Abortion is a local hot button issue here in Missouri, so as a Missouri voter, I decided to do some research to understand where each 2008 presidential candidate stands on the issue. Personally, while I could never have an abortion myself (unless it meant saving my life-I do have three living children), I would not take that choice away from others, for two reasons.
First, I believe that if one is the victim of incest, rape, or molestation in any form that results in a pregnancy, the woman should have the right to decide not to carry that child. Second, I believe that abortions will continue to happen even if it becomes illegal, so I would prefer that a safe and legal procedure is available. You never know, one of your own loved ones may resort to an illegal abortion if the legal procedures aren't available-and wouldn't you rather "not know" about a safe legal abortion than find out your loved one had an illegal abortion and was seriously injured or even killed?
Now, let's discuss the candidate's views on abortion.
Barack Obama on Abortion
First, let's start with Obama's voting record on this issue. In 1998, Obama supported Roe v Wade. He later also voted against prohibiting minors from crossing state lines in order to obtain an abortion. He also voted no on requiring abortion centers to notifying parents when minors receive out of state abortions. He supported a bill to increase funding for embryonic stem cell research, which some say is a vote to support abortion.
In 2005, Obama voted yes to a one hundred million dollar plan to reduce teen pregnancy through education and providing contraceptives. In 2006, he supported a bill to provide contraceptives to low-income women for free to help them take control of their bodies and avoid unwanted pregnancy. He also voted in 2007 to ensure access for low income families to free contraception.
Now, let's discuss Obama's personal views on the subject. First, Obama feels that there is a middle ground between the pro-life and the pro-choice camps. He also feels that it's important to continue to educate our children on abstinence as well as contraception. He has said that he has no problem with law-makers restricting partial birth abortions at the state level, but that he thinks the mother should have the ability to make that decision ultimately. I disagree with this last statement-I think that a partial birth abortion should never occur unless the mother's life is at risk.
Obama points out that stem cell research promises to cure more than 70 currently incurable diseases, and this point is one with which I cannot legitimately argue. And most recently, Obama stated that he personally could not determine the point at which a fetus becomes a baby, alluding to the fact that he believes that's a choice only God could make.
Bottom line on Obama, he is officially "Pro-Choice", according to the NRLC votes.
John McCain on Abortion
Again, we'll start with McCain's voting record on abortion.
McCain voted to repeal Roe v Wade in May of 2007. He voted yes to denying grant money to facilities which perform abortions, and yes to requiring parental notification for minors receiving out of state abortions, as well as yes to making it illegal to transport a minor across state lines for an abortion. He also voted no to the one hundred million dollar plan to reduce teen pregnancy by education and providing contraceptives. He would ban all partial birth abortions, except those which would save the mother's life. Here is an area in which McCain and I agree.
He voted yes to banning military base abortions. He also supported banning human cloning, but he voted yes on expanding embryonic stem cell research.
As far as his personal views go, he does worry that if abortion is made illegal, women would continue to get illegal abortions, and he agrees that victims of rape and incest should have the right to choose an abortion. These are points on which I agree with McCain.
He feels that if abortions become illegal, we should prosecute the abortion doctors, not the women getting the abortions. He says that if his own daughter wanted an abortion, he would have a "family conference" to discuss her options.
Bottom line: While he is voted "Pro-Life" by NARAL, he is voted "mixed record on abortion" by the NRLC.
http://www.johnmccain.com
http://www.barackobama.com
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