Kerry Shares Thoughts on Abortion, Entertainment Industry, Biggest Speech

[papau]

http://abcnews.go.com/sections/WNT/US/kerry_interview_040722-1.html

One-on-One
Sen. John Kerry Shares Thoughts on Abortion, Entertainment Industry, Biggest Speech of His Life
ABCNEWS.com
July 22, 2004— Sen. John Kerry sat down for a wide-ranging interview with ABC News anchor Peter Jennings in Detroit today.

<snip>Jennings: Could you explain again to me what do you mean when you say "life begins at conception"?

Kerry: Well, that's what the Supreme Court has established is a test of viability as to whether or not you're permitted to terminate a pregnancy, and I support that. That is my test. And I, you know, you have all kinds of different evolutions of life, as we know, and very different beliefs about birth, the process of the development of a fetus. That's the standard that's been established in Roe v. Wade. And I adhere to that standard.

Jennings: If you believe that life begins at conception, is even a first-trimester abortion not murder?

Kerry: No, because it's not the form of life that takes personhood in the terms that we have judged it to be in the past. It's the beginning of life. Does life begin? Yes, it begins.

Is it at the point where I would say that you apply those penalties? The answer is, no, and I believe in choice. I believe in the right to choose, and the government should not involve itself in that choice, beyond where it has in the context of Roe v. Wade. <snip>

[lastknowngood]

1. Trying to have it both ways

n/t

[JI7]

2. no, just able to see things in more than just black or white as Bush does

yet still understands that no matter what one may think personally that it still comes down to it because about the women's right to make the decision. and on that point he has a consistent prochoice record.

[Voltaire99]

5. God, his waffling is disgraceful

"Life begins at conception."

What a disgrace. Kerry's flirtation with right-wing anti-abortion rhetoric is one reason why he makes progressives feel sick about the prospect of voting for him. It's not merely enough that Kerry won't curtail abortion rights; he needs also to show that he has something resembling a spine. Because there are others who will try to end those rights, and they take comfort from his waffling.

Also pathetic:

"Well, I don't think — let me tell you very clearly that being pro-choice is not pro-abortion. ..we need to adhere to the standard that Bill Clinton, in fact, so adeptly framed, that abortion should be rare, but legal and safe. And that's the standard that I apply. But I think we should talk more about alternatives to abortion."

Rare? Alternatives? Let me tell you something very clearly, Kerry. Abortion should be exactly as plentiful, affordable and legal as the need of wombs for being rid of unwanted fetuses.

[Zynx]

7. If he held the position you suggest, we would drive millions away.

Particularly if he put it in those terms. A slim majority of Americans describe themselves as pro-choice, but very few would support that position.

[George_Bonanza]

9. So what's an embryo?

A rock? A piece of furniture? A precious metal? Even bacterium are living things. Kerry's right, life does begin at conception. However, human life, which would bring in the charge of murder (which is what pro-lifers are after), does not. Kerry's pro-choice record is impeccable and I do not care if he takes a few deviations in his campaign (the least reliable test of a candidate's potential presidency e.g. Bush the moderate compassionate conservative).

[orlin2k]

10. This is not a nuanced statement

He clearly states he doesn't like abortion. Fine. He does
believe woman have the choice. Great. There is nothing wrong
with discussing alternatives to abortion. He is not
"flirting with right-wing anti-abortion rhetoric."
Of course, he believes woman have the right to choose what is
best for them and their bodies. His statement on abortion is
any but disgraceful.

[newyawker99]

17. Hi orlin2k!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[rivertext]

18. Voltaire99 -- think before speaking

Life does exist at conception -- Duh! The question is whether or not it is a form of life that we are going to criminalize the abortion of.

[George_Bonanza]

3. Actually, he's right

Life does begin at conception. An embryo is a living thing. However, is it human life? That's the crucial point, and he explains that it is not.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

6. Yep. That distinction is a big one. eom

[Nimrod]

4. What it sounds like to me...

To me it sounds like he's saying "I don't believe in abortion so I'M not going to have one". Bravo.

Kerry seems to understand the difference between Morals and Ethics and plans on leading according to his ethics. Bush by contrast believes in Morals. Capital M. The Morality rules all - scratch that, HIS Morality rules all, and all must bend knee to the great Bush morality whether it's also your morality or not.

[Zynx]

8. Bush's morality isn't even Christian morality.

It would be bad enough if he tried to impose one religion's morality, but he imposes his own strange mess of beliefs and ideas.

[dolstein]

11. Hopeless. Utterly hopeless.

You'd think that after nearly 30 years in politics, Kerry would be able to speak articulately and coherently about his position on abortion. Apparently not.

The funny thing is, Kerry was a pretty articulate guy thirty years ago. Anyone who has seen the clips of him speaking to Congress or on the Dick Cavett show can attest to that. But not only has be lost much of his Massachusettes accent, he seems to have lost much of his flair for public speaking.

[JI7]

16. when you are in the senate for 20 years

you have to deal with debating every little point and technicalities because one small thing could make a difference in the outcome of where the bill goes. i think that's why he tends to go very much into every point he makes.

[LimpingLib]

12. This is a none issue.

Everybody knows that to have a "D" beside your name in a Presidential campaign will automaticaly make you 100% Pro Choice.

Im more worried about the OTHER 99 civil libertys and civils rights issues that BOTH GOP and Democratic Supreme Court nominess have been on the wrong side of the issue on.

We need to make nominating justices with a strong since of social justice a top priority for the Kerry campaign but most DEmocratic politicians and sadly even the base seem to act as if there is 1 and only 1 civil libertys issue in the world:abortion.

Kerry's voting record is clear and those who keep bugging him on this seriousily need to go piss off and get a new profession other than journalism.

[Ell09]

13. Technically, he's right

A life or some sort begins at conception. Should that life be considered a human life? I don't think so.

What I don't get is WHY Kerry feels the need to take this position. It's not going to win him any more votes. Those who are against abortion are going to overwhelmingly support Dubya. The Christian Right is going to vote for Bush no matter what Kerry says about abortion.

I don't see why Kerry is getting in to the "values" battle. What he should be doing is pointing out the flaws in what Bush considers values. How does a Christian man justify giving tax cuts to the rich? How does a Christian man justify Health Care and College Tuition being unaffordable for such a large percentage of the nation. What kind of "values" are those. Bush WANTS the focus on Abortion, Gun Control, and Gay Marriage. Where the REAL mark of the man shows up is in how he deals with the less fortunate. Bush has failed that values test miserably.

[adamrsilva]

15. Would it it be too much

to believe this is actually Kerry's position? It happens to be mine, and I believe many others. Most people meet somewhere in the middle on the issue between believing a zygote is a baby and completely disregarding a fetus as no more valuable than human waste.

[salonghorn70]

14. I Think This Was A great Interview

He is just talking common sense. Just like everday Americans. I don't think most Americans think abortion is great. But Americans think there should be choice. Most Americans don't approve of lots of stuff that we get from the entertainment industry. As a parent, I know that I don't. And we are concerned about that. Kerry is finding his voice. Just like Clinton. He is speaking to the average American that is sitting around the kitchen table. He is talking common sense. There is not a day that goes by that I don't admire Kerry more and more.