John Kerry’s position on abortion: DU Poll

[BlueNomad]

DU this poll....

What do you think of John Kerry’s position on abortion: that as a Catholic he is personally opposed to it, but he doesn’t believe he can legislate or impose his faith on others?

I think it makes sense and is as easily understood as the saying, “Render unto Caesar that which is Caesar’s and render unto God what is God’s.” 67.3%


I don’t think it makes sense and is confusing, as President Bush pointed out in the last debate. 32.7%
Total votes: 1466






<http://www.boston.com/news/politics/president/kerry/articles/2004/10/11/kerry_abortion_survey/>

[MsTryska]

1. To Me, that was one of the most impressive points Kerry's made to date....

granted i'm easily impressed with this man, but that one struck true, with me, on a visceral level.

[americanwomanone]

2. Governor Granholm of Michigan

This is exactly the stand she has taken. She is Catholic but is pro-choice. Before she was elected she took a lot flack for it even having picketing at her church when she would attend on Sunday. But she stood firm and won the election. I personally believe this is the way it should be.

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[americanwomanone]

5. Sorry this is the second time this has happened.

I have been posting on boards for a long time and know not to "click" more than once but I guess this board may be independent this morning!

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. It made sense to me

but hubby, who's Catholic, said he needed to think about it. We've had several discussions about it and in essence, his position is the same as Kerry's...it's not something he believes he could support but has no right to make the decision for someone else.

[LittleClarkie]

23. Once I "got" Kerry's position

I was quite impressed. It was a "me too" moment. I was happy to find someone, let alone someone running for president, publically expousing my position.

[Wickerman]

6. That Bush* doesn't understand it shows what a moron he is

Its pretty damn simple to understand - you don't have to agree with him, but you have no business leading the free world if you don't understand what he is saying.

[apnu]

7. Its the perfect response

it goes something like this in my layman's mind: "I don't like it at all, but I won't curb liberties of women because of my personal preference."

Freaking brilliant Senator Kerry! :yourock:

[RaleighNCDUer]

8. That's the whole reason for the word 'choice'. A person can decide,

can choose either way as dictated by their belief and conscience. Pro choice does not equal pro abortion. The anti-choice side want to take the decision away from the individual. Strange, in the light their instance on individuals having 'free will'.

[Minimus]

9. I thought is was right on the money

our government is supposed to be by the people, for the people. The fact that a politician puts aside his own beliefs and represents the majority of the peoples beliefs is wonderful.

If only all politicians did this... just imagine!


Also, I found it very interesting watching the debate with my 75 year old (old school) Catholic, apolitical mom-in-law. I wasn't sure how she was going to react to JK's statement on abortion. After the debate she was the first to bring it up and she said that his answer to the abortion question was excellent, and she felt it was the most honest answer she has ever heard a politician give. She also added "I wonder what bush would do if one of his daughters was raped and got pregnant"?

heehee- my mom-in-law is hipper than I thought!

[RaleighNCDUer]

13. Not too surprising. Remeber, she was young in the pre-Rove v Wade

era. She remembers what it is all about.

[txindy]

10. I thought the Senator nailed that one

I'm Catholic and I had no problem with his position. You don't legislate faith.

[Rainbowreflect]

11. What really pisses me off about this is we do not hear

these kinds of attacks against candidates that go against the church's stand on the death penalty or the war in Iraq.

[mimitabby]

12. done! but talk about icky!

[IndianaGreen]

14. Kerry's position on abortion is convoluted at best, dishonest at worst

Kerry said that human life begins at conception, the same position the Vatican has held for over a century. If human life really begins at conception (a position that I reject outright), how can a person support terminating that life without due process? The fetus is then a distinct human being that has as much right to life as the mother. Abortion would then be the killing of an innocent human being!

My friends at Pax Christi do believe in the sanctity of life, which is why they oppose abortion as they oppose the death penalty and war. They are consistent in their prolife position. They have no equivocation when it comes to defending life against the forces of death, be they abortion, execution chamber, or an unjust war in Iraq.

That's the honest Catholic position!

[MsTryska]

15. So?

I believe a baby isn't a baby until it's born.


Do you then purport to choose my beliefs FOR me? In what way is that democratic? I'd rather not live in a theocracy, and I definitely can appreciate a leader that can understand that my belief may be different than his, but just as valid and in need of protection from those who would choose to trample that.

[IndianaGreen]

16. Do you support the right of gays to marry?

If you don't, I won't support your position on abortion.

I have heard enough posters in here demand that we support their abortion position while they refuse to support full equality for GLBTs because they are "not affected" by it.

[MsTryska]

17. Actually I don't.

I support Domestic Partnership as the law of the land, whether you're straight or gay.

whatever folks want to call it after they've gotten their Domestic Partnership license is for them to decide.


so basically, i'm all for abolishing "marriage" as a legal entity.

[IndianaGreen]

24. The day you support my rights, is the day I will support yours

I've had it with this hetero bullshit that all they care about is their shit while ignoring GLBT issues.

[MsTryska]

25. did you not read what i wrote?

or are you misinterpreting what i wrote to re-inforce your own agenda?

[IndianaGreen]

27. "my own agenda", so hetero of you!

How about supporting the right of all people (gays and hetero) to a marriage license, which is a secular document issued by the state? That's what is the issue here! This has nothing to do with "sacraments" which is a religious concept, or anything else. This has to do with equality under the law!

Anything less is to establish a second class citizenship for GLBTs.

[MsTryska]

28. First off....

you have no idea what my sexual orientation might be, you are just ASSuming.

secondly, apparently you didn't in fact READ what i actually had to say.


so i'll quote it for you again, right here:

I support Domestic Partnership as the law of the land, whether you're straight or gay.

whatever folks want to call it after they've gotten their Domestic Partnership license is for them to decide.


so basically, i'm all for abolishing "marriage" as a legal entity.

thirdly - get a ladder, climb it, and get over yourself. i'm done with this discussion.

[RaleighNCDUer]

18. That's just the point. Kerry has said, repeatedly, that he is

personally against abortion. He has repeatedly said he only supports it when the mother's life is in jeopardy. But in the senate, and soon as president, he represents people who do not share his unprovable beliefs, and will not legislate solely based on his own religious conviction.

I, personally, do not believe that human life exists without brain function. I believe there should be no restrictions on abortion in the first trimester. After that, it should be very rare and medically necessary.

Should I be allowed to impose my beliefs on others? Don't forget, any government that can force a woman to go to term against her will, can also force her to get an abortion against her will.

[IndianaGreen]

21. The problem is his use of "life beginning at conception"

A sentence that clearly indicates that a fertilized egg is a human being. From that it follows that if the unborn are human beings, and innocent at that, they should be protected.

The true prolife position rejects abortion, the death penalty, and unjust wars.

You do realize that there is a third position on abortion that rejects the fundamentalist pro-life and the feminist pro-choice positions?

[grace0418]

19. But that is the point.

Just because one believes this doesn't mean that others believe the same thing. John Kerry realizes that his personal beliefs on abortion are not the same as everyone else's beliefs. And the right to our religious beliefs is fundamental to our country in my opinion. Catholics also believe that birth control is a sin, should that also be outlawed? What if the tables were turned and our president was a radical Muslim? Would it be okay for him to start forcing women to cover their faces in public? Of course not, that's absurd, right? Well then why should one religion be allowed to change legislation over any other? That is why we have separation of church and state.

[IndianaGreen]

20. The sad truth is that Soviet women had more abortion rights in 1920

than American women have in 2004. Lenin abolished all abortion restrictions in 1920.

[rndmprsn]

22. done

[progressivebydesign]

26. It was perfect. One of his best answers yet. n/t