Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Pro-choice (Tubby) Kennedy was pro-life in 1971
WorldNetDaily ^ | 8/3/05 | WorldNetDaily

Posted on 08/03/2005 6:29:58 PM PDT by wagglebee

The issue of abortion is expected to take center stage during the upcoming confirmation hearings for John Roberts, President Bush's nominee for the U.S. Supreme Court.

And one of the key questioners of Roberts will be Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

While many today regard the Democrat as a champion for abortion rights, the senator, who is Catholic, apparently held a staunch pro-life view before the Roe v. Wade decision in 1972.

In 1971, Tom Dennelly of Great Neck, N.Y., wrote to Kennedy expressing his personal views on abortion.

Kennedy responded to Dennelly, writing:

"While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized – the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.

"On the question of the individual's freedom of choice there are easily available birth-control methods and information which women may employ to prevent or postpone pregnancy. But once life has begun, no matter at what stage of growth, it is my belief that termination should not be decided merely by desire. ...

"When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception."

"The same Ted Kennedy who once championed the rights of the unborn now champions the right of a doctor to jam a scissor into the skull of an infant who is 80-percent born," said William Donohue, president of the Catholic League. "Sadly for him, history will look back at this era and recognize that he didn't care enough about human beings to take responsibility for children from the very moment of conception."

Kennedy was in the news recently for another apparent flip flop.

The senator has been vocal about Roberts, saying the federal judge "will be expected to answer fully" any questions about his views on controversial issues; but the Democrat sang a different tune in 1967, when he noted that candidates should "defer any comments" on such matters.

CNSNews.com reports it obtained 38-year-old film footage of Kennedy, who was responding to a question about senators grilling Thurgood Marshall about how he might rule in future cases should he be on the nation's highest court.

"We have to respect that any nominee to the Supreme Court would have to defer any comments on any matters, which are either before the court or very likely to be before the court," Kennedy said during the 1967 press conference. "This has been a procedure which has been followed in the past and is one which I think is based upon sound legal precedent."

But on June 20 of this year, Kennedy delivered a speech on the floor of the Senate in which he seemed to contradict the notion of deferring any comments, saying that senators "must not fail in our duty to the American people to responsibly examine Judge Roberts' legal views."

"Because Judge Roberts has written relatively few opinions in his brief tenure as a judge, his views on a wide variety of vital issues are still unknown," Kennedy stated. "What little we know about his views and values lends even greater importance and urgency to his responsibility to provide the Senate and the American people with clear answers."


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: abortion; drunk; fatboy; fatboycc; fatteddy; fatteddykennedy; flipflop; hypocrite; johnroberts; prolife; scotus; teddykennedy; theswimmer
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last
While the deep concern of a woman bearing an unwanted child merits consideration and sympathy, it is my personal feeling that the legalization of abortion on demand is not in accordance with the value which our civilization places on human life. Wanted or unwanted, I believe that human life, even at its earliest stages, has certain rights which must be recognized – the right to be born, the right to love, the right to grow old.

If I had the money, I would take out full-page ads in every newspaper in the country!

1 posted on 08/03/2005 6:30:08 PM PDT by wagglebee
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Coleus; Salvation; NYer; cpforlife.org

Very interesting pro-life ping.


2 posted on 08/03/2005 6:30:56 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Comment #3 Removed by Moderator

To: wagglebee

Pro-life unless you are a young broad drowning in the back of his car.


4 posted on 08/03/2005 6:33:44 PM PDT by Brofholdonow
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

... ^%*@!%(&%^...

Nope, I can't express my true feelings here.


5 posted on 08/03/2005 6:33:59 PM PDT by Michael Goldsberry (an enemy of islam -- Joe Boucher; Leapfrog; Dr.Zoidberg; Lazamataz; ...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Massachusetts' real FLIP FLOP guy


6 posted on 08/03/2005 6:34:36 PM PDT by CarlEOlsoniii (McCarthy goes after Communists with a shotgun; I go after them with a rifle -Nixon)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
the right to grow old.

DANG!

Just DANG!

7 posted on 08/03/2005 6:36:24 PM PDT by JOE6PAK (My Tagline can beat the snot outta your Tagline!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Leapfrog

Yeah, I was at a bit of a loss for words too.


8 posted on 08/03/2005 6:36:41 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

gag, gag, gag,
the hypocrisy of the left should NEVER surprise me, but yet sometimes it just does


9 posted on 08/03/2005 6:39:49 PM PDT by socialismisinsidious
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JOE6PAK; Brofholdonow

Of course Tubby's father Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr. "allowed" one of his daughters, Rosemary Kennedy, the right to grow old. But only after he had her LOBOTOMIZED to avoid a sex scandal that he thought would damage the family "reputation" of all things!
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2005/01/08/rosemary_kennedy_sister_of_jfk_dies_at_86?mode=PF


10 posted on 08/03/2005 6:41:42 PM PDT by wagglebee ("We are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom." -- President Bush, 1/20/05)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
WELL I'LL BE DARNED!

THAT'S EVEN AFTER THE SWIMMER DUMPED POOR MARY JO K.

11 posted on 08/03/2005 6:49:44 PM PDT by pointsal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

I think this will trigger a few new tag lines.


12 posted on 08/03/2005 6:53:32 PM PDT by Kevin OMalley (No, not Freeper#95235, Freeper #1165: Charter member, What Was My Login Club.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: pointsal

oops. hit the button too early.




13 posted on 08/03/2005 6:56:17 PM PDT by Kevin OMalley (But once life has begun... termination should not be decided merely by desire. Ted Kennedy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

Just amazing. The mind boggles at the apostasy.


14 posted on 08/03/2005 6:58:04 PM PDT by Unam Sanctam
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Brofholdonow
Pro-life unless you are a young broad drowning in the back of his car.

No kidding, that sick, drunk, old bastard.

15 posted on 08/03/2005 6:59:36 PM PDT by golfboy (character is doing what is right, when no one is looking)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

WOW! And he was right on track back before Roe v. Wade.

What would change his views about murder?


16 posted on 08/03/2005 7:03:29 PM PDT by wk4bush2004
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: William Creel
Many politicans will saying anything, do anything, to get elected, and re-elected. Principals mean nothing to many different politicans, Republican or Democrat, though mostly Democrat.

Principles don't matter to the liberals.

What matters to them is their agenda and platforms for getting people elected, although they've been failing miserably in getting people elected with their agendas. But, they're convinced that they're on the right side of the issues and they can't afford to let go of their long held beliefs, no matter what..

The democrats can't afford to admit they're wrong, otherwise, they're dead as a party.

But, they're dead anyway. Lately, they've been wandering aimlessly, wondering what it is that they stand for.

They're practically dead. But, we have to make sure they stay that way come election time.

The liberals kill unborn babies, we need to try to kill the liberal party.
17 posted on 08/03/2005 7:07:11 PM PDT by adorno (The democrats are the best recruiting tool the terrorists could ever have.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee
Chappaquidick Ted was pro-life. Back when he left Mary Jo to drown.


18 posted on 08/03/2005 7:15:34 PM PDT by Travis McGee (--- www.EnemiesForeignAndDomestic.com ---)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: wagglebee

This is old news and resurfaces periodically. Disgusting yes. But it never has, and never will be, acknowledged in publications that do not cater to conservatives.

And if it were, so what? Libs don't care if their politicos lie to get elected. They know their boys don't mean it. Their attitude? Sure Teddy lied. If that's what it takes, so what?


19 posted on 08/03/2005 7:21:45 PM PDT by ChildOfThe60s (If you can remember the 60s......you weren't really there.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mr. Silverback

Here's one for your pro-life ping list.


20 posted on 08/03/2005 8:14:30 PM PDT by Kevin OMalley (But once life has begun... termination should not be decided merely by desire. Ted Kennedy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-50 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson