McCain Flips On Abortion: Won't Challenge Party On Rape, Incest Exceptions

ABC News:

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., is facing enormous pressure from social conservatives to ignore his repeated commitment to change the GOP's platform on abortion.

"If he were to change the party platform [to recognize exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother], I think that would be political suicide," Tony Perkins, the president of the conservative Family Research Council, told ABC News. "I think he would be aborting his own campaign because that is such a critical issue to so many Republican voters and the Republican brand is already in trouble."

A senior Republican close to McCain told ABC News that building a more inclusive G.O.P. is a top priority for the Arizona senator.

But this adviser does not see changing the party platform to include exceptions for rape, incest, and the life of the mother as necessary for achieving that vision.

Read the whole story: ABC News

Comments

[rh654]

The Democrats HAVE to - and I hope that they get a clear, short, concise message on this - go after the fact that if McCain wins he will appoint judges to the Supreme Court and Roe decision is as good as gone.

[PFHarlock]

We're going to hear that coming from the Democrats so much that we'll hear it in our sleep. And that's the way it should be.

[TrueIndy08]

I am a woman and I do not like abortion... ot for me personally... BUT.... I do not feel that I have the right to tell the next woman what she can and cannot do with HER body!!!!

You so called DEMS who want to bolt to this raving idiot better think twice before you end up with nothing and NO rights... then you will wonder how you got that way!!!!

[Jimmyboyo]

rj654

at least 2 judges will be apointed by the next president. more than enough to overturn roe v wade. The dem party will unite! mark my words. No hillary supporting female is going to allow Mccain to force their daughters , sisters, themselves, and theor friends into back alley butcher shops and or close hanger ordeals.

mcCain UNITING the dem party with every word he utters 08

[lungfish]

Typical GOP nonsense..... pander to the Christian nutjobs by trading their votes for an anti-abortion stance and at the same time offer nothing to support that woman who must keep the baby. No social support, no universal health care, no nothing. Just a self righteous claim of "morality" while solving nothing - all for the votes of some religious, superstitious, domineering nutcases. That is "Compassionate Conservativism". Another sham brought to you by the GOP.... and John McCain, who has clearly will say anything, and deny he said it, just to get a run at the POTUS.
I am glad Hillary is out because between her crap and McCain's, the run for President would have been simply sickening. Can you imagine what it would have been like to watch those two lie, shift positions, deny documented commentary, etc???? So glad that isn't the next phase....

[HWBII]

Good on you, Lungfish. I only wish that someone, somewhere during this endless campaign could force McCain to defend the indefensible position of excluding rape/incest/life of the mother. It would only take one journalist/interviewer who is willing to hold his feet to the fire and force him to justify his answers. Not with generalities but with specifics... "if a teenage girl is raped, should she be forced to bring that child to term? If she's raped by her father, must she bring that child to term?"
And if McCain equivocates, ask him again and again... what happens to the child? what happens to the mother? Are we prepared to offer a safety net for the unwanted child?

[robotfog]

to make McCain look even worse, the reporter should be prepared with true stories to prove that the scenarios are real and not just supposition.

[TJoad]

And so goes the "Straight-Talk-Out -Of-My-Ass" Express. . .

[sparkey]

This seems to me to be an awful lot like what is happening in the middle east. Men make the decisions regarding what women will or won't do. Of course, Islam also says that men are for fun and women are for making babies. Does that mean that the republicans want Islam to be the dominant religion in the U.S.? They seem to want women to be barefoot and pregnant and to let the men make all their decisions since they're apparantly too stupid to decide for themselves. McCain probably has another motive, however. He'll need troops for his 100 year war with Iraq and Iran. The stupid women who aren't allowed to think for themselves and who have no control over their bodies are going to be baby makers for future troops to be killed for the glorious fatherland.

[DesertLight]

If one can believe this article, I am as conservative as it comes and I have no problem with this position. I have always and only ever been against abortion as a matter of convenience.

[JadedAggie]

Uh....You need to reread the article. He is saying no abortions with no exceptions even for the mother's health.

[liberalghost]

What business is it of yours? I am against conservatism and think it is a a crime against humanity. But that's an moral opinion, I'm not going to actually send you to the Hague. At least not yet. Maybe someday .

However, given the now known impact of recession, food price increases, and job loss, families are becoming homeless. Are you openning your home and refirigerator to help the children forced onto the street. one of the most disgusting sights is self-righteous wackos who get their picture into the newspaper, helping to feed the homeless on Thanksgiving and Christmas, but let them starve the other 363 of the year.

Or are you just a reichwing religious wacko who talks morality eight hours a day but never practices it if it impacts your wallet?

[SaskiaStars]

I have a question for any self proclaimed feminist who has vowed to vote for McCain and not vote for Obama in November.

What exactly is your problem with Obama - and spare me the "he's inexperienced" or "he had a crazy Pastor" because those are not a good enough reasons for a self proclaimed feminist to vote for a man who has publicly stated that he will be sure to appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court and we all know what that means to Roe v. Wade. I am really curious what the problem is because I have not seen a shred of evidence that Senator Obama is against any issues that are important to women.

I am asking this, in all honesty, and as respectfully as I can, as a 45 year old white woman who is a proud Obama supporter. If there is something about him that I and millions of other progressive women voters are missing, please enlighten us.

Obama 08

[americanwomaninpa]

Being inexperienced is a very big issue. I can't just push it aside and say it doesn't matter.

[SaskiaStars]

I respect your concerns and they are valid - but are you saying that the inexperience issue is enough to make you vote for McCain and possibly help to turn this Country back 50 years with regard to women's reproductive rights?

Respecfully, don't you think that Barack Obama is smart enough to surround himself with talented, experienced, level headed people who, together with Obama's good judgment, will guide this Country through the disaster course that we are on?

There is a video (20 minutes long) of Wolf Blitzer's interview of Barack Obama and I can't imagine anyone would watch it in it's entirety and not see the thoughtful, intelligent, level headed person that he is. Wolf specifically asks him about Supreme Court judges - you really need to watch it. I will go get the link and post it.

[NYC07]

"Inexperienced" means that he will probably seek out the advice of the Best and the Brightest and it a lot better then and Angry senile man who thinks it's funny to sing " Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Iran" feels that 100 years of war is fine and who kisses the rear end of the Religious Right.

[Nolewoman]

I would like to know the answer to this also. I am a 63 year old white feminist who liked Hilary well enough until Obama declared. I have been a supporter of him since the speech he made at the Convention in 2004. I never considered supporting Hilary once he declared. We need to choose a president on the basis of his character, intelligence, etc. and not because of gender or race. A feminist that votes for McSame will betray herself and her sisters beyond belief. I cannot wrap my mind around that scenerio. I too feel that Obama is on the right, no pun intended, side of women's issues.

[Diana]

What was so frightening about the clinton campagin tactics is they whipped her supporters into a frenzy just like the cons do with their rank-and-file. All very deliberate, all very rovian. Anyone questioning clinton's tactics is deemed a 'hillary hater,' exactly the same chant the criminal propagandists have been leveling against the left for opposing bush.

There's nothing rational behind the hillbots rabid opposition to obama; they were simply taught to be this way by the clinton propagandists. Very scary.

[Changeling]

Mary should have to keep the baby she now is expecting because Daddy made 3AM visits?

And don't tell me she can give it up. It would be its own horror to know that a product of that horror was out there...somewhere and (sooner or later) it'll be coming to knock on your door wondering about its conception.

Then you get to ruin yet another existence with that horror.

Anyone that can propose outlawing abortion without those exceptions is a thousand times more morally bankrupt than the pro-choicers they tell are going to burn.

[letsgetsmart]

I have had a hard time understanding republicans for a long time but this repeat says a lot. Exceptions for rape,incest and the life of the mother. Does this say that republicans do not care at all about the woman? Rape and incest will screw someone up for their whole lives and making them have the child guarantees this will have the maximum negative impact. The life of the mother says that they are from the stone age and are dominated by freaks like the ones who do not believe in doctors and medical treatment. How about snake bite or a broken leg, should she have to live with this also? Being the candidate for a bunch of crazy people says a lot about McCain. How can any of these heartless people sleep at night? OK, republicans, justify this madness.

[robotfog]

They don't care about mental health issues. They just want young people to send to war or to work 50 hours a week to support the economy.

[KarateKid]

Mr. Flip Flop better watch it. My Focus on The Family brother in law is not voting for him, and so are many of his brethren. It's time for another pander, Grandpa.

[raker]

Rape and incest exceptions betray the dishonesty of some opposition to legal abortion. If a little glob of cells has a soul and must be protected, then wouldn't it have a soul even when the sex was unwelcome or unpleasant? Rape/incest exceptions tell us that what they're really opposed to is sex for pleasure without consequences. Don't fear sex. Educate about sex and birth control, and discourage abortion if you like, but keep abortion safe and legal. Vote Democratic.

[NoSillyName]

McCain changes his stand every time the stricter conservatives challenge him. Got a backbone, John?

Insane that those people think the unborn are more important than the independent being that's carrying them. More important than the mother's life. Must be born to rape & incest survivors.

Women are still seen as nothing more than incubators.

Sick.

[in4success]

mccain flips on everything: http://bravenewfilms.org/blog/468-the-real-mccain

[GeorgeKaplan]

Surprise! McCain is a Republican! That's why he must not be elected President... I mean that's another of many, many reasons why he should be set out to pasture.

[MrKnuckles]

So what's new? Of course McCain is required by his ultra tight-cheeked political affiliation to fashion himself into a lock stepping Lemming. He is bound by stringent membership rules that prissily insist that he stick strictly to mouthing the now tired, discredited, and ever unbendable talking points and failed policies of the right wing.
But hey! It has got to be a bitch for Johnny, being forced by his political ambition into becoming the wizen poster child for that miserable coven of ditto-heads, who still haven't got the message yet that they've worn out their welcome and that they're soon going to be thrown out on their collective ear.

[ErinOK]

My reproduction times are over, but my daughters' times are yet to come. I cannot imagine forcing them to go through a pregnancy due to a rape. This is barbaric. This is why people need to really need to take the needs of others into consideration before threatening to switch to McCain if their candidate does not succeed.

I refuse to have this right removed for my daughters. Right now they are 8 and 6 years old. Bad things happen everyday. If one of them were to be raped (God forbid - really God, please forbid this from happening), not only would they be subject to the horror of the act but also the possible result from this terrifying and repulsive act.

How could anyone look a rape or incest victim in the face and tell her that she has to carry a child that she did not want and did not willingly participate in the possible creation of said child?

This right is much to important than any hurt feelings from this primary.