[rintense]

The intent is, even Reagan wasn't perfect and he'd likely fail the purity test a certain faction of freepers are using to pick candidates.

As for signing that bill, in my mind, he signed it, period. Doesn't mean he was pro abortion, but he DID, in fact, sign it. I find it troubling that we can't admit the truth when a conservative screws up. Saying he meant THIS and not THAT is parsing words when a bill is signed.

[Lakeshark]

I've also read that at the signing of that particular bill, Reagan had not yet made up his mind entirely about abortion, but as his views developed, he changed later in to a warrior for pro-life views.

I could be wrong about this next one, so others here correct me if necessary: As I remember, when the senate was about to pass a bill in the eighties outlawing abortion except for the health of the mother, he famously said we shouldn't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. His words were not heeded and the law was killed by purists.