FYI, Dennis Kucinich got a 100% pro-choice rating from NARAL in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006

[Stop Cornyn]

NARAL 100% rating in 2006
NARAL 100% rating in 2005
NARAL 100% rating in 2004
NARAL 100% rating in 2003

[incapsulated]

1. Having a thread locked wasn't enough for you, eh?

You really don't want to argue this, because even though I don't give a shit, this isn't something Dennis has to be proud of, and I can rip it to shreds without breaking a sweat.

Dennis isn't perfect. He also isn't going to get the nomination. He uses it as a platform for important issues, support him in that. Trying to argue that he has anything to be proud of in this area will get you nowhere.

[Stop Cornyn]

2. I just want to correct the misinformation.

[redqueen]

3. I appreciate your efforts.

:hi:

[redqueen]

4. Rip what to shreds? NARAL ratings?

Eh, I'm sure people rip Hillary's positive ratings by interest groups, too.

What matters is the big picture.

:hi:

[incapsulated]

5. Yes, do you want me to?

A couple of years of 100% rating for NARAL versus a career in politics before that as 100% pro-life extremist.

Many, many, many democrats have been pro-choice their entire careers and didn't switch sides three months before they ran for president.

[redqueen]

7. Personally, nah... I'm sure you could.

As I said, these tit-for-tat squabbles mean little.

We should be looking at the bigger picture. For some, Kucinich's past stances on abortion and the timing of his change of heart are unacceptable. For others, Clinton's past votes on free-trade bills are unacceptable.

Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily...

[gateley]

9. If he's changed his stance and stuck by it, he's to be commended. We can't

keep harping on what people did back THEN. What's important to us is the Now and the Future.

[incapsulated]

11. It was the timing and the fact that this was a couple of years ago

Which do you think had more impact on the debate, his lifetime as a pro-lifer or switching to pro-choice before running last time?

Frankly, I had more respect for him when he was pro-life even though I thought he was totally wrong, because I thought that was really what he believed in because of his religion. When he did a 180 three months before running, I didn't think it was anything but politics. I could be wrong but it doesn't matter. He has spent his career being an enemy of choice and medical research with stem cells to boot, and a few years voting with the rest of the sane doesn't make make that disappear.

If I was a supporter I really wouldn't want to draw attention to this. I like Dennis and this is probably his worst side.

[gateley]

15. I voted for the first time when I was 18. On the ballot was the issue of should

we legalize abortion? At the time I was strongly opposed to it morally. I felt more strongly, however, that people who didn't feel as I had the right to make their own decisions, and to be able to pursue that option safely.

I'd just gotten out of 12 years of Catholic schools so I was raised in the same religion as Dennis. Maybe after some thought he came to the same decision I did.

I do understand your point and I lose respect for a candidate REALLY FAST if their motives are self-serving and transparent.

It bugs me that others feel they need to preface their pro-choice stand with "I personally don't agree with it but...." I don't think I've heard Dennis
make that disclaimer, so I'm more inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[maximusveritas]

14. So if Bush suddenly professed completely liberal views, what he did in the past wouldn't matter?

Sorry, but that doesn't make sense.
I think a candidate's past record is as important as their current positions, especially if they made the change all of a sudden right before an election without a good reason.
If Kucinich or any other candidate was willing to change their position in order to help win an election, who's to say they won't change some positions in the opposite direction to win the next election?

[gateley]

16. No. Bush is a liar and evil. Dennis isn't either. Some times people honestly

DO change their minds, you know.

[Stop Cornyn]

10. When a candidate is wrong on an issue, I applaud him for evolving to the correct view. Otherwise,

you get a moron like Bush who does not reconsider past decisions even when the become transparently disastrous.

I have no problem with anyone criticizing Kucinich's past votes on this issue or any other issue. I think it is dishonest and deceitful to use the present tense to describe a candidate past views when the candidate no longer holds those views.

It is inaccurate and misleading to say -- as some did -- that Dennis IS anti-choice; I object to that.

It is accurate to say that Dennis WAS anti-choice; I have no objection whatsoever to that.

If you want to question Dennis's motives for evolving from anti-choice to pro-choice, that's fine too, but it isn't right (factually or morally) to argue that Dennis is CURRENTLY anti-choice.

This is the entirety of my point.

[William769]

6. He needs to wear elevator shoes if he wants to be in the big picture!

:rofl:

[redqueen]

8. Um... okay!

(FWIW, I *did* think Bloo's "Moonbeam McCrazypants" was funny... you might wanna work on your material. :P)

[MonkeyFunk]

12. wow

and he was so ardently pro-life prior to that. Doesn't really stand by his princples, does he?

[LWolf]

13. With that perspective, GWB is a bastion of integrity. n/t

[rinsd]

17. NARAL gives him ZERO in 2001 & 2000 and a 14% in 1999

Planned Parenthood gives him a 54% in '06, and a 10% in '01 and '99

Raise your hand if you know what happened in 2003 vs 2002.

Suddenly the pro-life voting Kucinich became pro-life in private but started voting with his party.

http://votesmart.org/issue_rating.php?type=category&category=2&go2.x=11&go2.y=9

[gateley]

18. And he's to be faulted for that? nt

[Forkboy]

19. Would you rather he was still pro life?

[rinsd]

20. No, I am glad he changed his mind.

[Forkboy]

21. Alrighty then...me too.

I don't know why he changed it, just that he did, and it's for the best regardless of how it looks politically.I wish more more people would flip flop in the right direction. :)

[rinsd]

22. I don't even care if its political.

At its heart it was a recognition that his party did not feel as he did on that issue.

"I wish more more people would flip flop in the right direction. :)"

So do I. So do I. :hi:

[redqueen]

23. Amen!

Repukes wanna vote to restore Habeas for 'political' reasons?

Hell, FINE BY ME!

[Clintonista2]

24. DK became "pro choice" 3 months before running for president in 2003.

Prior to that, his NARAL score was usually 0, although occasionally he could reach 20ish.

[rjones2818]

25. And he's been 100% ever since.

Period.

Go Dennis! :woohoo:
http://dennis4president.com
Choose Peace!