VP pick and abortion. Question for Hillary voters on this issue.

[inthebrain]

OK, I'm not a big a Hillary Clinton person and I never supported her for the primary. What I'm going on here is the perception of the base mostly coming from the media and other sources.

Apparantly it is said that Hillary's base comprises a lot of voters that feel very strongly on the issue of abortion. Mainly that the consituency is strongly pro choice.

What are your thoughts on this issue in relation to some of the VP candidates. Two of them that I've looked at are for banning partial birth abortions (a procedure to save the life of the mother when threatened by the fetus) and Biden wants to eliminate public funding for abortion (A program for victims of rape and incest).

So far it looks like Kaine and Biden are two candidates threatening on this issue. They don't want to overturn Roe V Wade, just elimate a few options. One of them they have in common is the life saving DNX.

[inthebrain]

1. Up

[xchrom]

2. as far as that particular issue is concerned -- i am for

'abortion on demand' -- it's a woman's body -- not mine -- and she can judge what is best for her body period.

[inthebrain]

3. What is your feeling on the VP

That has a simialar stance to Kaine and Biden on this issue.

Do you think it a bad idea for the party to sell out a large part of it's constituency on this issue?

The direction it's heading that appears to be the case. Harry Reid wants to overturn Roe as do a lot of new members of the senate. Banning partial birth and public funding may not overturn Roe but it is a step in that direction. Especially when your life is endagered by the fetus and the DNX is not option to save a life.

[gateley]

6. "Harry Reid wants to overturn Roe..."

Could you please link to data supporting this? I'm unable to find verification of your comment. Thanks.

[inthebrain]

7. I had posted it yesterday. I'll have to see where I can find it

But for now, there's this

Voted NO on defining unborn child as eligible for SCHIP. (Mar 2008)
Voted YES on prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion. (Mar 2008)
Voted NO on barring HHS grants to organizations that perform abortions. (Oct 2007)
Voted YES on expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines. (Apr 2007)
Voted YES on notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions. (Jul 2006)
Voted YES on $100M to reduce teen pregnancy by education & contraceptives. (Mar 2005)
Voted YES on criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime. (Mar 2004)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)
Voted YES on maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions. (Jun 2000)
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)
Rated 29% by NARAL, indicating a pro-life voting record. (Dec 2003)
Expand embryonic stem cell research. (Jun 2004)
Sponsored bill providing contraceptives for low-income women. (May 2006)
Rated 50% by the NRLC, indicating a mixed record on abortion. (Dec 2006)
Ensure access to and funding for contraception. (Feb 2007)

[inthebrain]

8. Here's another

Deson't actually state in a clear concise way his stance on the issue. But his votes in the senate certainly suggest it.

Be Careful What You Wish For
Overturning Roe v. Wade would be good for the Democrats.
by JAMES TARANTO
Wednesday, December 8, 2004 12:01 a.m. EST

Harry Reid, the new Senate Democratic leader, is moderate to pro-life on abortion. In 1999 he was one of only two Senate Democrats to vote against an amendment expressing "the sense of Congress in support of the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade." But when he appeared on "Meet the Press" Sunday and Tim Russert gave him a chance to take a clear position against Roe, Mr. Reid demurred, saying that "it would be pretty difficult for everybody" if the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ruling.

Actually, it would be far more difficult for the Republicans, for the continued existence of Roe allows the GOP to have it both ways on abortion while forcing the Democrats to take politically untenable positions.

By mostly removing the issue from the democratic process, Roe created the current polarization over abortion, in which both parties are officially committed to extreme positions. The Republican platform calls for a Human Life Amendment, which would presumably ban all or most abortions, while the Democratic platform backs "a woman's right to choose . . . regardless of her ability to pay"--meaning abortion on demand, at taxpayer expense.

http://www.opinionjournal.com/extra/?id=110005991

[gateley]

11. Thank you, but I already saw his voting record. What I'm NOT finding is

backup for your claim he wants to overturn Roe v Wade.

[inthebrain]

12. Ok, it's possible I am wrong

I'm willing to accept that.

[gateley]

13. Then you should remove that charge against him. It's unfair if it's not accurate. nt

[inthebrain]

14. Fair enough

What would you say is an accurate descripition?

"Non commital on his support for Roe V Wade but want's to overturn many instances where a woman has a right to choose. Even in cases where her life is at stake?"

[gateley]

16. Why even mention Roe v Wade?

There's nothing to indicate he's would be in favor of repealing it. As a matter of fact, his statement ""it would be pretty difficult for everybody" if the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ruling." seems to imply he wouldn't take steps against it, regardlessof his personal beliefs.

And this:

Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions except for maternal life. (Mar 2003)

Seems to negate the charge that he doesn't support late term abortions if the mother's life is at stake, so that part of your argument isn't accurate either.

I understand your passion for this issue, and what you're hoping to accomplish. But if it's this important to you, it's better that you only use facts and proof to back up your position rather than interpretation.

PS -- and I understand it's not really about Reid. It's because you're concerned about Biden and Kaine if they get the VP nod -- so there's REALLY no need to include Reid in your debate at all.

[inthebrain]

17. He voted to ban partial birth abortion in 99 without exception for maternal life

Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. (Oct 1999)


And he is non commital in his support for Roe. It's really that simple. That is not inaccurate. It's the truth.

And his voting record supports that stance. Not to mention that he's anti choice.

And now I see that you are all seeing and all knowing to TELL ME what my intentions are?

[gateley]

18. Yes - I saw the 1999 vote. But doesn't his 2003 vote override that?

And I should have prefaced my statement about your intentions with "in my opinion". They weren't a slam at you, regardless of what you may think. But if you want to snark and jump on me as being "all knowing", fine.

You presume to make all sorts of assumptions about me and fellow Biden supporters, by the way.

Look, I don't want to get into a fight with you on this. Or anything. So just carry on and I'll stay away. You have my word on it.

[inthebrain]

20. His 1999 vote overrides his 2003 vote

in that it further clarifys his stance on the issue. He will vote to ban it even if a bill hits the fkloor without exception. So will Joe Biden.

Even the language "except in cases where maternal life is threatened" is , in itself, ridiculous. That is if you know about the procedure and why it is performed in the first place. It is performed to save the life of the mother.

Just knowing the stages of pregnancy, the mother's conflict about the birth is already resolved in the first trimester. Partial birth abortions are performed on fetuses that are wanted. The mother opts for it because her life is threatened.

THere's a lot of ignorance surrounding that issue. As Democrats folks like Reid, Biden, Kaine etc should no better. Before they cast their votes on this stuff they should no better than to throw their faith into the issue. Especially on life saving medical procedures.

What's next? We ban heart transplants because the Pope decides he doesn't like that either?

[David Zephyr]

19. Yep. And that's what all Democrats should stand for together.

Absolutely.

[salonghorn70]

4. Bayh

I am strongly pro-Clinton now strongly pro Obama. I am strongly pro choice. I am a male voter. I favor Bayh for the VP choice although any of those mentioned would be great choices. I do not have a problem with the pro-choice position of any of the candidates who have been mentioned including Bayh and Kaine.

[SoxFan]

5. .

[salonghorn70]

15. Bill's Bait

Do you have a lot of channel catfish in NH? :)

[Tarc]

9. Kaine or Biden would be horrible choices, if that is their position on abortion

No appeasement for redneck bible-thumpers, please.

[LostinVA]

10. Women and gay rights are dealbreakers for me

I'm tired of the GOP taking away my rights; I won't allow the DNC to do it.

The last few election cycles have pushed my rights down too much. Enough is enough.

[xchrom]

23. i'm w/ you 100%. nt

[hamsterjill]

21. Important Issue

I am a former Hillary supporter and most certainly this issue is very important to me.

I am afraid that the party is trying to pander to some of the middle leaners on this issue and this concerns me.

Abortion should be between a woman and her doctor. It should be no one else's business. If the woman wishes to include the father, or someone else in her decision making process, that is her right. And any woman who is pregnant and wishes to take that pregnancy to term should have the means available for her to be able to do that, as well.

But when this issue is made into a political issue, it broaches the line of separation of church and state in my mind. And separation of church and state is a fundamental right that we should enjoy in America. If we step on that part of the constitution, we might as well throw the rest of it out the window.

Anyone who doesn't believe in abortion simply shouldn't have one. But those people have no right to make that decision for others.

[LisaM]

22. I supported Hillary and this is a very important issue to me - one of my top issues

I'm tired of abortion rights being chiseled at, and I don't think this is an issue where we should compromise. Abortion rights should be strong and, IMO, national. It was one of the things that bugged me about Reid, and it bugs me about a lot of other senators, too. I am not sure why we are drifting so far to the right on this issue.

I do not like these candidates who claim they will work to support existing laws, but state that they are personally opposed to abortion. What that tell me is that, if abortion laws are further weakened, they won't fight it. They'll just vote to uphold the weakened law. They won't fight hard to make sure existing laws stay in place, and they sure as hell don't seem likely to STRENGTHEN abortion rights. And we're at a place right now where those laws need shoring up.