Obama ad slams McCain on abortion rights

[RamboLiberal]

Source: Politico

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Barack Obama has launched a broadside against John McCain’s opposition to abortion rights and moved one of the most divisive issues in modern American politics to the airwaves on a large scale for the first time in this presidential campaign.

Obama’s new radio ad, airing widely in at least seven swing states, tells voters McCain “will make abortion illegal.” It’s airing as McCain courts female voters with the addition of the staunchly anti-abortion governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, to his ticket.

Democrats had, until now, sought to appeal to women primarily on economic issues such as health care and workplace discrimination; abortion rights were hardly mentioned at the Democratic National Convention in Denver last week. But women’s rights groups have been urging Obama to attack McCain on the issue, pointing to polling showing that some women who support McCain think he supports abortion rights. In fact, the Arizona senator has long supported a ban on abortions, with exceptions for victims of rape and incest, and for pregnancies that threaten the life of the mother. Palin has an even firmer anti-abortion stance: She would require rape and incest victims to carry their pregnancies to term.

“Let me tell you: If Roe vs. Wade is overturned, the lives and health of women will be put at risk. That's why this election is so important,” says the nurse-practitioner who narrates Obama’s ad. “John McCain's out of touch with women today. McCain wants to take away our right to choose. That's what women need to understand. That's how high the stakes are.”

An announcer then claims that “as president, John McCain will make abortion illegal,” before playing an exchange on "Meet the Press" in which McCain told moderator Tim Russert that he favors “a const

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0908/13103.html

[depakid]

1. Memo to the Obama media people:

Follow up ads should state in no uncertain terms that the Bush administration is define birth control as abortion and is acting to restrict women's access to contraceptives.

McCain/Palin would likely follow suit.

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/07/25/10601 /

Much broader of an appeal- and more likely to put the Republicans on the defensive.

As they should be for their extremist positions.

[saigon68]

4. Well at least the stud wore no condom

So palin can't complain about his sinning

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

11. absoultely -

the low info voters especially the men, need to know its not just about abortion, but about ALL of our reproductive choices.

[maple25]

2. K&R

I have NO idea why any woman would vote for McCain/Palin. Then again, I have no idea why anyone would be a republican, either.

[MissMillie]

3. good work Obama team!

drill the differences home to the electorate.

We'll just keep looking better and better.

[alllyingwhores]

6. Are you fucking kidding me? That's the single definitive wedge issue that has all of the...

...flat-earthers voting for McCain.

"...pointing to polling showing that some women who support McCain think he supports abortion rights."

Some, as in 1%?

The overwhelming majority of McCain supporters are idiots that only care that he's anti-choice or anti-abortion--otherwise, they're too fucking stupid to look at his real policies/record and realize they're voting against their own interests.

Bringing up the abortion issue is a reeeeeeaaaaaaaaaally stupid fucking idea.

[Ghost Dog]

8. Few "flat-earthers" will ever change.

The campaign has to concentrate on the undecided, or wavering, middle of the road.

Who are you and why do you show no profile, BTW?

[OHDEM]

5. YES!!

I was hoping they'd go this route! The right loves to make this such a simple issue about "killing a baby" when the truth is so much more complicated. Plus, the true mission of pro-lifers is to control women. They are as much against birth control as abortion when it comes down to it & not just for the reasons some will claim. It's not just the idea that teaching birth control is like allowing sex (as if anyone needs permission) it's that they believe it's a sin & in effect is also "killing a baby". I know folks in this movement & they are EXTREME! I hope they go farther.

I have 2 great kids myself & was lucky enough to only get pregnant when it was wanted. It was still really hard both times & I had c-sections. The idea of any woman being forced to carry & deliver a baby against her will is terrifying to me.

[Hekate]

7. They need to tell folks about the wholesale redefinition of contraceptives as abortifacients...

... by the Bush administration.

Many people are made uneasy by the discussion of abortion (even if they support a woman's right to choose one), but in this country nearly EVERYONE uses birth control at some point in their lives. A huge constituency of voters really has no idea that the Talibornagains have made those kinds of inroads on our basic human rights.

Hekate

[Muttocracy]

9. yes! nt

[Neurotica]

10. Likewise, they need to explain so-called "conscience clauses"

which allow pharmacists and physicians to refuse to provide treatment based on their religious beliefs. The proposed HHS rule changes should be discussed in detail!

I saw the new Obama ad on TV this morning and heard it on the radio this afternoon. It's great because it tells it like it is -- if McCain is elected, women will lose the ability to make decisions about their own bodies.