“An overly federalistic approach is a Pontius Pilate approach - washing your hands of responsibility while allowing evil to spread unchecked.”
I agree with your statement. While I agree in principle that many issues are best handled at the state, or lower, level. There are certain fundamental rights (and prohibitions) that need to be universal to all states of the union. That requires they be in federal level law - the constitution being the highest law, it is logical that it be ammended because of SCOTUS decisions. Personally I think the founding fathers would be horrified that abortion is being practiced in this country because of an “interpretation” of the constitution. In the same way, I think they would be also horrified that same-sex marriage was being practiced, and that sodomy laws were being struct down as “unconstitutional.”
Fred is killing his chances by sticking to extreme federalism that allows zero pragmatism. He is alienating the moral base of the GOP, and it will cost him the nomination. I consider this a great shame, because he has the potential to be a formidible candidate to face Mrs. Clinton.
The tired old statement, “I’m personnally against abortion, but won’t keep others from having one” is just plain cowardice or double talk. If it is taking an innocent human life, it needs to be stopped, just like slavery was. It IS a federal issue. There has to be some middle ground he can take beyond what he has....he has to accommodate the base in some way.
Nicely said, thanks.