I did this up for a class tonight. Maybe something on clouds tomorrow.
Ry Amidon
Write-Up on Abortion, Three Candidates
June 12, 2007
Abortion
The issue of abortion rights has been a prominent and contentious issue in American politics for decades and its controversy does not seem likely to fade from the spotlight in 2008. The question of abortion is a major aspect of presidential politics because, beyond limitations such as “partial-birth” bans, consent laws, and waiting periods it is entirely a federal matter; Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113), decided in 1973 under the Burger court, mandated that the right to of a woman to have an abortion was protected under the Fourteenth Amendment[i] and struck down all state laws prohibiting abortion. The democratic candidates are fairly unified on this issue, and are all pro-choice; little attention need be paid. Republicans take differing positions on the matter, with some opposing abortion procedures with certain exceptions, including at least one pro-choicer. Some, such as Arizona Senator John McCain write overtly of “overturning” the 1973 Supreme Court decision[ii]. Any president’s ability to “overturn” is limited to indirect methods, due to the separation of the three branches of government; all he/she could do is hope for a more liberal justice of the High Court to peace out or keel over to allow for the appointment of an adjudicator who will adjudicate in favor of abortion restrictions. Stevens, a moderate-to-liberal Ford appointee (long may he live) looks like a good candidate. The replacement of a moderate or liberal judge with a conservative one would tip the ideological balance of the Court safely to the conservatives:
A List of the Pretty Conservative Supreme Court Justices[iii]:
-Alito
-Thomas
-Roberts
-Scalia
Moderates:
-Kennedy
-Souter
Liberals:
-Bader-Ginsburg
-Stevens
-Breyer
So, if a judge such as Stevens were replaced by another Thomas or Alito, the conservatives would have a solid 5, the majority needed to decide a case. Presidential candidates (and possibly the voting public, too) are very aware of this scenario and most make clear their stance on abortion, though some have records that indicate a change of mind. Here is what the deal is.
Kansas Senator Sam Brownback is pro-life, the pure, simple, and old-fashioned way. As president, he says he would protect life at every stage. This war-enthusiast says he hopes that “one day America will remember the value we once placed on human life”[iv]. Maybe one day, Senator.
Former governor of Virginia Jim Gilmore is opposed to abortion, and did everything in his power to restrict in during his tenure there including: a waiting period, parental notification, and “partial-birth” ban[v]. Interestingly enough, the state’s motto, “Sic semper tyrannis” is what John Wilkes Booth said after he killed our 16th president.
Former American Hero—errr- New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani is in favor of “reasonable restrictions[vi]” on abortion, which in the English language means he believes there is a right to abortion, but would like to see fewer of them; he does not want Roe overturned but will ecstatically support parental notification and the usual ban on “partial birth” business.
Former governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee opposes abortion rights[vii]. Yawn. His state’s motto is “Regnat populus.” It means the people rule, and was instituted during the Civil War.
California Congressman Duncan Hunter is not afraid to get specific about his opposition to abortion rights. He would support a Right to Life amendment to the Constitution. He has proudly cosponsored many pieces of legislation limiting abortion and other fetus-related acts. He also opposes “Fetus Farming,” and having government funded abortions for soldiers or their dependents overseas[viii]. Neat.
Arizona Senator John McCain, as mentioned above would like to overturn Roe v Wade. He says he will nominate judges who won’t confuse their judicial rule with a legislative one, and that it the government should make it easier for a woman to give birth to an unwanted child “by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need.[ix]” He would also promote the practice of adoption.
A US Representative of Texas, Ron Paul, says that Roe was “wrongly decided” and that the matter should be left up to the states. Ron is also for banning “partial birth” abortions[x].
Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo also believes Roe v Wade was “wrongly decided,” and sees it as a state issue. Also, Tom thinks we need education on “the potential life-long medical problems and emotional scarring associated with abortions[xi]”. (That's a good idea, Tom we should do the same thing for people who want to enlist in the military!)
Former Wisconsin Governor and Health and Human Services Secretary Thomas “Tommy” Thompson says that he is pro-life, and touts having signed one of the first bans on “partial birth” abortion; he promises to appoint “strict constructionist” judges to the bench[xii].
Actor/Former Tennessee Senator/Red-Truck Leaser Fred Thompson has only just kicked off his run for office. His stance on the abortion issue is kind of unclear right now and remains to see what his officially stated position will be. In the past he has supported Roe and characterized abortion as a personal decision with which the government has no right to interfere[xiii]. His website is called I’m With Fred!
Former Massachusetts Governor with “shoulders you could land a 737 on[xiv]” Mitt Romney states on his website that he is pro-life with the exception of cases of rape, incest, and a threat to the life of the mother[xv]. However, in a 1994 senate campaign he claimed to support abortion rights[xvi].
The abortion rights issue is a crucial one for republican candidates because it can help determine two important factors: the percentage of the moderate vote that they get, the percentage of the coveted conservative Christian vote that they get. A more pro-choice opinion would probably increase the former while a strict pro-life stance would attract conservatives.
Romney, Tancredo, Dodd
Mitt Romney (R), a Mormon, was elected Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 2002, and after serving a term decided that he would rather be president of the United States. Romney has an MBA and a JD from Harvard and was a participant in well-paying business ventures in the eighties and nineties before becoming President and CEO of the organizing committee for the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, claiming to have erased a multi-million dollar deficit[xvii]. The governor’s biggest problem in this election may be his changes of opinion on some key social issues. He claims to be pro-life, but ran as a pro-choicer in a 1994 senate race; Romney also says he is against same sex marriages and civil unions, despite having supported such a law in his own state as governor[xviii]. Motives aside, it is clear that the former governor of a very liberal state has moved farther to the right on some controversial social issues, and explaining these switches clearly may pose a challenge to his campaign. He is in third place in CNN polls in Iowa[xix] and New Hampshire[xx].
Chris Dodd (D)is a senator from Connecticut who has been a member of Congress since 1975[xxi]. Like the other democratic senators running for president who were serving at the time, Dodd voted to authorize the Iraq War in 2002[xxii]. That has turned out to be kind of unpopular with a lot of people, and if the Senator wishes to gain the confidence of voting liberals his campaign will have to do what Edwards, Clinton, and Biden also must do which is succinctly defend or excuse the vote and lay out a comprehensible plan for the future.
Tom Tancredo (R), a US Representative from Colorado is a fairly conservative type whose biggest issue is immigration. “As President, I will secure our borders so illegal aliens do not come, and I will eliminate benefits and job prospects so they do not stay,” says Tancredo[xxiii]. He holds conservative positions on most major issues and is currently polling at about 2 percent according to CNN[xxiv].
[ii] http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/95b18512-d5b6-456e-90a2-12028d71df58.htm
[iii] These categorizations are my own estimates, and not based on any sort of verifiable fact.
[iv] http://www.brownback.com/s/Issues/tabid/60/Default.aspx#Life
[v] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/jim.gilmore.html
[vi] http://www.joinrudy2008.com/index.php?section=2
[vii] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/mike.huckabee.html
[viii] http://www.gohunter08.com/inner.asp?z=4
[ix] http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/95b18512-d5b6-456e-90a2-12028d71df58.htm
[x] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/ron.paul.html
[xi] http://www.teamtancredo.com/tancredo_issues_index.asp
[xii] http://www.tommy2008.com/On_The_Issues.aspx
[xiii] http://www.nationalreview.com/daily/nr070600.html
[xiv] http://mediamatters.org/items/200706060004
[xv] http://www.mittromney.com/Issue-Watch/Values
[xvi] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/mitt.romney.html
[xvii] http://www.mittromney.com/Learn-About-Mitt/Mittxs_Biography
[xviii] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/mitt.romney.html
[xix] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/states/iowa.html
[xx] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/states/new.hampshire.html
[xxi] http://www.chrisdodd.com/about
[xxii] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/chris.dodd.html
[xxiii] http://www.teamtancredo.com/tancredo_issues_index.asp
[xxiv] http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION/2008/candidates/tom.tancredo.html
Also, I turn 21 on Monday, which I'm told, is the legal drinking age.
