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Boston Globe, p. A11 Jan 22, 2000 McCain said, “I’d love to see a point where Roe vs. Wade is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary.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
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.