NYT's Bob Herbert Says Pro-Choice is THE Issue on Countdown

This is significant, and certainly underscores why more Americans are turning toward pro-choice values as they see just how far outside the mainstream social conservatives really are.

Undecided women voters are the key, and pro-choice values are a significant advantage in 2008, according to New York Times columnist Bob Herbert. In addition to the veep selection McCain is considering, one has to wonder if he really wants HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt to go forward with his proposal that would redefine contraception as abortion. McCain does believe life begins at conception, and that certainly poses a threat to contraception, if in fact he supports Leavitt's proposal, and quite frankly, even if he doesn't.

Family Planning is more important to the lives of real Americans now than ever before, as more people consider climate change, issues of consumption, the economy, health care reform, education, the war, and just about any other major issue in this election. At the core of every issue, are thoughts of family, wanting to be responsible parents, laying a solid foundation for any life you responsibly choose to bring into the world.

Because of this, Americans are choosing evidence-based comprehensive sexuality education over abstinence-only, teaching education and prevention to adults as well as youth, and creating better support systems whether you choose to use contraception or not. Whether you choose to have a child, or not, by birth or adoption. Americans increasingly understand that a threat to any choice is a threat to all choices, and that private health care decisions are best made by individuals, families and their doctors; not legislatures, and not a Supreme Court that is poised to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Bob Herbert is right, and both the Obama and McCain campaigns understand that. The only question that remains is if social conservatives will be energized by a candidate that barely pays them lip service?