Monday, May 26, 2008

McCain Pro-Choice? In your dreams

Arianna H. has an editorial post up regarding Clinton supporters who say they will vote McCain over Obama, particularly her large pro-choice female supporters. This would be a good wake-up call.

For example:


We've seen the exit polls. We've read the unequivocal quotes. Many women who are avowed Hillary Clinton supporters are declaring they won't vote for Barack Obama in the fall.

I get the anger and the disappointment. But to quote SNL's Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers: Really? You'd rather vote for John McCain, a man who has a 25-year history of voting against a woman's right to choose? A man who over the last eight years that NARAL has released a pro-choice scorecard has received a 0 percent rating (in his time in office, Obama has received a 100 percent rating)? A man whose campaign website says he believes Roe v. Wade "must be overturned"? A man who has vowed that, as president, he will be "a loyal and unswerving friend of the right to life movement"?

Really?

In Clinton vs. Obama, the policy differences were minor (hence the overriding focus on minutiae like flag pins, Bosnian sniper fire, and the real meaning of "bitter"). In McCain vs. Obama, the differences are enormous. Staying the course in Iraq vs. ending an unnecessary and immoral war. Universal health care vs. less regulation for insurance companies. Rolling back the Bush tax cuts vs. making them permanent.

And nowhere is the difference more profound than with reproductive rights.

For anyone -- male or female -- who cares about reproductive rights, family planning, and women's health issues, the choice this fall is not even close.

And yet many voters have no idea how extreme McCain's position on these issues is.

She goes on to reference some numbers, showing how unaware women are of McCain's position on choice, and how his support dwindles when they are made aware. I'd recommend reading the article for the numbers, and more.

<"span class="fullpost">And here is the rest of it.

2 comments:

brenda said...

I read about Clinton's supporters commenting on voting for McCain if she didnt win the Democratic election. Maybe they think by saying that, that everyone will vote for Hillary out of fear that McCain will get into office. It really doesnt make any sense either way. I wouldnt vote for McCain if he was the only one running.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for bringing this up and giving louder voice to it! Excellent points made in the SNL satire!