We return again to meaningful analysis of the candidates, but this time turning to their issues. As we've established that both candidates have a wealth of experience, though a different focus, we should naturally move on to their issues.
So this diary, and others to follow, will examine stances, quotes, and votes from the two major Democratic candidates. This first issue will be about their stances on a subject important to many women in this country -- Abortion.
As I like to do, I'd like to first give a few ground rules or operating parameters of my post.
- Flip flopping is not an accurate discrediting of a view or opinion. We, as human beings, change our schema by the data we take in. We assimilate or adopt the new information in new, changing ways. We are not born with one stance, and we do not stay with that stance. Though I will give quotations of changing opinion, at no time should it be considered an accusation.
- A vote is made at the time it is made. This seems logical, but we often forget that every vote has different politics behind it. To look back now and call any vote bad is problematic. You can disagree with it, but let's keep in mind that presented votes are made at a specific time with specific pressures. So this diary and those that follow it will not be calling votes good or bad in any way.
- Even if you disagree with a vote, doesn't make for bad judgment for all time. This works in tandem with #2.
- You can never be 100% right on every issue. We can merely agree with the stance, but that doesn't make the stance absolute right or absolute wrong.
With these four things set, let's look at the first of the Democratic stances on one very hotbutton issue -- Abortion.
We will start with Hillary Clinton's stance simply by virtue of the first letter of her last name.
According to OnTheIssues:
- Clinton is pro-Roe v. Wade, but wants adoptions made easier.
- Clinton would never get an abortion herself, but she wants the choice available.
- She voted yes on $100 million to reduce teen pregnancy by education and contraceptives
- Voted NO on banning partial birth abortions except for Maternal life.
- Voted NO on criminalizing harming a fetus in the process of another crime.
- Voted NO on notifying parents of minors for out of state abortions.
- Teamed with Harry Reid on the Prevention First Act, which aimed to increase contraceptive education funding, unwanted children education, and funding for Planned Parenthood.
- Has a 100% rating from NARAL
Quotations from OnTheIssues:
On being pro-choice to the New York Times:
I am and always have been pro-choice, and that is not a right any of should take for granted. There are a number of forces at work in our society that would try to turn back the clock and undermine a woman’s right to chose, and [we] must remain vigilant.
On being for partial birth ban, but wanting allowances for health of woman:
I have said many times that I can support a ban on late-term abortions, including partial-birth abortions, so long as the health and life of the mother is protected.
Unfortunately, on this issue, Clinton does not give a plan on her personal website. Instead, she makes it clear that she has championed Roe v. Wade and she would continue to do so while attempting to lower unwanted pregnancy.
Now, we move to Barack Obama's record on Abortion according to OnTheIssues:
- Obama has a 100% rating by NARAL
- Supports Roe v. Wade
- Voted NO on notification of parents for out of state abortions.
- Voted YES to reduce teen pregnancy through education and contraceptives.
- 0% by NRLC, denoting pro-choice stance.
Quotations from OnTheIssues about Abortion and Obama:
Do women have the right to make these profoundly difficult decisions? And I trust them to do it. There is a broader issue: Can we move past some of the debates around which we disagree and can we start talking about the things we do agree on? Reducing teen pregnancy; making it less likely for women to find themselves in these circumstances.
Now we move to his website, which I cannot find anything on his abortion stance -- however a pamphlet put out by his campaign does touch upon the issue by stating that he would safeguard a woman's choice and work to reduce unintended pregnancy.
Commentary: On our first issue, there's no real issue! Both candidates have a clear support for abortion by the sources used. Returning to our previous four ground rules, I must mention Obama's "present" votes in the Illinois senate when voting on abortion. I quote the Sun Times:
On the abortion bills, legislators who supported women's rights to the procedure were encouraged to vote "present" on bills that would have required parental notice before minors could obtain abortions and that would have barred what abortion foes call "partial-birth" abortions, a leading abortion-rights advocate said. The goal was to entice moderate Republicans and Democrats to also vote present, helping to defeat the bills.
I should note that this present vote is a valid vote in the Illinois state senate. Some will state that Obama took the easy way, others will state he took the centrist way -- but these aren't arguments to be made in this diary. It is clear by the information gleaned from OnTheIssues, Clinton's website, and Obama's pamphlet that both candidates support abortion, support Roe v. Wade, support teen pregnancy education, and support trying to lower pregnancy rates through contraception and education.
So who gets the advantage on this issue in my opinion? Both of them. It is a huge change from the current administration, which pushes abstinence-only misinformation. I do, however, agree with Clinton's stance on partial birth abortions. I couldn't find information on Obama's partial birth abortion stance outside of a few fringe blogs which state he's entirely for it. Fringe blogs, though, aren't my bread and butter.
Both have good abortion stances for me.
If you can find the page on Obama's presidential website where he details his stances on abortion, please tell me where. I would like to include information from his website.
Feel free to suggest which issue you'd like to see next. I'll make my way through them all for those of us that want to know these stances but would rather just find them in one place!
Sources:
http://www.ontheissues.org/...
http://www.ontheissues.org/...
http://www.barackobama.com
http://www.hillaryclinton.com