Kaine

[George II]

8. "Yesterday, I read some OP/threads on DU:GD regarding Tim Kaine, and his position on abortion"

Can you direct us to that please?

Kaine's exact position on the various issues with respect to abortion, unfiltered.

Don't weaken or subvert the basic holding of Roe v. Wade

I strongly support the right of women to make their own health and reproductive decisions and, for that reason, will oppose efforts to weaken or subvert the basic holding of Roe v. Wade. We all share the goal of reducing unwanted pregnancies and abortions. The right way to do this is through education and access to health care and contraception rather than criminalizing women's reproductive decisions.

Source: 2012 Senate campaign website, kaineforva.com , Oct 9, 2012

Don't deny privacy to women making health care decisions

As governor, we worked with Democrats, Republicans and independents to get results. Over the last four years, the GOP pushed ideology and wedge issues. Last week, they passed a platform demanding privacy for Super PACs and denying privacy to women making health care decisions. Meanwhile, Democrats fought for the middle class.
Source: 2012 Democratic National Convention speech , Sep 4, 2012

If life begins at conception, we must outlaw contraception

Kaine explained that the common birth control pill works by a dual mechanism--both preventing fertilization, and preventing successful implantation when fertilization does occur. Also, he added, intra-uterine devices work singly by preventing implantation. Allen had a fumble on some basic science. The candidates were asked about conservative proposals to declare that life begins at conception. Allen said that defining life as beginning at conception would not outlaw contraception, as "contraception" means stopping conception--that is, preventing fertilization from taking place:
Moderator: Could you tell us, how do you think birth control pills and intra-uterine devices work?
Allen: I don't profess to be a doctor. I'm just using maybe a little
Source: Eric Kleefeld reporting on 2012 Virginia Senate debate , Dec 7, 2011

Personally opposed to abortion, but it shouldn't be outlawed

Kaine, a Roman Catholic who worked as a missionary in Honduras reiterated his personal opposition to abortion, but maintained the practice should not be outlawed.
When asked if he'd like to see the Supreme Court overturn Roe the Governor answered, "I don't think the Supreme Court should." He continued, "Roe vs. Wade is ultimately about saying that there is a realm of personal liberty for people to make this decision."
Source: ABC News: Politics Blog , Jul 31, 2008
Parental consent; ban partial birth; informed consent

While saying that he supports Roe and that he does not want to criminalize abortion, Kaine voiced support for three abortion restrictions.

He backs a parental consent law in Virginia which has a judicial bypass. He supports a ban on "partial birth abortions so long as there is an exception for the life and health of the mother". He also favors an "informed consent provision" in Virginia which requires abortion providers to "give women information about a whole series of things, the health consequences, et cetera, and information about adoption."

"Those, I have supported," said Kaine. "But I don't think ultimately we ought to be criminalizing abortion."
Source: ABC News: Politics Blog , Jul 31, 2008

Promote abstinence; ban partial-birth abortion

I will reduce abortion in Virginia by enforcing current Virginia restrictions, passing an enforceable ban on partial-birth abortion, ensuring women’s access to health care (including legal contraception), and promoting abstinence-focused education and adoption. We should reduce abortion in this manner, rather than by criminalizing women and doctors.
Source: 2005 Gubernatorial campaign website kaine2005.org, “Issues” , Nov 8, 2005

I have a faith-based opposition to abortion

I have a faith-based opposition to abortion. As governor, I will work in good faith to reduce abortions by:
Enforcing the current Virginia restrictions on abortion and passing an enforceable ban on partial birth abortion that protects the life and health of the mother;
Fighting teen pregnancy through abstinence-focused education;
Ensuring women’s access to health care (including legal contraception) and economic opportunity; and
Promoting adoption as an alternative for women facing unwanted pregnancies.
Too often politicians are interested in scoring political points, rather than in reducing the number of abortions. Many of the legislative proposals introduced in the General Assembly, like the ones to require unnecessary building standards for doctor’s offices that perform abortions, are just political grandstanding. They encourage division and lawsuits rather than contributing to the goal of reducing abortions.

Source: 2005 Gubernatorial campaign website kaine2005.org, “Issues” , Nov 8, 2005
Supports public abortion funding.

Kaine supports the CC Voters Guide question on abortion funding