[IslandJeff]

He ought to at least own up to having opposed the partial birth abortion ban, which he is on record doing

He did "own up", because the bill as it was written didn't have a "Life of the mother" clause.

[penowa]

"He did "own up", because the bill as it was written didn't have a 'Life of the mother' clause."

Wrong! The bill, as written, had a "life of the mother" clause. It had NO "health of the mother" clause.

[B Knotts]

Actually, I have gone over that pretty carefully, and while he maintains he only wants a "life of the mother" exception, he previously wanted a "health of the mother" exception, which is the old trick they've been using for years to allow any abortion at any time (they simply include "mental health").

The law does, in fact, have a life of the mother exception:

This subsection [imposing penalties] does not apply to a partial-birth abortion that is necessary to save the life of a mother whose life is endangered by a physical disorder, physical illness, or physical injury, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself.

The courts have been striking it down on the fact that it doesn't have a "health of the mother" exception.

And, anyone who has studied the issue knows that partial birth abortion is never necessary to preserve either the life or the health of the mother.