio: Deal with border & future immigrants BEFORE any amnesty.     Scott Walker: No amnesty; close the back door & enforce the law.

Jobs     Scott Walker: Right-to-work rules stand up for the hardworking taxpayers.

Principles & Values     Sharron Angle: Hosts Conservative Commandos: "Believe in the Constitution".     Chris Christie: Sometimes must tell constituents to sit down & shut up.     Ted Cruz: I'm despised by GOP establishment, but so was Reagan.     Carly Fiorina: Started "Unlock Your Potential PAC" in 2014.

Tax Reform     Rand Paul: Balanced budget and a simple, fair tax system.     Ted Cruz: Abolish the IRS.

War & Peace     Ben Carson: Untie the military's hands; let them destroy ISIS.     Donald Trump: Hit ISIS hard and fast.     Marco Rubio: ISIS plan: US air support for Sunni forces on the ground.     Rick Perry: ISIS is the biggest threat since communism.     Sarah Palin: Yes, we can kill our way to victory in the Mideast.     Joni Ernst: Cohesive and strong strategy to confront threats.

Welfare & Poverty     Ben Carson: Get rid of dependency; that's true compassion.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Ben Carson HUD Secretary Bill Flores Republican U.S. Rep Texas-17 Carly Fiorina California V.P. nominee toTed Cruz Chris Christie New Jersey N.J. Governor; Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump Republican Presidential incumbent Gary Johnson New Mexico Libertarian Gubernatorial Challenger Jeb Bush Florida Former FL Governor; Republican Presidential candidate Joni Ernst Republican Challenger Iowa Marco Rubio FL Senator; Republican Presidential candidate Mike Pence Indiana Republican Vice President Rand Paul Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Rick Perry Texas Secretary of Energy Sarah Palin Alaska Former Governor (resigned 2009); V.P. nominee (2008) Scott Walker Wisconsin WI Governor; Republican Presidential candidate Sharron Angle Republican Senate Challenger Nevada Ted Cruz Republican 2016 Primary Challenger Tom Steyer Possible Democratic candidate for President from California