U.S. Rep Ron Paul of Texas took the Iowa GOP Straw Poll stage Saturday saying his presidential campaign has become synonymous with the word liberty.

While he doesn't believe in big government, Paul told the audience that he is pro-life.

“I believe in a limited role of government and protecting liberty, and also protecting life, and I mean all life,” Paul said to roars from the crowd.

Paul, a doctor, explained how he came to his pro-life belief.

He said while attending medical school he watched as a crying baby was removed from its mother's womb and left to die in a garbage can. Medical staff pretended not to hear it, he said. In the next room doctors rushed to save a premature baby about the same age.

"All life is precious,” he said.

Paul also talked about ending the wars overseas and returning American military personnel to the United States as a way to boost national security and the economy. He said it's time the country stopped worrying about Afghanistan's and Pakistan's borders and he would bring the troops back home to protect America's borders.

"They'll come home and spend their money at home. We need a boost in the economy,” he said.