Posted on 08/03/2008 12:24:19 PM PDT by WilliamReading
ABC News Jan Simmonds reports: On ABC News' "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," former Pennsylvania Governor and Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge reaffirmed his pro-choice position on abortion, and said he did not think Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., would make it a litmus test on whom he would choose to be his running mate.
"I would think John would never make it a litmus test, but when it comes down to a nominee selecting a vice presidential running mate, it's their decision exclusively," said Ridge. "And I would respect that decision one way or another."
When asked whether he thought having a pro-choice candidate at the top of a national ticket would turn off the Republican Party base, Ridge said, "I think, at the end of the day, I think the party would be comfortable with someone Sen. McCain was comfortable with. And that is ultimately his decision."
Ridge chose to hold his cards close to the vest, though, when questioned directly about whether he would accept the offer if John McCain makes it.
"I would have that conversation with my friend John and report back to you," said Ridge with a chuckle.
Ridge also took the opportunity to vouch for the Barack Obama/Britney Spears ad the McCain campaign released earlier this week. "The commercial elevates the whole question of energy policy in a way that some people like, some people don't like," added Ridge, saying the issue of the ad is an important one.
"John McCain has suggested that we have an all-above approach. Let's talk nuclear, let's talk drilling, let's talk biofuels. ... Let's get it all on the table, and Obama -- Sen. Obama, excuse me -- said no nuclear, no drilling," said Ridge.
That is in spite of their pro-choice positions, not because of. The Democrats gained control because of the war, wasteful spending by the GOP, and GOP scandals. I have never seen a pro-choice candidate in the midwest running on being pro-choice. They usually cover it up by claiming conservative values.
I have never seen a pro-choice candidate in the midwest running on being pro-choice
You must never have heard about a guy named Barack Obama or Dick Durban or Stabenow or Levin.
On Election Day former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican Thomas Melady worked the phones from Republican National Committee headquarters in southeast Washington. His job was to call 150 Ohio Republicans and encourage them to go to the polls. "George Bush stands for things I believe in," was a frequent response of the 141 Ohioans Melady ultimately reached that day.
"I was surprised that I only got three negative responses," said Melady. "I thought we'd hear a lot more about Iraq."
In fact, as Melady's experience demonstrated, the war on Iraq ended up far down the list of voter concerns. Surprisingly to some (including a good number of social conservatives) 21 percent of voters cited "moral values" as the number "one issue [that] mattered most in deciding" how they voted, according to a Washington Post survey of the national electorate. That's higher than the 20 percent who cited the economy, the 18 percent who mentioned terrorism, or the 15 percent who pointed to the war in Iraq. And, significantly, of those who made moral values a priority, 78 percent voted for Bush.
By Editorial Staff Published March 1992
Most Americans oppose the vast majority of all abortions being performed, according to the findings of a national poll of 750 people conducted in January.
The poll, conducted by the highly respected Wirthlin Group, found that pro-life Americans are also much more likely to vote single-issue than Americans who favor abortion. This means that pro-life candidates enjoy a seven percent voting edge, or “increment,” over pro-abortion candidates.
The poll also found that Americans support the primary provisions of a Pennsylvania law now before the Supreme Court. An overwhelming majority – 85 percent – support a woman’s right to know about abortion and alternatives, and 74 percent support spousal notification.
84 percent of Pro-Life voters don’t think it should be a litmus test.
88 percent of Pro-choice voters don’t think it should be a Litmus Test.
Your stat actually supports my point. There are more pro-life limit test voters than pro-choice.
I agree. While I cannot now imagine who I’d support other than McCain, if he chooses a pro-abortion running mate, he will not get my vote.
The LP is out since I discovered one of their planks is pro-abortion. Absolutely amazed me when I found that out.
The CP has their silly isolationist take on defense and they don’t really have a serious candidate.
Guess I’d just write in Duncan Hunter or leave it blank.
The pro-aborts can go straight to hell in this life as well as in the next. If the GOP adopts the murderous views of the Demonrats by allowing a national pro-abort nominee (and a pseudo-Catholic no less) there will be a truly historic and fatal (short and long term) exodus from the GOP. The GOP was not meant to be merely the party of blind materialism. It is meant for better things.
Your claim that the GOP would receive 2 or 3 baby-killer votes for every pro-lifer lost is ridiculous and utterly unsupported and unsupportable. The GOP vote would instead be limited to windtunnel Muffy of the Junior League and windtunnel Skipper of the local polo club.
It is no accident that the party that defends the babies also defends marriage, guns, the War on Terror, drilling here and drilling now, a military second to none used whenever necessary and desirable, militant nationalism, and a host of other conservative values. Tax cuts are part but only part of the package and by no means the most important part.
"Who cares if they kill another 50 million babies so long as I get my tax cuts and trust fund protection?" is not a campaign slogan for the GOP to go to political war with.
Tom Ridge has no business whatsoever having any chance to appoint federal judges now or ever.
Should we try for the Ku Klux Klan voters? the neoNazis??? the militant queers??? the, ummm, animal lovers? the Code Pinkers??? the SDS Alumni Association? the cannibal "rights" groups? No. That is also true of NARAL, PP, ZPG and the other babykillers.
As the pro-life party, we win more often than not. The babykillers have done whatever little damage they can do (as pro-lifers have damaged the Demonrats badly) and the babykillers have usually failed. Accept them at the top of the GOP and there won't be a GOP.
Me too and I bet it’s the same litmus test.
“Me too and I bet it’s the same litmus test.”
I hope so. ;-)))
I’d reconciled myself reluctantly to voting for Mr. McCain.
However, if he picks a pro-abort for the bottom of the ticket, I won’t vote him.
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