Kerry Open to OK Anti-Abortion Judges

[CTLawGuy]

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040519/D82LTSIG0.html

Kerry Open to OK Anti-Abortion Judges


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May 19, 6:23 PM (ET)

By RON FOURNIER


WASHINGTON (AP) - Democrat John Kerry said Wednesday he's open to nominating anti-abortion judges as long as that doesn't lead to the Supreme Court overturning the landmark 1973 ruling that made abortion legal.

Kerry, the presumptive nominee of a party that overwhelmingly favors a woman's right to abortion, struck a moderate note as he lashed out at one of the high court's most conservative justices, telling The Associated Press he regrets his 1986 vote to confirm Antonin Scalia.

"If you're looking for me to admit that I made a mistake in my years in the Senate, there you go - there's one," said the four-term Massachusetts senator.

In an hourlong interview with AP reporters and editors, Kerry covered a range of issues, from the economy, gun rights and his differences with President Bush to Mideast violence and the mounting death toll in Iraq.

(snip)
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Well, Bill Frist & Co. will only confirm anti-abortion judges, so how can we be sure Kerry will bother to fight for pro-choice judges? This opinion is based on the information in the article.

Is this some new "electability" strategy?

[David Dunham]

1. Clinton and Carter took the exact same position.

[fearnobush]

2. There are pro-life Dem's who would not agree to a reversal of R -v- W

I would not be too scared.

[forgethell]

3. There is a lot

of enthusiasm for Kerry. but the man is making desperate moves. First, the McCain VP thingee, now what I can only describe as a disastrous retreat on a Democratic core-value.

But I am not really concerned with the abandonment of principals, so much. I don't really expect any politician to keep his promises anyway, and compromises are a necessary evil in politics. What I am concerned about is this: Why, with most polls showing him neck and neck, or slightly ahead of *, does he feel it necessary to alienate his base?

[CTLawGuy]

5. I seriously believe he is

embarassed by the base. When he was asked at a debate whether he was liberal, he loudly denied it.

[mac56]

20. When?

Got a source for that?

I've read comments he's made that are quite positive about being referred to as liberal.

You have to do better than that.

[CTLawGuy]

22. It was in that pre-super tuesday debate with John Edwards

and I highly doubt that he's positive about being referred to as liberal, The DLC would have a shit-fit if he did.

[ikojo]

23. During the Feb 24, 2004 debate held in NYC when there were

still a few Dem candidates (Edwards, Mosely-Braun, Sharpton, Kucinich) Kerry was asked whether he was a liberal. He hemmed and hawed and then went on about how he did not like labels. He then attempted to claim he was conservative because he believed in fiscal responsibility unlike George W and the Republicans.

Kucinich said he was proud to call himself a liberal.

I know it goes against DU's copyright policy to post more than four paragpraphs but I hope they leave all of this here because it is germaine to the discussion of whether Kerry has disavowed being a liberal. From the LONG response below, I believe he is distancing himself as much as possible from the word liberal and as near as possible to the word conservative.

I would have hoped the Dems learned from the mistakes made in 2002 when they tried to position themselves even more as Republican lite and still did not regain the house nor the Senate.

Oh well. There is an article in today's NYT about how the conservatives have won the argument because for the last 40 years, even when they were at their lowest point following the impeachment and resignation of Nixon, they stayed on message. The Dems or "liberals' on the other hand have been more reactive during the past 40 years.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2004/02/24/politics/main601974.shtml

BUMILLER: Can I just change the topic for a minute, just ask a plain political question?

The National Journal, a respected, nonideologic publication covering Congress, as you both know, has just rated you, Senator Kerry, number one, the most liberal senator in the Senate.

You're number four.

How can you hope to win with this kind of characterization, in this climate?

KERRY: Because it's a laughable characterization. It's absolutely the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in my life.
KERRY: ... to the characterization. I mean, look, labels are so silly in American politics.

I was one of the first Democrats in the United States Senate in 1985 to join with Fritz Hollings in deficit reduction. Now, does that make me a conservative?

I fought to put 100,000 police officers on the streets of America. Am I a conservative?

BUMILLER: But, Senator Kerry, the question is...

KERRY: I know. You don't let us finish answering questions.

BUMILLER: You're in New York.

(LAUGHTER)

KERRY: Well, I'm going to fight for it. And that's exactly what I'm going to do, I'm going to fight for it.

BUMILLER: All right.

KERRY: Do you know what they measured in that? First of all, they measured 62 votes. I voted 37 times; 25 votes they didn't even count because I wasn't there to vote for them.

Secondly, secondly, they counted my voting against the Medicare bill, which is a terrible bill for seniors in America, they called that being liberal. Lots of conservatives voted against that.

In addition, they counted my voting against George Bush's tax cut that we can't afford. I thought it was fiscally conservative to vote against George Bush's tax cut. They call it liberal.

[CTLawGuy]

28. wow!

great post! thanks! :hi:

[Tina H]

4. De-politicizing the judicial appointment process

between this and advocating health care reform, I am finally beginning to warm up to the candidate. Following in Carter's footsteps is a great strategy (on just about any issue)!

Reminds me of the Scary Go Round comic: "What would Jimmy Carter do?"

[CTLawGuy]

6. The Republicans are not

de-politicizing the process. They will take great advantage of this. Jimmy Carter had a Democratic Senate to work with when he took that position. Kerry would be dealing with radical Republicans.

[Tina H]

10. yeah

unilateral disarmament is always a tough proposition. I can understand having trepidation here. Still, I think Candidate Kerry is on the right track here.

There is plenty of room for compromise in the interstitial law and implememtation even if one takes Roe v. Wade as written in stone (as I do and as Candidate Kerry does, too).

[mzmolly]

7. This is key.

Democrat John Kerry said Wednesday he's open to nominating anti-abortion judges as long as that doesn't lead to the Supreme Court overturning the landmark 1973 ruling that made abortion legal.

...

"Elizabeth Cavendish, interim president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, said, "there's a huge difference between Bush and Kerry on choice and this is not going to undermine the pages-long documentation that Kerry is pro-choice."

There are many people who personally are anti-choice, but believe in legal abortion.

[CTLawGuy]

9. that is small comfort to me...

If a person wants to allow women the choice, they are PRO-CHOICE, no matter how they personally feel about abortion. For Kerry to appoint someone who is NOT pro-choice is a problem.

kerry should know what pro-choice means. Why is he talking about appointing anti-choice people then?

[mzmolly]

15. I agree, but the spin on this by the media should be taken into

consideration.

Remember when they spun the fact that Dean said he wouldn't have a "litmus test." It's the same thing darboy.

I agree with Gloria Feldt ultimately.

His comments on judicial nominations drew a concerned response from the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, with president Gloria Feldt saying, "I'd like to hear him use language that is stronger."

I am certain Kerry will clarify that he will nominate judges that will uphold Roe V. Wade.

[CTLawGuy]

18. my point is

why say anything at all? Nobody is worried about pro-choice judges who don't personally like abortion. I don't think many people actually LIKE abortion, but they wouldn't deny someone else the choice.

Why is Kerry remarking about this? Is he really talking about anti-choice judges?

[mzmolly]

21. I believe he was asked a question on the matter.

"Would you rule out judges who were opposed to abortion?"

[xultar]

11. But he cannot guarantee a 2nd term nor

the next president's stance.

[bleedingheart]

13. He can't guarantee that Roe won't be overturned if he commits

to an anti-abortion judge...and this pisses me off because women's issues always get thrown overboard when candidates want to gain points with the religious nebnoses...

[IggleDoer]

8. The essence of liberalism ...

is to consider ALL sides of an issue and ALL aspects of a person. To rule out anyone, who otherwise makes sound decisions, because of one issue would not be liberal thinking.

[lastknowngood]

12. Well let's be serious Kerry is an ass to even say such a thing

I swear he is doing everything he can do to lose this election and he will likely succeed.

[mzmolly]

17. I agree, I dont understand what he's trying to accomplish sometimes?

:shrug:

[bluestateguy]

14. He just gave the Naderities something to bitch about

Mind you, I'm not troubled. One or two District level judgeships to the pro-lifers isn't going to kill anyone. Bill Clinton appointed a pro-life federal judge in Wyoming, William Downes, over the opposition of pro-choice groups.

[mzmolly]

16. I agree.

"He just gave the Naderities something to bitch about"

But for those that supported Dean we need to remember that Dean said "he wouldn't have a litmus test." It's the same statement essentially.

Both Dean and Kerry would protect a womans right to choose. That's the bottom line.

[Tina H]

19. from my GOOGLE research

it appears that Nader's position is that the possibility of Roe v. Wade being overturned is a scare tactic because overturning R v. W decision would merely lead to having the abortion issue decided by democratic process at the state level.

You can agree or disagree with this plank of Nader's platform (I disagree), but it seems unfair to say that Kerry is playing into Nader's hands on this one. They seem more like they are on the same page (for once).

[0rganism]

24. Oh please, like Nader troubles himself with "gonadal politics"

That's what he calls it, so I don't imagine his followers will be raising much of a fuss.

[demgrrrll]

25. Please take a look at Kerry's web site regarding his stand

on the right to choose. The statement is very clear
cut. {httt://www.johnkerry.com] womans issues. The statement
reads that he will only support pro choice appointments to
the SC. Unless someone can point out how Roe v Wade would
otherwise be overturned I think I can live with that promise.

[CTLawGuy]

29. Im sure Kerry is extremely pro-choice

he also did not want to go to war in Iraq either, however he enabled it by voting for the resolution and not lifting a finger to stop the actual war. I believe he did this to avoid the "weak-on-defense-Massachusetts-liberal" label.

What Kerry says and what he does can be two different things.

[goforit]

26. Sounds like we have two Bushes running for office Abortion/War/Israel!!

I thought Skull n Boners were close ......
but not incestual!!!

I was wrong!!!!

[leesa]

27. I do not like this man. Which is just what the media that picked him for

us is hoping. Second verse, same as the first....and round and round it goes with no choice in our leadership.

[Chicago Democrat]

30. Kerry is a dork

but hes our dork

[Moderator]

31. Duplicate

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x566882