Does the GOP really want Roe v. Wade overturned?

[Sandpiper]

Rank and file wingnuts do, that goes without question.

But do the upper echelons of the GOP really want to see SCOTUS overturn Roe v. Wade?

If they were to do so, a favorite wedge issue of the GOP would be lost, and the raison d'etre of a lot of single issue voters would be gone on the national level.

It seems like it's better for them politically to have Roe v. Wade around to rail against.

Or am I totally wrong?

[smartvoter]

1. I see your point, but they would still have it to "defend" just like

marriage.

[BL611]

7. Yes but having it overturned

may cause a break between its cultural moderates and the religious right. Many anti tax republicans can live with the lip service to the RR, but when they actually start DOING something for them, the coalition may not hold...

[northzax]

2. given that the GOP

has controlled the government for 6 years, and Roe still exists, I'm thinking no.

Sure, they'll pass a constitutional amendment banning flag burning, something that never actually happens, but they won't for abortion, something they claim is murder?

[ClassWarrior]

3. You have it exactly right.

Bingo!

NGU.

[Vincardog]

4. You are not wrong. The GOP leadership wants to leave things like they are

If they did get rid of abortion what would they rally the sheepl around? Gay marriage is what they are trying to get them behind now

[MalibuChloe]

11. Overturning Roe v. Wade doesn't = getting rid of abortion...

If it does get overturned, that just puts the abortion question in the hands of the states, so basically Southern women will have to go north to get their abortions. Abortion won't be illegal just because Roe v. Wade is overturned.

But the OP's point is a good one - it's an issue that has galvanized the wingnuts and they like it.

[Lars39]

15. I wouldn't rely on that.

National laws can be passed that supercede state laws.

[SlipperySlope]

5. The wedge would be pushed deeper...

Think about what Roe v. Wade actually did.

The Supreme Court "recognized" a right to privacy. It then placed the reproductive decisions of women, to a certain extent, within that right to privacy.

Depending on the specifics, an overturning of Roe v. Wade would probably throw the whole thing back to the state and federal legislatures.

The wedge would become bigger, not smaller, as the parties struggled for legislative control in all 50 states, the House, and the Senate, in order to influence the new wave of legislation we would see.

[hippiechick]

6. The upper eschelons don't give a rat's ass

what anyone does unless it affects their money.

The only reason the Bush GOP has glommed onto it is as you state - it's a wedge issue which gets the fundies flocking to their side.

Poppy was pro-choice until 1980 when he realized that the GOP voters were going to go for Reagan ... then he switched his stance in an effort to get the nomination (among other flip flops) ...

[Sandpiper]

12. Sort of like his 180 on "Voodoo Economics"

When he first panned Reagan's "supply side theory" for the crap that it was, then they suddenly became the most brilliant economic ideas he'd ever heard.

Well, Bushco is nothing if not opportunistic.

[H2O Man]

8. No.

They want specific restrictions. They sure as hell don't want to overturn Roe v Wade.

[jbonkowski]

9. No

If its overturned, then the Christian Right are not nearly so motivated to go to the pols, and more of middle America gets motivated.

It's a big game of bait and switch. Privacy rights are stripped in the courts, while all we pay attention to is the abortion issue when judges are nominated.

[TheWraith]

10. You are precisely correct. NT.

[Hobarticus]

13. No, the GOP has had plenty of opportunities to erode Roe v. wade

and haven't really pursued anything in earnest. Here and there, sure, but nothing that won't get tied up in state courts.

Look, they own Congress, the WH, the SC...so where's the push? Ever since Reagan, they've brought it up, they've used the issue to bring the religious right to their table, and they've tiptoed around it, but they know it's political suicide to take it on in a frontal attack. They're evil, but not dumb.

They know in their heart of hearts that no matter how many promises they make to the religious right, the vast majority of Americans (moderate and moderate-rights included) want this to be a woman's personal and private choice, no matter how personally distasteful they find it. It's a losing battle for them, and they won't touch it.

But, that doesn't prevent them from trying shenanigans on an oblique front. They'll leave it up to state-level politicians and courts, and having shadow groups do their dirty work. While the Democrats are over here offering solutions that can make abortions less likely, the GOP is shouting over them.

[Lars39]

14. I believe the upper echelons do want it overturned.

They want to have a miserable working class who can also produce
warm bodies for the war machine, and they're OK with having a theocracy to accomplish that.
There's plenty of other things for the fundies to agitate over.
Birth control and stem cell research can keep the fundies happy for quite some time.

[DinahMoeHum]

16. Why kill the goose that's given the GOP lots of golden eggs ??

unless they're really that stupid and greedy.

:evilfrown:

[Lone_Star_Dem]

17. Considering the fact that more Americans are pro-choice

I don't think that they do.

If it were to be overturned I feel they'd not only lose a valuable wedge issue but also quite a few people who voted Republican before.

This poll from August of this year shows that 54% of Americans are pro-choice vs 38% anti-choice.
http://www.pollingreport.com/abortion.htm

This one shows that many states which voted for bush* in 2004 are actually pro-choice.
http://www.surveyusa.com/50State2005/50StateAbortion0805SortedbyState.htm

It would be a lose - lose situation for them and they know it.

[madmom]

18. I have always said no because...

they have been in control how long and have done nothing, besides they'd loose one of their favorite wedge issues.

[OneNation]

19. I don't think the power structure in this country wants Roe v. Wade

to be overturned. If Roe v. Wade is overturned the abortion issue goes to the states and then you will see the biggest culture war since the Civil War as both sides fight the issue out in the state legislatures.

The Democratic leadership tell the truth about not wanting Roe v. Wade overturned. The Republican leadership lies about wanting Roe v. Wade overturned in order to pander to their Christian right.

[skipos]

21. You are correct. nt

[pattycake]

20. All the Bush women are pro-choice

and the Bush men were also pro-choice until Bush was asked to run with Reagan. They haved just used these born again stooges for their own personal gain. Hopefully the wingnuts will just decide to stay home from now on.

[never cry wolf]

22. Springer had an interesting take on this

I think it was this morning. He didn't think they wanted it overturned because that then turns it into a states issue. Therefore, everyone running for a state legislator or other statewide office will have to take a stand on that issue. Since most people support choice it will kill the pukes on the local level.

[HughBeaumont]

23. Totally RIGHT.

What's the Matter with Kansas details this quite well. Repukes NEED these issues to be still on the table and NEVER have them made illegal, because if they do, there goes their bait. There goes their carrot and they know it.

[aaronnyc]

24. I've never believed so

Overturning Roe v. Wade would be a political disaster for the Republican Party. It would outrage moderates and turn them away from the GOP - all while de-energizing their Fundamentalist base.

I've never believed that Republicans really care about all these social issues. They just use these wedge issues to divert attention from their real agenda: pro-business economic policies.

Both the Right and DU seem to take the GOP at their word that they care about these social issues. But I ask you, have the Republicans ever done anything of real significance to change American culture and society? No, but they continually use these cultural issues to play the victim - never mentioning the fact that they are the one's who control government. They need to have the allusion that there is a "culture war", and that liberals are winning it; otherwise, middle America will start voting with their wallet - and vote Democrat.

[txaslftist]

25. Hell no. Overturning Roe means the death of the Puke party.

[0007]

26. No