Well, I am sorry. I attempted to respond to that and I thought I did. It is confusing to me to try to follow your position. Perhaps I am just dumb. First you said you would not vote for Rice because of her position on abortion. To me that meant that regardless of any other position she may have, that issue alone, that SINGLE issue, would cause her to lose your vote. Isn't that what you said? Then you replied to my response saying you never said you were a single issue voter. You then went on to list many single issues and asked if those single issues would cause me not to vote for a candidate. Now you are saying that you are a single issue voter and are suggesting, by the previous post and your examples that I am too if the issue is important enough. I can't keep jumping the fence trying to figure out which side you are on so my responses will probably never please you.
Second: but you did sort of get around to it in your discussion of abortion. It isn't a single issue to you at the federal level because you don't think it should be decided at that level. Do you oppose all federal laws? Isn't murder a federal offense? Why shouldn't abortion be?
That paragraph is an excellent example of what I mean. Why do you ask if I oppose all federal laws because I oppose one? Isn't that quite a reach? I told you I think that they recently made murder a federal crime in certain cases and you come right back and ask me if murder is a federal crime and, if so, shouldn't abortion be? No, in general, murder is not a federal crime. That is the reason there is this big debate over capital punishment. Different states have different laws because murder is a state crime. If it were federal the punishment would be uniform. If murder were a federal crime, generally, yes abortion should be also because abortion is murder. They should be governed by the same rules.
Third: ......what I demanded was clarification and sense. ......and she must clarify, if she wants my vote. Fair enough?
Demanding will get you little. Why do you think anyone should accede to your demands? Who are you to demand? Oh, your one little vote is at stake? Talk to the Democrats, they are the ones that insist that every vote must count. Unfortunately they are also the ones complaining that their voters don't turn out.
Fourth: are you not aware that, even within your guidelines, a president's position on abortion has MANY repercussions? We've seen it in issues of support for abortion on military bases, supporting abortion-advocacy groups abroad, signing bills such as banning live-birth infanticide. What about the all-important issue of appointment of judges? Look, there is a difference between your position (I hate it, it's wrong as the day is long, it should be banned -- but at a state level) and being "pro-choice" (it is neutral, up to the individual, should be a protected right). A person of the latter position will not appoint judges who will eventually get the issue handled at the state-level, as you wish.
These are excellent points that I agree with. However, given the choice of voting for Rice or Hillary I would joyfully cast my vote for Rice. You?
First, I apologize for doing what I resent in others: reading too hastily. You're absolutely right, of course; you had mentioned murder, and I hadn't reflected thoughtfully enough on it. So... do you ultimately think murder should be a federal crime, though? Doesn't saying "No" open the door,theoretically, to it possibly being legal in some states? (Now, there's a premise for a sci-fi novel if ever I heard one.) And if it is, you already grant that abortion might follow.
I grant you have good reason for being confused about what I mean when I say I'm not single-issue, yet single out abortion as an issue. Let me try to clarify my position, and my thoughts!
Here's what I mean: I mean that abortion isn't The One and Only Issue I care about. I did not support Alan Keyes, for a number of reasons, and he certainly has been the most articulate and passionate candidate on that issue for a long time. So I mean that my stance is not, "Is he pro-life? Then say no more: he has my vote!"
On the other hand... this is hard to put into words. I am horrified and appalled to my very soul at the practice, defense, almost sacralization of this hideous practice in our culture. Millions and millions are slaughtered barbarically each decade, and why? Nearly 100% of them die because they were imperfect (the fewest) or simply inconvenient (the most).
And this in the richest, most affluent country in the entire history of the world. (Yes, I do think this is a legitimate connection to bring that up.) What possible excuse can we claim? Ignorance of the fact that this is a human being from conception on? Science has ruled that out. Unavailability of alternatives? No, in no way.
And yet we are at a near vapor lock on the issue, unable to move one way or the other. Those who realize the, to me, ethically DUH! reality that it is an abomination which must stop instantly, are timid and apologetic. Those who prop up the case for the killing are bold and cultic, and they hold the reigns of power.
So what small part can I play? When I can, I protest, I write, I persuade, I give... and I vote. I let it play a part in whom I select. I think, if they haven't thought this position through and figured out that kids should be protected by law, they're Not Ready for Prime Time.
That's basically where I am. Now, do I demand that a candidate reflect my virtually 100%-opposed stance? Will I oppose him if he allows exceptions for killing the child if the father was a criminal (i.e. rape)? No; I want to move the ball in the right direction, and even that position would eliminate nearly 100% of all abortions.
Then you seem to twit me, puzzlingly, for "demanding" clarification of her position. Well, what do you want me to do, MnR? Be a sheeple, but just a sheeple for the GOP? You want me to say, "Golly, it's just such a privilege to be able to vote for a (1) smart (2) pretty (3) black (4) woman that I just won't even ask any questions before slamming down my primary vote!"?
No, of course Condi doesn't go to bed each night asking herself, "What does Dan Phillips think of my positions?" But I think it, when it comes to placing my vote. Shouldn't I?
Dan