McCain Alarms Base With Abortion Comment

Politico:

Top social conservative leaders in key battleground states are urging John McCain not to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights, warning of dire consequences from a Republican base already unenthused about their nominee.

McCain's comments Wednesday to the Weekly Standard's Stephen Hayes that former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge's pro-abortion rights views wouldn't necessarily rule him out quickly found their way into the in-boxes of Christian conservatives. For those who have been anxiously awaiting McCain's pick as a signal of his ideological intentions, there was deep concern that their worst fears about the Arizona senator may be realized.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[LillianB]

Someone mentioned flip-flops. I'd like to mention lack of consistence. Does anyone but me see a paradox, an oxymoron, in being anti-choice and pro-war? It's not okay to kill fetuses, but killing young men and civilians is totally acceptable??? (And yes, I am now talking about all anti-choic­ers/pro-wa­r'ers, or socalled "pro lifers", not just their anti-choic­er-in-chie­f.)

[Tommygun264]

Don't worry, he'll flip back by Monday.

Then flop again a short time after that.

Then flip again.

Then flop.

Flip-flop, flip-flop, flip-flop, etc., etc., etc.

[comacoma]

It's what a fish stranded on the shore does....

[kjdwyer]

It amazes me how Christian evangelicals glom onto this issue to the exclusion of everything else.

A candidate could be completely on their side -- advocating strongly for them regarding health care, education, worker's rights, improvements to infrastructure, responsible policies toward the environment and energy, closing the ever growing gap between rich and poor, to name but a few -- but if this same candidate has a differing point of view on abortion, Christian evangelicals will vote (and have reapeatedly voted) for someone who will thwart them on every other issue and actually make worse their own standard of living (not to mention exacerbate the issue of abortion by thwarting sex education programs, funding for family planning clinics, etc.).

It would be wonderful if Christian evangelicals could put things in perspective, but that assumes a grasp of the issues evidently non-existent.

Such perspective also assumes an understanding that the most a president can do on this issue is nominate someone to the SCOTUS who will then have to be approved by both the House and Senate. Outside of that, THERE IS NOTHING A PRESIDENT CAN DO ON THIS ISSUE AND TO BASE YOUR VOTE STRICTLY ON HIS/HER POSITION ON ABORTION, DISREGARDING EVERYTHING ELSE, IS MORONIC.

If, however, Christian evangelicals insist on reducing everything to one issue, as repeatedly seems to be the case, they would do well to examine what Republicans have done to reduce the need for abortions in the first place.

Let me help them along: NOTHING.

[TovSquirrel]

Christian conservatives? Their arguments against choice are false (even those they claim are the "word of god"). Maybe christian nazis is more apt.

They really need a reality & hypocrisy check.

[08politicaljunkie]

How is one "Pro-Life" and an advocate for war and an advocate of the death penalty?

McCain, who claims he claims he is pro-life once upon a time called himself a war criminal. When he flew planes, he dropped bombs anywhere, knowingly bombing civilians -- meaning the elderly, mothers, children and pets.

He's recently said he likes cluster bombs -- the devices that look like cowbells, devices Iraqi children mistakenly think are toys. They often don't detonate right away and are around long after conflicts end. Imagine raking leaves in your yard and booom! McCain voted against the ban on cluster bombs. So did GWB. [and Russia's used cluster bombs in Georgia...hmmm] Is that pro-life?

McCain has also said he aims to further expand capital punishment for other crimes. Is there no such thing as rehabilitation? Is this pro-life?

Because we haven't seen it, do not believe thousands of Iraqi children have not been murdered or maimed throughout the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan. Then McCain dances to the tune of the Beach Boys' "Barbara Ann" but sings "bomb iran." Is this pro-life?

Why would one mandate a woman to carry her fertilized egg then bomb her and it?

[rh654]

While I am supporting Obama there are two points about McCain if he is elected:

1) It will be nice not having a Republican Chickenhawk in the White House.

2) I think if McCain is elected he will likely revert back to the older McCain and will take some joy in poking the far right wingers in the eyes a few times with the Democratic Congress.

[clearthinker2008]

Problem with your first point is the he's bought and paid for by lobbyist, so he's a EXXON Chicken Hawk which is equally as bad as bing one for the Republicans. The problem with your second point is that the old JMac was nothing special, and that guy is even gone. Having him in the white house will finish destroying our Country. There isn't one good thing that could come from him being the POTUS.

[arachne646]

It's never been hard for the rich to get healthcare that's scarce, but there are states now where it's just about impossible to get an abortion unless you can afford a trip to the one clinic that's still open, or to the clinic in the next big city. It's poor women who die from septicemia or blood loss when abortions are illegal, if you can float a loan, you can get to somewhere abortion is legal and safe.
Why are the Democratic and Republican parties so concerned with what goes on between my legs?

[catzoned]

Agreed, what business to they have to legislate morality much less womens reproductive rights?

[truthynesslover]

Mccain when asked if HIS daughter came home pregnant what would HE do replied"that would be a private matter for me and my family to decide".The right wing has always been played as chumps in this game.Even if they over turn roe there will still be LEGAL abortions because it will go back to the states to decide.It will just make it harder for poor women to get them,but the rich like the mccains can fly wherever they want to get one.But I guess that would mean more welfare moms for them to hate so it would be win-win.

[clearthinker2008]

True.

[lvdragonlady]

Traditional values.......bah humbug
I get so darn tired of a bunch of 'wannabe bible thumpers' pushing 'THEIR' views on the rest of us.
I do not care what your opinion is and I am sure no one cares about mine, so keep the bs to yourself.

[sever]

'McCain’s campaign sought to tamp down the uproar, suggesting the candidate had merely been overly expansive about a sensitive topic and hadn’t intended to float a trial balloon.'


Again, McCain doesn't necessarily speak for the McCain campaign...lol


Keep talking old man, right up through the debates.

[DaOne]

GOP, stuck in the 1700's

[YouDisgustMe]

amen

[gladys46]

As quiet as it's kept Tom Ridge has very little might in PA politics... especially in the largest popular vote getting regions!!! Tom Ridge may be a good VP pic for Mc, neither are going past Nov. elections anyway!! However, since we're yet burdened with this, this ah, totally unacceptable republican candidate ... Ridge is the narrow minded, docile person Mc would most probably be comfortable with!! Who wouldn't appreciate the many usages of duck tape in a national "crisis" situation! Tommy, you did a heck of a job for "Homeland Security" !!!!! Oh, that's right ... Tom couldn't stay long after the "duck tape" sensational offering, his family needed him!!

[OlderBudWeiser]

You took the words out of my mouth Gladys. The duct tape and plastic solution (?) as protection from Anthrax, was the dumbest thing to ever come down the pike. Specially from DHS, who is now in partner with FEMA. If McCroak croaks, we have Tom Ridge. Not a comforting thought. Best to go with the young, intelligent, educated, insightful, world traveled, best candidate to come along in a very long time, Barak Obama.


Obama/ Biden 08

[FaceYourFears]

As much as JMC has changed positions on issues they should be alarmed. Yeah baby!!!

[bogues]

There is almost no subject that John McCain has not FLIP-FLOPPED on during this campaign. I watched him in an interview with Chris Matthews a few months ago and Chris asked him straight out about Tom Ridge as a possible VP even though he was pro-choice. McCain without hesitation said "no" he would not choose anyone who was pro-choice regardless of their qualifications. Now McCain is saying exactly the opposite about choosing someone who is pro-choice and his campaign is once again making excuses and trying to convince voters not to listen to closely to what the man says. If we as a country allow the right-wing evangelical movement to once again determine who our President is, we will once again have a man who can and will be easily manipulated in the way he leads. Christians need to practice their faith and leave the Government in the hands of all the people, not just those who see religion the way they do! I am a Christian myself and I know that I have no right to force my beliefs on anyone else.

[armadillious2002]

What alarms me is that this guy even has a base - period.