Posted on 05/16/2008 11:24:26 AM PDT by Bob J
Overturning Roe v. Wade
John McCain believes Roe v. Wade is a flawed decision that must be overturned, and as president he will nominate judges who understand that courts should not be in the business of legislating from the bench. Constitutional balance would be restored by the reversal of Roe v. Wade, returning the abortion question to the individual states. The difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat.
However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion - the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level. As John McCain has publicly noted, "At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level."
Promoting Adoption
"Americans are part of something providential - a great experiment to prove to the world that democracy is not only the most effective form of government, but the only moral government. And through the years, generations of Americans have held fast to the belief that we were meant to transform history. What greater cause could we ever serve?"
-Senator John McCain
In 1993, John McCain and his wife, Cindy, adopted a little girl from Mother Teresa's orphanage in Bangladesh. She has been a blessing to the McCain family and helped make adoption advocacy a personal issue for the Senator.
The McCain family experience is not unique; millions of families have had their lives transformed by the adoption of a child. As president, motivated by his personal experience, John McCain will seek ways to promote adoption as a first option for women struggling with a crisis pregnancy. In the past, he cosponsored legislation to prohibit discrimination against families with adopted children, to provide adoption education, and to permit tax deductions for qualified adoption expenses, as well as to remove barriers to interracial and inter-ethnic adoptions.
Protecting Marriage
As president, John McCain would nominate judges who understand that the role of the Court is not to subvert the rights of the people by legislating from the bench. Critical to Constitutional balance is ensuring that, where state and local governments do act to preserve the traditional family, the Courts must not overstep their authority and thwart the Constitutional right of the people to decide this question.
The family represents the foundation of Western Civilization and civil society and John McCain believes the institution of marriage is a union between one man and one woman. It is only this definition that sufficiently recognizes the vital and unique role played by mothers and fathers in the raising of children, and the role of the family in shaping, stabilizing, and strengthening communities and our nation.
As with most issues vital to the preservation and health of civil society, the basic responsibility for preserving and strengthening the family should reside at the level of government closest to the people. In their wisdom, the Founding Fathers reserved for the States the authority and responsibility to protect and strengthen the vital institutions of our civil society. They did so to ensure that the voices of America's families could not be ignored by an indifferent national government or suffocated through filibusters and clever legislative maneuvering in Congress.
Addressing the Moral Concerns of Advanced Technology
Stem cell research offers tremendous hope for those suffering from a variety of deadly diseases - hope for both cures and life-extending treatments. However, the compassion to relieve suffering and to cure deadly disease cannot erode moral and ethical principles.
For this reason, John McCain opposes the intentional creation of human embryos for research purposes. To that end, Senator McCain voted to ban the practice of "fetal farming," making it a federal crime for researchers to use cells or fetal tissue from an embryo created for research purposes. Furthermore, he voted to ban attempts to use or obtain human cells gestated in animals. Finally, John McCain strongly opposes human cloning and voted to ban the practice, and any related experimentation, under federal law.
As president, John McCain will strongly support funding for promising research programs, including amniotic fluid and adult stem cell research and other types of scientific study that do not involve the use of human embryos.
Where federal funds are used for stem cell research, Senator McCain believes clear lines should be drawn that reflect a refusal to sacrifice moral values and ethical principles for the sake of scientific progress, and that any such research should be subject to strict federal guidelines.
Protecting Children from Internet Pornography
John McCain believes the Internet offers tremendous promise in terms of freedom of expression, information sharing, and the spread of knowledge and commerce. It represents the greatest innovation of the modern era in terms of the democratization of free speech and access to information. From human rights groups in China to bloggers here in the United States, the Internet has opened a global dialogue that has propelled the world into an exciting new century of connectivity and communication.
However, there is a darker side to the Internet. Along with the access and anonymity of the Internet have come those who would use it to peddle child pornography and other sexually explicit material and to prey upon children.
John McCain has been a leader in pushing legislation through Congress that requires all schools and libraries receiving federal subsidies for Internet connectivity to utilize technology to restrict access to sexually explicit material by children using such computers. While the first line of defense for children will always be strong and involved parents, when they send their child to school or drop their child off at the library, parents have the right to feel safe that someone is going to be looking out for their children.
Protecting Children from Online Predators
America's most precious asset is its children. The innocence of childhood provides hope for the future and refreshes and restores the ideals of this great country. However, there are those who prey upon this innocence and the Internet offers these predators unprecedented, often anonymous, access to children. John McCain has taken a hard line against pedophiles that would use the Internet to prey upon children by proposing the first-of-its-kind national online registry for persons who have been convicted of sex crimes against children. Senator McCain's legislation requires that sex offenders register all online accounts in a national database that can be used by law enforcement to investigate crimes against children. If these predators fail to register they would be sent to prison for ten years. The legislation also makes use of the Internet an "aggravating factor" in sex crimes against children, adding an additional ten years to any conviction. It is the responsibility of government to do all that can be done to protect children from predators who lurk on the Internet.
The Greatest Honor is to Serve the Cause of Human Dignity
There is no greater nobility than to sacrifice for a great cause and no cause greater than protection of human dignity. Decency, human compassion, self-sacrifice and the defense of innocent life are at the core of John McCain's value system and will be the guiding principles of a McCain Presidency.
"To sacrifice for a cause greater than yourself, and to sacrifice your life to the eminence of that cause, is the noblest activity of all."
John McCain is the son and grandson of military officers. He served as a Navy pilot, honored to live in the company of heroes as a prisoner of war in Vietnam, and is a beloved husband and father. Senator McCain has enjoyed the quiet blessings found in serving others.
The McCain bashers should be posting in about 3...2...1...
There is a strong anti-McCain movement on FR and while there is nothing wrong with that in general I feel that some of those involved have been in engaging in an effort of mischaracterization and misinformation on where McCain stands on some of the issues.
The anti-McCain crowd consistently state that there is no difference between McCain and Obama/Clinton, which is simply ridiculous. There are points where the difference is less stark than others but to make a sweeping claim such as that, IMO, demonstrates the hsyterical lengths some will go to try to get others to stay home or vote third party on election day. Now McCain wasn’t my #1 candidate as he wasn’t for most FReepers, but he will be the GOP nominee and a realistic analysis of his positions free from rhetoric and hysteria is important to gaining a full understanding of what to expect from him if he were to win the election.
In the interests of having a rational discussion and attempting to soberly define where McCains stands on the issues and whether or not there is a “difference” between him and his opponents, I will post one new McCain issue standpoint a day.
To those “one issue” voters, please don’t muck up these threads by bringing up the other issues not being discussed this day, you’re chance will come.
I’m waiting to see how they spin this one.
These are the same people pushing shopping carts along the side of the highway on a hot summer day wearing a three-piece suit that they purchased from JCPenny in 1976. God help you should they button-hole you and talk for 15 minutes straight, exhaling their halitosis-flavored words non-stop as if they hadn't had the chance to tell anyone what they really though for 30 years.
Best leave them alone.
Geez.
No different than Obama!
/sarc
Taking a side job on the McCain campaign this year are ye, Bob.
Ironically enough, it would seem, in your own way, you’re seeking to subtly censor others by seeking to extol the virtues and suppress that which deviates from the proposed campaign thread... and indoctrinate those that you can to the moderate view of things, no easy task.
Gee, I hope I’m not off topic.. Oh well, won’t be the first time.. blah blah blah.
“There is a strong anti-McCain movement on FR and while there is nothing wrong with that in general I feel that some of those involved have been in engaging in an effort of mischaracterization and misinformation on where McCain stands on some of the issues.”
You gotta play the hand you’re dealt. I’m not enamoured with McCain but there are glaring differences between him and the two Dem candidates. If someone isn’t seeing them, it’s because they’re willfully blind.
Some of us "one issue" voters want to talk about CFR, immigration, taxes, cap and trade, the gang of 14, and his vote on the Federal Marriage Amendment. Care to indulge.
"I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."
- John McCain, August 1999.
Gimme a break. That's libspeak -- just call them a name to stifle any discussion that doesn't conform to the "but he's a Republican!" scare tactic.
BJ- McCain basher reporting for duty.
I agree with him 100 percent.
I’m not a one issue voter.
My problem is his Global Warming plan and his Amnesty plan and the damage he has done to conservatism the last 10 years.
Then there is the problem with the McCain kool-aid drinkers.
McCain is left of center, if he wants my vote he knows where and how to get it.
And BJ- elitism is unbecoming to you. Just because I dislike McCain because of his behaviour the last 10 years doesn’t make me childish.
Why not address the issues here that we are all pissed about or are you trying to control everyone just like McStupid.
Research what he said about Burma and taking out the junta.
It's a mixed bag with McCain. There's some bad, some silliness, and some good. One hopes that discussion about our flawed candidate will become more rational and balanced. Of late discussion on this board has gotten downright hysterical.
As recently as April 2007, McCain told ABC News that he wants to keep the pro-life platform. But he has called for changing it to allow abortions in the very rare cases of rape or incest.
And from the 2000 election campaign:
Asked by CNSNews.com after a town meeting in this ocean-side community what the change would be, McCain responded, "I would be glad to have it changed to allow abortions in the case of rape, incest and the life of the mother." CNS News.com: "McCain Calls For Change in GOP Abortion Plank" By Jerry Miller, 27 January, 2000 Arizona Senator John McCain said on Wednesday that he would like to see a change in the Republican Party's abortion plank.
Shall we look at McCain's position in 1999?
In a telephone interview Friday, McCain called for the party to revert to its 1980 platform on abortion, which opposes abortion but recognizes differing views on the issue among Republicans. "I'm for going back to the platform as it was in 1980. I believe we are an inclusive party and we can be so without changing our principles," McCain said. McCain is the first GOP presidential candidate to say the party platform should be changed. [...] The 1980 platform calls for a constitutional amendment to protect fetuses but it also recognizes "differing views on this question among Americans in general and in our own party." Euthanasia.com: "McCain Urges GOP to Back Off on Pro-Life Platform" (Source:The Pro-Life Infonet) WASHINGTON -- March 1999 -- Republican presidential candidate and Arizona Sen. John McCain is calling on his party to alter its platform on abortion.
McCain is no defender of Life.
I’m so glad that there’s someone willing to carry the banner for McCain - it saves me the trouble and embarrassment ;’}
I'm really sick of unconstitutional, feel-good legislation. The term "sex offender" hits people in an emotional place, so they have to register for this, yet an Internet identity thief can remain anonymous. This isn't as much of a slam on McCain as it is the idiots who lap this kind of stuff up and make it popular to legislate on.
Deciding to vote third party or to sit out this election in order to “teach the GOP a lesson” is the equivalent of teaching someone about firearm safety by shooting them. It gets the point across but the consequences are too horrible to allow to happen.
“Deciding to vote third party or to sit out this election in order to “teach the GOP a lesson”
But voting 3rd party because they have values closer to yours then the other two isn’t the same.
McCain was asked whether he would reinstate the Reagan era rule that prevents international family planning clinics that receive federal funds from discussing abortion. “I don’t believe they should advocate abortion with my tax dollars,” McCain said, adding that he opposed abortion except in cases of rape and incest. He was then asked how he would determine whether someone had in fact been raped. McCain responded, “I think that I would give the benefit of the doubt to the person who alleges that.” Source: New York Times, p. A17 Jan 25, 2000 McCain said he thought Roe v. Wade should be overturned and said he would support exceptions to a ban on abortion in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is in danger. Source: Boston Globe, p. A11 Jan 22, 2000 McCain said, “I’d love to see a point where Roe vs. Wade is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations.” A spokesman said that McCain “has a 17-year voting record of supporting efforts to overturn Roe vs. Wade. He does that currently, and will continue to do that as president.” Source: Ron Fournier, Associated Press Aug 24, 1999 Rated 75% by the Nat'l Right to Life (2006) NRLC website 06n-NRLC on Dec 31, 2006 Ontheissues.org: McCain on Abortion NRLC Executive Director David N. O'Steen, Ph.D., commented, "In contending that legal abortion is 'necessary' and that Roe v. Wade should not be overturned because it would 'force' women to undergo dangerous illegal abortions, McCain parroted arguments of the pro-abortion movement. A candidate who argues that legal abortion is 'necessary' is not a pro-life candidate." NRLC.org: "McCain Makes Conflicting Statements on Abortion" By NRLC Federal Legislative Office MCCAIN: I don’t think a constitutional amendment is probably going to take place, but I do believe that it’s very likely or possible that the Supreme Court should — could overturn Roe v. Wade, which would then return these decisions to the states, which I support. STEPHANOPOULOS: And you’d be for that? MCCAIN: Yes, because I’m a federalist. Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade return to the states. And I don’t believe the Supreme Court should be legislating in the way that they did on Roe v. Wade. McCain Unequivocally Supports Federalist Solution to Abortion The National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) regards McCain-Feingold as a major hindrance to its mission of pro- life advocacy--and, pari passu, McCain himself as something close to a personal enemy. Weekly Standard: "The Right to Life Lobby vs. McCain" by Charlotte Allen
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