McCain tripped up (again) on abortion-rights inconsistencies

[babylonsister]

McCain tripped up (again) on abortion-rights inconsistencies
Posted May 10th, 2008 at 1:15 pm



Shortly before the Republican South Carolina primary in 2000, John McCain and George W. Bush got into a rather heated exchange at a debate over abortion and the GOP platform. McCain caught Bush in an uncomfortable contradiction — the then-Texas governor opposed abortion rights, supported an exception for rape, incest, and a woman’s health, but embraced a Republican platform that made no exceptions.

2000 McCain hammered Bush for running on a platform he didn’t agree with. 2008 McCain seems to have found himself in the exact same predicament.

As recently as last year, McCain reiterated his long-held position that the Republican platform should be altered to make exceptions to a national ban on abortion. This year, under pressure from far-right activists, McCain is prepared to give up on his commitment.

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., faces enormous pressure from social conservatives to ignore his repeated commitment to change the GOP’s platform on abortion.

“If he were to change the party platform,” to account for exceptions such as rape, incest or risk to the mother’s life, “I think that would be political suicide,” said Tony Perkins, the president of the conservative Family Research Council, to ABC News. “I think he would be aborting his own campaign because that is such a critical issue to so many Republican voters and the Republican brand is already in trouble.”

A senior Republican close to McCain told ABC News that building a more inclusive GOP is a top priority for the Arizona senator. But this adviser does not see changing the party platform to include exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother as necessary for achieving that vision.

In other words, he’s doing exactly what he excoriated Bush for doing eight years ago.


more...

http://www.thecarpetbaggerreport.com/archives/15500.html#more-15500

[galaxy21]

1. Rudy was pro choice and it wasn't THAT bad for him

[babylonsister]

2. I don't get what you mean; at issue is McCain's weathervaning. nt

[opihimoimoi]

3. How exidient of him.....McCane is a flip flopper and will say anything to cover his inadequencies