|
I thought he faltered on his original response last night. He picked it up again once Bush opened up the "no exceptions" area of attack, but I didn't think his first statement would win over any of the moderates who disagree on abortion, but might be swayed if he puts the issue into terms they can accept.
I know what Kerry's position is. I respect his religious beliefs, although I myself am not bound by the Christian faith, and I think he's pushing the right track, but it needs refined more. You could tell from the reaction shot that the woman who asked the question wasn't satisfied.
Kerry's position is simple and easily understood, when presented in the right way. He is personally opposed to abortion, as taught by his religious upbringing, but knows that it is not the purpose of the government to force any one system of beliefs upon the nation as a whole.
This is bound to be one of his most vulnerable points in the next debate, so he needs to have a forceful and convincing response ready. Something like this. Imagine it in Kerry's voice:
"Few issues facing America today have the power to divide this country as quickly and drastically as that of abortion. And that’s understandable, because few issues revolve around such a profoundly important choice. I can’t imagine, can’t even come close to knowing the anguish of a young mother forced to make that heart-wrenching decision, knowing that her choice may well torment her to her last days on this planet. I can’t know, because I will never have to make that choice. I, like most of us, will never be put in a position where I must decide whether my unborn child will survive. But the gravity and importance of that decision is precisely why such choices must be left to the mother.
I don’t support abortion. I wish we lived in a world where no pregnancy was aborted because no pregnancy was unwanted. I wish we lived in a world where there were no single mothers living in poverty, forced to decide whether or not to bring a child into the world, only to watch helplessly as it starves. I wish we lived in a world where every child had a good home, a loving family, and a bright future. But we don’t live in that world, no matter how hard we wish it. However, there are steps we can take. Steps that, as your president, I will take, to ensure that the number of abortions performed continues to drop.
It starts with teaching abstinence. Absolutely, it does. But it can’t end with abstinence. It has to include education about contraception. It has to include birth control and planning. It has to include affordable health care for single mothers. We have to ensure that women who don’t want to become pregnant won’t become pregnant, and that those who do become pregnant can afford to be pregnant.
I understand there are very serious issues of faith at work. I have the utmost respect for those beliefs. I share those beliefs. I was raised a Catholic, and the lessons of my faith I carry with me always. But here in America, this great nation of ours, one truth is absolute. No matter what my feelings, no matter how strongly I believe in the teachings of my church and my faith, no matter how good and righteous my intentions may be, one truth is absolute. In this free and democratic nation of ours, this shining bastion of liberty and diversity, this grand experiment in a country ruled not by blood or title, but a nation of, by and for the people, in this great endeavor that we call these United States of America, one truth is absolute. None of us have the right to force our beliefs onto others. None of us have the right to impose our points of view on those who do not share them. None of us have the right to dictate our own religious doctrine upon those who follow a different path. That’s not what America is for, and that’s not what I’m for.
As president, I will work every day to end abortion. But we can’t do that with a law. We have to do it by working together to eliminate the causes of abortion. We have to eliminate poverty. We have to eliminate unwanted and unplanned pregnancies. We have to eliminate the kind of thinking that causes the wrong choices to be made. But we cannot eliminate the rights of women to make their own choices. America deserves better than that."
I think something crafted in that manner would stand a pretty good shot at swaying some of the genuine pro-lifers. The radical anti-choice faction won't be swayed no matter what, but if we can eat away some of the opposition on this issue, it'll benefit us.
|
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
