Ford was pro-choice with no apologies

[question everything]

I wish that Kerry did the same


from a 1999 "Larry King Live" interview, which CNN reaired over the weekend. King and Ford discussed a divisive social issue:

King: What are your thoughts on the great debate in your party about abortion?

Ford: Well, I have to be very frank and clear here. Betty and I are pro-choice, period. We have no apology for that. And we, on the other hand, don't think that issue should be in the partisan political arena.

King: Shouldn't be in the platform even?

Ford: That's right. It's not a philosophical, partisan issue. It's a very personal issue. We can be opposed to abortion, but it should not be thrown into the partisan political debate. And, therefore, even though we're pro-choice, we would oppose any effort to get an antiabortion provision in our platform.

King: Do you think the party can get itself together in that? I mean, there are a lot of worries that, you know, we're the all-inclusive party, but you know the differences are extreme in that area.

Ford: Well, a major national political party has to be a party as an umbrella. And under that umbrella, you'll have differences of opinion on individual issues. And abortion is one of those. We have some who are pro-life and some who are pro-choice. And we have other issues, Larry, where there is a legitimate difference of opinion.

[AlCzervik]

1. he was also against the rise of the RW Christians interfering in public policy.

[k_jerome]

2. he also vocally supported affrimative action...

what a monster.

[JohnnyLib2]

3. and this, from Wikipedia

"On 29 October 2001, in an article by Deb Price, a columnist with the Detroit News, Ford broke with conservative members of the Republican party by stating that gay and lesbian couples "ought to be treated equally. Period." He became the highest ranking Republican to embrace full equality for gays and lesbians, stating his belief that there should be a federal amendment outlawing anti-gay job discrimination and expressed his hope that the Republican Party would reach out to gay and lesbian voters.<76> He also was a member of the Republican Unity Coalition, which The New York Times described as "a group of prominent Republicans, including former President Gerald R. Ford, dedicated to making sexual orientation a nonissue in the Republican Party"

[question everything]

4. Thank you. The last real Republican

who believed in "live and let live" that a small government does not mean getting into someone's bedroom or doctor's office.

[HockeyMom]

5. Reagan started

Religious Right Republican Party. Yet even he didn't come close to what they are today, having a complete strangle hold on the Party.

They created a Monster and now that Monster is eating them alive.

[AlCzervik]

7. Nixon opened the door for them, Ronnie let them move in.

[question everything]

15. And Carter introduced Evangelism into the White House

I don't remember him actually saying that "god told him to do so" or something like that, but it was implied that he was listening to god in making decisions.

[Little Wing]

6. No way! He was a monster! He pardoned Nixon!

BurrrrnnnN!

[omega minimo]

8. No one need apologize for supporting women's rights.

:thumbsup:

[omega minimo]

9. .

[NashVegas]

10. Some News Reporter (ABC?) Said Tuesday That Ford Wanted His Appointment of JP Stevens

to SCOTUS to be his legacy.

Just sayin'

[omega minimo]

13. What's the connection?

:shrug:

[treestar]

11. A repuke couldn't do that now

In the 70s maybe, but that was before the rise of the fundies.

Ford was not all bad, no one says he was. He was just not all that, either.

[omega minimo]

12. Could a Democrat?

[xxqqqzme]

14. I was thinking that Betty Ford also

was quite vocal in her support of the ERA. I may be wrong but a tiny part of my brain seems to recall that.