Bush disagrees with South Dakota abortion ban

AFP ^ | 1 March 2006

[Aussie Dasher]

US President George W. Bush signalled his opposition to a South Dakota abortion ban that forbids the procedure even in cases of rape or incest, saying he favors such exceptions.

But Bush declined to predict the outcome of any legal challenges to the legislation, which would make it illegal to terminate a pregnancy except in rare cases when it may be necessary to save the life of the mother.

"That, of course, is a state law, but my position has always been three exceptions: Rape, incest, and the life of the mother," the US president told ABC news in an interview.

Asked whether he would include "health" of the mother, Bush replied: "I said life of the mother, and health is a very vague term, but my position has been clear on that ever since I started running for office."

The bill, which recently gained final approval from South Dakota's House of Representatives, directly contradicts the precedent set in 1973 when the US Supreme Court ruled that bans on abortion violate a woman's constitutional right to privacy.

The bill grants no allowances for women who have been raped or are victims of incest. Doctors who perform abortion would be charged with a crime. It also prohibits the sale of emergency contraception and asserts that life begins at fertilization.

The governor of South Dakota has indicated he is likely to sign the bill.

A leading pro-choice advocacy group has already vowed to challenge the ban in federal court. But that seems to be exactly what many promoters of the legislation seek.

Advocates of the ban do not deny they aim much higher than South Dakota, a rural and socially conservative state, which even today has only one abortion clinic.

Instead, they are hoping the bill will offer a full frontal assault on legal abortions now that the balance of power in the Supreme Court appears to have shifted with the confirmation of conservative jurists John Roberts and Samuel Alito, both of whom are seen as pro-life.

[Hildy]

No, I don't believe in the death penalty for rape. And you weren't suspended because I knew the moderator. I have no idea who the moderators are. You were suspended because you were creeping everyone out. How ironic, you can't take reponsibility for such a small thing.

[Mrs. Darla Ruth Schwerin]

"I could be wrong, but President Bush seems to be going out of his way to antagonize his base this past week or so..."

I agree. And it's like, "What are you thinking?"

[muawiyah]

Maybe the President could issue a blanket pardon for the unborn at the beginning of his term.

There's already a Supreme Court decision that it's not limited.

That would pretty well take abortion out of the hands of the courts.

[durasell]

The dirty little secret is that in the Midwest, as in most other areas of the USA, marriage is not the norm in the coming generation


I don't know if it will become the norm. It may become an "option" that many choose to take, though probably not the majority.

My feelings on the matter, such as they are, is a trending toward the return of the multi-generational "extended family."

[muawiyah]

No one was creeping anybody out. You complained because you didn't care to debate the issues.

[ohioWfan]

As I said.........you should write your book. You obviously have a lot on your mind, very little of which is relevant to this thread.

President Bush is an openly Christian, openly moral, openly pro-Life President who does what he says he will do.

The kind of 'conservative' you're looking for is unelectable. I'll take the kind we HAVE........a man who is moving this country to the right, by law, and by example.

If you care about this country, PRAY for him. Don't just attack him.

[ohioWfan]

Of course he's not bashing his base.

He's completely consistent, and his base reelected him knowing full well where he stood........and got the full endorsement of pro-life people all over the country.

This is grandstanding, Steve. People trying to be cute........and failing.

[Hildy]

ROFLMAO!!! In case you haven't been around the past SEVER YEARS, I've never shied away from debating ISSUES with anyone. I mean, LOOK AT THIS THREAD. No, you were creeping everyone out.

[ohioWfan]

Just include the fact that God ordered death for those who cursed their parents in Israel, and you'll be more consistent.

Otherwise, suggesting stoning is not such a wise idea.

[Not A Snowbird]

I could be wrong, but President Bush seems to be going out of his way to antagonize his base this past week or so...

He's just stating the position he's always held. If that antagonizes people, well, what's he supposed to do? Lie?

[muawiyah]

If creeping people out were something that was a real issue in FR, there'd be a lot fewer posters wouldn't there?

I think you didn't like who I had been responding with ~

But, that's old history. Current history is that you did something particularly tacky back there telling another poster that I'd been banned once (yeah, for 17.34 hours), at your request to a friend of yours.

Tacky, tacky, tacky~!

[Hildy]

No only can't you debate, you can't read. I don't know who the moderators are. No idea. You came to ever thread I was on and posted nasty and personal things about me. That's why you were suspended. I'm glad this came up, I want others to know what you're about. So ... I'm asking you nicely now to leave me alone. There's nothing more to say.

[Not A Snowbird]

Anyone want to bring back the death penalty for rape?

No. For the simple reason that if a rapist knew the penalty was death, then the woman he raped would certainly be killed to eliminate the witness. After all, what would he have to lose?

[TruthSetsUFree]

I'd actually forgotten about that, but thanks for reminding me. It really does show the importance of honoring one's parents, and indeed it is one of the Ten Commandments. It's another thing we neglect in Western society today.

The nation of Israel in OT times was the only time and place where God wrote the Laws of the land. I have a very difficult time arguing with His wisdom and sovereignty.

[nancetx]

Hildy you are so right!

[Paul Ross]

btw, I listen VERY well, and I'm a very conservative Christian. I'm just apparently not as sensitive and easily offended as you are, and at the ready to attack OUR side.

LOL! You clearly have a credibility gap then. Because this president has shown that when he is criticized on the right that he is hyper-sensitive...and 'easily offended.' And he has shown no such compunction about disengenously attacking the Right...while meanwhile the treasonous Left practically has him tarred and feathered with villainous calumny...which he remains silent about. And then, without any sign of gratitude whatsoever, he then expects that same Right he has vilified with liberal aspersions to do all the heavy lifting defending him against Michael Moore, CBS and MoveOn.org, etc...

...and as President Reagan before him, believes in peace through strength. Praise the Lord!

I praise the Lord too, especially for Reagan, but not for those falsehoods about the current adminstration.

As far as this President believing in Peace through Strength, I will believe it when he reverses his slashing and destroying of our nuclear arsenal. When he starts restoring the nuclear triad, and stops ignoring the fact that the Russians, Chinese, Indians, Pakistanis, North Koreans, and Iranians are all busy deploying. The Chinese quite secretly. And deploys a missile defense which can do better than cover 1 or 2-degrees of azimuth. And restores our sadly eroded ASW capability. Re-capitalizes an aging AirForce's tankers and fighters, and Army heavy armor. Improves, rather than cutting, funding for the National Guard. He's had 6 years, and he isn't getting it done.

Reagan got it done.

[muawiyah]

Good point. Of course, there are already rapists who kill their victims.

[GrandEagle]

The only foundational basis for opposition to "abortion" is that you are killing a child. If it is right to kill a child because of the circumstances surrounding it's conception, then it is right to kill a three year old because you don't like his behavior.
Either she is carrying a child, or not.

I know it seems harsh, but the rapist was harsh. The baby is completely innocent.

Cordially
GE

[Admin Moderator]

Knock it off.

[durasell]

Good call.

FYI: If I had your job, I'd be drinking a lot more...