Posted on 10/22/2005 7:07:56 AM PDT by Hadean
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Democratic candidate for governor Jim Gibson said Friday that he'd support a state law banning abortion in most circumstances if Roe v. Wade were overturned.
In an interview on the news program "Face to Face with Jon Ralston," Gibson, an anti-abortion Mormon, said he believed abortion should be legal only in cases of rape, incest or when a mother's life is in danger. If the federal law guaranteeing a woman's right to an abortion were to be reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court and the issue turned over to the states, Gibson said he would have to act on that belief.
"I'm never going to be putting myself in a position where the things I really think and believe are at odds with the things I enact.
"I believe that abortion is an alternative in the circumstances that I described it, and that would be the kind of legislation, if it ever came to that, I don't even imagine that it will, that's a position I would take," he said.
Just 24 hours into his campaign, Gibson's statement immediately drew fire from his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Dina Titus of Las Vegas, who has tried to paint the Henderson mayor and corporate lawyer as out of step with most Democrats.
"He's imposing his will on the people of Nevada," she said. "That's a big, big difference from my position, which has been consistent along: That abortion, everybody hates abortion, but in that situation it's a decision to be made with a woman, her family and her God, not state legislation."
Later, Gibson spokesman Greg Bortolin tried to clarify the mayor's position. He called Gibson's comment an "incomplete thought" and "lawyer speak" responding to an unlikely hypothetical. He said Gibson's position on abortion was a personal philosophy.
"In no way, shape or form would Jim Gibson as governor go along with criminalizing abortion. He would have nothing to do with any legislation outlawing or criminalizing abortion," Bortolin said.
The dustup spotlights both candidates' foremost challenge of trying to energize liberal Democratic voters in the primary, while positioning themselves as moderates capable of wooing voters away from a Republican in the general election in 2006.
Paul Brown of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada, a coalition of liberal groups, said Gibson's comments could alienate some Democrats.
"I think that's going to cost him support from the left-leaning part of the party, and that's the part of the party that comes out in the primary," he said.
Titus, a nine-term senator and political science professor, also used the comments to attack Gibson's knowledge of the issues and his inexperience in state government.
An initiative passed by 63 percent of voter in 1990 makes it difficult to change state law, which allows abortions in the first six months of pregnancy and in the last three months if the mother's life or health is in danger.
"He doesn't know Nevada law," Titus said.
Nevada Democrat says he'd support anti-abortion bill:
Right up until he's elected.
Why are the Nevada Mormon politicians Dems? I thought Mormons were the stalwarts of conservative? I guess they LIKE big government.
Someone who's obviously never met Barbara Boxer.
That's hilarious.
Liberals always go conservative when they want to get elected.
Learned a long time ago that democrat 'conservative' posturing is meaningless.
When push comes to shove they vote the party line.
"it's a decision to be made with a woman, her family and her God, not state legislation."
EXACTLY!!! So tell me again why my tax dollars are paying for it!
"An initiative passed by 63 percent of voter in 1990 makes it difficult to change state law, which allows abortions in the first six months of pregnancy and in the last three months if the mother's life or health is in danger."
He's learning his moves from RINO politicians. Talk a good game, cry crocodile tears about abortion, knowing that nothing is really being done to end it.
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