Can you vote for pro-life Democrats?

[KingFlorez]

I can look past this as long as they are not a corporatist. I would imagine some people here have a problem with it though.

[Extend a Hand]

1. no

and if they are not pro-choice , they are not a real dem.

[dsc]

37. So in a race between Alan Simpson

and David Bonior you would vote for Simpson. Tell me why a pro life union member should vote for your preferred candidate if you would do that.

[Extend a Hand]

55. no

I would not vote for Alan Simpson because he is a republican and I will not vote for anyone willing to run under the auspices of a party that would restrict my most basic human rights as a woman.

If women are not free to make the most basic kind of medical decisions regarding their own bodies then women are not free.

Ask someone else to give up their rights. I'll fight (and vote) for mine.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

2. No, I will Never vote for an ANTI-CHOICE Democrat. eom

[Demobrat]

3. No.

Course I can't vote for pro-war Democrats either. I'm a Green-leaning independent who always hopes to be able to vote Democratic, but is often disappointed.

[politicaholic]

4. Pro-life yes...anti-Roe no,

There are lots of people who understand the function, freedom, and necessity of abortion and still choose to be personally pro-life.

I personally am pro-choice. Choice is what it's all about.

[GreenPartyVoter]

15. I think that's a fair way to look at it. That's why I didn't have a

problem with backing Dennis K's presidential run. He may personally feel ambivalent about abortion but I don't think he would work to overturn R v W.

[mzmolly]

22. This is the essential distinction IMHO.

Thanks for the "frame" on this matter.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

31. You nailed it.

[liberalnurse]

5. You can vote for whom ever you like.....

my vote always goes to a pro-choice. Thank goodness I'm not in Pittsburgh anymore....Casey would not get my vote in the Primaries.

[Hatalles]

6. Yes.

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. Depends on the office they are running for. I would prefer my Federal

reps to be Pro-Choice, Pro-gay marriage, Pro human and civil rights in general, really. I guess the further down the food chain they get I could vote for one who isn't as clsoe to my preference. For example I could vote a free marketeer Geo-Libertarian into office for something like Environmental risks assessor or some such thing provided they could never set fiscal policy in that position.

[Hardrada]

8. Only kind we have around here almost

but we vote for them to get a dem quorum in the state legislature. Their antichoice views won't lead to legislation. Catholics (and non-theists like me here) are Dems. Prots mostly repugs. Been that way forever.

[B Calm]

9. Do you mean Anti Choice?

[lectrobyte]

10. No. If I was going to do that, then why not just vote Republican?

[mestup]

11. Is there a "pro-contraception" camp? Why is it always black/white.

Dems shouldn't let Repubs reduce everything to an either/or debate. They need to sidestep this tired issue by talking contraception and education.

[chelsea0011]

12. In Boston I have voted for both Ray Flynn and Joe Moakley...

both anti-choice. Moakley was as liberal as they come. Flynn was Boston Mayor and Moakley was longtime U.S. Rep from Boston.

[Rockholm]

45. Ray Flynn is an ass.

Hope you wouldn't vote for him again!+

[chelsea0011]

85. He has become a complete ass, but back then he was pretty good

mayor. But to put it in perspective, I voted for Mel King when he went head to head with Flynn in his forst run for mayor.

[TahitiNut]

13. There's a difference between 'pro-life' and 'anti-choice'

'pro-life' is a personal decision, completely divorced from a political position.
'anti-choice' is a totalitarian political position - illiberal and immoral.

[bigwillq]

14. Not anymore

Choice is a sacred thing.

[Horse with no Name]

16. I could vote for anyone who is anti-choice personally

As long as they agree to abide by the law of pro-choice and not seek to change it or impose their personal beliefs on me.

[BamaLefty]

17. Yes, of course

While I am 100% pro-choice all the way, I refuse to be a one issue zealot like many Bush voters are.

I look at the overall picture, then decide who I like. (Always Dem) ;)

[noahmijo]

18. I can vote for a Democrat who personally is opposed to abortion BUT

refuses to enact or push for laws that are of the anti-choice nature.

Hell technically I would wager that everyone on this board is opposed to abortion BUT NOT OPPOSED TO THE CHOICE.

I mean really who actually is proud to have an abortion or really really hopes someday to have one?

[Demobrat]

26. Or uses abortion for birth control.

I swear every time I hear that phrase I see red.

It's almost as bad as the argument the Pukes here in CA are using to lobby for their parental notification bill.

" I don't want my child taken out of school and forced to have an abortion without my knowledge".

WTF?

WHO THE HELL is talking about FORCING anybody to have an abortion?!

If your kid is scared to tell you she's pregnant she most likely has a damn good reason.

[geniph]

19. I differentiate between personal beliefs and political action

In other words, if someone actively works to overturn the right to abortion and/or birth control, then no, I'd never vote for them. On the other hand, if a candidate is personally opposed to abortion, but does not actively work to try to make it illegal, I do not have a problem with that. Certainly I'd rather see abortion made very rare...because unwanted pregnancies were unheard of. But until that day, we need safe, legal abortion.

[JerseygirlCT]

99. I agree nt

[blm]

20. I supported Dennis Kucinich for over 30 years as a pro-life politician.

He used to be called DINO all the time by many of my feminist friends in LA.

I understood his position because he grew up like me in so many ways, and trusted his heart was that of a liberal.

I also was and still am a HUGE fan of David Bonior, one of the best fighters the Dem congress ever saw. He was Grover Norquist's most hated Dem, so you know he had to be tough.

Bonior revealed the GOP's hypocrisy. They battled Bonior no differently than they battled a pro-choicer.

[bowens43]

21. Absolutely as long

as they are also pro-choice.

[Caoimhe]

23. Nope NEVER n/t

[readmoreoften]

24. Not even a little vote if they are anti-choice.

[ElectroPrincess]

25. Yes, IF only personal belief but will REPRESENT pro-choice view of

his/her constituents.

[BIG Sean]

27. I am against abortion in most cases...

however, I feel that the Federal Government has no business telling a women what she can do with her body.

My "personal" belief is that in most cases Abortion is wrong.

It should be rare, safe and legal though.

I have to thank Howard Dean for helping me understand my support of a women's right to privacy, and yet still feel that I am against abortion. He explained it perfectly (much better than I could) on TV one Sunday morning and I was jumping up saying "that's exactly how I feel!"

Man I know I am going to get flamed for this post, and I almost didn't make it because of that. But to hell with it...it's how I feel.

So yes, I would vote for a Pro Life candidate who understood how I felt.

[saracat]

51. And watch me get flamed for this reply!

I don't understand what business it is of yours to oppose abortion as you can never have one.This is not your medical concern. I have no right to order you to do anything about your prostrate or to have an opinion about whether you have a vascetomy.Why are MY reproductive rights your concern?

[Greyhound]

63. Exactly, our opinion is academic at best. There is no comparable

situation for men. Primarily, it is the last thing the government has any business getting involved in.

[BIG Sean]

66. I will not flame you at all...

Hi,

"Why are MY reproductive rights your concern?"

They are not my concern at all.

Your privacy, and the life of an unborn baby are my concern.

All the best,

BIG Sean

[saracat]

67. You would force me to acknowledge what you

consider to be a "unborn baby" and I consider a fetus or a zygote. Until you can carry such a thing in your body, this is not your concern. And I am offended that you would attempt to force such "protection' on me. I want the right to make my own decisions concerning what resides in my body without the benefit of your "protection". Not to be rude but I assure I don't give a rats ass what happens to the "potential life" in anyone's ejaculate. It is not my business and it doesn't need protection. My body, my choice.

[BIG Sean]

84. Your Body, Your Choice...I agree!

Hi,

"I want the right to make my own decisions concerning what resides in my body without the benefit of your "protection"."

I agree. You deserve that right. It IS your body. You deserve that right. If you re-read my original post, you will see that. My own personal beliefs should not have an effect on you at all.

I agree it is and should be Your Body, Your Choice.

I have a personal, religious belief when it comes to abortion. But I am the first to say that MY beliefs should have no effect on others. It is MY belief though.

Have a nice day,

BIG Sean

[saracat]

92. Okay, so long as you don't lobby to have the Democratic Party conform to

with that belief. I fully understand someone being uncomfortable with abortion. There was a time I would have felt that way.However, I have always supported "choice".

[shraby]

28. No I could never do that.

It would be a cruel thing to do to women.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

29. That's anti-choice, not pro-life

I choose not to support anti-choice politicians even if they are Democrats.

[A HERETIC I AM]

44. THANK YOU! "Pro Life" lets THEM frame the debate. Pro-life my puffy

pink ass. ANTI CHOICE, and Pro Choice.

Pro-Life...makes me wanna:puke: They are all about the fetus but not about the child. Or anyone else for that matter.

Pro-Life....scuse me while i:puke: again. Pro death penalty, pro war, pro screwwing the poor out of healthcare, pro ignorant children, pro rich white people. That's pro life? Pro death and anti choice.

let's be clear, shall we?

[Lone_Star_Dem]

62. And pro-choice is about much more than just abortion rights

It's about a womans right to choose to be sexual and have birth control readily available to her. It's about education for women to know what choices are available to them. It's also about a womans right to choose to have an abortion. We are talking about private choices made by women about their bodies in which our government has no right to be involved.

And you don't want to get me started on those "pro-life until birth" types. Hypocrites of the worst kind, they are. :grr:

No, I can't support a politician which doesn't understand the depth of this issue. I don't see it as a single issue, but rather a glimpse at how evolved as a person the politician truly is. If they support a womans right to choose yet don't personally approve of abortion, that's fine with me. I would no more want to tell them what they can do with their body then I would want them to tell me what I can do with mine.

BTW, I loved the "puffy pink ass" reference. I'm going to have to use that in the future.

[LittleClarkie]

30. I'm not a one issue voter. It depends on what ELSE they stand for

and then I would take them as a whole.

[stevedeshazer]

32. Yes!

That's ONE issue, people.

If I agree on most issues with a candidate, of course.

One-issue politics is ostrich politics.

[stillcool]

33. Pro-who's-life?..

Mine? Didn't think so. If any candidate for any office has any problem with any woman's right to her own life...i have a problem.

[madfloridian]

34. No, I have thought a lot about it. About a woman's status in society.

Not just about choosing to have an abortion, but about the choice to take birth control pills. It is about the choice to decide if you want to get pregnant without congress or the courts telling you can't take pills to prevent it.

It is coming to that, you know. The Democrats for Life group who met with Governor Dean at the DNC were accompanied by Father Pavone of Priests for Life. He is the one who said Terri Schaivo could see and hear. He wants all abortions stopped and no contraceptives.

The extremists in those groups do not believe in contraceptives such as birth control pills. They base it on their religous views that life begins at conception.

SO, this is about a woman's place in our country. It is about whether she will have to be subservient to the men and religious groups.

So, no, I really don't think I can do that at this stage.

[Pastiche423]

35. No

Isn't choice a part of being a free country?

[shenmue]

36. No

Not me, I couldn't.

[yurbud]

38. there is room to be moderate on abortion--trade morning after for

partial birth, and all the stuff in between, I don't care.

[Caoimhe]

98. You don't care?

Glad you won't ever need to seek an abortion because you were raped by your father.

Glad you won't ever need to get an abortion because you have an ectopic pregnancy, incapable of surviving and spelling a certain death sentence on the woman.

Glad you won't ever have your birth control fail and you aren't even aware of it until way past the frame of time you can take the "plan b" pill.

There are more scenarios than there are women on this planet. It just isn't the governments business.

That is why I can never negotiate on this.

[nvliberal]

39. They are anti-abortion, not "pro-life."

It would be a much better world if people would quit trying to talk in frame or code language.

[in_cog_ni_to]

40. Never. n/t

[eallen]

41. No. And what is a "corporatist"?

[longship]

42. Monolithic politics

I have known and have actively worked for many Dem campaigns. Some were liberal; some were not so liberal. We all ought to know by now that sometimes what is important is the balance of power and not what a person believes on any one issue. So I've supported any number of Dem candidates with whom I had substantial disagreements on issues.

It's nice to dream of a totally liberal Dem party, but it's just not going to happen unless we start doing things like the Christian Coalition in 1980. Once we stoop to those patently undemocratic techniques, we may as well give in to what we have in the White House now.

I am a very liberal person and I want Dems to be liberal, but I am not willing to say that other opinions are not welcome.

[MrSlayer]

43. Depends on what other issues they run on.

Abortion is not the end all be all for me.

[saracat]

46. NO NO NO .

There is NO differnce between them and the GOP. And the half a laof argument doesn't fly. If they are opposed to choice they are a philosophically different animal and I could give a damn about whatever else they support. They have no respect for me, and I don't respect them.Period.

[DanCa]

47. I need to know where his or her opponent stands on it.

An anti choice dem usually believes in exceptions while a anti choice rethug wants to throw out roe completely.

[Missy M]

48. No, I have to go with pro-choice because pro-life always means...

anti-abortion. I have my own personal feelings about abortion but I would never impose them on any other woman. Only pro-choice for me.

[WI_DEM]

49. If I were living in Pa and the choice was between Casey and Santorum

I certainly could. Just as one example.

[rndmprsn]

50. yes

[Greyhound]

52. No, I cannot reconcile anybody claiming Democratic principles and

also advocating such a vile intrusion into private life. :scared:

[moobu2]

53. No, I couldnt...ever.

[rox63]

54. It would depend

It would depend on who his/her opponent was and what both of their views on other issues were. If the anti-choice Dem was a better overall on liberal views, I would vote for him/her. I have only voted for a rethug once in my life. (for a statewide race, not a national race) And it was a pro-choice, pro-gay-rights rethug. And I only did that because the Dem candidate in that race was awful.

[Zenlitened]

56. What does "pro-life" mean?

:shrug:

[WillyT]

57. No Such Thing As A Pro-Life Democrat, So... NO !!!

No real Democrat could stand for the enslavement of women.

Sorry, I'll vote pro-choice Republican, before I'll give anything other than utter contempt to a pro-life 'Democrat'!!!

Keep your religion the hell out of our politics, dammit!

:mad::nuke::mad:

[SeanQuinn]

60. Um, yeah there are.

I'm a pro-life Democrat, but I vehemently oppose anti-choice candidates.

I know the majority of DU is pro-life as in we oppose war, poverty, death penalty but I think the pro-life you're referring to is 'anti-choice'.

It's all in framing, though that sounds stupid.

[PerpetualWinter]

64. Bart Stupak

Albeit he's a moderate Democrat he's shown a little liberal brass in a few key votes. However, he is a pro-life Democrat (I use "their" term because anti-choice just sounds fucking retarded). I've voted against him in primary's but always for him in the final race. Lesser of two evils.

[semillama]

94. I've voted stupak when I was still in da UP

He's been a pretty decent representative for the region.

Personally, if I knew a candidate was pro-life, but was also a staunch environmentalist, I'd probably vote for him.

[PerpetualWinter]

102. Yeah, he's not that bad...

for the area. I personally am not really a fan though.

[FreedomAngel82]

58. With me

as long as they will protect Roe V Wade. I'm both pro-life and pro-choice. I know that my personal views aren't seen with other people in the country. I'm pro-life in the policies I believe in that make life and that's why I'm a democrat.

[Maddy McCall]

59. No. Never. The pro-choice plank of the Democrtic platform is one...

of the primary reasons that I am a Democrat. It presents tangible proof that our party stands for women's equality.

The day the pro-choice plank disappears from our party's platform is the day I disappear from our party.

[cynatnite]

61. Sure...

as long as they support a woman's right to choose. Being pro-life doesn't necessarily mean they're anti-choice. My RW mother is very pro-life but is against the overturning of Roe v Wade.

[Maddy McCall]

65. Question for you: Do you mean a politically anti-choice Dem or a...

Democrat who holds pro-life views but who doesn't desire to reverse Roe v. Wade?

[Renew Deal]

68. Yes

I'm not a one issue voter. Especially if they are good on other issues.

[PowerToThePeople]

69. They would have to be both, Pro-choice, anti-corporate.

Else 3rd party vote from me..

[Neil Lisst]

70. I can vote for any Democrat because I'm a Democrat.

Who ARE the people who claim to be Dems but hate half the people who vote Democratic? If the nominee were anti-abortion, wouldn't that suggest his or her opponent is farther to the right? There's a lack of rational thought that goes into saying "I wouldn't vote for any Dem who ...." Really? Without knowing who the opposition is?

Unless they turncoat, they're IN the party.

If you're more interested in maintaining a party that fits all of your ideals than in winning elections, you're not a serious Democrat.

Does the term BIG TENT mean anything?

[REP]

72. You Can Because You Don't Have a Uterus, I Suspect

It's all pretty academic to you. To some of us, it's far more than that. Far, far more.

A turncoat is someone who says s/he's my ally then legislates to take my rights away - not someone who refuses to vote for such a person. Learn the difference; it may help.

edit: typo

[PowerToThePeople]

74. cute kity. n/t

[Neil Lisst]

75. I think I'll stick to talking to the adults ...

I'm sure you're fulfulling your snarky quota tonight, but I'm not interested.

Next?

[REP]

76. Your Position Is Indefensible; I Understand You Fleeing From It

If I had made such a ridiculous statement, I'd run away from it, too.

[PowerToThePeople]

78. Huh? Whatcha talkin 'bout there Willis?

"snarky quota"

Not sure where this is coming from, Mr. I have been here a month.

No one here has claimed to hate other democrats. But to vote for someone wanting to take away your rights, why would anyone want to do that?

[REP]

83. He Can't Defend His Position

It's easier to claim victory and run than to stand and defend it.

PS My avatar is Kirara, a character from the anime Inu Yasha. Yes, I am a geek.

[saracat]

95. Not when it means taking MY rights away!

How about yours? Would you vote for a Dem who advocated mandatory vasectomies? Hmm? Or is it only women who get to lose reproductive rights? What about voting for someone who is against civil rights? Hey it was done before with the Dixiecrats. And they were Dems too! Is it okay to vote for such people because they put a "D" after their name?


"Unless they turncoat, they're IN the party."

I think when you turn your back on the basic principles of the Democratic Party you should no longer be considered a Democrat. These anti choice Dems are "turncoats".

[REP]

71. Can You Vote for a Pro-Segregation Democrat?

Could you look past it as long as they are not a corporatist?

What rights of YOURS would you like me to give away?

[Caoimhe]

100. EXACTLY! n/t

[eridani]

73. Who are they running against?

If an anti-choice Republican, obviously. With the anti-choice Dem you at least get some of what you want instead of nothing.

[Neil Lisst]

77. Thank you. Each election must be looked at as its own.

It is insane to expect Dems in a town of 50,000 in the South to hold the same views as a lifelong resident of NYC or San Francisco.

I suspect that most of those who have all these rules for who is or isn't an acceptable Dem have never actually won an election, or even participated in a winning election at the federal level. You have to run to the constituency, and the constituencies vary greatly.

There is a chronic snobbery among some Dems, who feel their views are the only ones that can be allowed. Party purists who self annoint and appoint themselves the Keepers of Dem Holiness are the same people who cost us elections every two years.

[donheld]

79. No no no no no no no no no no

Not if they are anti-choice.

[Celeborn Skywalker]

80. Yes.

I would never vote based on one issue

[Uncle Bob]

81. With 1 in 5 american adults beliving...

... the Sun rotates around the Earth, it's pointless what you vote..

That fascist f-k Ratzlinger will once again tell your deeply christian morons that those who vote for abortion, gay rights, peace with muslims or crap will go to hell.

Just like the last election, Bushshit&co will help some paedophile priests in exchange for "vote for (Dick Cheney??) or go to hell" message from the head of the church...

Tough luck.

Dark Ages Reloaded, director's cut...

[louis c]

82. It depends on the position they run for

I vote for a person according to my priorities.

For instance, if the candidate has a strong pro-worker record, such as jobs, health care, minimum wage, work-place safety and union organizing he or she is my candidate. Pro-choice is only a tie-breaker for me, especially if the position they are running for is not President (Supreme Court Nominees) or US Senate (Confirm SC Nominees).

I have been burned too often by "social issue" Democrats who have left the Unions on a limb when we needed them most.

[PerpetualWinter]

86. That sorta sums up my views...

Though I admittedly look out for them playing to the corrupt and useless unions (ones I have personal experience, or directly witnessed ineptitude such as moving into a small non-profit organization and getting the employees less than they were going to get without them among other things(SEIU)).

[ContraBass Black]

87. I'm going to have to.

Tim Kaine for governor of Virginia!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

88. I look at the whole picture

In an extreme case, I'd vote for an anti-choice Dem who was also anti-war, pro-labor, pro-environment, and pro-equal rights instead of a pro-choice Dem who was also pro-war, thought labor unions were "outdated," said that we had to sacrifice the environment to "preserve economic growth," and said that bigotry was "no longer a problem."

Back in Oregon, I banged my head against the wall repeatedly because my female colleagues voted for Bob Packwood as "thanks" for his pro-choice stand. Well, whoop-de-doo, because he was one of the prime movers of that early salvo in the class war, the Tax "Reform" Act of 1986, and he supported everything else Ronald Reagan did. So he was pro-choice, big deal. That didn't make up, in my mind, for the damage he had done to the country by supporting Reagan.

But no, the one-issue voters of Oregon kept electing Packwood (who had also defeated the brave Wayne Morse--one of two Senators to vote against the Gulf of Tonkin resolution--in a dirty campaign) just because he was pro-choice.

Ironically, his Dem opponent was also pro-choice.

And some feminist Bob Packwood turned out to be, huh?

I think that being a one-issue voter makes you stupid sometimes.

[FlaGranny]

89. All Democrats are pro life.

No one I ever heard of is pro abortion. The question is not about pro life or abortion rights. The question is - do we have control over our bodies or does government have that right? I don't even believe it is a state's right issue. The state government has no more rights in this question than does the federal government. This is not an issue that government has any business in - period.

[RB TexLa]

90. Yes

I'd rather have a anti-choice Democrat than a anti-choice Republican.



I wouldn't like voting for them, but I'm a moderate so I have gotten used to voting for people I don't always like as much.

[bleedingheart]

91. In general, NO and it has everything to do with respect.

Typically the "pro-lifers" are the same types that put guns on a pedastal and in my opinion when the right to own an inanimate object (a gun) is considered a sacred right which the government has no right to touch, but my body isn't...then I have a BIG problem with that.

[SunDrop23]

93. Yes, depending on the other views in their platform.

[C_eh_N_eh_D_eh]

96. Depends on their definition of "life".

Someone who believes that the born have just as much right to live as the unborn is fine in my book, because they're more likely to take the "safe, legal, and rare" approach when it comes to decreasing the number of abortions in America. That is, working to give women new options rather than take away their last resort. I don't have a problem with that.

And yes, I know the whole issue is none of my goddam business, what with the Y chromosome and all, but I still have the right to my opinion.

[alphadog]

97. Yep

Sure would.

[friesianrider]

101. Yes...er, I think...

I would vote for a pro-life Dem before a pro-choice Republican...and I usually vote on abortion rights first and foremost. Any person who thinks they "fit better" in the GOP is someone I cannot morally vote for.

I still haven't decided who I will vote for for PA Senate when Santorum comes up for re-election (Casey or Pennacchio). Casey seems wonderful but he is staunchly pro-life. It will be a tough decision for me, but often they do not seek to overturn Roe, just are against it. :shrug: I don't have any problems with people who are pro-life (hell, I'm pro-life for *myself*), it is when they try and legislate their personal beliefs onto everyone else that I have a problem with.

I haven't ever been in a position where I *had* to vote for a pro-life Dem, so can't really say what I'd do. Voting for Casey will be the first time I'd vote for someone who is pro-life...and I haven't decided if I can do it or not. The right to choose is one of the most (if not the most) important issues to me when I vote.