(August 25, 1999) McCain's Abortion Stance Is Angering Both Sides - Right calls it a flip-flop

SF Gate ^ | 8/25/99 | Carla Marunnucci

[pissant]

Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, reacting to conservative criticism that he has softened his stand on abortion, said last night that he believes the GOP ``must be an inclusionary party, and we must respect the views of others'' on the issue.

``I believe that the pro-choice community feels that abortion is a procedure that we would like to eliminate,'' McCain said in an interview with The Chronicle last night. ``So yes, I want to repeal Roe vs. Wade, and yes, I am proud of my pro-life voting record.

``But I'm trying to get to the point where we join together and reach a solution to a terrible situation,'' McCain said. ``The party of Abraham Lincoln is the party of inclusion.''

[pissant]

``I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary,'' McCain told The Chronicle then. ``But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe vs. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to (undergo) illegal and dangerous operations.''

[top 2 toe red]

``I will continue to work with both pro-life and pro-choice Americans so that we can eliminate the need for abortions,'' McCain pledged.

McCain has taken the right approach.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Yeah. McCain has flirted with the rhetoric of the left on abortion. I do think most of his votes have been pro-life. I won’t fault him where he doesn’t deserve to be faulted. Many politicians mess up their presentation of the debate. They succumb to pressure. What matters is their vote. McCain is weak on stem-cells. Neither is he a grand and passionate debater for the pro-life cause in general. But he is mostly a reliable pro-life vote. I would rather have someone who can actually argue our side, but I MUST have someone who will vote pro-life. I will give McCain his credit here.

[Always Right]

Wonder when McCain is gonna come around and include the right?

[pissant]

I assume you would like the date on these archives before the title??

[Free Vulcan]

His position sounds similar to...Rudy’s, among other we don’t consider pro-life.

[2harddrive]

If not exactly pro-Life...at least McCain is not pro-Death! (As are the Abortionists of Planned Parenthood.)

[UCFRoadWarrior]

McCain also says he for border security...now.

Cant believe the pro-life crowd is foolish enough to trust him on the abortion issue

[pollywog]

compromising on the pro-life issue is NOT a option and never the right thing....He must be stopped. I really doubt you would hear these words from Huckabee!

[top 2 toe red]

I respect your right to hold an opinion differing from mine, I'm hoping you respect my same right.

Huckabee is not going to be the GOP's nominee and hopefully, he will NOT be the VP nominee, either.

This is another area, in which we apparently hold opposing opinions...I am impressed by NONE of Huckabee's words.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Those who lead with compromise are nothing but a weak link. Life is an issue that should never be compromised. On occasions when compromise becomes necessary, it should only be because there is no way forward and forward is ESSENTIAL. Sometimes moving forward with a bad idea is just a bad idea. To be the weak link and aid a bad idea is the stuff traitors are made of.

[top 2 toe red]

Uh huh...you have persuaded me with your heavy handedness, petty insults and theatrical rhetoric...NOT.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

Uh huh...you have persuaded me with your heavy handedness, petty insults and theatrical rhetoric...NOT.

Nice try, but that is an utterly false charge other than the part that I didn't persuade you.

[SoConPubbie]

McCain has taken the right approach.

If McCain had any core conservative principles, this would not be the approach he takes.

This coupled with his support for Embryonic Stem Cell Research and his trending down ACU yearly rating since his third year as a senator should send shivers down the spines of all serious-minded and truly committed conservatives.

This is just more pandering by John McCain to the left in order for him to become President.

These are not the actions of a honorable conservative, but of a pandering moderate with no core conservative principles.

[top 2 toe red]

...but that is an utterly false charge...

Of course, you are right, being called a prospective traitor, a traitor because you are a weak link and have/are aiding a bad idea....should in no way construe a use of heavy handedness, petty insults and theatrical rhetoric on your part. Yeah.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

I just put forth a true principle. If you placed yourself or your candidate within that principle, that’s not my fault. Why not look at what I said and tell me why my principle is false. That would be a better defense than accusing me of something I didn’t do.

[top 2 toe red]

McCain was not my candidate, he will be my candidate, when he becomes the nominee for the GOP, I am a member of the GOP, therefore; he does indeed become/is my candidate.

Those who lead with compromise are nothing but a weak link.

With the divide along party lines as it is in this country, if you think any President would dream of beginning their term without the possibility and the ability for compromise, then you are...

a. not facing reality.

b. hopelessly pig-headed.

c. mistaking your own dogma for facts.

I'll paraphrase what Brit Hume said yesterday. He said that it was unbelievable to him that now that McCain is most likely the GOP nominee, that conservatives are asking him to move further right and jump thru hoops to try and win their support. He said he would think they instead would be saying,"Do whatever you need to do to win the election. Win the election, we are with you!"

What Brit didn't realize that there are many [on the right] claiming to be so principled, so conservative, so correct in their thinking...that they WANT the GOP to lose this election.

Now that, my friend, is what a traitor is, that is what weakness is, that is what the weak link in this Big Tent GOP chain is...a person so weak they have confused their own romanticized expectations with what THEY call facts...and so selfish they cannot or without see beyond their won needs/beliefs.

[The Ghost of FReepers Past]

See, you are going to have to look at what I actually said, not your own spin.

I said, "Those who lead with compromise are nothing but a weak link."

You replied, "if you think any President would dream of beginning their term without the possibility and the ability for compromise, then you are...

It is important to see what a person REALLY said before you try to refute it. In my earlier post I said that compromise had a place way down the line when you hit a brick wall and moving forward is ESSENTIAL. So the possiblity of and ability for compromise has its place. I didn't ignore that. But those who lead with compromise, who make it a first principle instead of an occasional last resort only when vitally necessary, make themselves nothing but a weak link. The opposition loves the weak link. They sing its praises and stroke its ego. Once again I state that that is the sort of compromise traitors are made of.

[top 2 toe red]

"if you think any President would dream of beginning their term will LEAD without the possibility and the ability for compromise, then you are...WRONG

"if you think any President LEADER would dream of beginning their term without the possibility and the ability for compromise, then you are...WRONG

"if you think any President would dream of LEAD, from the beginning of their term, without the possibility and the ability for compromise, then you are...WRONG

I have simplified in as many ways as I can, in order that you may, perhaps grasp what I have said.

Further condensing...simply because someone is willing to compromise does not mean they approach every situation/person/issue announcing, "I am here to compromise, how may I compromise. I LEAD by compromising"...and if that is what you are attempting to say with your weak link traitor gobble de goo in your original argument, then that is senselessly inept.

[TADSLOS]

McCain tacks to the best wind conditions to keep sailing. There’s no moral compass on board and no real direction sought other than to the promise of more sail. After all, that’s what mavericks do.