When did abortion become an "important" issue in prez elections?

[Radio-Active]

For those who are old enough to remember... I think it started in 1984 or 1988, but I was young then, so maybe it was a big issue before?

Hmmm... I WONDER IF IT WILL BE A BIG ISSUE THIS YEAR?????????? nah..

[0007]

1. It was a political issue since the since the early 50's or late 40's

as I recall. Gun control may taken the front seat a few times.

[fudge stripe cookays]

2. Anti abortion issue was added

to the Republican platform during the 1980 convention, according to Gloria Feldt.

The Republican chairwoman actually quit over this issue being added. I say Good for her.

[Warpy]

3. Correct, that senile old fool Reagan added it

and ended up handing the whole party over to the fundamentalist nutcases. You're seeing the inevitable outcome of his calculated action to deliver himself a large and tame voting bloc: they've managed to cheat and lie and steal and get one of their own into the top job, as well as push their stealth candidates all through Congress.

What these nitwits don't remember was that before Roe v. Wade, a large part of the movement to legalize it was spearheaded by mainstream churches and ministers who had seen the consequences of antiabortion laws when they'd been called to emergency rooms to tend to women who had been butchered by illegal abortion.

This delivery of the GOP to the "godly" is only serving to marginalize the party once again. How many of the more reasonable Repuglicans have you heard say their party has left them?

[fudge stripe cookays]

5. Yup.

Thanks Warpy!

[Yupster]

4. Reagan made it an issue in 1980

He expanded the Republican Party by bringing in religious conservatives who often disdained politics.

People like Phyllis Schlaffly were brought from the fringes into a front seat at the party.

I was watching Ron Reagan on Larry King not too long ago, and he seemed to be making two main points.

1. His dad was a very nice and wise man.

2. The Republican Party is not his dad's party. It's been taken over by the religious right.

I sat stupified thinking -- earth to Ron -- your dad was the one to make the party the way it is. He's the one who switched it from the Nixon -Ford Party to the party of the true believers.