Rand Paul Lincoln Day Dinner: 5 Ways He Upheld Lincoln's Memory

Rand Paul was the keynote speaker at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner in Cedar Rapids, Iowa on Friday. Paul is being primed for a 2016 GOP Presidential run. He upheld the memory of Honest Abe in five distinctive ways.

1. Openness

Rand Paul comes across as a very open person. There's a transparency in him and in what he says. He said, very candidly, "We're an increasingly diverse nation and I think we need to reach out to people who don't look like us, that don't wear the same clothes, that aren't exactly who we are."

Honest Abe was a picture of openness and transparency. Paul appears to have the same candor and accessibility.

2. Accountability

Paul acknowledged the government's monumental failures both foreign and abroad. He brings to the table a forthright approach to these problems. But while he did all this, he really hit home with government accountability. He said unequivocally that Hillary Clinton's Benghazi handling, "was inexcusable. It was a dereliction of duty, and it should preclude her from holding higher office." Thus, he is holding the administration accountable, as well as himself.

3. Strong Leadership

Paul is an orator. He proved that during his epic filibuster. He can captivate a crowd. He was able to level with the smaller crowd at the dinner just as he would with a crowd in a stadium. Again, his target was Clinton. He made mention of the fact that Clinton said she did not have the time to read all her cables, demonstrating a weakness in leadership and initiative. Paul said, "But I would expect you from one of the five most dangerous countries in the world, to be reading the cables." A leader has no excuses.

4. A Man With Traditional, Honest Values

"Honest Abe" got his name when he was a young man working at a country store. He realized he had taken more cents from a customer than he should have, and tracked down the customer and gave them what he owed them. He was a man of conviction, holding to the simple values of honesty and decency. Paul is a man who wants to right wrongs, to uphold traditional values, but also appeal to a broader base. He has designs on reforming the immigration system. Basically, it boils down to doing right by people. This includes all people, from all walks of life.

5. Admitting Wrongs and Righting Them

At the Lincoln's Day Dinner, Paul recited a lengthy list of government woes. From spending excesses to the sequester, his list was long. He wants reform. Obviously, Benghazi was a main talking point for him over the course of his speech. But so was problems within the GOP itself. He said, "I think we as a party need to grow bigger. We need to attract the Latino vote. We have to attract the African American vote." Had Abe Lincoln lived today, he would not believe the issues plaguing this nation. But Rand Paul did "Honest Abe" right in his speech, proving he could potentially be our future president.