3 Facts: Which Candidate Is Pro-Life? (A Brief Email To Share)

[ihavenobias]

(Now that some people are ramping up the attacks on Obama with regard to abortion, we really need to frame the issue properly. I know I could've added a lot more to the template below, but it's hard to get into detail regarding health care, civilian death in Iraq and other issues without making a short essay that most people simply won't read. As always, feel free to edit and add on, and most importantly, SHARE!)

The old argument suggests that since many Republicans want to ban abortion and or place strict limits on sex education and birth control they are "pro-life". But do the facts support this idea?

Here are 2 things to consider when deciding which candidate is actually "pro-life":

1)-Abstinence Only programs have been proven to be ineffective at reducing pregnancy, the number of sexual partners and rates of STD transmission: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/13/AR2007041301003.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Despite this fact, McCain is still behind Abstinence Only: http://www.cbn.com/CBNnews/164102.aspx

2)-Birth control is incredibly effective at reducing the rate of unintended pregnancy:
http://www.fda.gov/Fdac/features/1997/conceptbl.html

Consider this stunning fact: "...only 11% of sexually active women don't use contraception and from this 11% comes 50% of the nation's abortions": http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cristina-page/obama-the-real-pro-life-c_b_106510.html

And McCain has an extreme position on birth control:
http://www.prochoiceamerica.org/elections/election-pr/06062008_mccainbc.html

http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/03/16/mccain-stumbles-on-hiv-prevention/

3)-"Countries where abortion is most rare have the strongest pro-choice policies...

The countries with the strongest "pro-life" policies are the ones with the highest abortion rates, often twice our national average. These are the nations that have implemented what our "pro-life" movement strives to: banning abortion, making contraception hard to come by, and preaching abstinence-only to teens..." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cristina-page/obama-the-real-pro-life-c_b_106510.html


Conclusion: No matter how you define "pro-life", the fact of the matter is that the policies supported by Obama and the Democratic Party will reduce the number of unintended pregnancies while the policies of McCain and the Republicans will actually increase them.

More unintended pregnancy means more abortion, period.

PS---Did you get an email that raised some doubts about Obama? So did I. Click here for the truth: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x6410712

Also, if you care about the economy and taxes and would like to know how you would be effected by an Obama or McCain presidency, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH7r1bYIBTE

[nxylas]

1. And that's without even including the other elements of a pro-life philosophy

Such as...ohhhh, say, not going to war for the next hundred years!

[ihavenobias]

7. Initially I made that one of my main points but later deleted it

In fact, I deleted quite a bit for the sake of brevity and clarity of message.

The bottom line with many people is that they think Dems are "baby killers" but that the war is a necessary evil (even if they don't like the war they often think it's not a life issue on par with abortion).

And again, same with Repubs fighting against S-chip, fair wages and on and on and on. Those points are all incredibly relevant, but would also require a short essay to explain. Unfortunately that means the people who need the information most would be the least likely to read it.

[gateley]

2. I think a very important fact you cite (which I didn't know,

but makes sense) is that countries where abortion is most rare have the strong pro-choice policies.

If people TRULY want to reduce the number of abortions rather than just being on their moral high horse, they would do well to consider this fact.

Thanks for the info -- I'll put it to good use!!

[ihavenobias]

9. Yeah, I think the third point wraps up the first two

I mean, the bottom line is that everyone wants to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies (and by extension, the number of abortions).

While I agree with the choice argument, it's obvious to me that it just doesn't resonate with a good number of Americans. I'm not saying scrap the choice, I'm just saying we need to expand the argument and try different facts and framing depending on the audience.

[unapatriciated]

34. The reason pro choice works is it not only offers choice...

it also offers education on birth control, something the abstinence program will never be able to do. Their only solution is to just say no, which is unrealistic.

This is a criticisms I have had of my church for a long time. If they want to limit abortion then they need to educate on birth control.

One of many reasons I have become a "Non-practicing Catholic".

The reason the choice argument doesn't resonate with Americans is because the majority are still very puritanical when it comes to discussing sex with their children.

[CherylK]

3. K & R!!! Thank you so much for doing these!

I really love them! You keep things simple and to the point and I will be sending this out ASAP!

[OhioChick]

4. K&R

:kick:

[grantcart]

5. Al Franken used to have a guest on that was a world expert on this

and she was able to show that places like Sweden with advanced sex education and availability of birth control not only had fewer pregnancies and fewer abortions but also had a much latter age for initiating their first sexual intercourse.

[DeepModem Mom]

6. Excelllent info, ihavenobias -- thank you! K&R

[margotb822]

8. A look at what it really means to be pro-life and pro-family

I wrote a blog entry about this a little while back. It really gets my blood boiling when repubs try to claim this lie.

http://serveoutloud.blogspot.com/2008/05/republican-pro-family-myth.html

[ihavenobias]

14. You nailed it Margot

I agree with all of it, including the boiling blood.

[margotb822]

23. Thanks

Haha, now if only we can get others who have the same blood boiling spurred into action!! I think this will be a good year for us :)

[yardwork]

10. k&r. Thank you for this research.

To me, pro-life means reducing unwanted pregnancies; giving women better opportunities for economic and social independence so that they don't feel coerced into having sex before they are ready; providing universal health care to everyone regardless of their age, employment status, or employer; providing health education and access to contraceptives for those who choose to become sexually active; passing social and environmental laws that protect people and enable them to build strong families and social structures; and limiting war.

Nothing - absolutely nothing - the Republicans do is pro-life in any conceivable meaning of the term. Forcing pregnant girls with no options to have illegal abortions is not pro-life. It's part of the sick approach that Republicans have to everything. They are pro-death.

Obama and the Democratic Party are pro-life in every true meaning of the word.

[ihavenobias]

36. Amen

Sorry I missed this the first time.

[Window]

11. As always, good work Ihaveno bias and thanks for sharing. K/R.

Proud to forward.

:kick:

[AzDar]

12. K & R ....

:kick:

[me b zola]

13. Thank you for an excellent thread

I will be passing it on.

K&R :kick:

[Alexander]

15. K&R

[CherylK]

16. Bump!

[Major Hogwash]

17. Thanks for the heads up!!! Bookmark this thread - Pass it on!!

This is great stuff.

[formercia]

18. The GOP wants your baby to live and grow strong

so they can send it to die in some foreign shithole for the sake of corporate greed. They need cannon fodder and birth control goes against their plan.

World domination takes bodies.

[Cha]

27. Yes, unfortunately that's the way they work

and those who have fallen into their trap are the ones who need to wake up and smell their blood being spilled in the name of gop oil.

[ihavenobias]

28. I think there are a lot of factors

Control over women and religious zealotry (exploited for political gain) being my top two.

[Cha]

29. Yes, they're many

levels of their betrayal.

[flashl]

19. K/R nt

[Loubonilla]

20. Women hate McCain

He wants to nominate judges who despise women's right to choose, and women are wary.

[bdamomma]

35. McSame also shows his disdain towards women too.

doesn't think we are educated enough, enuff said about him.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

21. Birth Control Pills also inhibit the development of certain

types of fibroid tumors.

[ihavenobias]

22. According to some right wing pro-life sites (often disguised to appear moderate)...

abortion might cause breast cancer.

Pretty pathetic, not to mention it's completely unsupported by any peer reviewed, published research.

[CherylK]

25. They are crazy and wrong!

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/abortion-miscarriage

[ihavenobias]

26. Thanks for that link

I read about how it was BS before but it's nice to have a link like that handy.

[pleah]

24. K&R

[baldguy]

30. Anti-abortion zealots and the pols who pander to them are ANYTHING but "pro-life"!

[ihavenobias]

31. I agree

And in order to really hit that message home it's nice to have some tangible facts to present.

Sure, the zealots may not budge but there is a more moderate middle that just might if we approach the issue correctly and explain it well.

[CherylK]

32. Bump!

[formercia]

33. War is Death

GOP=War
GOP=Death

You cannot be pro-life and pro-War at the same time. These factors are mutually exclusive.

Every body, every maimed and every mentally injured person was somebody's baby.

[ihavenobias]

37. If it was WWII I'd disagree

In that yes, it WAS death but it was justified to stop even more death.

THIS war however is completely unjustified which makes it much more tragic.

[formercia]

38. I was referring to the present.

Your point is well made. WWII was not a War of choice.We were the victims as were others. Now, we are the ones engaging in an illegal War of Aggression based on lies.

[ihavenobias]

39. I know and I agree! n/t