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The Right’s Pro-Choice Freakout: Veep’s Abortion View Irrelevant
North Star Writers Group ^ | August 21, 2008 | Dan Calabrese

Posted on 08/21/2008 5:45:11 AM PDT by Invisigoth

In wombs all across America, unborn children suck their thumbs and think, “I hope the next vice president isn’t in favor of aborting me!”

OK, no they don’t. But plenty of Republican voters are apparently thinking it for them, which brings us to the latest symbolic litmus test to which John McCain is being subjected to mollify the conservative base, which still can’t quite come to grips with the fact that McCain is the Republican nominee for president.

McCain, who thinks for himself and has been known to come to conclusions with which this column disagrees, let slip in a recent interview that he would not rule out certain prospective running mates solely because they might be pro-choice on abortion.

Add this to the fact that the pro-choice Rudy Giuliani has been chosen as the keynote speaker at the Republican National Convention, and the base’s angst is magnified all the more.

Why all this should shock anyone is beyond me, but the base predictably went bananas anyway. Leading conservative movement types immediately took to the airwaves and to the web to lay down the law to McCain: If he picked a pro-choice running mate, the base would sit on its hands in November, and McCain would get a front row seat at the inauguration of Barack Obama.

The base is prepared to die on a curiously chosen hill.

(Excerpt) Read more at northstarwriters.com ...


TOPICS: Government; Politics
KEYWORDS: 2008; 2008veep; abortion; dancalabrese; election; electionpresident; elections; mccain; prochoice; vp
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To: Invisigoth

All the pro-choice options mentioned are lousy on other things as well.


21 posted on 08/21/2008 6:29:50 AM PDT by Impy (Spellcheck hates Obama, you should too.)
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To: SandyInSeattle
Vice Presidents often become Presidents. That’s why it matters.

Especially given McCain's age and history. That is also why it is foolish to pick a democRAT, even of the Scoop Jackson variety (sorry Joe), or an open borders proponent (sorry Lindsey), or a political lightweight (sorry Huck).

22 posted on 08/21/2008 6:32:48 AM PDT by NonValueAdded (Rest In Peace, Capt. Ed "Too Tall" Freeman (1928-2008))
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To: Dan Calabrese

But meanwhile the conservative base should just roll over and play dead ????

Hardly the actions of our forefathers...


23 posted on 08/21/2008 6:44:21 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: SandyInSeattle

EXACTLY.

Since we HAVE to swollow a John McCain, we SHOULDN’T have to swollow a Tom Ridge, Rudy Giuliani, Crist, Liberman, etc.

We DESERVE a Vice President who would carry on with mainstream Republican values.


24 posted on 08/21/2008 6:47:40 AM PDT by ZULU (Non nobis, non nobis Domine, sed nomini tuo da gloriam. God, guts and guns made America great.)
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To: Invisigoth

If McCain hadn’t spent his career screwing conservatives then we’d be more willing to trust him on things like this.


25 posted on 08/21/2008 6:54:00 AM PDT by DManA
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To: Invisigoth

whoever wrote this is a moron. VP’s can become President. It matters a great deal.


26 posted on 08/21/2008 6:55:00 AM PDT by pgkdan (Tolerance is the virtue of the man without convictions - G.K. Chesterton)
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To: Invisigoth

What? Of course it matters! John McCain will be the oldest president ever elected. We need to have a VP we can feel comfortable with stepping into the position if McCain has a health issue.

Plus the VP will probably be the assumed standard bearer of the party in 4 or 8 years.


27 posted on 08/21/2008 7:34:05 AM PDT by CatherinePPP
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To: Tennessee Nana; Dan Calabrese

Exactly, which is precisely what puzzled me about your approval of Joe Lieberman on an earlier thread. Have you changed your mind about that?


28 posted on 08/21/2008 7:50:06 AM PDT by lonevoice (John McCain was a Kinoki foot pad in the Reagan Revolution)
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To: Invisigoth
Leading conservative movement types immediately took to the airwaves and to the web to lay down the law to McCain: If he picked a pro-choice running mate, the base would sit on its hands in November, and McCain would get a front row seat at the inauguration of Barack Obama.

I'm just a country boy, and not a writer at the prestigious North Star Writers Group, so everyone reading this should take the following with a grain of salt.

The logical time for the "Leading Conservative movement types" to apply political pressure on MrMcain is before he makes his decision. If these "types" of people (whatever that means) hold any sway over political decisions in the USA they would be very foolish indeed to wait until after the decision was made, to make their displeasure known.

Even an old country boy like me can understand this concept.

Maybe I'm just not sufficiently educated into the "nuances" of political thinking, and therefore can't understand why this writer would be "shocked, shocked" to see social conservatives attempting to participate in politics the same way other US Citizens are doing (you know, other citizens like this writer).

The writer's verbal assaults and down-the-nose look at these "types" of people must surely indicate he has nothing but the most friendly intentions toward them, and is merely, and gently, trying to "enlighten" them to his point of view.

I'm probably just not enlightened enough to see his friendly intentions shining through his words of ridicule.

29 posted on 08/21/2008 8:00:30 AM PDT by Col Freeper (FR is a smorgasbord of Conservative thoughts and ideas - dig in and enjoy it to its fullest!)
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To: Invisigoth

“The pro-life movement has been focused for a generation on electing pro-life presidents, vice presidents, legislators and drain commissioners. None of it has changed abortion law in America.”

Well, Dan, I guess it’s all over then and the Republicans should just accept it and become a pro-choice party!/s

Political expediency over principle is what has gotten the party in the mess it’s in. Throwing out what few principles the party still stands for isn’t going to fix that.


30 posted on 08/21/2008 8:42:22 AM PDT by LadyNavyVet
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To: LadyNavyVet

How many babies have been saved by this devotion to principle?

None.

I agree with the principle, but it hasn’t accomplished a damn thing. My problem with the pro-life movement is not its objective. I support the objective. It’s the insistence on sticking with a strategy that never saves any babies, and in my view, never will.


31 posted on 08/21/2008 9:21:35 AM PDT by Dan Calabrese
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To: RexBeach
Exactly...if McCain picks a pro-choice candidate for VP.
I can't and won't vote at all.
32 posted on 08/21/2008 9:23:01 AM PDT by okokie
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To: Dan Calabrese

That’s because, like Barack Obama, you are clueless regarding the facts. Babaies have been saved, abortion has been declining throughout a pro life Presidents two terms.


33 posted on 08/21/2008 9:23:58 AM PDT by jwalsh07 (Obama (Marxist), Manchuria)
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To: jwalsh07

Not because of anything the pro-life presidents did. Because they didn’t do anything. They couldn’t.

There are two primary reasons abortion is declining - one good, one not so good.

The good reason is that more people are being educated about the nature of the life in the womb, and are realizing it’s not just a clump of cells. Public education campaigns and appeals to people’s better nature are working.

The bad reason is the disappearance of all shame and stigma attached to out-of-wedlock pregnancies, especially teen pregnancies. So many teens are getting pregnant now, it is no longer a big deal, and they don’t fear their parents or others finding out - assuming they even live with one or both parents.

It’s not because of anything any public official has done.


34 posted on 08/21/2008 9:31:03 AM PDT by Dan Calabrese
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To: lonevoice

You want to show my earlier comment ???????

or just continue to put your MSM type of spin on it ??????????


35 posted on 08/21/2008 10:22:51 AM PDT by Tennessee Nana
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To: Dan Calabrese

“How many babies have been saved by this devotion to principle? None.”

I heartily disagree. One major American political party has made preserving the lives of the weakest among us a basic, signature issue, thereby raising awareness of the horrors of infanticide and keeping the issue continually on the front burner. There is no way of knowing how many babies that has saved.

“It’s the insistence on sticking with a strategy that never saves any babies, and in my view, never will.”

What is your strategy for saving babies, then? I have a military background. One does not win battles, and that includes political battles, by ceding the battlefield to the enemy. If Republicans capitulate on yet another supposed deeply held belief, why should I vote for them? “Because they’re not the Democrats” isn’t enough, especially since they become more like the Democrats every single day.


36 posted on 08/21/2008 10:27:13 AM PDT by LadyNavyVet
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To: Dan Calabrese
Teenage birth rates have been declining since 1991 with a slight uptick in 2006. Abortions have been steadily decreasing during Bushs years. Evidently the bully pulpit and a pro life party have had some effect as well as pro life individuals raising their children to be pro life.

You need to get your facts in order Dan.

37 posted on 08/21/2008 11:36:19 AM PDT by jwalsh07 (Obama (Marxist), Manchuria)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Sorry, I don’t have time to go looking for it. It was on a thread about potential VP picks for McCain. Both Lieberman and Cantor’s names were being floated. You posted that you really liked Lieberman, but that you didn’t know anything about Cantor and asked for Cantor’s conservative credentials to be posted. I posted to you that I was curious as to what you thought Lieberman’s conservative credentials were. You replied to me (paraphrasing) “Hi curious, pleased to meet you. I’m Tennessee Nana.” If you don’t remember that exchange, oh well. It sure stuck in my mind. No need to be nasty about it.


38 posted on 08/21/2008 11:51:32 AM PDT by lonevoice (John McCain was a Kinoki foot pad in the Reagan Revolution)
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To: SandyInSeattle
"Vice Presidents often become Presidents. That’s why it matters."

A pro-death viewpoint indicates either a failure to understand some very basic principles of biology or a complete disregard for the sanctity of human life...it's got to be one or the other. Neither is desireable in a VP.

39 posted on 08/21/2008 11:56:48 AM PDT by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem meum)
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To: Tennessee Nana

Got a break in the action here and found it for you:
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To: KoRn
I’ve always liked Joe Lieberman...
McCain needs to choose someone young though...
Obama is only in his 40s..
Old rich white guys wont win ...

24 posted on Monday, August 04, 2008 10:04:45 PM by Tennessee Nana
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To: MeanWestTexan
Please list Eric Cantor’s conservative creditials...

2 posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 11:24:07 AM by Tennessee Nana
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To: Tennessee Nana
I noticed on another thread you mentioned that you liked Lieberman. Would you mind posting his conservative credentials? Honestly, I’m very curious.

45 posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 1:07:58 PM by lonevoice (John McCain was a Kinoki foot pad in the Reagan Revolution)
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Pleased to meetcha very curious...
I’m Tennessee Nana

47 posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 1:13:55 PM by Tennessee Nana
___________________________________________________________
Why, thank you. I’m very pleased to meet you as well. Are there conservative credentials you appreciate about Lieberman? I know he’s strong in his support of the troops and our efforts in Iraq. What else?

49 posted on Tuesday, August 05, 2008 1:22:46 PM by lonevoice (John McCain was a Kinoki foot pad in the Reagan Revolution)
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40 posted on 08/21/2008 2:00:56 PM PDT by lonevoice (John McCain was a Kinoki foot pad in the Reagan Revolution)
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