What's going on with Kerry and choice?

[nightperson]

What do people here think of this?:

"When Ellen Malcolm, president of the pro-choice political network EMILY's List, asked about the future direction of the party, Kerry tackled one of the Democrats' core tenets: abortion rights. He told the group they needed new ways to make people understand they didn't like abortion. Democrats also needed to welcome more pro-life candidates into the party, he said. "There was a gasp in the room," says Nancy Keenan, the new president of NARAL Pro-Choice America...

Many advocates blame Kerry for not talking about abortion enough—especially the fate of the Supreme Court. "He did not help the cause," says Planned Parenthood president Gloria Feldt.

I'm 1,000 % pro-choice and don't think Kerry emphasized choice, the Supreme Court, and population control issues enough. What in the world is going on? Was I a fool to support him in the primaries?

[shraby]

1. I saw him

in an interview on t.v. and he said he was for a woman's right to choose.

[JI7]

2. he is prochoice, always has been, he was making a point though

that there are some who view being prochoice as being proabortion.

i'm sure personal experience has a lot to do with it, especially on his time campaigning. some people and especially in certain parts of the country get turned off on this issue alone so they almost never hear positions on the other issues.

but it's about convincing some people why we are prochoice. and that being prochoice is not the same as being pro abortion. and that being prochoice does not mean we "LIKE" abortion.

a first step can be Kerry and other prochoice people stop referring to the anti choice crowd as "pro life" . since this immediately suggests the prochoice people are NOT prolife.

[LittleClarkie]

3. I've been defined that way by a fundamentalist

When he found out I was part of the Liberal Lutherans and not the Conservative Lutherans as he thought.

"But why?! You guys believe in abortion. You guys believe in gay pastors!"

Because I'm warped, I answered "Yes, I believe they exist. What's your point?"

I think Kerry might be talking about framing here. As my Conservative friend failed to realize, no one is pro-abortion. I'm not outside Planned Parenthood with pom poms going, "Yay!"

I'd like the discussion to move toward prevention, myself. Preventing teen pregnancy. Framing opposition from the other side as being hypocritical, as a prevented pregnancy means no abortion necessary.

For the record, Kerry is Catholic and therefore personally pro-life as he said in the third debate. He does not believe in legislating his beliefs, however. Sometimes, folks forget that pro-choice means that one might just choose to be pro-life in one's personal life.

Kerry also has a record of turning around and challenging core beliefs, playing devil's advocate as it were. Got himself in trouble once by talking about the negative aspects of Affirmative Action. He got shot down then too. I think he likes to have people turn around and question themselves once in a while. I would think it would be healthy to do so on occasion myself. Make sure you're right, and make sure you can defend what you believe.

[rfkrfk]

5. "i am personaly against abortion, but, blah. blah, blah

I am pro-choice.
My thoughts, about other people's circumstances,
probably doesn't matter all that much to them.
...
I don't like the fact that some people claim a position of --->
"""I am personaly against abortion, but I believe in
a woman's right to choose"""
...
To me, that line is , smarmy, insulting, and fence-sitting.
Who cares what he thinks, actions speak louder than words.
You can't please everyone.

[LittleClarkie]

6. Sorry to be a smarmy, insulting fence-sitter

But Kerry and I agree here.

Our CHOICE is LIFE. But we don't stand in the way of another's right to CHOOSE. Perfectly coherent to me. And I was pleased to here him say it, because as I say, it was a "me too" moment.

And I'd bet we're not alone.

[wheresthemind]

4. honestly i think he talked about it too much...

I think Kerry worked his ass off on abortion rights when overall it might have hurt him.

[sonicx]

7. when?

i don't remember it much, except during the debate when he was asked about it. During campaign stops, it was about the standard issues: iraq, terrorism, economy, health care.

[Proud2BAmurkin]

8. Let's welcome slavery advocates into the party too

:shrug:

[LittleClarkie]

9. So you have something against life?

Pro-life can be anti-war.

Pro-life can be against capital punishment.

Pro-life can also be pro-choice. Personally pro-life as one's personal choice, that is.

I kind of like it when he jolts people like this. It's good for the party to play devil's advocate with itself once in a while, challenge what it does and does not believe in, lest we get smug and complacent.