Arguing Abortion | Post

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Arguing Abortion

Posted May 20, 2008 at 7:10 AM

Abortion is perhaps the most contentious issue on the table at any political debate, though many politicians are loathe to discuss the issue unless prompted by press or constituents. And while I've never come across any voter who characterizes him or herself as a "one-issue voter," the abortion question certainly seems to weigh heavily on the minds of many Americans.

According toEconomist.com, “Abortion, as ever, will be a big electoral issue in the coming campaign. The Supreme Court decision guaranteeing abortion rights, Roe v Wade, now has just a 5-4 majority of support on the court, and one of the left-leaning judges, John Paul Stevens, is 88. John McCain, the presumptive Republican candidate, opposes abortion, and the possibility that Roe could be overturned is likely to galvanise Democratic voters in the autumn.”

According toProChoiceAmerica.org, the website of the nonprofit NARAL Pro-Choice America, “In his 25 years in Congress, Sen. McCain has voted anti-choice 125 times out of 130 opportunities including votes against birth control, measures that would protect women and doctors from violence at health clinics, and funding for teen-pregnancy-prevention programs. He has also called for overturning Roe v. Wade.” And while Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) generally receives favorably ratings from pro-choice groups. NARAL Pro-Choice America officially endorsed Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) on May 14.

On the other hand, right-to-life groups by and large support McCain. According toNRLPAC.org, the website of the National Right to Life Committee’s political action committee, “National Right to Life PAC does not want any of the pro-abortion Democratic candidates . . . elected president. . . . National Right to Life is also grateful for the strong pro-life voting record on abortion of Senator John McCain, and appreciates the pro-life position he has taken in his Senate campaigns and in this presidential campaign.”

I surveyed a group of female New York residents to find out how important a presidential candidate’s position on the issue is to them.

Rachael Parenta, a Brooklyn-based stand-up comedian, said, “If a candidate is anti-choice and/or wants to sign off on legislation that restricts a person's right to choose I don't see myself voting for that candidate. However, it doesn't make me a one-issue voter. Usually candidates that are pro-choice agree with me on other issues.”

Twanna A. Hines, a writer living in Brooklyn, said, “If a candidate isn't pro-choice, I'm less likely to vote for them . . . the debate about abortion is kind of like an ongoing discussion about whether or not a woman should have 100% of the voice regarding medical procedures performed on her body. If a candidate is in favor of blocking that voice outright, it makes me question their motives as well as their ability to understand the complexities of the issue.”

Meghan Genovese, a writer and editor living in Brooklyn, said, “Considering that the next president will have a great impact on structuring the Supreme Court, abortion is more important to me this election than in any before. I do not want to see Roe versus Wade overturned in the coming years.”

Kate Goss, a mother of three living in Queens, told me, “I am not a single issue voter, but it's hard to imagine a candidate who would restrict women's reproductive rights being someone I would agree with on a host of issues. Seeing as how every unplanned/unwanted pregnancy results in someone making a choice on how to proceed, a politician who believes that the government is better able to make that choice than the woman involved probably isn't someone I'd vote for.”

She added, “I would especially like to see a politician who, while vigorously protecting abortion rights, is willing to acknowledge the moral dimension involved and who doesn't act like it's as morally insignificant as pulling a tooth.”

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Abortion Pro-Choice Pro-Life obama Women's Rights pregnancy Republican birth control Clinton McCain Abortion Rights anti-choice anti-life NARAL right to life

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roseycutie1 91 days ago

I am totally against abortion because I don't believe in killing an innocent human being.I think if you had sex(which was your decision) and got pregnant(which could have been prevented if you used condoms and/or birth control) you should be responsible for a child and have him or her.Someone else shouldn't be killed because of your wrong move.

speakonit 82 days ago

I agree. In my view, abortion is wrong. It wasyourchoice to have sex andyourchoice not to use protection. I know this sounds repetitive, but the only 100% safe sex is tonothave sex. I do not think that the consequences ofyouractions should affect the life of your child. You can't just push the "easy button" and take the abortion way. You have to live with your consequences. And that child deserves a life.

moderngrrrl730 61 days ago

First off, I have to commend you for your article. I am someone who will not vote for someone who is not pro-choice and willing to back it up with action. It very much seems that the tide id changing these days when it comes to reproductive justice. The prevailing view seems to be incredibly ethnocentric and full of white privilege (as the two prevailing comments prove).

In my experience, it is not as simple as "just using other forms of contraception." The anti-choice movement is not only against abortion, they are often again contraception and sex in general. In my experience, the people who are getting abortions are people who were not educated on condom use and birth control pills. In my experience, choosing abortion is not an easy choice. In my experience, not everyone can afford to have a child or another child. In my experience, children (especially children of color) do not get adopted.

And, furthermore,as a believer in the Constitution, I believe in the right to privacy. Roe v. Wade is a right to privacy decision. The privileged girls who posted before me should not be allowed to be involved in my medical decisions whether it be my choice to have an abortion, my HIV/AIDS status, or whether I choose to have chemo. It's really none of your business. The only purpose I can see it having is to discriminate. What I do to myself is my concern. I have a problem with the government telling me how I am to address my medical issues.

DaSweetestOne09 25 days ago

i agree with all of u. i believe that abortion is wrong because when you have an abortion, you are shortening a child's life and that is not right. if you didn't want to have kids, you shouldn't have sex in the first place. if you do decide 2 have sex, you should use protection & birth control. if you end up pregnant, put the child up for adoption. there are people that can't have kids and they deserve a chance to have children. that is my opinion.

milf1988 17 days ago

first off, i disagree about abortion. when you do it in the certain amount of time limit..like 2 or 3 weeks into your pregnany.. it is NOT even a baby. it is just cells. it is wrong to get an abortion after 3 months because that is a fetus. a human bein. i had an abortion at 14. my dumb fault, i got pregnant and i realized i was better off getting an abortion. but as a mother now. i got pregnant at 17..i graduated high school, i figured i was ready. and boy was i sooo wrong. being a mother is one of the hardest things. it is the best thing that has ever happened to me, my son is my heart and soul..my life my everything. he is the reason i am alive. but i can tell you being a teenage mother is hard. so think before you have sex. be careful!!

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