Moderators please lock.

[Frodo]

I know, I know. It's sludge... but it's sourced.

http://www.drudgereport.com/rcka.htm

Also - I can't believe it hasn't been posted yet (I think it's an hour old). I apologize if it isn't the first post.

Kerry told the LOWELL SUN in October, 1972: "...It's a tragic day in the lives of everybody when abortion is looked on as an alternative to birth control or as an alternative to having a child. I think that's wrong. It should be the very last thing if it has to be anything, and I say that not just because I'm opposed to abortion but because I think that's common sense." Kerry declared: "I think the question of abortion is one that should be left for the states to decide." (I think this was right after Roe v. Wade, so it would be in direct opposition to it).

"I think liberals spend too much time pushing issues which just aren't relevant to the mass of people,' Kerry said, including among such issues abortion, the death penalty and amnesty."


Can anyone tell me why almost every national candidate (on both sides) seems to have switched on this issue? Republicans one way and Democrats the other?

Also - Was Kerry the one who said "I've always been for a woman's right to choose"? Or was that when Dean was leading?

[West Coast Democrat]

1. 1972 is late breaking news?

I think you're in the wrong forum

[Frodo]

4. It happened (if true) in 1972...

The "news" is that it's now being reported (is "breaking")Is it something YOU knew about? And there IS an election going on where some voters might CARE one way or the other.

I think it qualifies as "breaking news". Are you saying it belongs in the campaign forum?

[Bridget Burke]

14. 'Wrong forum" might mean another website,

Not just another area of DU.

[Frodo]

17. Ahhh. So you don't think it's relevant?

I bet there are a few here who disagree. I happen to be pretty close to him on the issue, but there are plenty who would consider the change to be poltically expedient (like Pappy Bush making the opposite change to run for President).

I doubt any DUers will change their votes... but you can bet Nader will bring it up.

On edit - It HAS already dropped off of Drudge's siren - replaced with the Dover photos hitting the web.

[Bridget Burke]

26. No, quite irrelevant.

Not news.

I should be upset because of something Nader might say?

[West Coast Democrat]

15. I still don't see where there's a news story here

[liveoaktx]

2. Back in 1972 Bushie Boy advocated snorting coke

and was a drunk-ya think maybe THIRTY FRIGGIN YEARS AGO is a little long to be bringing up someone changing their mind?

[pinto]

3. link? Thanks.

[Frodo]

5. I hate to link to drudge. But you're right.

http://www.drudgereport.com/rcka.htm

I edited the main thread. Thanks!

[mzmolly]

6. 1972? I was against abortion in 1972, I was seven.

:hi:

[Frodo]

7. Kerry was a national figure.

:hi:

1972 isn't all that long ago for some voters.


1972 Was also the year that the case was all over the news. It's very contextually relevant.

[mzmolly]

28. What's relevant is his past voting record *years supporting choice.

This is called *grasping at straws*


Gowge Boosh is anti-choice TODAY, but he wasn't in the 70's from what I hear... *wink wink*

"In the winter of 1971 George W. Bush was dating a woman named Robin Lowman (now Robin Garner). Miss Lowman became pregnant by Smirk and he arranged for her to have an abortion - which in the great state of Texas in 1971 was very illegal! Not to mention that George W. is running as a pro-life candidate for the presidency.
The unnamed source of this story, was a friend of Robin Lowman's and the girlfriend of the man who arranged the abortion. His name is Robert Carl Chandler. Chandler is a Bush friend and supporter from way back and he made the arrangements for Miss Lowman's abortion at the Twelve Oaks Hospital in Houston, TX (now the Bayou City Medical Center). The source overheard the call by Mr. Chandler to arrange the abortion and the source visited Robin Lowman at the Twelve Oaks Hospital after the procedure.

The source meanwhile, is afraid of coming forward, saying that she was threatened by Chandler and another Bush friend and supporter named Jim Bath. Bath has longstanding intelligence connections, and played a role in the BCCI scandal. Robin Lowman (now Garner) is married to Jerry Lee Garner who is an FBI agent.

So, that's the story: an illegal back room abortion arranged by the Republican party Presidential candidate who is running on a pro-life ticket."

http://www.democrats.com/display.cfm?id=159

I'll think I'll take the guy who is pro choice today thanks very much :hi:

[David__77]

8. '72 was prior to Roe.

This is nonsense.

[Frodo]

10. No it wasn't

The court hearings were December of 1971 and October 1972 with the decision handed down in Mid-January 1973. It would have been THE topic of conversation in '72.

You think it didn't pop up on the radar screen until the day of the decision? How old are you? Why do you think a small town paper was ASKING a war veteran/protester???

[demdave]

9. This is why it is easier to run as a former Gov than a long time Pol.

Everyone who has been in the game for 19 years has had to cover many positions.

I also think it is important to note that Wade v Roe was decided January 22, 1973.

[Frodo]

11. I agree.

Or Senator from a more moderate state. Not too many close hard-fought campaigns for Democrats in Mass.

[John_H]

12. No. He said he's always favored a Freeper's right to major dental work.

So we can stop saying, "Chimp's support is dropping faster than teeth drom a freeper's mouth."

[Frodo]

16. Alrighty then. :-)

As a follow-up. I can't find him making the claim that he had "always supported" it - So I think we're ok here. Just changing his mind will merely be embarassing - I doubt many people will alter their votes on the issue. Gore, Clinton & Carter all made similar changes over their lives.

[John_H]

18. Every POLITICIAN has modified positions multiple times. Do you have any

evidence that would lead you to believe that Kerry would sign anti-choice legislation? Of course not.

And you'd agree that Bush would sign a ban on all abortion in a heartbeat, right?

[Frodo]

21. I agree on Kerry. I disagree on Bush

I bet he wouldn't let it come to his desk. Just look at "partial birth" legislation. It passed overwhelmingly under Clinton and could have been on shrub's desk within days of being sworn in. But it took YEARS. I think the issue terrifies him even when it has overwhelming support in both parties.

A total ban does NOT have such support and shrub IS a politician. I bet Kerry really HAS changed his mind.

[pinto]

13. "the question of abortion...should be left to the states to decide"

I am personally "opposed" to abortion, AND support a woman's right to choose, and think the states ought to decide the issues for themselves. In the event there is constitutional disagreement, those issues can go to the Supreme Court, as in Roe v Wade, which is the law of the land.

[wasichu]

19. "too much time pushing issues which just aren't relevant "

I agree John, time to shut up about Vietnam.

[MsUnderstood]

20. I can't believe I opened this topic

I really can't believe this is an issue.

30 years ago Kerry had a different opinion of a topic that has seen so much change?

I wish we could hold leaders accountable for things they've done for the last 4 years (WMD, transferring 700 million to a secret fund for Iraq, ignoring 9/11, the economy) and stop talking about 30 FUCKING YEARS AGO!

That is not a flip flop!!! That is a man becoming educated and enlightened.

"I think liberals spend too much time pushing issues which just aren't relevant to the mass of people," is a totally honest assesment of this thread--I don't care what Kerry thought 30 years ago, I care what he is gonna do today.

[sjgman9]

22. Bush flipped on Abortion

Look at David Corn's book

[Frodo]

23. Yep. Some even say he caused one.

And it WAS an issue we brought up in the last election. People who pretend it's a complete "non-issue" are sticking their heads in the sand.

[sjgman9]

27. Really

When was it brought up in the last election?

Then again Kerry is a pro-abotion Catholic. He should throw stones

<disclaimer>I'm an anti-abortion Catholic Democrat. I'm holding my nose on the Abortion issue for Kerry because if you add all things up on Bush, Kerry is much better</disclaimer>

[Demobrat]

24. If he's not for abortion as an alternative to having a child

he's not pro-choice. What else would it be? Something to do on Saturday night when there's nothing on TV?

[Frodo]

25. Moderators please lock/remove.

In searching for Kerry's position statements to make sure he never lied that he "had always supported" etc etc I found that this exact claim was "reported" on the Bush/Cheyney site at least a week ago.

This is not news

Or, it IS news.... but it's Oppo Research.

Please remove.