Quick question. What does “pro-abortion” mean?
I’m asking because Condi Rice is being routinely skewered as “pro-abortion” by seasoned political analysts (some of whom I normally respect but will not name).
My curiosity was aroused by this, and the only detailed explanation of her views I could find was a 2005 interview in which she said this:
Miss Rice said abortion should be “as rare a circumstance as possible,” although without excessive government intervention. “We should not have the federal government in a position where it is forcing its views on one side or the other.
“So, for instance, I’ve tended to agree with those who do not favor federal funding for abortion, because I believe that those who hold a strong moral view on the other side should not be forced to fund it.”
Describing pro-lifers as “the other side” is one of the ways Miss Rice articulates her position as a “mildly pro-choice” Republican. She explained that she is “in effect kind of libertarian on this issue,” adding: “I have been concerned about a government role.
“I am a strong proponent of parental notification. I am a strong proponent of a ban on late-term abortion. These are all things that I think unite people and I think that that’s where we should be.
“We ought to have a culture that says, ‘Who wants to have an abortion? Who wants to see a daughter or a friend or a sibling go through something like that?’ ”
Miss Rice described abortion as an “extremely difficult moral issue” which she approaches as “a deeply religious person.”
“My faith is a part of everything that I do,” she said. “It’s not something that I can set outside of anything that I do, because it’s so integral to who I am.
Huh? From the above, it sounds to me as if she definitely does not like abortion, but distrusts government involvement. By what stretch is that “pro-abortion”? If opposing government sanctions against an activity means being for it, then I guess people who disagree with Prohibition all become pro-alcohol. All who don’t believe we should have sodomy laws become pro-homosexual. All who believe that the First Amendment protects the right to burn a flag become “pro” flag-burning.
And if I don’t think the state should put people in prison for drinking urine (a practice which personally disgusts me) then I guess that means I become “pro” urine-drinking.
Who knew?
Comments
12 responses to “Prose and cons”
None of your examples includes the willful taking of a human life, curiously.
Describing pro-lifers as “the other side” is one of the ways Miss Rice articulates her position as a “mildly pro-choice” Republican.
I’m surprised you’re unaware of standard journalistic practice on this topic, frankly. Most stylebooks discourage calling the pro-life and pro-choice sides by those self-chosen names, on the grounds that the names themselves aren’t neutral on the topic. Instead, the terms “anti-abortion” and “pro-abortion” are used. So if Condi Rice describes herself as “mildly pro-choice”, the news stories will call her “pro-abortion”.
pro abortion is accepting that a demented scotus can find penumbras and accept that as gaia truth. pro life is letting the states decide via 10th amendment.
“None of your examples includes the willful taking of a human life.”
The willful taking of human life can be justifiable in many circumstances. So what?
My position is similar to Condi’s. I don’t want the TSA in charge of my Mate’s or my daughter’s vagina.
The people who do want that strike me as perverted.
Here are a few of my posts on the subject:
Letter To A Friend
The Jewish Position On Abortion
The Jews And Partial Birth Abortion
What Is A Fetus Worth?
Vagina Police
The iron rule of government: “Every power you give the government to do good will eventually be used by the government to do evil.”
The Penalty For Abortion Should Be….
The “abortion is murder” crowd are for the most part liars.
What kind of murder would it be? Premeditated. Murder one. But very few in the “abortion is murder” crowd want it treated that way. See the above link.
So what?
You jump to many conclusions quite quickly in your defense of your defense . . .
I want gummint in none of anyone’s business . . .
That has nothing to do with legitimizing abortion, even if it is with Rice’s “but” qualification, and especially with her being a statist.
Of course, in blanket fashion, I am a “liar” because – while I, too, oppose drinking piss (although I like beer – does that give me a pass?) – saying abortion is the willful taking of (the most innocent) of life (I say nothing of the physician who invades vaginas to do so) creates such dissonance for you.
Condi Rice is, despite her very carefully crafted qualifications, both a statist and pro-abortion. You can refrain from trying to lump me with those who fit your profile used to make your point.
Condi Rice portraying herself as a libertarian is laughable.
It’s been 39 years since Roe v. Wade. Perhaps the time is right for the pro-life side to go for a constitutional amendment to overturn Roe v. Wade.
Otherwise, please shut up. I can only take so much moral preening.
Randy –
Cute.
Eric and Simon –
You two regularly skewer gummint and its asinine, often ridiculous abuse of personal rights, and then put up a stupid-assed post like this?
Condolezza Rice is very much a pro-abortion Republican, by her very own words. Quit trying to pull a Chris Matthews/Bill Maher of the right to pretend she didn’t say or mean precisely what she said and meant! Doing so is at best duplicitous, and at worst, an outright lie.
Condi Rice is pro-abortion.
Get used to that fact. Does my saying so mean I wish the death penalty upon those women who get abortions?
Quite contrary to your sweeping assertion and self-justifications, I said no such thing nor advocate anything of the kind. You are merely employing the same rhetoric and false logic, hardly “classical” – that the marxists and progressives within gummint of either stripe, and the MSM, parade before “we the people” as the truth.
You guys had my respect until this inanity.
jb,
I don’t believe I imputed a position to you. I don’t know you. All I related was my discussions with others on the matter. BTW other commenter in other posts on the matter have noted similar attitudes in much of the anti-crowd. If that is not you don’t be defensive about it. We were talking about a different faction.
My position is simple. I don’t want government in my Mate’s or my daughters eqpt. I don’t want a black market in abortion either. I’m against making women wards of the state when they are pregnant or even when they could potentially be pregnant.
I guess that makes me pro-abortion even though I abhor it.
BTW self respect is all that matters to me. What you think of me doesn’t concern me in the least.
I like Burroughs on the matter:
“I don’t care if people hate my guts; I assume most of them do. The important question is whether they are in a position to do anything about it.” — William S. Burroughs