U.S. Senator from Arizona John McCain is the flip to Rep. Dennis Kucinich's flop. According to the New York Times Caucus page, McCain had this to say about Roe v. Wade in 1999, "I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even the long term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."
Zoom ahead to 2007, when McCain was asked in a debate whether he would support a repeal of Roe v. Wade and his answer was unequivocally, "A repeal." In an interview on Meet the Press just a few days later, McCain had this to say about his apparent conflicting statements, "No, I would hope that X women in America would bring those children into life in this world, and that I could do whatever I could to assist them. Again, that conversation from 1999, so often quoted, was in the context of my concerns about changing the culture in America to understand the importance of the rights of the unborn."
Senator McCain's campaign web site contains a section entitled "Human Dignity and The Sanctity of Life" which combines his personal and political stances on the seemingly unrelated issues of Roe v. Wade, adoption, protecting children from internet pornography and online predators, and the moral consequences of advanced technology.
As President, McCain would nominate judges who would "not legislate from the bench" but who would "restore constitutional balance by reversing Roe v. Wade." McCain believes that "At its core, abortion is a human tragedy. To effect meaningful change, we must engage the debate at a human level."
McCain does support federal funding for embryonic stem cell research having advocated for the passage of stem cell research bills before Congress over the years. In a press release on his government web site McCain is quoted as saying "We must create a framework for federal support of stem cell research now, since research involving embryonic stem cells is also proceeding outside the United States."
According to answers to a survey on Project Vote Smart, John McCain believes abortion should be legal in cases of rape, incest, or if the woman's health or life is in danger. Public funding for abortion or for organizations that advocate for abortion, however, should be prohibited.
McCain seeks the elimination of the right to choose:
McCain discusses health care coverage with Charlie Rose:
Reducing maternal deaths from unsafe abortion is one of the most straight-forward public health problems to remedy. But this can never be fully realized unless governments start including abortion in realistic approaches to protecting women's health.
Heather Corinna brings Scarleteen's popular sexual health advice column to RH Reality Check! This week, Heather talks to a young woman who doesn't like being a girl.
Conservative activists are gearing up to enact state laws to restrict abortion. Colorado is once again serving as a political incubator in yet another attempt to chip away at Roe v. Wade, this time in the form of an amendment stating that life begins at conception.
Pregnancies, both planned and unplanned, happen to trans folks, too. It is imperative for reproductive health care providers to seek appropriate education and training in order to be able to provide comprehensive care to these patients.
Given the alarmingly sexist and racist undercurrents rearing their heads in this presidential election, it's not illogical to look at "Iron Man" and see a reflection, and perpetuation, of prejudices that just won't die.
The Minnesota House last Wednesday passed a bill that would allow the University of Minnesota to use state funds to conduct research using embryonic stem cells. The measure prompted a flurry of amendments by anti-choice Republicans designed to derail the bill.
Last week, nearly 80 conservative groups led by the Family Research Council asked President Bush to strip family planning clinics of their eligibility for Title X funds if they refer patients for abortions or share facilities with abortion providers -- which would bring the global gag rule home.
In Colombia, young women may be getting pregnant intentionally -- but not necessarily because they want to become mothers. Sexuality education advocates differ on how best to tailor a pregnancy prevention and sexual health curriculum to reach Colombian teens.
On May 26, the Wanderlust reproductive justice bicycle caravan will set off on an 1800 mile journey from New Orleans to New York City, meeting with and learning from reproductive justice activists along the way.
In honor of the Back Up Your Birth Control with Emergency Contraception (EC) Campaign, Pharmacy Access Partnership and RH Reality Check teamed up to launch an essay contest open to young people 14-24 years of age. Read the winning entry!
Have Safe Haven laws -- in which women can lawfully relinquish their infants within 30 days of birth -- become a substitute for universal health care and comprehensive sexuality education?
Illinois's reproductive justice advocates are backing one of the most comprehensive reproductive health bills the state has ever seen. And they're bringing in new allies for the fight.
Oregon Right to Life calls on anti-choice candidate who paid for girlfriend's abortion two years ago to quit race. But they sat on the story for two years.
The Family Research Council is petitioning our government to severely restrict federal funds for our contraception and family planning program - a program that is headed by one of their own.