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John McCain's Remarks on Abortion in Speech to National Pro-Life Convention
LifeNews.com ^ | July 22, 2008 | Steven Ertelt

Posted on 07/23/2008 3:49:56 AM PDT by rhema

Thank you for inviting me to address the 2008 National Right to Life Convention, I'm sorry I'm not able to be there in person to address you.

More than two-hundred years ago our nation's founders declared, that we are endowed by our Creator, with certain and unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It was no accident, that they cited life as the first, and most basic right.

For without recognition of the right to life, we are not guaranteed any other rights. Sometimes all wisdom asks of us, is that we recognize common-sense. But sometimes wisdom, as to all other virtues requires courage.

Wisdom suggests that we should be willing to give an unborn child the same chance that our parents gave us. But it takes courage in this political climate, to insist on the protection of unborn children, who can't vote, have no voice, and can't reward you with support and donations.

Wisdom suggests that when federal judges impose their social views on the citizens of every state, the result is going to distort our politics in harmful ways. But it takes courage to insist, that the courts have to return to their proper role.

I will look for accomplished men and women, with a proven record of excellence in the law, and a proven commitment, to strictly interpreting the Constitution of the United States. I will look for people in the cast of John Roberts, Sam Alito, my friend the late William Rehnquist, jurists of the highest caliber who know their own minds, and know the law, and know the difference. I have been pro-life, my entire public career.

I am pro-life, because I know what it is like, to live without human rights, where human life is accorded no inherent value. And I know that I have a personal obligation to advocate human rights wherever they are denied, in Bosnia or Burma, in Cuba or the Middle East, and in our own country, when we fail to respect the inherent dignity of all human life, born or unborn.

That is a personal testament, which you need not take on faith. You need only to examine my public record, to know that I won't change my position. I've been proud to serve our great country in the military and in Congress.

Throughout these years I have always believed that the most important duty of our national leaders is to protect human life. We protect human life from violent extremists, who would destroy it to produce a cruel ideology. We protect the lives of the most vulnerable, whether they are the unborn, the elderly, or the disabled. It is a privilege to defend Americans in war and in peace.

I'm proud to stand with you in defending the sanctity of human life, and in supporting mothers and children, under the most challenging of circumstances.

I'm proud of my wife Cindy, who brought our daughter Bridget home from Mother Teresa's orphanage in Bangladesh, and blessed our family with the gift of this blessed child of god. I am as thankful for her, as I am for all of my children, and am glad that we were able to give her a home, and a better life.

My friends we confront a difficult question when we address the issue of abortion, the American people are compassionate people, who cherish life and liberty. They love life, and they have an instinctive compassion for those who confront difficult circumstances.

We believe that the best way to respond to such situations is to demonstrate our love and support for the mothers and children, who are at the center of such challenges. The pro-life movement has done this for decades by participating in and supporting thousands of pregnancy care centers, that help women and their children meet these challenges.

In November, the American people will choose a new president to lead our country during very challenging times. I will proudly defend my record of protecting human life during key debates on domestic and international policy. I am proud to have supported a ban on partial-birth abortion, and legislation that would protect children who survived an abortion procedure.

On the very first day, after the Supreme Court upheld the ban on the hideous practice of partial-birth abortion, a bill was introduced in Congress to codify this practice in every state in the United States of America.

The same legislation would strike down the Hyde amendment, named after our great friend and champion of human life, the incomparable Henry Hyde, and would also strike down every other federal and state limitation on abortion funding. This legislation, with has been co-sponsored by my opponent, would also strike down every parental notification law enacted anywhere in our country.

The American people have come together, to say that partial-birth abortion offends our national conscience, that taxpayers should not be forced to pay for elective abortions, and that states should be allowed to enact parental notification laws.

Those who oppose these protections of human life, unable to prevail in legislatures, hope to appoint to the federal courts jurists who would reject this political consensus, and would impose on us abortion policies that offend the conscience of very many Americans.

My friends, I want to thank you again, for your commitment to a cause that is greater than us all, protecting human life, and women and children, wherever they need our support.

May God bless America, and your unselfish efforts, on behalf of all his children


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; mccain; obama; prolife; prolifevote
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To: don-o
When NARAL posts apocalyptic stuff like this on its website, that's all I really need to know:

Meet The Real McCain!

The REAL John McCain is not the "moderate maverick" the pundits like to swoon over. The REAL McCain has spent the last 25 years amassing one of the worst anti-choice voting records in Congress.

NARAL worships at the Obamessiah's altar; he's 100 percent with them. McCain's scores a big zero in NARAL's book. Good enough for me.

41 posted on 07/23/2008 7:18:09 AM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
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To: rhema

Whatever. DId my question ever get answered - why did he phone it in?


42 posted on 07/23/2008 7:33:40 AM PDT by don-o (Have you donated to FR? If not, why not?)
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To: don-o

As I wrote earlier, I’m not privy to his itinerary and the reasons for it. Request an explanation from his staff if you need it. Me, I’ll go with his pro-life record and NARAL’s rampant paranoia over him.


43 posted on 07/23/2008 7:37:29 AM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
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To: Always Right
McCain may only be 90% with us on this issue, but Obama is an absolute ZERO on this. Obama may actually be below zero for his support of allow the killing of babies after birth.

Wow, that just makes it all OK that he wants to kill some babies through his support of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, right?
44 posted on 07/23/2008 7:53:34 AM PDT by SoConPubbie (GOP: If you reward bad behavior all you get is more bad behavior.)
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To: rhema
John McCain's Remarks on Abortion in Speech to National Pro-Life Convention

McCain campaign plans ‘very aggressive’ outreach to Catholic voters

McCain Meets with Selected Catholic Leaders

45 posted on 07/23/2008 8:15:16 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: indylindy

46 posted on 07/23/2008 8:16:12 AM PDT by Salvation (†With God all things are possible.†)
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To: SoConPubbie
Wow, that just makes it all OK that he wants to kill some babies through his support of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, right?

From my understanding, that is not a fair representation of McCain's position. The reasoning, whether you agree with it or not, is that these embryos are gonna be destroyed any ways, why not use them for good. McCain does not support letting people create embryos for research. It is not a rationalization I agree with as it creates an environment which likely will lead to creating and harvesting embryos for research, but it is a position that a reasonably pro-life person could take.

47 posted on 07/23/2008 8:20:10 AM PDT by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
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To: Salvation

I agree, no Obama, but this article isn’t about Obama.


48 posted on 07/23/2008 8:24:28 AM PDT by dforest (I had almost forgotten that McCain is the nominee. Too bad I was reminded.)
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To: Always Right
From my understanding, that is not a fair representation of McCain's position. The reasoning, whether you agree with it or not, is that these embryos are gonna be destroyed any ways, why not use them for good. McCain does not support letting people create embryos for research. It is not a rationalization I agree with as it creates an environment which likely will lead to creating and harvesting embryos for research, but it is a position that a reasonably pro-life person could take.

Either way, it is still rationalizing the murder of an innocent!

Cut away all the rationalization, and you are still killing a developing Human Being.
49 posted on 07/23/2008 1:18:32 PM PDT by SoConPubbie (GOP: If you reward bad behavior all you get is more bad behavior.)
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To: Salvation; don-o; indylindy

Thanks for the clear picture of what this thread is all about.
Obama Vote = Death to American Babies.

Senator McCain, gets a ZERO vote from NARAL, such an simple choice!


50 posted on 07/23/2008 2:46:55 PM PDT by Gemsbok (shark- waiting, circling, tasting, fresh blood on the obamination trail)
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To: Gemsbok

I have no idea why you addressed me.


51 posted on 07/23/2008 3:07:33 PM PDT by don-o (Have you donated to FR? If not, why not?)
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To: don-o

Me
Bite;
primarily I included you because of post #2


52 posted on 07/23/2008 3:26:59 PM PDT by Gemsbok (shark- waiting, circling, tasting, fresh blood on the obamination trail)
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To: Gemsbok

Please be so good as to ignore me.


53 posted on 07/23/2008 3:35:27 PM PDT by don-o (Have you donated to FR? If not, why not?)
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To: Coleus; nickcarraway; narses; Mr. Silverback; Canticle_of_Deborah; TenthAmendmentChampion; ...
Where There is Life there is Hope. I’m voting for John McCain.

Pro-Life PING

Please FreepMail me if you want on or off my Pro-Life Ping List.

54 posted on 07/24/2008 3:59:59 AM PDT by cpforlife.org (A Catholic Respect Life Curriculum is available FREE at KnightsForLife.org)
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To: rhema

I think he’s sincere. McCain was not my choice for the nomination but I’m becoming more and more comfortable with him as the nominee.


55 posted on 07/24/2008 4:54:32 AM PDT by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: Tribune7

McCain isn’t Reagan, a tautology that has been discussed endlessly on FR. I sometimes wonder if our country deserves a Reagan [whom my FReeper home page fondly remembers] at this point in our history. At any rate, I’ll remember the nation’s most voiceless and choiceless constituency when I’m casting my vote.


56 posted on 07/24/2008 9:00:33 AM PDT by rhema ("Break the conventions; keep the commandments." -- G. K. Chesterton)
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To: rhema
McCain isn’t Reagan,

Very true, but I'm still voting for him.

57 posted on 07/24/2008 9:15:51 AM PDT by Tribune7 (How is inflicting pain and death on an innocent, helpless human being for profit, moral?)
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To: indylindy

Why should he? If he is really prolife let his record show it. If he is it is up to us to get that information out to those who will approve it. If it is wise to not fly it up a flag pole just to get shot down then don’t do it. We don’t have to say everything we know to everybody all the time (especially our enemies). We are called to be wise as serpents as well as gentle as doves. Hopefully when he becomes President what is in his heart and in his past record will then flourish.


58 posted on 07/28/2008 2:37:25 AM PDT by Bellflower (A Brand New Day Is Coming!)
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