Abortion-rights groups endorse governor's bid

The Sacramento Bee ^ | March 27, 2002 | Herbert A. Sample

[nickcarraway]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Moving to strike a chord with "pro-choice" voters, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis accepted the endorsement of two abortion-rights groups Tuesday and derided the anti-abortion views of his Republican foe, Bill Simon.

Leaders of the National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) and its California affiliate said Davis had strongly protected and strengthened abortion rights during his long political career and, particularly, his three-plus years as governor.

[Hugin]

Dems always try to make abortion the issue, even though the Governor really has very little to do with it in CA. The vast majority of people really don't care much about the issue. Of the small percentage who do consider it a major issue, the majority is pro-life. If they can make it the big issue then those who are moderately pro-choice will be more likely to vote Dem. That's why they do this every election year, and try to paint even pro-choice Pubs as "anti-choice extremists".

[d14truth]

How come being a life-chooser is anti-choice?

[FourtySeven]

Moving to strike a chord with "pro-choice" voters, Democratic Gov. Gray Davis accepted the endorsement of two abortion-rights groups Tuesday and derided the anti-abortion views of his Republican foe, Bill Simon.

This after Davis' own strategist spent all that money attacking Riordan, and helping Simon win the primary.

Way to go California! < thumbs up >

[purereason]

"53% of California voters are women, and by a hefty majority they will be swayed by this issue. A lesson will be learned in this California election. An important one."

Dream on.Even woman have stopped believing that propaganda.

[purereason]

"Pong"

[let freedom sing]

The Death of the West

[evilsmoker]

Whaddya mean even women? Have you been listening to the liberal media again???

[stands2reason]

I think I'll add that to my least surprising headline collection. Along with "New Yorkers Suffer From Depression After 9/11" and "World's Oldest Woman Dies".

[stands2reason]

I guess if the press say "Abortion is a women's issue" enough times, even conservatives will believe it.

[purereason]

Like I said "even woman".

[broomhilda]

Thanks for paying attention. We have to keep reminding people that ABORTION IS A NON ISSUE IN STATE GOVERNMENT POLITICS. Bill Simon For Governor. Davis can spout any crock of garbage he thinks will make a difference. Simon will outsmart him because he stays cool and doesn't let Davis ruffle his feathers. Davis has already lost it several times.

[risk]

OK everybody, please let me make a counterpoint.

The abortion issue splits me away from pro-life candidates because I believe in an absolute right to a woman's medical privacy and her right to choose what to do with her own body. I realize that's not going to go over to well with most of you here, but I'll support that position without fatigue. Liberty is about leaving people alone with their own consciences. Liberty is about leaving religion out of government so that people can decide what's right and wrong for themselves, including their unborn babies.

The agreeable comment I have for each of you is simple: 9/11 has made me realize that I probably have to choose between national security and abortion freedoms. And it's a pretty easy choice when it comes down to it.

I make this next statement with a big smile on my face, and I hope you all understand the true warmth I have for you today -- I'm not being sarcastic! Read it and smile along with me: I've decided that all of you pro-life Republicans are a lot less scary than fundamentalist Islamic extremists, so I may find myself voting for Mr. Bush in the next election, and voting for Republican congressionals. After all, you're just saying that you value human life enough that it makes you angry and upset to think that some of them don't even get a chance at all. It's sweet and humane, and I'm going to have to deal with it somehow. However, in this forseable future -- even with a pro-life congress, a pro-life president, and a potentially pro-life supreme court, I won't stop reminding all of you that it's a loss of liberty to force women to do anything with their bodies.

Please forgive me for disagreeing. I know you all mean well, and I'm behind President Bush 100%. I can't say that I feel the same way about Bill Simon. Maybe there's a happy medium between Mr. Davis's positions and Mr. Simon's. I don't blame Davis for our energy crisis, and I think we haven't heard the whole story yet.

I think you all can see my dilemma. I can't seem to sway the Democratic party on getting back to basics. They're all wrong on so many issues, even the New Democrats. So in addition to all the other great things the Republicans are doing these days, why can't we have a Republican party that's neutral on labor, for keeping religion out of government, for protecting our natural resources, and positive on supporting public education (if in a much less politically correct manner). I can always hope.