Davis Rips Riordian for Support of Anti-Abortion Groups

California Healthline | 1/30/02 | LA Times

[My2Cents]

Davis Defends Ads Questioning GOP Challenger Riordan's Abortion-Rights Stance

01/30/2002

Gov. Gray Davis (D) yesterday defended a campaign television ad in which he questions Republican gubernatorial candidate Richard Riordan's position on abortion rights, the Los Angeles Times reports. Riordan, the former mayor of Los Angeles, is campaigning as an abortion-rights supporter, "despite [his] past donations to antiabortion causes" (Los Angeles Times, 1/30). Davis' ad "accuses Riordan of trying to play both sides" of the abortion issue (San Francisco Chronicle, 1/29).

The ad mentions Riordan's donations to antiabortion activists and the Republican's support for Robert Bork, a former U.S. Supreme Court nominee who supported overturning Roe v. Wade (Los Angeles Times, 1/29). The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Riordan donated more than $10,000 to antiabortion groups in the 1980s and 1990s.

In addition, Riordan stated in a 1991 interview that he "strongly believed that abortion was murder," although the Chronicle reports that Riordan has declined to say whether he still maintains this position by saying he is "just not going to get into that" (San Francisco Chronicle, 1/29).

Davis defended his ad yesterday, noting that Riordan "concedes (that) everything in the ad is accurate," including his donations to antiabortion groups and his support for Bork. "[Riordan] says he's pro-choice, but he's spent an awful lot of money funding the opposition. If I was pro-choice, I wouldn't spend a nickel funding the opposition," Davis said

Defending His Views

Riordan "acknowledged" that the Davis ad was correct in stating that he had donated money to antiabortion groups (Los Angeles Times, 1/29). He defended those donations, stating, "I've given over $30 million to charities, and I'm sure you'll find something (there) that people don't like." He added that the "issue [of the donations] was in front of the voters when he was elected mayor" in 1993 (San Francisco Chronicle, 1/29).

Riordan said that his support for Bork stemmed from his support for former President Reagan, and he reasserted his support for abortion rights. "I strongly support the right of women to make their own decision with respect to their bodies ... Davis is acting desperate the last week. He's trying to keep people's eye off the ball," Riordan said (Los Angeles Times, 1/29). He called the ad a "vicious ... attack" and an "unwarranted, negative assault" (San Francisco Chronicle, 1/29).

Riordan advisers said that Davis' ads are meant either to chip away at Riordan's support in the November election or bolster support for GOP gubernatorial candidates Bill Simon and Bill Jones -- both of whom oppose abortion rights -- in the primary. "[Davis'] favorite scenario [is] to run against one of two guys who are pro-life," Riordan campaign manager Ron Hartwig said (Los Angeles Times, 1/29).

[My2Cents]

Davis wants to be on record as the biggest babykiller in the race.

[jwalsh07]

A vote for me is a vote for more dead babies!

What a disgrace.

[DaveyB]

How about this for a truth in advertising campaign slogan
"Vote for me - I spit on God, and his law, Vote for me so you can bring judgemnent upon you and your children you did not kill
-- yet."

[nickcarraway]

Trying to paint Riordan as pro-life will never work. Maybe Davis should try saying something about Riordan that has a slight chance of sticking, like that he once did something a Republican would actually like. I can't think of one offhand, but I'm sure they could dig up some dirt.

[Digger]

Why should we lower ourselves by talking about either of these two wantabe nothings.

[axxmann]

Because, unfortunately, one of them will be the next Gov. of Ca.

[Saundra Duffy]

Interesting. Riordan wants to have it both ways. He says he's "personally opposed" to abortion but yet he supports a "woman's right to choose". Riordan makes me sick. He thinks women are so stupid that we will vote for him just on the abortion question. Riordan sees California women as a vast sea of dumbed-down voting flesh. "Gay" Davis is worse! Go, Bill Jones - a man with respect for women and respect for life. For victory & freedom!!!

[Free the USA]

index bump

[My2Cents]

Polls show Jones now in third place. It's too bad. From a practical standpoint, Bill Jones may make the best Governor. He reminds me a lot of George Deukmejian, who I think was an outstanding Governor.

The problem is, each GOP candidate has a strength, but none of them possess all of them together: Bill Simon is the most ideologically pure; Bill Jones is the most experienced; and Riordan probably has the only chance of beating Davis. I keep waiting for the Second Coming of Ronald Reagan, but it's not going to happen. What a mess.

[Godel]

Sometimes I wonder if a culture that murders its own children deserves to survive. No wonder we're going extinct.

[My2Cents]

You know, Godel, when all is said and done, I agree with you. Abortion alone is reason enough to wipe us off the planet. Maybe God is being merciful because He wants to use us first to wipe some other evil away.

[Ahban]

Godel and I agree? This must not be a crevo thread!

[helmsman]

Riordan wants to have it both ways. He says he's "personally opposed" to abortion but yet he supports a "woman's right to choose".

Yeah, this guy's clearly against abortion but he took a pro-abortion position in order to be viable in California politics. To paraphrase a favorite merry man of mine -- "So, you sold yer soul to Satan, your honor."

Let's all remember that California has an abortion rate twice that of the national rate. The blood of babies runs down Rodeo Drive like flood water.