The Silent Issue

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  • Posted By: liberaldemocratwoman @ 11/04/2008 10:22:42 AM

    Why isn't someone stating the ooooh soooo obvious, that since 1973 when the decsion on Roe vs. Wade was made during Nixon's (a republican) presidency that there have been a total of 5 Republican Presidents including Ford, Reagan (2 terms), Bush Senior and Bush Junior (2 terms) that not one has done anything to change the laws pertaining to abortion and yet christians use this as their number one reason for voting the conservative republican ticket? Republicans have held the presidency for 25 out of the last 35 years of abortions legalization and yet NOTHING has changed! I have seen much more killing under those same Republican presidents however, under the name of war. I vote my consience and it says that I'm for my country, the poor (not corporations), the enironment and I'm AGAINST war! Since Republican Presidents haven't done anything about Roe vs. Wade, the rest of their policies make it EASY for me to CHOOSE........Pro life Christian DEMOCRAT woman

  • Posted By: terikeats @ 11/04/2008 8:13:08 AM

    The fundimental right of all is the right to life. I heard Obama said he didn't want his daughter punished with a baby if she made a mistake - could we get away with that in any other situation? We are held accountable for our actions in the workplace, in our schools, etc. What we need is a protector of life. I agree that wars are responsible for the loss of life too - but those who sign up for that duty are adults and able to make that decision to risk their life for their country on their own.

    • Posted By: Phoenix77 @ 11/04/2008 10:20:49 AM

      How about the children that had bombs droped on them by the military, who is accoutable for that?

  • Posted By: echurley @ 11/04/2008 10:16:39 AM

    Pro choice allows each person to follow his/her own conscience. I do not want someone's viewpoint shoved down my throat.

    • Posted By: kw3400 @ 11/04/2008 10:20:49 AM

      Well, what if i drwon my two year old in a bathtub because i believe it's okay, my conscience tells me its ok. What then? There has to be a standard that we follow othere than our consciences.

  • Posted By: catjax @ 11/04/2008 10:19:37 AM

    Palin wants to say she didn't have an abortion but fails to state that she did have amnio until her 7 month of pregnancy (way to late to have one) but goes on to state that even if her daughter had been raped, she would not have allowed her to have an abortion. She herself came into office as the Governor of Alaska and made her own "WOMEN" citizens pay for their own rape kits until it was overturned. What is she, some kind of nut job? Who is she to tell any woman what they can and cannot do with their own bodies? Isn't that exactly what all the republicans are accusing Obama of by socialism? Taking away our right to make our own decisions? What's the damn difference.

  • Posted By: Nowforsomemoretruth @ 11/04/2008 10:19:13 AM

    Obama's plan for jobs on Pennsylvania, West Virginia and other coal producting states, and Obama's plan for dealing with the high cost of energy, including electricity generation.

    An audiotape of an interview Barack Obama did in January 2008 with The San Francisco Chronicle has surfaced in the final days of the presidential campaign. On the tape Obama tells the interviewer how he will use environmenal laws to kill the Coal industry,

    "so if somebody wants to build a coal-powered plant, they can ... It's just that it will bankrupt them because they're going to be charged a huge sum for all that greenhouse gas that's being emitted."

    Also says he's policy will cause price of electricity to skyrocket.

    Now, why would Obama say that in San Francisco and not Pennsylvania? We've seen him do that before, right? Something about guns and religion.

    And why did Newsweek take their story on the Pennsylvania campaign down Sunday after this story broke?

  • Posted By: keye @ 11/04/2008 9:50:45 AM

    How can the courts rule a murdered pregnant women is a double homicide, yet abortion is legal?

    • Posted By: cooper3 @ 11/04/2008 10:00:23 AM

      Yea.....How does THAT work? Talk about a double standard.

  • Posted By: KJC03 @ 11/04/2008 9:05:31 AM

    @Conservative-Liberal: Check your facts. Governor Palin said she supports abortion when the mother's life is at risk. The media used Palin as a punching bag these past few months. Don't believe everything you hear.

    • Posted By: Conservative-Liberal @ 11/04/2008 9:06:48 AM

      www.mydebates.org ... look at the VEEP debate ... she made the direct comment there.

      • Posted By: Conservative-Liberal @ 11/04/2008 9:09:19 AM

        But oh, I get it now ... you're telling me not to believe everything I've heard her say ... thanks for clearing that up.

        • Posted By: KJC03 @ 11/04/2008 9:17:14 AM

          Even the liberally biased Huffington Post reported that Palin makes the exception for when the mother's life is at risk. "mydebates.org" is a social networking site, not a real news source. Check your facts.

          • Posted By: Conservative-Liberal @ 11/04/2008 10:18:32 AM

            mydebates.org has the actual footage of the debate, unedited, uncut ... a lot better than allowing yourself to be spoon-fed your information...and even if she rescinded her comment, it still stands that she would not make allowances for rape/incest victims.

  • Posted By: terikeats @ 11/04/2008 8:18:07 AM

    The fundamental right of all is the right to life. I heard that Obama said he didn't want his daughter punished with a baby if she made a mistake. Wake up! It is called accountability. Without the protection of our innocent lives, what will be next - getting rid of the elderly who no longer are a functioning part of society?

    • Posted By: Phoenix77 @ 11/04/2008 10:17:04 AM

      How do you force a victim of rape or incest to be accountable?

    • Posted By: 1truechristian1 @ 11/04/2008 9:14:30 AM

      Don't people already do that by shoving the elderly into nursing homes when they don't feel like being bothered with them? try again.

  • Posted By: prolifeconservative @ 11/04/2008 9:06:52 AM

    The reason abortion is such a big issue with Christians is because our first right as humans (not only Christian humans, but ALL humans) is the right to life. Once you take that first fundamental right away, all other rights begin to fall as well.

    • Posted By: anthonyva @ 11/04/2008 10:16:14 AM

      extremist mentality

  • Posted By: Peanut Santiago @ 11/04/2008 10:14:04 AM

    The way I see it, the Republicans are NOT really trying to get rid of legal abortion...they just pay lip service. Even a conservative Supreme Court, Republican president, and a Republican majority in Congress for years (until 2 years ago) didn't try very hard to overthrow legalized abortion. **************************** Why not vote for all the OTHER issues facing our country? *************** Maybe it is just me, but I do not see either party wanting to make abortion illegal...maybe because Americans may be anti-abortion...but still want to choose for themselves.... You just never know what will happen to you and your loved ones.... ********** Peace people.

  • Posted By: driver1234 @ 11/04/2008 9:07:26 AM

    1truechristian1 if you were able to prevent one man from killing another man would you stand by and do nothing instead? No one has the right to take another life, no one. The woman made her choice when she opened her legs. In cases of rape and incest, sad as the circumstances might be, it doesn't change the fact that it's still a helpless child. That child did not choose to be conceived, it is innocent in all of this.

    • Posted By: anthonyva @ 11/04/2008 10:13:31 AM

      that child can't even form a thought because it is an embryo. so don't you think that if it could make the choice to either not be born or to be born into a horrendous situation and more than likely end up in the "system" having the rest of the world carp and him/her for the rest of the "life" - that that child would expect it's parents to make the choice for them, in THEIR BEST INTEREST?????

    • Posted By: unityfirst23 @ 11/04/2008 9:32:15 AM

      that would be a slap in the face to have to relive that rape all over again every time a rape victim has to look at their child. i was raped when i was young. any person making remarks for raped women have no idea what its like and until you experience something like that then i believe you have no grounds to talk about it. that is a hurtful, humiliating and alot of women can't deal with it and for them to become pregnant as a result and for abortion to be illegal then where does that lead????

  • Posted By: shasta0398 @ 11/04/2008 10:02:27 AM

    To the poster that said, " I took the responsible step and did not bring a child into this world that could not be taken care of or loved properly".....as someone who was adopted I can say that there are PLENTY of people who could and would properly love and take care of an unwanted, inconvenient baby or child.

    And to the poster who said, "I am fully opposed to forced staying where I'm at when I'm drunk and the government taking away MY civil right to choose what to do with MY body. If I want to drive drunk, I will." It's not about YOU?! Stop being so selfish about YOUR right to drink and drive and think about the child or mother or father you might kill because God forbid someone take away YOUR RIGHT! Are you serious that can't look beyond yourself and see that we could care less if those who want to drink and drive kill themselves with their reckless behavior...it's our families and friends we're trying to protect from people like you.

    • Posted By: ck3313 @ 11/04/2008 10:11:34 AM

      The poster with the drunk driving comment, took my comment and changed it from abortion to drunk driving. I agree that there are plenty of people who would like to adopt and could take care of a child, however, what about all of the children in the system already. I think that the adoption process needs to be revised as well, to allow loving families to take care of these children bouncing from foster home to foster home.

  • Posted By: tnvolfan3333 @ 11/04/2008 9:38:43 AM

    I don't understand why people vote for a Republican solely because of abortion. We have had a Republican Pres for 8 years and abortion is still legal, right? So, what makes them think that voting Republican will change it now? Am I missing something?

    • Posted By: tbourlon @ 11/04/2008 10:10:50 AM

      Yes, you are missing something. GWB signed the partial birth abortion ban, which came before Clinton twice, which he vetoed. No Democrat would ever sign that bill, they must tow the party line, just ask Biden. GWB also put two conservatives on the Supreme Court, one more and we just might get Roe overturned. Plus, it's not just that Obama is pro-choice, he is the most pro-abortion candidate we've ever had. Pro-choicers always ask me why don't I try to take care of those already born, why don't you ask Obama the same thing? He voted AGAINST protecting the lives of babies born alive from abortion FOUR TIMES! And then he tries to make his conciliatory speech about "valuing the sanctity of life," which he clearly does not, IMO, if I have trouble deciding between two candidates on all other reasons, abortion is the tie-breaker.

    • Posted By: Young Hickory @ 11/04/2008 9:47:05 AM

      You are thinking too pragmatically. Single issue voters are usually unsophisticated and have difficulty weighing the relative merits of two candidates on multiple issues to determine which would be better for the country. Secretly, they feel inadequate to vote and truth be told probably shouldn't vote but out of a misguided sense of duty or morality they pick a single issue and choose what they feel is the moral high ground. They are mainly concerned about exculpating themselves from any unintended consequences of their votes such as wars, depressions etc. by claiming that they had no choice and felt morally compelled to vote the way that they did. This leaves them susceptible to manipulation by Republicans who never really intend to overturn Roe versus Wade because then they would lose all these low information (what a wonderful euphemism for ignorant) voters.

    • Posted By: MWMaine @ 11/04/2008 9:44:56 AM

      It may or may not change...but it's your intention that God sees. What do you think is right? Morally?

  • Posted By: usbear2008 @ 11/04/2008 10:01:16 AM

    Perhaps the debate was where it belongs....between a woman, her conscience, her doctor and, if she has one, her religious adviser. Not in the hands of the all-controlling, paternalistic, anti-progress Roman Catholic Church and all the other churches.

    • Posted By: Conservative-Liberal @ 11/04/2008 10:10:24 AM

      Ooooo ... well said!

  • Posted By: ladislasdehoyos @ 11/04/2008 9:53:12 AM

    I don't even know why we are discussing it, most pro lifer on this board seem to be quoting the bible at every turn. "you belong to god" and all that. It can't be discussed rationally and should be a personal decision.

    I don't deny the rights of pro lifers to have a dozen kids if they like but they deny me the choice.

    As for the imbecile who said Obama is going to be elected because he is a Secular candidate in a secular country, I have a question: have you ever traveled abroad? except for middle eastern countries(the irony..) we are the most religious nation on earth, candidates of both parties during the primaries where falling over each other has to who was the most pious, anywhere else on earth (except the middle east) any candidate would be discredited if he mentioned his/her religion in a speech. Ever seen Bush praying before every cabinet meeting? good it did them huh??

    We have many freedoms here, speech religion etc.. but what about freedom FROM religion? I am not interested in it and resent being lectured constantly about it.
    I am totally OK with people enjoying their faith whatever it may be but please, let me enjoy my non-faith!

    • Posted By: cllnsjeff @ 11/04/2008 10:08:54 AM

      To ladislasdehoyos: you say abortion is your personal choice- your personal right. Since when is murder your personal choice-your personal right? Perhaps you see rape, torture, and racism as your personal choice-your personal right as well. How about the considering the unborn child's constintutionally protected right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

  • Posted By: sariah_1129 @ 11/04/2008 8:22:03 AM

    I think that in some cases abortion should be legal. If a woman is raped should she be forced to carry that child? Of course abortion should have to be performed early on in the pregnancy. But you can't just say abortion is bad....make it illegal!!! It should be legal for rape victims and very young girls, like under 13.

    • Posted By: cr8zyc00ter @ 11/04/2008 8:28:25 AM

      that is not what some (Obama) belive though......they want to make it so anyone can get an abortion without talking with parents or the Father of the baby, or with a Woman who can't have kids and would love to adopt a baby.....the issue is that there is too much "Freedom" to kill the innocent when there are other ways to deal with a "mistake" as some would call children.

      • Posted By: Peanut Santiago @ 11/04/2008 10:06:20 AM

        Adopt a baby or child that is NOT perfect. There are plenty to go around.

    • Posted By: cr8zyc00ter @ 11/04/2008 8:34:47 AM

      but that is not what some would like.......they would like to make is so anyone can go kill an innocent baby without first talking with their parents or the Father of the baby or maybe even a woman who can't have children but would love to adopt a baby......the issue is that this "Freedom of Choice" is all about how can I make my life easier instead of owning up to the responsabilities of the Choice you made in the first place....we are all created equally INCLUDING the unborn, so what gives us the right to kill because we don't want instead of giving them (the unborn) a chance at life.

      • Posted By: Peanut Santiago @ 11/04/2008 10:05:24 AM

        Women already kill unborn babies and have for a VERY looong time....even when it was illegal. I guess that the mother's mental health is worth less than a rape or inc*st baby.... I just hope that some of you or your daughters out there never have to make that decision. I hope that you never have a seriously deformed baby either.

    • Posted By: chance2live @ 11/04/2008 8:52:10 AM

      Aborting a baby due to the fact that the mother was raped, by anyone is not going to remove the pain and anguish of the rape. It will give the mother another issue to have as a terrible memory. I feel bad for these children and women who have been raped, it is their body, but why should a baby be punished for the fathers sins. Give up the baby to someone who cannot have any.
      As far as the life of the mother in jeopardy, if the child had zero chance at survival, then what can you do, but if it for the mothers life- I guess it would be the most difficult decision to make and ask God to forgive me for what I am about to do. Most abortions are not due to rape or save a mothers life. I saw a video online called "The silent Scream". How is an abortion humane-now a baby is being mutilated. You would think for the people who find themselves in a bad situation to have an abortion, doctor's could find a humane way to put the baby in the grave, to end the suffering they endure. Then give it a funeral with the love and respect they deserve. No one considers giving the baby a chance to develope their life enough that they are given the opportunity to have a brain to consider anything. I am pro-life,! All life is just as important to GOD as the others, I will put my life in God's hands and pray for the best.
      Sorry to all rape victims and aborted babies,It was not your fault!

  • Posted By: Bari 1986 @ 11/04/2008 10:06:11 AM

    Dear Proud,
    Aren't you part of the "WE" people you are talking about? What do you do to help those others you speak about. My conscience is clear in regards to helping those less fortunate than I am. Or do you leave it to others? I have no argument with a woman having the choice over what she does with her body.
    I only ask that she be given informed counseling as to what alternatives there are other than abortion, and not to use abortion as a birth control tool.

  • Posted By: Tyrell @ 11/04/2008 10:05:38 AM

    "Raised with it." Yes, I admit---we were all brainwashed from birth, were perpetually barraged with images of pre-born babies, accompanied by chants of "This a human being, This is a human being, This is a human being."

  • Posted By: anotherignorantamerican @ 11/04/2008 10:04:10 AM

    Abortion is an issue to be fixed by the people, the courts and the legal system. If you want to change something than go and petition. It should not be the Presidents responsibility to tell us where to stand on this issue. It is our responsibility to do that. Obviously public opinion has dictated that we are still a predominately pro-choice country.

  • Posted By: Lilongwe Joe @ 11/04/2008 10:01:56 AM

    I was impressed and surprised to see such an even-handed article on this topic in Newsweek, until I came to the first paragraph past the break. Abortion opponents are not "divisive" or "mean-hearted". I believe passionately that abortion is a grave civil wrong, on a par with slavery. I would love nothing more than to have everyone agree with me, but holding my position is no more divisive than an abortion supporter holding their position. Moreover, I fail to see how it is "mean-hearted" to preserve the life of a child from those who suppose, for their own reasons, that the child is better off dead. If you want "mean-hearted", look rather to the abuse of Gov. Palin for the brave decisions reflected in her own family.

    By the way, the notion offered by Prof. Kmiec and other commenters that the Republicans have had their chance and are merely milking the issue denies constitutional reality. The bitter fruit of Justice Blackmun's extra-legal excursion in Roe v. Wade has both narrowly limited the legislative alternatives and guaranteed that any legislative effort will be subject to years of legal challenge. Unfortunately, no such impediment exists to the so-called "Freedom of Choice Act" guaranteeing abortion on demand and to funding the UNPA, subsidizing China's one child policy. We'll see what Prof. Kmiec says when President Obama appoves these measures.

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