Dole's platform
elizabeth eccher
mpo...@NSF.GOV wrote:
I was only half-listening to the news last night. Here's
what I think I heard: Dole will accept a platform plank in
favor of outlawing abortion, but he also wants the party's
platform to include something about being tolerant towards
other views on the issue.
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That's essentially what the Wall Street Journal reported today: "In his
first formal campaign declaration on the explosive issue, Mr. Dole said in a
statement last night that he 'will not seek or accept a retreat' from the
Republican Party's anti-abortion platform language that has existed since
1980." [That language says that a fetus has "a fundamental individual right
to life cannot be infringed" and calls for a consitutional amendment
outlawing abortion.]
Later in the article: "[Dole] also noted in his statement that the original
Reagan platform included language acknowledging different views within the
party. Mr. Dole will include similar language acknowledging differing view.
But his statement, and explanations by aides, indicated that language might
not single out abortion as an issue of disagreement, but rather acknowledge
differences among Republicans on various issues."
My take: he wants to have his cake and eat it, too.
Elizabeth Eccher
ecc...@MIT.EDU
Judith A. Sugar
Well, la-de-da! If the Republicans are elected in sufficient numbers to pass a
consitutional amendment outlawing abortion, the fact that they would be
willing to "acknowledge differences among Republicans" (or anyone else) on
this issue will be completely meaningless and irrelevant! This is the
central problem of the anti-choice position--it does not allow CHOICE. On
the other hand, pro-choice people do not require that anti-choice people
have abortions
against their will. The fact that Dole (or anyone else) will acknowledge
the obvious fact that those who are pro-choice have a different opinion on
abortion than those who are anti-choice will be no consolation whatsoever
if a constitutional amendment outlawing abortion were ever to be passed.