Democrats, Abortion, and "Alfie"

[Southpaw Bookworm]

I wanted to throw this out for discussion: What do y'all think? This is from the WP editorial page. I'm not a big fan of Richard Cohen, but he makes a couple good points in here:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A62348-2004Dec13.html

The next Democratic chairman ought to recognize that. Let the GOP become the bastion of know-it-alls and zealots. Let it take its opposition to abortion into the corner where it is finding itself -- against even stem cell research and hospitable to extremists who would, if they could, execute physicians who perform abortions. "I favor the death penalty for abortionists," the newly elected Republican senator for Oklahoma, Tom Coburn, said during the recent campaign.

Fine. Let the GOP defend that statement when, say, the abortion was performed on a 12-year-old rape victim or a woman whose health was in danger. Let the GOP become the party that cares more about ideology than about people and their concerns -- unwanted pregnancies, possible cures for hideous diseases or the irrational treatment of homosexuals.

[mdhunter]

1. Holy hell, I didn't know Coburn said that.

You know, I'm in the field of public health and the very existence of the Bush administration and the Republican majorities in Congress are an affront to my chosen profession.

I grant that the parties are too similar on business issues, but don't let anyone ever tell you that they're indistinguishable across the board. The President controls access to the agencies, and the EPA, HHS, NSF, et al. are infinitely better off under Democratic leadership. I didn't vote for Kerry because he would be such a bang up President, but rather because progressive people would be informing the choices for cabinet positions and agency heads. It's all about who gets access.

[Inland]

2. As I have posted--we are on the right side of wedge issues,

let's use them. Why not ask Bush if he thinks abortionists should get jail, and how long? Or Giuliani? Just asking the question will get people thinking, watching them squirm, and the shreiks from the right wing at the answer, will only help.

[Jackie97]

3. I think we should pressure Coburn to retire.

We wouldn't allow the Taliban to be in Congress, so we shouldn't allow him.

"Fine. Let the GOP defend that statement when, say, the abortion was performed on a 12-year-old rape victim or a woman whose health was in danger. Let the GOP become the party that cares more about ideology than about people and their concerns -- unwanted pregnancies, possible cures for hideous diseases or the irrational treatment of homosexuals."

What's he talking about? They're already like that. Maybe most of them aren't like that, but the people actually running the party are. Where has he been?

[lukasahero]

4. Agreed.

If they cared about "a woman whose health was in danger", they would have written it into the "late-term abortion" crap-fest they pushed. How can we win this if they don't care about women or children after they emerge from the womb?

(Oh, and I'm sure they'll argue that the 12-year-old shouldn't have been wearing "those" clothes. :eyes:)

[Southpaw Bookworm]

5. Typical for Coburn

He certainly didn't think a woman's opinion mattered when he was sterilizing women without their consent.