WARNING: This is a full-throated rant.
It came so late in the debate last night perhaps many viewers had nodded off and missed it. Or maybe, the TV audience was already anesthetized by John McCain's irascible, nasty style. Possibly the issue of abortion is just not the hot-button, culturally divisive issue it once was or maybe the worry about jobs, retirement, paying bills and all things economic trump the reproductive rights of women in this election cycle in much the same way as the financial crisis has drowned out Iraq and almost every other current national challenge.
But for me and I think most women in the viewing audience, McCain's mocking dismissal of women's health as a salient factor in abortion was one of the most repugnant, offensive moments in a presidential campaign that already had plumbed some of the dreckiest dregs.
So, let's get this correct: John McCain believes that the consideration of the state of a woman's health when it comes to an abortion is an extreme position of the pro-abortion gang? That a woman's health is just some kind of a loophole so all those abortion-loving females will be able to shower themselves with lots and lots more pregnancy terminations? Does John McCain think women treat the decision to have an abortion as some sort of elective cosmetic surgery ("Oh dear, I don't know what to do at the spa today.... should I have a cucumber wrap, a couple of shots of Botox or just pop in for a little womb scraping?")
John McCain, your record on women's health is abysmal as is your position on equal pay for women. By your own admission, you are a shameless womanizer and adulterer, with a despicable history of chauvinistic behavior and crude put-downs. The most telling evidence that you hold women in contempt came when you picked Sarah Palin as your running mate. You wanted to peel away the Hillary voters so you chose a woman who is the very antithesis of everything Hillary Clinton ever stood for (But I guess in John McCain world, one set of boobs and ovaries is as good as any other.)
Consideration of the woman's health is the goddamn LAW in these United States, John McCain. It is not some far lefty position. It is your position that is extreme, but who wouldn't have expected that since you long ago became a wholly-owned subsidiary of the wingnut agenda.
When all you old, crinkly, stodgy, sanctimonious, Bible-beating, hypocritical men can start giving birth, you will have some standing on this issue with me. Until then, you have not one iota of credibility regarding women's reproductive rights.
Please let's get to the voting. I don't believe I can bear another day of the McCain-Palin lying and hate-mongering.
Here's an ad directed at Sarah Palin's stance opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest and one pro-choice group's take on McCain's debate statement :