Both parties (and candidates) reach for center on abortion debate

[onehandle]

Source: AP

ASPEN, Colo. - As Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain compete for centrist voters in their presidential race, both parties have made intriguing nods to the political center on the emotional issue of abortion.

McCain startled conservatives this week, and pleased some moderates, by suggesting he might pick a running mate who supports abortion rights, such as former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge.

Democrats, meanwhile, had it both ways in revising their party platform ahead of this month's nominating convention in Denver. Platform-writers said the party "unequivocally" supports legalized abortion, a stronger phrase than the 2004 platform contained.

But they also bolstered the section on reducing the need for abortions. The version awaiting approval in Denver says the party "strongly supports access to comprehensive affordable family planning services and age-appropriate sex education." It says the party "strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre- and postnatal health care, parenting skills, income support and caring adoption programs."

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080816/ap_on_el_pr/candidates_abortion

[Skinner]

1. Not really sure how this qualifies as "reaching for the center":

But they also bolstered the section on reducing the need for abortions. The version awaiting approval in Denver says the party "strongly supports access to comprehensive affordable family planning services and age-appropriate sex education." It says the party "strongly supports a woman's decision to have a child by ensuring access to and availability of programs for pre- and postnatal health care, parenting skills, income support and caring adoption programs."

To me, those all seem like solidly progressive stands. :shrug:

[onehandle]

2. I suppose as opposed to Bush's so-called "hard-right" stance.

Which itself is total bullshit. Bush and his Supreme Court could make all abortions illegal virtually overnight.

But he doesn't, because politics trumps his fundy sheeps' beliefs.

As the article says, "polls consistently show that most Americans strongly dislike abortion but do not want it outlawed in the early stages of pregnancy."

That's the center that decides elections.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. Very progressive stands

and the only ones that really make sense. What gets me is that the so-called "right to life" folks frown on teaching realistic sex education and want to ban birth control.

[PSPS]

4. That's because the hard right isn't interested in controlling abortion so much ...

... as they're interested in just plain "control." The abortion thing is the most obvious manifestation of the misogyny.

[harmonicon]

8. it's to the center of what the right-wing media would tell you the Democratic position is

that being: abortions for all!! no babies!! kill, kill, kill!!!! If someone doesn't want an abortion, strap them down and rip that phoetus out with chain saw while the woman is 8 months preggers!!!! RAGGHHHRRRRR!!!!!

[ensho]

5. there is no middle! it is either pro choice or forced pregnancies

how do you get a middle out of that? pro choice cannot be trimmed and still be pro choice.


no trimming!

[w4rma]

6. Did you even read the article or just react to the headline? (nt)

[IndianaGreen]

7. To Lenin there was not middle ground, women had an absolute right to abortion!

Lenin saw social equality for women as a fundamental priority of Socialism, and that the proletariat revolution was "clearing away more prejudices than could volumes of feminist literature" (Clara Zetkin: Lenin on the Women’s Question).

Prior to the October Revolution, Russian women were treated as chattel, their role limited to that of baby factories. In 1920, Lenin repealed all the tsarist abortion laws, giving Soviet women full control over their bodies. We can say that Soviet women enjoyed more rights in 1920 than American women do in 2008!

As to this troubling relationship between political candidates, religion, and religious leaders that seems to be infecting the public discourse, Lenin condemned it in his essay Socialism and Religion:

We demand that religion be held a private affair so far as the state is concerned. But by no means can we consider religion a private affair so far as our Party is concerned. Religion must be of no concern to the state, and religious societies must have no connection with governmental authority.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/lenin/works/1905/dec/03.htm

[still_one]

9. mccain has already said he would choose judges like scalia and thomas

mccain supported the South Dakota abortion bill, which would have made abortion illegal, EVEN in the case of rape, incest, and if the life of the Mother was at stake

Look at his voting record any idiots considering voting for mccain, you will get bush on steroids