Dilemma: There is no Pro-Life candidate

[manchurianbrownbear]

Isn't the most important question in the abortion debate, "When does life begin?"

Is it at conception? At the first heart beat? Upon becoming "viable"? At birth? Who gets to decide?

I don't envy people who have struggled with making this decision, but as a voter, I'd rather be safe than sorry. Until someone can prove that an embryo does not have a soul attached to it, I will vote for pro-life candidates more often than not.

There are so many other issues to consider so I wouldn't consider a candidate's position on abortion a "litmus test", but it definitely one of the most important things to me.

 

[beattyfamily]

Originally posted by danacara
It's a pity, to immediately close your mind off to it. The book actually shares your point of view in important ways. But you don't know the first thing about it, so hey.

Fyi...It wasn't 'immediate', I did do a search on it and read some reviews and what it was about and decided I had no interest in buying it and reading it.

 

[6_Time_Momma]

I'm glad that you have been able to make a decision you are certain of. Seems in your case that it is pretty cut and dried. I am sure I will reach my cut and dried decision come election time.

Originally posted by wvrevy
The rest of your post aside, I do agree with this portion of it. For example:

George Bush believes that the constitution should be amended to ensure that gay people never have the same rights as straights (or at least, he does now days, since he flipped on the issue). I disagree vehemently, so I won't be voting for him.

George Bush believes that America should stike out at potential threats, no matter how far-fetched the actual threat might be, and we shuold do so unilaterally, despite the feelings of the rest of the world. I disagree vehemently, so I won't be voting for him.

George Bush believes that the president should take the month of August off and relax at home (he has spent less than five August days in the White House since taking office). I disagree vehemently, so I will not be voting for him.

George Bush believes that the best way to fight terrorism is to take half-measures in Afghanistan and invade Iraq, despite the lack of evidence linking Iraq to terrorist activity. I disagree vehemently, so I will not be voting for him.

George Bush believes that there should be "limits to freedom"(his words, not mine). I disagree vehemently, so I will not be voting for him.

George Bush believes that the government ought to be in the business of subsidizing certain, select religious groups. I disagree vehemently, and so I will most certainly NOT be voting for him.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Originally posted by manchurianbrownbear
Isn't the most important question in the abortion debate, "When does life begin?"

Not to me.

I do not believe in abortion so I will not get one. If someone else has a different opinion then I believe they are allowed to get one.

When life begins has no bearing on my thought processes.

 

[richiebaseball]

Just a few observations about your post.

Originally posted by wvrevy
The rest of your post aside, I do agree with this portion of it. For example:

George Bush believes that the constitution should be amended to ensure that gay people never have the same rights as straights (or at least, he does now days, since he flipped on the issue). I disagree vehemently, so I won't be voting for him.

While I certainly agree that no constitutional amendment is needed, do heterosexuals currently enjoy the right to marry someone of the same sex? Because if not, it would seem that everyone has the same rights or lack of.
And Senator Kerry has stated he is against gay marriage and would not rule out a constitutional amendment for the state of Massachusetts. Now who will you vote for?

Originally posted by wvrevy
George Bush believes that America should stike out at potential threats, no matter how far-fetched the actual threat might be, and we shuold do so unilaterally, despite the feelings of the rest of the world. I disagree vehemently, so I won't be voting for him.

Well, Senator Kerry is on record of supporting the Iraq invasion with access to the same intel that President Bush had. In the not too distant past, he certainly made it sound as if he would have done the same thing. And he is on record as saying the United States will and should act in our best interests whether the international community agrees or not. I can certainly provide the exact quotes if you like but we both know he has said it. However to be fair, he did say some of these things while there was a Democrat in the White house. I guess it just depends on which way the old political winds are blowing for him. Now who will you vote for?

Originally posted by wvrevy
George Bush believes that the president should take the month of August off and relax at home (he has spent less than five August days in the White House since taking office). I disagree vehemently, so I will not be voting for him.

Senator Kerry missed over 60% of the Senate roll call votes last year and I think 80% this year. So Senator John Kerry has a hard time just showing up for work. Wonder how many days he has spent working for the people of Massachusetts in August? Now who will you vote for?

Originally posted by wvrevy
George Bush believes that the best way to fight terrorism is to take half-measures in Afghanistan and invade Iraq, despite the lack of evidence linking Iraq to terrorist activity. I disagree vehemently, so I will not be voting for him.

I thought the Taliban had been removed from Afghanistan. They were a huge part of terrorism and now they are gone. And we're still looking for one man. Is bin Laden the "half-measure" you're referring to? If it is and since that is one of your reasons not to vote for President Bush please answer this question: Should Senator Kerry become President, how long do you give him to catch bin Laden before you start accusing his administration of taking half-measures? And again, Senator Kerry had access to the same "lack of evidence" and still voted to give the President authorization to invade Iraq. Now who will you vote for?

Originally posted by wvrevy
George Bush believes that there should be "limits to freedom"(his words, not mine). I disagree vehemently, so I will not be voting for him.

Senator Kerry, like almost everyone in the Senate, supported the USA Patriot Act after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. Also, according to the ACLU Senator Kerry voted for a national ID card http://archive.aclu.org/vote-guide/Senate_S1664.html and against medical privacy http://archive.aclu.org/vote-guide/Senate_HR3103.html So apparently he doesn't say "limits to freedom" he just votes that way. Now who will you vote for?

Originally posted by wvrevy
George Bush believes that the government ought to be in the business of subsidizing certain, select religious groups. I disagree vehemently, and so I will most certainly NOT be voting for him.

I really hate to count on the ACLU but according to them, Senator Kerry voted for a provision that could force state governments, under threat of lawsuits, to contract with religious institutions, including houses of worship, to provide taxpayer-funded social services, even if they are delivered in a proselytizing environment http://archive.aclu.org/vote-guide/Senate_S1956.html Now who will you vote for?

Looks like Ralph Nader may be your man.

Just one man's opinion.

Richard

 

[richiebaseball]

Originally posted by IMGONNABE40!
Sure, it is easy to pass up Kerry if you are pro-life. But what about Bush and his delight in...errr stand on capital punishment? And how about this questionable war in Iraq? To say between capital punishment and the war, we have not lost as many lives in a year as we lose each week (maybe even each day?!) to abortion seems a bit simplistic since it is not the numbers but the principle.

So, I am at a dilemma and leaning towards leaving my chad hanging come election day. Anyone else struggling with this?

I have the same dilemma. For me, there are other issues that push me more toward one than the other. That may be your answer as well. Try not to leave that chad hanging though. Good luck on your decision.

Just one man's opinion.

Richard

 

[ThAnswr]

Originally posted by richiebaseball
I really hate to count on the ACLU but according to them, Senator Kerry voted for a provision that could force state governments, under threat of lawsuits, to contract with religious institutions, including houses of worship, to provide taxpayer-funded social services, even if they are delivered in a proselytizing environment http://archive.aclu.org/vote-guide/Senate_S1956.html Now who will you vote for?

Looks like Ralph Nader may be your man.

Just one man's opinion.

Richard

With all due respect to the ACLU, the language of the 1996 bill isn't quite so cut and dried. While the bill would certainly not force a Catholic church to take down the cross because a Jewish homeless individual milght be offended, the church would still have to abide by the Establishment clause in the Constitution if they accept publicl funds and presumably that would mean they could not proselytize.

Here's a link.

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c104:1:./temp/~c104JNgYEQ:e368043:

Scroll down to Section 2104.