Kerry's position on abortion is fair to ALL Americans

[Q]

Kerry: "I can't take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith.."

- You would think that this is what Americans would want from a president: a refusal to establish law based on ideology or 'article of faith'.

- Here's the debate question:

DEGENHART: Senator Kerry, suppose you are speaking with a voter who believed abortion is murder and the voter asked for reassurance that his or her tax dollars would not go to support abortion, what would you say to that person?

KERRY: I would say to that person exactly what I will say to you right now.

First of all, I cannot tell you how deeply I respect the belief about life and when it begins. I'm a Catholic, raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life. It helped lead me through a war, leads me today.

But I can't take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith, whether they be agnostic, atheist, Jew, Protestant, whatever. I can't do that.

But I can counsel people. I can talk reasonably about life and about responsibility. I can talk to people, as my wife Teresa does, about making other choices, and about abstinence, and about all these other things that we ought to do as a responsible society.

But as a president, I have to represent all the people in the nation. And I have to make that judgment.

Now, I believe that you can take that position and not be pro- abortion, but you have to afford people their constitutional rights. And that means being smart about allowing people to be fully educated, to know what their options are in life, and making certain that you don't deny a poor person the right to be able to have whatever the constitution affords them if they can't afford it otherwise.

That's why I think it's important. That's why I think it's important for the United States, for instance, not to have this rigid ideological restriction on helping families around the world to be able to make a smart decision about family planning.

You'll help prevent AIDS.

You'll help prevent unwanted children, unwanted pregnancies.

You'll actually do a better job, I think, of passing on the moral responsibility that is expressed in your question. And I truly respect it.

---

- I submit that Kerry's position on abortion/choice is fair to all Americans. Abortion should be kept legal and safe...but with 'family planning' that counsels people on life and responsibility.

- Comments?

[madrchsod]

1. he speaks for the majority of

the people of the united states. ask any husband to chose if his wife is to die or the baby to live and see what their answer is.

[LizW]

2. It is one of the best, most honest and clearest answers

I have ever heard from a politician on the issue of abortion.

There are people who will vote against him because of it, but that can't be helped. I hope we live in a nation where more people see the wisdom and truth in his answer.

[Booster]

14. It was an excellent answer to a hot question, however

I wish Kerry had said "NO President" rather than "I can't..." That would have hit home a lot better, but, hey, the man is doing a bang up job in this campaign so I have no real complaints.

[venus]

3. I agree. There are some pro-choice women who are upset Kerry

doesn't believe in abortion personally but would enforce the law of the land. It's about time we have someone speaking this way. In the past, most politicians have tried to dance around the issue. For the anti-abortionist, he presented an understanding view, if they were listening. Also gave him a chance to express his spirituality without bragging about it and wearing it on his sleeve like the Christian right. Proves he will govern for ALL Americans.

[Q]

9. And even those against abortion know that Bush* governs FOR the right...

...and everyone else can go to hell. He panders to his religious right base...knowing their views represent a very small segment of America. He wants their money and votes and doesn't care about much beyond that.

[booisblu]

4. What would I say to the question

"DEGENHART: Senator Kerry, suppose you are speaking with a voter who believed abortion is murder and the voter asked for reassurance that his or her tax dollars would not go to support abortion, what would you say to that person?"

How about I don't want my tax money paying for an illegal war. But guess what, we haven't really much of a say in how tax money is spent. We all have our moral issues, and that's why you get all the info you can on the people making these decisions before you cast you vote in an election.

I don't want my tax dollars paying for asswipe's campaign apperances
or for his vacation flights to and from the pig ranch
or his photo ops
or for faith based initiatives
or for destroying the forests
or for paying off the energy companies so they can make more profit while adding more pollution and gutting our budgets
don't wanna pay for starwars
don't wanna pay for nukes
don't wanna pay for huge corporation tax write-offs

and the list goes on and on

edited for spelling..too much * watching

[emulatorloo]

5. or "Ms. Degenhart, no one is requiring you to have an abortion."

It isn't mandatory, you know. . .

[Mrs_Beastman]

6. As a Catholic , I agree

Why should I impose my views on other people? And more to the point, history tells us if women can't get abortions legally from clinics...they will try back alleys, alcohol,coat hangers, or herbs.

Mr Beastman disagrees with me on this...but abortion is a red herring. To go into a poll booth and vote for a person because of one issue is dangerous....you end up with religious nuts with no moral compass in office.

[skygazer]

10. Respectfully

Mr. Beastman will never be in a position where he'd have to have one.

I don't think anyone is "pro abortion." Nobody gets up in the morning and says, "gee, I hope I can have an abortion today!" or "I hope I get to perform an abortion today!"

It's not an easy choice for anyone but the option for safe, medically supervised abortion has got to be there.

You are right - it is a red herring. As is prayer in schools, or "under God" in the Pledge. They are issues designed to polarize and take attention away from the real and crucial issues.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

7. i have the exact same perspective on the issue as Kerry

[Q]

8. This is another example...

...of a small percentage of Americans trying to force their 'article of faith' on everyone else through legislation. America has debated this issue for decades. But it comes down to this: either the individual decides or the state decides. Those against CHOICE don't seem to understand that they're giving this decision to the state.

[Dob Bole]

11. yes, but he could have phrased his answer a lot better...

and made it more succinct. I agree with William Saletan on that point, but I'm sure he'll have it down by the domestic policy debate.

He should really make the point that the rate of abortions has increased under Bush, and go at it from that angle. That way, by saying that he supports the right to an abortion, but that there are fewer of them under Democrats, he owns the moral upper hand.

[Q]

12. Well...as you already know...this is a wedge issue...

...that shouldn't even be debated on the national level. Especially when there are so many OTHER life and death issues that get ignored in national debates. Hell...they don't even bother talking about the war on drugs anymore...and talk only briefly about the patriot act. They dance AROUND the fact that the Iraqi 'war' is illegal and that the 'war on terrorism' is nothing more than a gravy train for defense/energy industries.

- On the topic...all Americans must understand that supporting choice for women isn't necessarily pro-abortion.

- It's strange that Bush* always rants about big government wanting to control your life...but then proclaims that the government has the right to control reproduction and forced religious dogma.

[TahitiNut]

13. "Pro-Life" is a religious stance; "Pro-Choice" is a secular stance.

They are not mutually exclusive. There is no 'morality' in complying with the heavy hand of the law. When a person does what they're forced to do, they are neither moral nor immoral.

[JohnKleeb]

15. He really did explain that well

in a way that didn't pander to a particular faith nor did he criticize any faith.

[Cozmosis]

16. Another one of the issues Kerry rocked

Unclear my ass.

[Selwynn]

17. That is the best statement on abortion I've ever heard... and ...

..it is the first statement in my entire life that I feel 100% reflects my own belief.

[justjones]

18. I have soooo much for Kerry after that answer.....

I don't think he could have said it any better...it wasn't a made up answer, it seemed true and from the heart.

One of the many reasons I won't hesitate when voting for Kerry.

[bread_and_roses]

19. no "but" about it

"Abortion should be kept legal and safe...but with 'family planning' that counsels people on life and responsibility." I don't know what you mean by "counsels people on life and responsibility" but there is not and should not be any restriction that requires counseling for women seeking an abortion. This is a legal medical procedure, decided by women in consultation with their own physicians, if with anyone.

Kerry's answer was very smart. My reading of it does not support any "but" after "legal and safe."

Any abortion-single-issue voters out there are never going to vote for Kerry anyway.

immediate edit for garbled sentence

[AngryOldDem]

20. Kerry is right on

>>>- I submit that Kerry's position on abortion/choice is fair to all Americans. Abortion should be kept legal and safe...but with 'family planning' that counsels people on life and responsibility.

- Comments?>>>

My comment? It's the only option open to a politician who takes his responsibility to the entire electorate seriously.

I just wish the religious right wingnuts would wake up and see the sense of combining factual and complete sex education along with the abstinence message.

[Q]

21. The 'religious' right IS awake...

...and they're finally getting what they've always wanted: a return to theocracy.

- Imagine a world with government, corporations and church all sleeping in the same bed.

[IdaBriggs]

22. I loved both the question, and the answer.

It was EXACTLY what I want my President to be doing. :)