Although I’ve considered this possibility before, apparently the McCain camp is serious: they’re running the idea through the Republican ranks, to gauge reactions, potentially in preparation for choosing a pro-choice running mate. I’m not sure why. Anyone who saw the Saddleback Forum, and has watched McCain over the past few months, will have seen that he’s run to the right on the abortion issue. Picking a pro-choice VP may confuse those who don’t look into the issue in depth enough to win over a few votes (what does the VP matter when McCain promises to have a “pro-life presidency”?), but it’ll almost certainly alienate the religious right. Go ahead, I say.
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Ross Douthat speculates that it would be far easier for McCain to select a pro-choice running mate than Obama to pick a pro-life running mate. I have to agree. The right is moving towards the center on abortion. The left remains entrenched.
Posted by Progressive Conservative | August 20, 2008, 11:07 amHow exactly is McCain moving to the right, other than pretending that he’ll pick a pro-choice running mate? That’s cheap talk. Saddleback was expensive talk. He wasn’t moving there.
Posted by Ames | August 20, 2008, 11:11 amMost pro-lifers have moderated their positions to include the big three exceptions…
McCain said he thought Roe v. Wade should be overturned and said he would support exceptions to a ban on abortion in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother’s life is in danger.
Source: Boston Globe, p. A11 Jan 22, 2000
…Obama has not moderated his position at all. He still supports abortion on-demand for 90% or more of the yearly cases.
Posted by Progressive Conservative | August 20, 2008, 11:53 am