Democratic - Republican Party Platforms on Abortion

[Q]

Democratic Party on Abortion

Choice is a fundamental, constitutional right

Democrats stand behind the right of every woman to choose. We believe it is a constitutional liberty. This year’s Supreme Court ruling show us that eliminating a woman’s right to choose is only one justice away. Our goal is to make abortion more rare, not more dangerous. We support contraceptive research, family planning, comprehensive family life education, and policies that support healthy childbearing. - Source: Democratic National Platform Aug 15, 2000


Republican Party on Abortion

Ban abortion with Constitutional amendment

We say the unborn child has a fundamental right to life. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and we endorse legislation that the 14th Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children. Our purpose is to have legislative and judicial protection of that right against those who perform abortions. We oppose using public revenues for abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect the sanctity of innocent human life. - Source: Republican Platform adopted at GOP National Convention Aug 12, 2000

[eileen_d]

1. Pretty much says it all.

Those are good reference quotes. Thanks.

[Q]

2. But note the hypocrisy in the last sentence of the GOP platform?

- GOPers always say that they don't use a 'litmus test' (on abortion) when nominating judges/justices. Yet it states right in their platform what kind of judges they 'prefer'.

- And it appears that some Democrats are voting against their own platform. Do women really have a 'choice'?

[eileen_d]

11. Yes and yes.

Unfortunately neither surprises me.

[Q]

3. Does the 14th amendment apply to the 'unborn'?

...as suggested in the GOP platform?

Amendment XIV

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

- Hmm. Doesn't say a thing about the 'unborn'. That's why they want to 'amend' it to fit their ideology.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. Now let me get this straight

The GOP call the "unborn"-even a zygote, the first joining of cells-a human. They give it MORE rights than a woman who is a viable human being, because they say that a woman has no right to chose to terminate an abortion even if it means saving her life. Somehow, that just doesn't compute.

The latest law banning 'partial birth' abortions does not have a provision in it for protecting a woman's life. The people who wrote the bill said that this procedure is 'never used to save a woman's life', but did not cite sources. Wonder if they are the same folks who said that women who are 'really raped' can't get pregnant?

Sorry, GOP. I think a living woman should have more rights than a clump of fertilized cells that can't live outside a womb.

[JNelson6563]

9. but just look at this picture of a young fetus!

<.>

Cute little bugger, ain't he??

[Resistance Is Futile]

23. It's not supposed to be rational

Opposition to abortion is driven entirely by stupid white men who are concerned about losing their masculinity in its most fundamental sense--the ability to father children--as a result of women being able to abort the stupid white man's baby. There is no rational component to the pro-death/anti-choice argument. It is nothing more than a fear of being castrated by proxy.

[izzie]

4. I can recall when I had to sign a paper saying this.....

To get information on birth control I was sick in my mind and should not have any more children.Well I guess the women of this country will have to fight that fight all over. So much for thinking the battle was over, it was just the first round. When the women lose their rights they will wake up and re-fight the battle. Mean while the rich will go to Eur. or get the right doctors as they always did.

[Q]

6. As long as the Bushie GOP is in power...

...they'll attempt to ban abortions. It's just that simple. And it doesn't help that the Democratic party allows them to do this...step by step.

[Q]

7. How many Dems are aware...

...of the Democratic party's 'official' position on abortion?

[Woodstock]

13. a lot of us ARE Dems because of that position

yesterday some Dems played a political game with their vote

thinking if they gave in on this, they'd stay in the game

but they just put themselves closer to being thrown out for good

most people want Roe v. Wade, and they just helped their Repbulican pals lay the cornerstone for rendering it null and void

some Dems once more played their cards out of FEAR (remember the Iraq war vote, anyone? the Patriot Act vote anyone?) no doubt listening to flawed strategy from party leaders

quite a few Republicans thought that bill was hogwash, but they stuck together

they need the religious right to stay in power - and they just sewed up their votes for many years to come

Dems figure the votes of women are there for the taking, but they are wrong - if they waver on choice (THE defining issue for women choosing Gore over Bush) they are likely to lose more than they ever bargained for

when will Dems learn? will it take another 2002 trouncing? another 4 years of Bush?

the people who believe in that platform are here - there are more of us than the other side, but the "leaders" of the party are too afraid to lead us

I personally, a longtime Dem, am seriously considering switching to Independent after the primary (I'm going to vote for Dean, because he at least knows what the platform is all about, and he knows we are here waiting for someone to stand up for it)

Daschle "leading" the party is that distasteful to me

when the party locates their guts and decides to be Democratic again, they can give me a call, and I might listen

[twilight]

17. what they always did?

I believe those that have or had the $ to go to Europe to get an abortion are few and far between.

More than likely, they'll end up just like they did in the 1960s and before Roe v. Wade. They'll end up going to some back-alley butcher in the worst part of town hoping they'll live to forget it.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

SEIG HEIL THE 4th REICH!!!!!!!

:dem: :kick:

[veganwitch]

19. in valley of the dolls...

*yes i know it is fiction*

the characters talk about going to mexico and i think some doctors in new york.


im sure, even before roe v. wade, if you had the money you could get one in the states.

[twilight]

24. you could get one alright but ...

I happen to know of a very old woman that is in her 80s that had one in the 1940s and she went to the back alley butcher and yeah, you are right, it cost her $500 and that was a load of $ in 1940!

:kick:

[veganwitch]

8. i think one republican said the gop platform well this morning

i was up really early and heard bits of a press conference this morning.

"we now saved all these children's lives who will be working and putting money into social security." *rough quote but the essence is correct*

once again its only about money. (which of course totally denies the fact that most/all late-term abortions are done on fetuses <feti?> that would not survive anyway. absolutely no lives will be saved by this ban.)

also, im soooooooo glad they had the totally UN-biased Dr. Nathenson come talk sense to the senate. /sarcasm.

i guess we are going to have to wait until the first woman dies for this bill to go away.

[Q]

10. A nudge...

...for the kind of late morning posters.

[veganwitch]

14. one good nudge deserves another

i really want to get who said this.

[Renew Deal]

12. At first I thought this was a historical piece about...

The Democratic-Republican party of Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe and John Quincy Adams.

[Nederland]

15. Ironic

That neither party's platform reflects how a large majority of Americans feel about abortion.

[veganwitch]

16. i think the democrats

really just give lip service to the concerns of abortion.

saying your pro-choice is one thing. actually doing something about it and the underlying problem (unplanned pregnancy is the number 1 cause of abortion. poverty and lack of health care being number 2) is another.

as long as those issues are not addressed your "pro-choice-ness" means nothing to me.

[Woodstock]

18. Actually most Americans were fine with Roe v. Wade

Republican propaganda campaign to the contrary.

What they are not for is what this new law will accomplish (and this is only the beginning - the next law to restrict abortion even further is already in the works):

From http://www.counterpunch.org:

The Supreme Court in Roe v. Wade makes abortions in the first and second trimesters legal. Third trimester abortions are banned except to protect the health or save the life of the mother. The new law, expected to be signed by Bush immediately, in effect makes third trimester abortions illegal altogether, and may do the same for some second trimester abortions.

[denverbill]

20. Pretty ironic if you ask me.

Conservatives want to extend the equal protection clause to fetuses, but they didn't want the Equal Rights Amendment to extend equal rights to females.

[Woodstock]

21. I just want to say

All you pro-choice guys here are WONDERFUL!!! :)

[veganwitch]

22. cause then we would have to cancel mothers day...

and use the same bathrooms!!!

(actual "arguments" against the ERA).

phyllis shitfly said the first one i believe.