--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Bill of Rights existed long before…" description: "\"The Bill of Rights existed long before President Obama was elected, and as long as I’m a U.S. Senator, I will fight to protect the basic rights and lib..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/rand-paul-606_american-citizens_the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-p_672249.jpg" --- # The Bill of Rights existed long before President Obama was… ![“The Bill of Rights existed long before President Obama was elected, and as long as I’m a U.S. Senator, I will fight to protect the basic rights and liberties that belong to all of us as American citizens.” quote by Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/rand-paul-606_american-citizens_the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-p_672249.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/rand-paul-606_american-citizens_the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-p_672249.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/rand-paul-606_american-citizens_the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-p_672249.jpg) > “The Bill of Rights existed long before President Obama was elected, and as long as I’m a U.S. Senator, I will fight to protect the basic rights and liberties that belong to all of us as American citizens.” [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker asserts that fundamental freedoms predate any recent administration and pledges to defend them as a senator. **In simple terms:** Rights existed before Obama; I’ll protect them. Key Takeaway Defend constitutional freedoms. Themes politics rights government Mood determined defensive Type political advocacy When to use this quote - legislative debates - public policy discussions - citizen advocacy Key Concepts Constitutionalism civil liberties Questions to Reflect On - How can citizens hold senators accountable? - What safeguards ensure rights endure? A Different Perspective Rights can be contested by political shifts. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [American citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) [Basic rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basic-rights/) [Bill of rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bill-of-rights/) [Liberty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/liberty/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) ## Related quotes > [We can give our intelligence and law enforcement community the powers they need to track down and take out terrorists without undermining our commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/we-can-give-our-intelligence-and-law-enforcement-community-the-powers/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Liberal constitutional democracy is supposed to ensure that each citizen is free and equal and protected by basic rights and liberties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-rawls/liberal-constitutional-democracy-is-supposed-to-ensure-that-each/) [John Rawls](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-rawls/) > [The Framers of the Bill of Rights did not purport to 'create' rights. Rather, they designed the Bill of Rights to prohibit our Government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-framers-of-the-bill-of-rights-did-not-purport-to-create-rights/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Men speak of natural rights, but I challenge any one to show where in nature any rights existed or were recognized until there was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/men-speak-of-natural-rights-but-i-challenge-any-one-to-show-where-in/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [“It was nicer that way. knowing that something called rights existed. The right to health care, to good and to schooling for our children…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manlio-argueta/it-was-nicer-that-way-knowing-that-something-called-rights-existed/) [Manlio Argueta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manlio-argueta/) > [We seek the right to play our part in advancing the cause of national defense and national unity. But certainly, there can be no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-philip-randolph/we-seek-the-right-to-play-our-part-in-advancing-the-cause-of-national/) [A. Philip Randolph](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-philip-randolph/) > [As the interned American citizens of Japanese descent learned, the Bill of Rights provided them with little protection when it was needed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenn-reynolds/as-the-interned-american-citizens-of-japanese-descent-learned-the/) [Glenn Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenn-reynolds/) > [If gay Americans are not allowed to get married and have all the benefits that American citizens are entitled to by the Bill of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeanne-phillips/if-gay-americans-are-not-allowed-to-get-married-and-have-all-the/) [Jeanne Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeanne-phillips/) > [Who gets to decide who's an enemy combatant and who's an American citizen? Are we really so frightened and so easily frightened that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/who-gets-to-decide-who-s-an-enemy-combatant-and-who-s-an-american/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [You don't know who the next group is that's unpopular. The Bill of Rights isn't for the prom queen. The bill of rights isn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/you-don-t-know-who-the-next-group-is-that-s-unpopular-the-bill-of/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [Nobody ever was fired for 9/11. Instead of firing the people who didn't do a good job, we gave them medals. The guy who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/nobody-ever-was-fired-for-9-11-instead-of-firing-the-people-who-didn/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I want to collect more records from terrorists, but less records from innocent Americans. The Fourth Amendment was what we fought the Revolution over!…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-want-to-collect-more-records-from-terrorists-but-less-records-from/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The callous use of general warrants and the disregard for the Bill of Rights must end. Forcing us to choose between our rights and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-callous-use-of-general-warrants-and-the-disregard-for-the-bill-of/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [The Supreme Court is the last line of defense for the separation of powers and for the rights and liberties guaranteed by the Constitution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-kavanaugh/the-supreme-court-is-the-last-line-of-defense-for-the-separation-of/) [Brett Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-kavanaugh/) > [FREEDOM CANNOT BE LICENSED, liberties cannot be regulated and rights cannot be granted. History teaches us that when the rights and liberties of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-kubby/freedom-cannot-be-licensed-liberties-cannot-be-regulated-and-rights/) Steve Kubby ## More by Rand Paul > [I have a question, a question for the president: Do you hate all rich people, or just rich people who don't contribute to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-have-a-question-a-question-for-the-president-do-you-hate-all-rich/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I am encouraged President Obama now says he will fulfill his constitutional obligation to seek authorization for any potential military action in Syria. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-am-encouraged-president-obama-now-says-he-will-fulfill-his/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can tell you who's planning terroris attacks. The leaders of ISIL. And I can tell you where they're at. They're in Raqqa, Syria.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-tell-you-who-s-planning-terroris-attacks-the-leaders-of-isil/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [There comes a time, in the history of Nations when fear and forgetfulness cause a nation to hesitate, to waver and perhaps even to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/there-comes-a-time-in-the-history-of-nations-when-fear-and/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [As long as I sit at Henry Clay's desk, I will remember his lifelong desire to forge agreement, but I will also keep close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/as-long-as-i-sit-at-henry-clay-s-desk-i-will-remember-his-lifelong/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I believe people ought to be treated fairly under the law. I see no reason why if the marriage contract conveys certain things that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-believe-people-ought-to-be-treated-fairly-under-the-law-i-see-no/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-that-most-importantly-when-i-see-issues-of-war-i-see-them-in/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would have handled it differently than the mayor of Baltimore, that's for sure. I think it's a mistake to say, hey, guys, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-have-handled-it-differently-than-the-mayor-of-baltimore-that/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We have to think before we act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-have-to-think-before-we-act/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I would introduce and support legislation to send Roe v. Wade back to the states.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-would-introduce-and-support-legislation-to-send-roe-v-wade-back-to/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [President Obama, I think, wanted what was best for the country, but I think it didn't work well. I think we have the death…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/president-obama-i-think-wanted-what-was-best-for-the-country-but-i/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I think it's a mistake to downgrade and say surveillance is no big deal. It is a huge deal that we are collecting millions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-think-it-s-a-mistake-to-downgrade-and-say-surveillance-is-no-big/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We need a revival in the country,” Paul said. “We need another Great Awakening with tent revivals of thousands of people saying, 'reform or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-need-a-revival-in-the-country-paul-said-we-need-another-great/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [We do not project power from bankruptcy court. We're borrowing a million dollars a minute.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/we-do-not-project-power-from-bankruptcy-court-we-re-borrowing-a/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) > [I can use most of the tools that every American teenager can master. Maybe not all of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/i-can-use-most-of-the-tools-that-every-american-teenager-can-master/) [Rand Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) [Explore all 449 Rand Paul quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/) ## More American citizens quotes > [Let us at all times remember that all American citizens are brothers of a common country, and should dwell together in bonds of fraternal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/let-us-at-all-times-remember-that-all-american-citizens-are-brothers/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [Think about it: we went into slavery pagans; we came out Christians. We went into slavery pieces of property; we came out American citizens.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booker-t-washington/think-about-it-we-went-into-slavery-pagans-we-came-out-christians-we/) [Booker T. Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booker-t-washington/) > [I want to say unequivocally that while I cherish every person who comes from anywhere, who comes here legally and seeks to pursue happiness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/newt-gingrich/i-want-to-say-unequivocally-that-while-i-cherish-every-person-who/) [Newt Gingrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/newt-gingrich/) > [There's been a systematic propagandizing of American citizens for 30 years to make us forget what America is supposed to be and what our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-wolf/there-s-been-a-systematic-propagandizing-of-american-citizens-for-30/) [Naomi Wolf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-wolf/) > [We have a bunch of American citizens who step up because that's what we do. We'll step up and go across the world to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-reed/we-have-a-bunch-of-american-citizens-who-step-up-because-that-s-what/) [Ed Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-reed/) > [Having spent 37 years of my life in the military as a reservist, and never having met a gay in all of that time,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-goldwater/having-spent-37-years-of-my-life-in-the-military-as-a-reservist-and/) [Barry Goldwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-goldwater/) > [“I am a citizen of this country,” I declare, “and Mr. Mayor, tonight I will be a citizen of this city when I put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-ash/i-am-a-citizen-of-this-country-i-declare-and-mr-mayor-tonight-i-will/) [Jerry Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-ash/) > [Think of the undying glory that hangs around the ancient name of Africa and forget not that you are native-born American citizens, and as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-highland-garnet/think-of-the-undying-glory-that-hangs-around-the-ancient-name-of/) [Henry Highland Garnet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-highland-garnet/) > [A large portion of American citizens, especially people of color, have lost confidence in our criminal justice system. Many have called for appointing special…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/a-large-portion-of-american-citizens-especially-people-of-color-have/) [Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/) > [Our Navy was very largely sunk. And we were at war in no time at all. I share, in retrospect, the distress we all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-a-rusher/our-navy-was-very-largely-sunk-and-we-were-at-war-in-no-time-at-all-i/) [William A. Rusher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-a-rusher/) > [As long as my record stands in federal court, any American citizen can be held in prison or concentration camps without trial or hearing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-korematsu/as-long-as-my-record-stands-in-federal-court-any-american-citizen-can/) [Fred Korematsu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-korematsu/) > [“It may sound reactionary, I know. But we can all feel it. We've changed the way we think of ourselves as citizens. We don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-foster-wallace/it-may-sound-reactionary-i-know-but-we-can-all-feel-it-we-ve-changed/) [David Foster Wallace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-foster-wallace/) > [So after a long time of utilizing the American propaganda machine, along with official statements of lies, distortion and falsehood, the focus was basically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naji-sabri/so-after-a-long-time-of-utilizing-the-american-propaganda-machine/) [Naji Sabri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naji-sabri/) > [You are an American, so you're hurt that other American citizens have been hurt, but you end up having to shoulder the shame for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/you-are-an-american-so-you-re-hurt-that-other-american-citizens-have/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Now, how do you explain Obama's claim, that he can kill American citizens without due process? Well, he has his attorney general get up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-mcgovern/now-how-do-you-explain-obama-s-claim-that-he-can-kill-american/) [Ray McGovern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-mcgovern/) [Browse all 242 American citizens quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/american-citizens/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Bill of Rights existed long before President Obama was elected, and as long as I’m a U.S. Senator, I will fight to protect the basic rights and liberties that belong to all of us as American citizens.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rand Paul" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-president-obama-was-elected/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "American citizens" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-president-obama-was-elected/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/rand-paul-606_american-citizens_the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-p_672249.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/rand-paul-606_american-citizens_the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-p_672249.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/61d/rand-paul-606_american-citizens_the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-p_672249.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The Bill of Rights existed long before President Obama was elected, and as long as I’m a U.S. Senator, I…” — Rand Paul", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Rand Paul", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rand-paul/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The Bill of Rights existed long...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-president-obama-was-elected/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rand-paul/the-bill-of-rights-existed-long-before-president-obama-was-elected/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```