Question about repubs stances on abortion

[jessicazi]

I am engaged in a debate with several Conservatives regarding abortion. The conservatives are pretty moderate in their abortion views (compared to some of the radicals). They support abortion in cases of rape, incest, danger to mother's health, or the fetus not living through the pregnancy or not living long after being delivered.

Basically I am telling them that the Repub party platform is to the right of their stance, and there are many Repubs who are genuinely opposed to abortion, no matter what the circumstance is. They state that the only reason Republicans are opposed to all abortion is to "overshoot." Meaning, they really aren't opposed to all abortion, but they just overshoot for strategic purposes.

One person said this, "If 50% of republicans are for abortion only in a few cases, and the other 50% are against it, then the stance has to be pushed the hardest possible right? The party hasnt been able to ban third trimester/partial birth abortions and such for no good reason. It's because of their hardline stance."

And, "What I am suggesting is that you will see political parties over reach... Bush for instance is against abortions in allc ases but for rape, incest, or health. Guliani is the same way. Several Republicans are the same way. Yet they aim for sweeping legislation on it."

Let me explain to you what happens to a bill when it goes infront of congress. Both sides take a butcher knife to it and cut off the parts that they dont like.. However they can only cut so much. It helps if you are a politician in Washington to push for the most you can get, because the fact is you wont get all you ask for."

He talks to people like they are freaking idiots, I hate this guy. Any suggestions, data, or information I can use in this debate?
Does anyone here really think the only reason Republicans seek to outlaw all abortion is because it is a tactic and they never really think it would happen...

Thanks, jessica

[doublethink]

1. Hey Jessica .....

The argument of these people asking for the extreme to actually get what they propose as a compromise is an absurd premise. Give an inch take a mile. Anyway I can see your frustration in arguing with such a disingenuous fallacy to begin with. For what it's worth here's an article from yesterday by Molly Ivins you might use as ammunition to better frame the debate somehow on their hypocrisy. "Pro-war and pro-life: The culture of hypocrisy"
here ..... http://www.qctimes.com/internal.php?story_id=1052243&t=Opinion&c=22,1052243

Peace :)