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Steele: Abortion an 'individual choice' (interview a must-read)
Politico ^ | March 11, 2009 | Ben Smith; interview by Lisa Paulo

Posted on 03/11/2009 9:02:19 PM PDT by xjcsa

In an interview with GQ, Michael Steele called abortion an "individual choice" and said the question should be left to the states.

Quotes from the interview; interviewer's questions in italics:

THE GOOD:

Do you think bipartisanship can work?

No. [pause] Look, I’m sorry, I know this is, you know, la-la land and Rodney King time and we all wanna get along, but that is not the nature of American politics. That is not the nature of politics, period.

I don’t know if refreshing’s the word, but to hear someone say bipartisanship doesn’t work—

It doesn’t work! I mean, I understand the ideal of it. But at the end of the day, this is a game of winners and losers. This is zero-sum. Your winning is my losing. My winning is your losing.

[snip]

THE BAD

Do you think homosexuality is a choice?

Oh, no. I don’t think I’ve ever really subscribed to that view, that you can turn it on and off like a water tap. Um, you know, I think that there’s a whole lot that goes into the makeup of an individual that, uh, you just can’t simply say, oh, like, “Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being gay.” It’s like saying, “Tomorrow morning I’m gonna stop being black.”

[snip]

THE UGLY

Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion? Yeah. I mean, again, I think that’s an individual choice.

You do?

Yeah. Absolutely.

Are you saying you don’t want to overturn Roe v. Wade?

I think Roe v. Wade—as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.

Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?

The states should make that choice. That’s what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.

(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: abortion; duplicate; frigginloser; prolife; rnc; rncchairman; steele; steelemustgo; zerosycophant
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To: techno

you think having a stupid guy in charge of the GOP will help us vs Obama? That’s what this is really about. One day it’s hip hop, just a few days ago was starting up with Rush and now this. What will he do next?


101 posted on 03/11/2009 11:34:56 PM PDT by ari-freedom (Hail to the Dork!)
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To: Demesne Lord
I dare any “law-and-order conservative” on here to say, without any equivocation, that any woman who pays money to someone to kill her unborn child should be prosecuted for murder... just like we prosecute any other contract killing.

If abortion in infanticide, then paying a doctor for an abortion is murder-for-hire. Say it if you really mean it. Don’t you have the courage of your convictions?

Welcome to FR. Interesting that this is what you choose as your first post here. Do you smell ozone, by any chance?

102 posted on 03/11/2009 11:36:57 PM PDT by xjcsa (Currently shouting "I told you so" about Michael Steele on my profile page.)
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To: Arthur McGowan
Why is it “bad” to say that “homosexuality is not a choice”?

You actually answer that very question yourself:

Steele should not have answered the question without requiring disambiguation.

I think we actually agree entirely on this issue.

103 posted on 03/11/2009 11:38:44 PM PDT by xjcsa (Currently shouting "I told you so" about Michael Steele on my profile page.)
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To: Semperfiwife
It is freakingly painfully obvious he has NEVER had any children. If his wife had an ultrasound at just four months they would have witnessed an undeniable HUMAN being in process. Now, he can equivocate all he wants politically, but if it is not in the core of his very being that once upon a time he was a viable human at that stage, then pity the poor man for even trying to stay alive.

No, he's got kids, he's just an idiot.

He is to pitied above all men for he has no inner core, only mush.

Wow...well put...and that applies to far too many "conservatives" these days.

104 posted on 03/11/2009 11:41:52 PM PDT by xjcsa (Currently shouting "I told you so" about Michael Steele on my profile page.)
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To: xjcsa


Michael Steel just lost my admiration. Because the way I see it, there's only one reason to kill anyone. And that reason is self defense.

I don't think innocent little babies are going to be doing drive by's from the womb anytime soon. So in my mind, there is no more defense for killing babies then there is for killing anyone else.


105 posted on 03/11/2009 11:41:57 PM PDT by GloriaJane (http://www.last.fm/music/Gloria+Jane)
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To: techno
Steele, regardless of his perceived defects, is NOT the enemy. Obama and his Marxist hordes are. Never forget that.

No, he's just an ineffective, incoherent general who needs to be replaced.

106 posted on 03/11/2009 11:44:19 PM PDT by xjcsa (Currently shouting "I told you so" about Michael Steele on my profile page.)
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To: xjcsa
I will go on record.... I was fooled again thinking he was a Conservative...... I admit... I was WRONG.
I will take back my support I once had for him.
107 posted on 03/11/2009 11:47:41 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: GloriaJane
Michael Steel just lost my admiration. Because the way I see it, there's only one reason to kill anyone. And that reason is self defense.

I think you would also agree that the defense of others is a legitimate reason. In addition - and you may disagree - I think that killing as a member of the military in the service of your government can be justified, as can administrative killing by the government as in capital punishment. But that's about it, and none of those reasons apply to abortion.

108 posted on 03/11/2009 11:49:49 PM PDT by xjcsa (Currently shouting "I told you so" about Michael Steele on my profile page.)
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To: calex59

“Either you believe in states rights or you don’t, can’t have it both ways.”

I agree. Unfortunately we can’t all agree on the lily white, clean handed leader of the RNC who will deliver the faithful Republicans back to the top of the leadership.

I don’t see the Republican party making gains as long as we focus on settled law instead of Odooma’s remaking of America. While the people argue about who should be the saviour of the Republicans, the socialists and marxists are going to cut us up and America is history.


109 posted on 03/11/2009 11:50:27 PM PDT by o_zarkman44 (Obama is the ultimate LIE!)
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To: xjcsa
Most of the people who we thought were our leaders for Conservatives have disappointed us because they want to be " LIKED " " LOVED " " POLITICAL CORRECT " in order to get votes.......
Was Reagan a once in a 100 years leader ?
110 posted on 03/11/2009 11:50:59 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM .53 : 1 The FOOL hath said in his heart, there is no GOD.)
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To: exist

It’s actually a rather classic conservative position to have Roe v Wade overturned and the decision go back to the states.

I of course would like it banned totally and immediately, but I don’t find Steele’s position unusual.

The day Roe v Wade gets overturned, I don’t think I’ll be able to do anything but praise God all day.


111 posted on 03/11/2009 11:58:24 PM PDT by Marie2 (Ora et labora)
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To: Marie2
I of course would like it banned totally and immediately, but I don’t find Steele’s position unusual.

What is his position, exactly? I think I count at least three distinct, contradictory "positions" from him in this interview alone.

112 posted on 03/12/2009 12:01:39 AM PDT by xjcsa (Currently shouting "I told you so" about Michael Steele on my profile page.)
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To: xjcsa

He is correct on the legality of Roe vs. Wade, just not the morality. That just don’t cut it for me.


113 posted on 03/12/2009 12:10:53 AM PDT by Republic of Texas (Socialism Always Fails)
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To: xjcsa
"I think you would also agree that the defense of others is a legitimate reason. In addition - and you may disagree - I think that killing as a member of the military in the service of your government can be justified, as can administrative killing by the government as in capital punishment. But that's about it, and none of those reasons apply to abortion."

You're right. No question about that. I was just trying to make a point about the way I personally feel about abortion.

To me, as a woman, there is no justification to take a babies life, just because that baby happens to be in one's way. And that's what abortion is really. It's the killing of an innocent human being just because he or she is in the way. A simple inconvenience. Killed simply for being alive.

114 posted on 03/12/2009 12:13:12 AM PDT by GloriaJane (http://www.last.fm/music/Gloria+Jane)
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To: techno

I see this is another Kabuki Theater thread

What the alleged pro life folks are pushing is ....
Steele, bad - if you arn’t pure, bad -

so the third party which is being pushed stealthly through
this thread by dividing Republicans and getting some to move over to a group which as all third party malcontents
only gets 1 to 3% of the vote and the Democrat wins.

But hey, the third party motto is we showed them we are pure as we all have to exist through Marxist Obama and his type.

Bottom line, for the third party pures, any Marxist is better than a Republican.

The DU and Daily KOS must laugh their ass off as the Third Party Republican bashers do their work for them.


115 posted on 03/12/2009 12:13:31 AM PDT by SoCalPol (Reagan Republican for Palin - Jindal 2012)
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To: ari-freedom

I defended Steele a week ago when his statements had everyone wanting to throw him under the bus.
It’s obvious that Conservatives are never going to be satisfied with anything the Republican Party has to offer so why waste their time trying to redirect the party?

They need to get off the Republican bandwagon and accept the fact the party is not the choice of conservatives as we once knew it.

But the next arguement is what will the new party be called.
Who will the spokesperson be? I hear the busses running.
But the busses are full of marxists and they are going to run over everyone. Why bother trying to tell people they are focusing on debating SETTLED LAW when they should be uniting against the Odooma marxists and the new deal they have in mind for all America?!!!

Why bother resisting the marxists if we can’t get our own house in order??


116 posted on 03/12/2009 12:15:31 AM PDT by o_zarkman44 (Obama is the ultimate LIE!)
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To: xjcsa

“I think I count at least three distinct, contradictory “positions” from him in this interview alone.”

I am sorry to say I do, too.

Where have all the good guys gone? I can articulate and defend my positions better than this guy. Why is he the leader of the RNC?


117 posted on 03/12/2009 12:23:55 AM PDT by Marie2 (Ora et labora)
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To: o_zarkman44

“They need to get off the Republican bandwagon and accept the fact the party is not the choice of conservatives as we once knew it.”

whatever they want it to be, at least make it sound coherent. instead, we end up with Dubya, Mccain and Steele. That is why the GOP is also called the “Stupid party.”


118 posted on 03/12/2009 12:31:25 AM PDT by ari-freedom (Hail to the Dork!)
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To: Marie2

I vote for anyone who wants to repeal Roe even though I don’t believe that some states will still get to choose abortion (I’m from NY and I am pretty sure they will keep abortion even without Roe).

That’s not the problem with Steele. He is just...not helping!!!


119 posted on 03/12/2009 12:34:57 AM PDT by ari-freedom (Hail to the Dork!)
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To: what's up

You didn’t answer the question. Not even close.

Using your illogic, Illinois can ban guns if they feel like it.

Massachusetts can outlaw free speech.

New Jersey can do away to the right to peaceably assemble.

Nebraska can outlaw the free exercise of religion.

Arizona can do away with trial by jury and due process.

Michigan can take away all parental rights.

By allowing for the destruction of any innocent person, in direct contradiction to to the explicit provisions of the Fifth and the Fourteenth Amendments, you’re helping destroy our republican form of government, and crushing liberty into the dust.

You’re shredding the Constitution, a document whose crowning stated purpose is “to secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves AND OUR POSTERITY.”

Do you know what the word “posterity” even means?

Do you think the Constitution’s protections are there just for you?

Sorry, bub, but all men are created equal. That’s America’s first premise.

Pro-choice for states is pro-choice.


120 posted on 03/12/2009 12:50:06 AM PDT by EternalVigilance (Pro-choice for states is pro-choice.)
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