Abortion refers to the physical act of purging, either by choice or accident, of a human fetus from a woman’s womb. Abortion is a highly explosive subject, as it touches on two of the fundamental tenets of modern civilization; an individual’s right to live and an individual’s right to decide. It represents a volatile mixture of morality, ethics, enlightened jurisprudence, individual rights, personal choice and religion.
FAST FACTS ON ABORTION
• The Center For Disease Control (CDC, Department of Health) is the federal overseeing body for abortions.
• Annually, there is an estimated 1.4 million abortion performed (one abortion every twenty seconds)
• One fifth (22 percent) of all pregnancies end with induced abortions.
The conflict over abortion is divided between two camps; the pro-life and the pro-choice.
Pro-life supporters essentially reject the idea of abortion on religious, moral and ethical grounds. They seek to overturn the landmark 1973 Supreme Court decision in the case of Roe v. Wade, which they blame for the approximately 53 million cases of abortions since. The ruling is seen by many pro-life advocates as extra-constitutional, and is a classic display of judicial activism that ignores the letter of the law and the rights of an unborn child.
Pro-choice proponents meanwhile are unequivocally against the idea of any government involvement or influence in what they consider as ultimately, a woman’s choice to make. They reject attempts to narrow down the issue to a single factor, ignoring the numerous extenuating circumstances surrounding the issue.
CENTRAL ISSUES
Pro-Life
The rights of the unborn
Pro-choice
The rights of the mother
Federal ban on abortions
The 30-year debate saw a sudden increase of interest in the matter last year following allegations by Republicans and pro-life groups that President Obama’s health care bill will open the floodgates for indirect government funding of abortions. A bi-partisan “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” (H.R. 3) legislation was passed in the House of Representative in early May. The bill would permanently prevent federal funds from being used for abortions or on any related expenditures or insurance coverage. It remains to be seen whether the bill would be able to pass the Senate unchanged. In the event that it unexpectedly does, there is still the President and his veto to contend with.
Adoption
A third alternative, proposed mainly by pro-life advocates, who argues that adoptions are a more humane approach compared to abortions. Pro-choice supporters, while not rejecting the idea outright, contends that adoption causes the same, if not a higher, level of emotional trauma to mothers. In addition, there is also the question of pressures being placed on mothers burdened under economic hardships, thus raising the specter of legalized human trafficking.
Roe v. Wade
Roe v. Wade (410 U.S. 113 / 1973) was a historic and still controversial decision made by the United States Supreme Court on 22 January 1973, a decision that continues to reverberate to this very day. The Court ruled that a woman, based on the Ninth and Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution’s Bill of Rights, has the legitimate right to abort her pregnancy. In addition, the Court also ruled that a human fetus only possesses the potential for life, and thus, cannot be considered as an individual yet, therefore, denying it any constitutional rights.
The case was initially filed in Texas by one Norma McCorvey against the DA of Dallas County, Texas, Henry B. Wade, in March 1970. The Texan Court ruled in favor of the defendants and declared abortion illegal, a decision that was overturned by the Supreme Court less than three years later.
Parental notification
Parental notification requires underage mothers to seek the consent of their parents for any abortion-related procedures. Proponents argue that this ensures the involvement of an adult in the decision making process. Critics, however, feel that the presence of trained medical personnel negates the argument and believes that such measures merely alienate and frequently cause additional mental distress to minors. Parental notification is currently required by law in 41 states in the country.
Parental Consent
Parental consent takes the process of parental notification a step further by requiring the permission of parents to be obtained prior to any abortion-related procedures. Currently, 23 states require parental consent for any procedures involving minors.
Spousal Consent (A Father’s Right)
The question of whether a biological father has the right to share in the decision making process appeared to be settled in the aftermath of the 1992 case between the Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania v. Casey (505 U.S. 833). The Supreme Court found in the favor of the plaintiffs and ruled that the five provisions of the Pennsylvania Abortion Control Act, one of which was the spousal consent clause, were unconstitutional.
Planned Parenthood
The Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA) is one of the nation’s biggest service providers for child health, maternal and reproductive health care in the country. It is the largest and most respected pro-choice organization in the country and is a recipient of federal funding under the Federal Family Planning program.
Planned Parenthood also happens to be the biggest provider of assisted abortions in the country, accounting for 3% of all their health care programs.
Pro-life activist and Republicans in Congress have for years attempted to curtail federal funding from the organization, citing that these funding allows the Federation to divert their resources to assisted-abortions. Several battles and three legislations have been tabled over the past two decades, with the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act,” (H.R. 3) bill being the latest after being passed by the House of Representative to the Senate.
Embryonic stem cell research
Embryonic stem cells are cells derived from pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ES) from human blastocysts found in adult bone marrows, human embryos and umbilical cords. Scientists hopes to eventually harness the technology for use in human transplantation therapy involving the nervous system, organs and appendages.
However, bone marrow stem cell extraction carries a high probability of permanent ancillary and second level damages, besides being of lower stem cell content. There are fears that the pharmaceutical industry, opportunists and middle men would leverage the current standoff in the debate over abortion to their advantage in the form of a rich and a cheap source of stem cells from aborted fetuses.
Roger Gary does not believe that the government should be making determinations on whether or not people should or should not have abortions, nor does he believe the government should pay for it.
“Government should not make your medical decisions for you — but neither should it force you to subsidize someone else’s abortion.” Campaign Website
Pro-Life
Yes "I think that abortion should not be legal, and I think that how you would implement that I'm not sure."
The American View, 2005
Federal ban on abortions Adoption
Supports And in that sense that we want to move the society as rapidly as we can that people should select adoption rather than abortion and that choosing abortion is not acceptable."
The American View, 2005
Parental notification
Supportive “He backs parental notification before minors can have abortions”
New Hampshire Sunday News, May 15, 2011
Planned Parenthood
Against “I think that Planned Parenthood should be defunded, and I think it's a very significant issue to say to people, 'Should your tax money go to pay the leading abortion provider in America?’”
Gingrich’s press release, 23 May 2011
Embryonic stem cell research
Against
Gingrich, his capacity as the Senior Fellow of the American Enterprise Institute, together with Rick Tyler, wrote a critical piece on President Obama’s decision to “unilaterally lifted embryonic-stem-cell research restrictions” - NewsMax, 15 March 2009
In replacement of judicial interpretations, I propose a Constitutional Amendment defining the word “person” in the 5th and 14th amendments. This action should finally establish the people’s consent to be governed on the issue and settle this generation’s long debate.
Pro-choice
Johnson is a qualified pro-choice, right until the moment when a fetus is considered ‘viable’ “ ... believes that ultimately it is a woman’s right to make such a decision during the early stage of pregnancy.”
Extracted from Gary Johnson’s Our America Initiative site
Roe v. Wade “Judges should be appointed who will interpret the Constitution according to its original meaning. Any court decision that does not follow this original meaning of the Constitution should be revisited. That is particularly true of decisions such as Roe vs. Wade, which have expanded the reach of the Federal government into areas of society never envisioned in the Constitution. With the overturning of Roe vs Wade, laws regarding abortion would be decided by the individual states.”
Extracted from Gary Johnson’s Our America Initiative site
Parental notification “I believe that parents ought to know.”
1 Jan 2001, Playboy Magazine
Planned Parenthood
“I’ve always favored the notion that public funds should not be used for abortion”
Karger believes that abortion is a private matter for citizens, and rejects the idea of the government’s encroachment into the life of ordinary Americans. He is an advocate of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America lobby, an organization that, among others, supports pro-life legislations.
Religiously, she believes that abortion is murder and is therefore, wrong. The country does not discriminate against gender - except on matters involving abortion! For instance, if a woman decides to terminate a pregnancy, it is called a “choice," and is not punishable under the law. However, if the father terminates the pregnancy by force, it is considered murder. So which is it? We can’t have it both ways. Termination of a life is murder, and the taxpayer money should never be used for this.
Lane also opposes abortion for the psychological damage it causes women.
Federal funding ban on abortions “Abortions will not be covered in the Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan except in the cases of rape or incest, or where the life of the woman would be endangered.”
President Obama’s statement on the H.R. 3 No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act on 14 July 2010, which codifies the Hyde-Weldon conscience clause by prohibiting federal funding for elective abortions and federal subsidies previously allowed by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA)
Adoption
Supportive “committed to policies, initiatives, and programs that helps prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant women and mothers, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption” President Obama, 23 January 2011”
Roe v. Wade
Supports “Today marks the 38th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court decision that protects women’s health and reproductive freedom, and affirms a fundamental principle: that government should not intrude on private family matters. I am committed to protecting this constitutional right. I also remain committed to policies, initiatives, and programs that help prevent unintended pregnancies, support pregnant women and mothers, encourage healthy relationships, and promote adoption,”
White House Statement by President Barack Obama, 23 January 2011
Parental Notification
Disagree “As a parent, Obama believes that young women, if they become pregnant, should talk to their parents before considering an abortion. But he realizes not all girls can turn to their mother or father in times of trouble, and in those instances, we should want these girls to seek the advice of trusted adults"
Responding to a questionnaire from RH Reality Check (October 2007)
Planned Parenthood “Thanks to all of you at Planned Parenthood for all the work that you are doing for women all across the country and for families all across the country”
The then Senator Obama speaking before a Planned Parenthood Action Fund event in Washington on July 17 2007
Embryonic stem cell research
Supportive
President Obama signed the Executive Order Removing Barriers To Responsible Scientific Research involving Human Stem Cells on March 9, 2009
Pro-Life I am strongly pro-life
27 October 1999, providing for consideration of House Resolution 2260, Pain Relief Promotion Act of 1999 to accompany House Resolution 339
”I believe beyond a doubt that a fetus is a human life deserving of legal protection, and that the right to life is the foundation of any moral society.”
March 29, 2005, LewRockwell.com (Pro-Life Politics?)
Federal ban on abortions The federal government should not play any role in the abortion issue, according to the Constitution. Apart from waiting forever for Supreme Court justices who rule in accordance with the Constitution, Americans do have some legislative recourse. Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution gives Congress the power to strip the federal courts of jurisdiction over a broad categories of cases".
1 April 2008, The Revolution: A Manifesto (Page 60)
Under the 9th and 10th amendments, all authority over matters not specifically addressed in the Constitution remains with state legislatures. Therefore the federal government has no authority whatsoever to involve itself in the abortion issue. So while Roe v. Wade is invalid, a federal law banning abortion across all 50 states would be equally invalid.
31 January 2006, LewRockwell.com (Federalizing Social Policy)
Roe v. Wade “Although the real problem lies within the hearts and minds of the people,the legal problems of protecting life stem from the ill-advised Roe v. Wade ruling, a ruling that constitutionally should never have occurred ... Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided, but not because the Supreme Court presumed to legalize abortion rather than ban it. Roe was wrongly decided because abortion simply is not a constitutional issue.”
Speaking to the House on 24 July 2002, on the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban
(Congressional Record, V. 149, Pt. 10, May 22, 2003 to June 9, 2003)
Planned Parenthood
Voted in favor of the Pence Amendment (H.R 217, amendment of the Public Health Service Act), which is a bill designed to ban all federal funding for Planned Parenthood and eliminating the fiercely criticized Title X program), 18 February 2011
Embryonic stem cell research
Qualified yes "to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide credits against income tax for qualified stem cell research, the storage of qualified stem cells, and the donation of umbilical cord blood."
Paul sponsored the Cures Can Be Found Act of 2007 (H.R. 457; H.R. 3444 in 2005) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax credits for qualified stem-cell research or storage and for donation of umbilical cord blood.(19 Mar 2009)
Pro-Life
Romney initially believes in the right of a woman to decide, before changing his position and he now opposes abortions. “I am pro-life. I believe that abortion is the wrong choice except in cases of incest, rape, and to save the life of the mother.”
July 26, 2005, Boston Globe, Why I vetoed contraception bill
Federal ban on abortions
No. Romney favors state level legislation. “But while the nation remains so divided over abortion, I believe that the states, through the democratic process, should determine their own abortion laws and not have them dictated by judicial mandate.”
July 26, 2005, Boston Globe, Why I vetoed contraception bill
Adoption
In favour.
Roe v. Wade
Favors a repeal “I'd like to see Roe v. Wade overturned and allow the states and the elected representatives of the people, and the people themselves, have the ability to put in place pro-life legislation.”
5 June 2007, Republican Presidential Debate (Manchester, New Hampshire)
Parental Consent
Agrees. "Furthermore, this legislation would make the morning-after pill available to young girls without any restrictions on age... this bill undermines the state's parental consent laws and represents a departure from the public consensus that minor children should not act without parental involvement in these matters."
Romney explaining his decision to veto the Contraceptive Bill
July 26, 2005, Boston Globe
Planned Parenthood
Despite revelations that Romney attended a Planned Parenthood fundraiser in 2004, Romney has been on record supporting moves aimed at de-funding them. "Mitt Romney supports the Pence amendment," Eric Fehrnstrom (Romey’s spokesman), 3 April 2011. The Pence Amendment is sponsored by Rep. Mike Pence (R-IN) aimed at eliminating all Title X grants for Planned Parenthood.
Embryonic stem cell research
Not in favor. “Altered nuclear transfer creates embryo-like cells that can be used for stem cell research ... I have a deep concern about curing disease. I have a wife that has a serious disease that could be affected by stem cell research and others. But I will not create new embryos through cloning or through embryo farming, because that will be creating life for the purpose of destroying it.”
3 May 2007, GOP primary debate, Simi Valley California
Santorum is possibly the most fervent top-tier anti-abortionist left in the presidential race. He firmly believes in the preservation of life. Additionally, he also makes an exception for pregnancies that presents mortal danger to a mother. He has an unblemished 100% voting record for pro-life legislations. During his time as a member of the House of Representative and Senator for Pennsylvania, he voted anti-choice 99 times out of a hundred (House 27/27, Senate 72/73).
“...and I believe that, that any doctor who performs an abortion--that--I would advocate that any doctor that performs an abortion should be criminally charged for doing so. I don't--I've never supported criminalization of abortion for mothers, but I do for people who perform them. I believe that life is sacred...”
June 12, 2011, Meet The Press
“Not only have I been consistently pro-life, but I've taken the -- you know, I've not just taken the pledge, I've taken the bullets to go out there and fight for this and lead on those issues. And I think that's a factor that people should consider when you -- when you look, well, what is this president going to do when he comes to office? A lot of folks run for president as pro-life and then that issue gets shoved to the back burner. I will tell you that the issue of pro-life, the sanctity and dignity of every human life, not just at birth, not just on the issue of abortion, but with respect to the entire life, which I mentioned welfare reform and -- and the dignity of people at the end of life, those issues will be top priority issues for me to make sure that all life is respected and held with dignity.”
June 13, 2011, CNN Republican Presidential Debate, Saint Anselm College, New Hampshire
Federal ban on abortions
Santorum supports federal ban on abortions. In 1995, he authored the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act and sponsored the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act.
Roe v. Wade
Against.
“This weekend’s anniversary of Roe v. Wade reminds us of the very wreckage abortion has caused: over 50 million babies dead, based on a decision that holds that certain human life can be taken for any reason or no reason. In America we require a lengthy and litigious process involving dozens of people to take the life of a criminal who has done great harm to society — and at the same time grant one person the absolute right to determine whether an innocent child should be granted the rights of personhood and therefore life.”
January 24, 2011, Life Is A Civil Right, by Rick Santorum
Parental Notification and Consent
Santorum is in favor of parental notification and consent. He co-sponsored the 2006 Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act (S.403).
Excerpts from the bill,
“Makes it an affirmative defense to a prosecution or civil action under this Act that a defendant: (1) reasonably believed that before the minor obtained the abortion, the required parental consent or notification or judicial authorization took place; or (2) was presented with documentation showing that a court waived parental notification requirements or authorized the minor's abortion.”
Authored by Senator John Ensign on February 16, 2005
Planned Parenthood
Santorum supports defunding Planned Parenthood and believes that Planned Parenthood has a hidden agenda behind their pro-choice stance.
"I can’t imagine any other organization with its roots as poisonous as the roots of Planned Parenthood getting federal funding of any kind. This is an organization that was founded on the eugenics movement, founded on racism… It's origins are horrific. And, you can say well, it's not that anymore. It’s not far from where it was in my opinion in its activities and its motivations."
Embryonic stem cell research
Santorum does not support embryonic stem cell research, citing,
“You must be against destroying human embryos to get embryonic stem cells. One of the things I guess was most disappointing is that we’ve seen over the last six months a whole bunch of scientific theories come forward as to how to actually get embryonic stem cells without destroying a human embryo. And in fact, I’ve been working on a bill with Senator Frist and Senator Enzi and Senator Isakson to try to put forward a funding proposal for the NIH to look at alternative ways to get these pluripotent cells, or these embryonic stem cells, without creating a human embryo and without then killing that embryo to get the cells. So, there are four or five different technologies that are potentially viable to get these cells, and I don’t think we need to go down this path.”
July 31, 2005, Santorum in an interview
Terry, a veteran leader of the American anti-abortion movement,has unsurprisingly made the topic as the central theme of his campaign.
In a press release on January 18, 2011, Terry announced
“My constituency is the millions of pro-life advocates who want to make child killing illegal from conception until birth. My base is those who know that we must show Americans the victims of abortion, in order to restore the full protection of law to unborn babies.
America has never truly debated child killing, because America has never truly seen child killing. We will use FEC and FCC laws for federal candidates to bring America face to face with this massacre of the innocents.
The goal of my campaign is:
(i) To create a crisis of conscience for Americans regarding the slaughter of the unborn and thereby hasten the end of legalized child killing;
(ii) To pound on President Obama's agenda starting with child killing, but also including our battle against socialism, our enslavement to debt, and more.
Will I defeat Mr. Obama? I'm not delusional. But while I may not defeat him, I can expose the genocide Obama promotes in America and around the world. Our help is in the Name of the Lord.”
October 24, 2008; A video message to U.S. Catholic Bishops before the 2008 presidential election.
I am begging you, in the name of the Lord, in the name of our Lady of Guadalupe, and in the name of the millions of children whose lives hang in the balance with this election, I’m begging you to lift up your voice in defence of life, in the final days of this election.
Right now, millions of Catholics, in fact more than half of the Catholics being polled are planning to vote for Barack Obama. How can this be? The conscience of the faithful has to be formed by the laws of God and the teachings of the Church. My plea with you is to quote John Paul II. John Paul II gave us the marching orders in Evangelium Vitae, The Gospel of Life. In fact, in 1998, when his Holiness spoke to American Bishops, he specifically told them that they have to be involved in legislative and political projects which would restore the protection of law to the unborn. He couldn’t have been clearer that a part of the duty of the Bishop is to be involved in the legislative and the political process.”
“Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.” Libertarian Party Platform, adopted May 2010.
