http://www.creativeminorityreport.com
Matthew Archbold:
Is Michael Steele pro-life? I fear the answer might be no.
I’ve long liked and respected Lt. Gov. Michael Steele and considered him a great candidate to Chair the RNC. I’ve seen many pro-life bloggers even endorse him but yesterday a commenter named Darcy pointed me to Steele’s appearance on Meet The Press on October 29, 2006. The transcript is here.
According to his own statements, Steele is against overturning Roe V. Wade. He is also against a Constitutional Amendment banning abortion. He also rather disingenuously calls abortion an issue that should be handled by the states even though the states can’t really restrict abortion in any meaningful way until Roe is overturned.
And for many in the pro-life movement, Steele’s comments could disqualify him from receiving their support. Here’s the disturbing transcript:
MR. RUSSERT: ...Mr. Steele, if you’re United States Senator, would you vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion?
LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t — vote for a constitutional amendment to outlaw abortion? I think we’d have to have that get to the Supreme Court, wouldn’t we? I haven’t seen that bill proposed. I don’t think...
MR. RUSSERT: That’s been introduced in the Senate.
LT. GOV. STEELE: I don’t think anyone’s going to propose that this day.
MR. RUSSERT: So you wouldn’t do that?
LT. GOV. STEELE: No.
MR. RUSSERT: Would, would you encourage — would you hope the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe vs. Wade?
LT. GOV. STEELE: I think that that’s a matter that’s going to rightly belong to the courts to decide ultimately whether or not that, that issue should be addressed. The, the Court has taken a position, which I agree, stare decisis, which means that the law is as it is and, and so this is a matter that’s ultimately going to be adjudicated at the states. We’re seeing that. The states are beginning to decide for themselves on, on this and a host of other issues. And the Supreme Court would ultimately decide that.
MR. RUSSERT: But you hope that the Court keeps Roe v. Wade in place?
LT. GOV. STEELE: I think the Court will evaluate the law as society progresses, as the Court is supposed to do.
MR. RUSSERT: But what’s your position? Do you want them to sustain it or overturn it?
LT. GOV. STEELE: Well, I think, I think, I think Roe vs. Wade, Roe vs. Wade is a, is a matter that should’ve been left to the states to decide, ultimately. But it, it is where it is today, and the courts will ultimately decide whether or not this, this gets addressed by the states, goes back to the states in some form or they overturn it outright.
MR. RUSSERT: Is is your desire to keep it in place?
LT. GOV. STEELE: My desire is that we follow what stare decisis is at this point, yes.
I am very very sorry to read this. If Steele is unwilling to stand up for the unborn because he feared it might damage his campaign I doubt he’ll stand up for the unborn when he steers an entire party. For me, fiscal conservatism is not enough.
Fiscal conservatives speak all the time about shuttling the rabid pro-lifers away. Electing Michael Steele as head of the RNC might be one giant step in that direction.
Support stem cell research that involves no embryonic cells. (Oct 2006)
See embryonic stem cells as lives. (Oct 2006)
Set up adoptions for unwanted embryos. (Oct 2006)
Roe v. Wade should remain in place. (Oct 2006)
More funding for adult stem-cell research, but not embryonic. (Oct 2006)
Supports Bush’s veto of embryonic stem cell research. (Aug 2006)
Support stem cell research that does not destroy embryos. (Aug 2006)
Pro-life Republicanism is mainstream of America. (Apr 2006)
Pro-life, but we have to live with 33 years of reality. (Mar 2006)
http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/Michael_Steele.htm
Michael Steele is a devout Catholic
He is an adult Conservative, not like the loons in your third party crowd
Well, he lost me on guns: he wants to ban them if they’re not shotguns, and now it turns out he wants to keep Roe v Wade.
Those are my two hot-button issues...he 2nd Amendment and Life.
I won’t donate any money to the GOP or volunteer for them as long as he runs it.
Ed
Many pro-life people recognize the path lies through the states. Turning Roe would produce exactly that. From a practical point, that is the road to victory.
One shouldn’t misconstrue that other avenues are better. They aren’t.
No conviction; it was a purely political answer (something a long the lines of what Kabama would have given).
There seems to be a few people taking pot-shots at you here about your post... I find that disconcerting.
In discussing Roe, Steele says, “I think the Court will evaluate the law as society progresses, as the Court is supposed to do.” This statement is somewhat ignorant. If his statement were true then societies “progression” is what brought about Roe in the first place. And “as the court is supposed to do.” is Pollyanish at best.
The problem here is there are a lot of people in the “conservative” party that scoff at folks who seem to be “one issue” voters. The issues here are too great to lay down just because we want republicans who are conservative financially. Much of the party base is willing to throw out the baby with the bath-water, so to speak. If conservatism is not about the moral and social issues then it is about nothing, IMHO.
I’m glad there are people who feel strongly enough about abortion to fight against it with everything they have. Not everyone has to be a warrior for every cause, but praise God there are those who do fight.