Mr. Goldwater told the Arizona Conservative that his "Views are pretty straight forward," and that, " I am pro-life with a few exceptions," but those exceptions give evidence to his true position on abortion.
His exceptions in his own words are "An abortion can only be considered in cases of rape or incest and only before viability of the fetus, the only other exception would be in the case of mortal danger to the mother."
I think Mr. Goldwater's exceptions would be of mortal danger to the unborn child.
The fetus is a human being deserving of life regardless of whom the father is or how conceived. To allow abortions in cases of rape or incest is to punish the unborn child for the crimes of the father and is not a pro-life position but the position of pro-death.
In the very rare case of mortal danger to the mother, that is a life for a life decision and should be made by the mother. Therefore, any exception beyond the life of the mother is a pro-abortion position, and therefore Don Goldwater's exceptions makes his position on the issue pro-abortion.
What Don Goldwater is trying to do is to take a compromise position on abortion, to straddle the issue. Unfortunately for Mr. Goldwater, there is no compromise position on abortion. The fetus is either an alive human being or it is not. A candidate for public office is either pro-life or he is not, there is no middle position on this issue.
Before someone takes a position on abortion they should study the words of The Declaration of Independence which states that "All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights," the first of which is the right to life.
God gave us the right to life, not government and no one, born or unborn, should be deprived of life without the due process of law. Abortion is a violation of that right and is just simply wrong.
Just as slavery was a question of right and wrong, so too the issue of abortion and just as the institution of slavery was abolished so too must the institution of abortion be abolished.
Bob Haran www.bob-haran.info
Like, "except when someone wants an abortion"?
Blah, blah, blah. Trashing a candidate for not being perfect is completely irresponsible -- not only from a Republican standpoint, but from a pro-life standpoint.
Grow up, why don't you.
Sorry Bob, you lost me. Goldwater's position is solidly pro-life.
I'm solidly pro-life, but I have no illusions that if you hold the position that a woman who has been raped must carry any child thus conceived to term, you will very easily be portrayed as monstrous.
I'm pro-choice, except where an unborn baby's life is at stake. It's a pretty straightforward position, really.
Discontent with sending your baseless screed attacking Don Goldwater as a "Letter to the Editor" to everyone who would make the mistake of publishing it (see Arizona Conservative and Conservative Press) you signed up just yesterday to publish it here. Why don't you go peddle your divisive rants somewhere else. Goldwater is a Reagan Republican - solidly pro-life - and he needs the support of every Republican in Arizona. As the President of the North Valley Republican Assembly you should be more polically savvy than to play this stupid game you're playing. The ARA has done some good things. The censure of John McCain was truly brilliant. But what you're doing now in attacking Goldwater is a bad thing. Knock it off, newb.
I think many people hold this view.
Interestingly, some call themselves pro-life.
Others with the same view call themselves pro-choice.
While I strongly disagree with those who would allow abortion in cases of rape or incest (I believe abortion should be illegal in all cases unless it must be performed to save the life of the mother), I don't think it's fair to characterize Don Goldwater's position in abortion as anything but pro-life. The "rape and incest exception" to abortion is shared by many prominent pro-lifers, including President George W. Bush. I think that pro-lifers should try to convince people that the unborn should be protected regardless of the origin of his or her conception, yet attacking Don Goldwater as insufficiently pro-life is counterproductive and will only result in the pro-abortion Governor Napolitano getting reelected.
Well here we go again. Trash the republican because he's not perfect and re-elect Janet Napalitano who is a pro-abort including partial-birth abortion. She is also anti-2nd amendment, pro-illegal alien (wanted to hand out drivers licenses), etc., etc.,..