If McCain/Palin were elected to office, do you truly believe reproductive rights are in danger?

Question

While we all know Sarah Palin is staunchly pro-life. McCain has a history of actually being very moderate on the issue, as far as his voting record is concerned.

While Sarah Palin may want abortion to be illegal, she doesn't have the power to enact a law banning abortion, nor would McCain allow her if she did have the power.

Roe vs Wade is a supreme court decision and it would take a supreme court decision to overturn it.

Now maybe I'm looking at this from the wrong point of view and I'm more than happy to revise my opinion if I'm given an adequate explanation.

But in a country where our economy is tanking, our gas prices have been rising and we're in a war, would abortion really be at the forefront of their mind for things to change?

Would they really change it when it's already so ingrained in our society that the people who are against it are slowly becoming the minority?

Please any thoughts and opinions on this are wonderful. I also welcome and encourage links to articles and studies and whatever else you can find.

Answer 1

Umm both have already said they arnt going to be trying to go after abortion rights.  So the answer to your Q is No.

besides Pro lifer bush didnt get it done in his eight years...why is everyone freaking out over these two?

Answer 2

To be honest I do think it is in danger, its horrifying to think about because women will die.

Like you said, it would have to be a supreme court decision and what makes me extremely nervous is that the vote now is 5-4, to keep abortion legal.

McCain and Palin both said they want to overturn roe vs. wade, and the way they can possibly do that is appointing supreme court justices that are conservative, the supreme court is aging so there will be at least 2 new appointed by the new president. McCain stated he would appoint the conservative "family" oriented supreme court justice...so it is possible roe vs. wade could be overturned; and let me tell you, there will be a HUGE uproar from society.

I 100% agree with you that there are SO many other issues that need to be addressed first, because people are struggling out there with this economy and the pro-lifers are definitely becoming a minority. I think the only reason it is highly talked about right now is because McCain and Palin want the ultra right winged, religious vote...

Answer 3

Actually, no.

I'm not *just* not voting for McCain for his anti-choice stance, I'm also not voting for him because the Republicans have thoroughly screwed this country up, in many, many ways, and will continue to do so if left in office.  

Answer 4

Three justices could be retiring from the Supreme Court during the next four years.  It is possible, if McCain is elected, that he will replace them with individuals with strong pro-life records.  He may personally be moderate on this issue, but the Republican party is not, and they will demand this litmus test.  

It's not ingrained and accepted by any means.  Abortion's opponents are very passionate - just because you don't hear about clinics being bombed does not mean someone somewhere isn't planning a bombing.  They still picket the abortion clinic in my town all the time, every day, even if it's one elderly person in a straw hat in 95-degree weather with a barely-readable faded sign.  Nobody pickets the Birthright offices.

Answer 5

Supreme Court wouldn't allow it. Plain and simple. Argue all you want, but reproductive rights aren't in danger.  

Answer 6

You've made a lot of great points.  I don't see anything that I disagree with.  I do think if it looks like the Surpreme Court might reverse its position on Roe vs. Wade, it wouldn't be hard to find somebody who'd bring a case to it.  But still, just because it gets changed (you don't actually "overturn" previous Supreme Court decisions) doesn't mean it's going to be made illegal.  Congress would have to do that at the national level, and I doubt they would.

But it doesn't matter.  She's anti-woman!  She believes in teaching creationism in schools, she supports the war on terror, and she's pro-gun!  She's definitely anti-woman!

Answer 7

She will be Vice-President. Vice-President's don't do sh*t!

Answer 8

Reproductive rights are not just about abortion.  They also concern contraception.   Palin believes that the only s*x ed we should teach in schools is abstinence.   (Yeah that worked at her house.)   And considering McCains age she just may advance to the presidency.  

As you should note Bush has recently tried to stop women's health clinics from dispensing contraceptives.  That has not taken any court or congressional action.  

"'The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is poised to put in place new barriers to accessing common forms of contraception like birth control pills, emergency contraception and IUDs by labeling them “abortion.”…These rules pose a serious threat to providers and uninsured and low-income Americans seeking care. They could prevent providers of federally-funded family planning services, like Medicaid and Title X, from guaranteeing their patients access to the full range of comprehensive family planning services. They’ll also build significant barriers to counseling, education, contraception and preventive health services for those who need it most: low-income and uninsured women and men..........The regulations could even invalidate state laws that currently ensure access to contraception for many Americans.  (HuffPost)"'  

Source below.

Answer 9

Did you read today's The NY times article on the front page about her track record? Its scary to say the least. And I am a man, still I think it would be very much unfair to all the pro-choice woman.

She not only brings change to the politics, she literally changes anyone who disagrees with her. A small example in the article is when she asked the local female librarian, as mayor, to stop circulating some books that only SHE found improper. She declined and was asked to step down. The librarian resigned.

Just put the supreme court scenario and lay back and think.

Answer 10

Read the article below.  I don't fear that in McCain's time that he or Palin could over turn abortion but McCain is against the current abortion laws and would like to have it modified to better serve his party of forcing women to have kids so that they may grow up to be soldiers (imo).  The article below clearly shows that McCain would start stacking the Supreme Court with pro-life judges where Bush left off.  Eventually if these candidates get their way they will own the supreme court and have the ruling that they want.

Answer 11

Chances are McCain would appoint conservative judges to the Supreme Court, and if Scalia and Edwards stay on it, there might be a problem. Politicians usually get this kind of stuff out of the way when they first take office, just to finish up all the appeasement that neeeded to be done during the campaign. But the majority of the American people won't stand for an overturn of Roe. I envision scores of women getting sterilized in response.

Answer 12

You are correct.

SCOTUS is the only body that can revisit Roe (and only if a relevant case is brought before it).  

And then, the biggest difference would be that it would go to the states for them to decide.Blue states - abortions.  Red states - not so much.

McCain can appoint new justices when one retires/dies, but they still have to be confirmed by congress (which is controlled by Dems right now)

So, I don't think that is even a pressing issue in my opinion.

I will say though, unless you can give me stats, I don't believe pro-lifers are in the minority. Not that that matters really.

The fact is, this isn't as big an issue as people want to believe it is, I'd be worried about the issues that the president CAN influence directly, such as the military and war.

Answer 13

I don't think abortion would come up so quickly. There will be heavy focus on the war in Iraq and the economy, gas prices, etc.

And it's not that McCain and Palin, or any President/VP for that matter, have the ability to wake up one day and ban/legalize abortion. There are processes, votes, vetoes, etc.  

Answer 14

McCain is old. He has a history of serious health problems. As such, his VP choice would stand a good chance of becoming President were he elected. Besides, it's not as if the VP has zero influence on what the president does.

Many of the SCOTUS justices are also elderly. The President is in charge of appointing justices to the SCOTUS. Your question doesn't make sense given the existence of checks & balances.

Answer 15

nothing will change. The whole abortion issue is something the powers to be use to distract us from other issues like our jobs being shipped over seas.

Answer 16

I don't feel they would be in immediate danger but I would be afraid for our future.  

Answer 17

No, McCain/Palin in office would not automatically put Roe V Wade in danger. But their election would create a general climate in Washington to make it a little more likely.

Answer 18

The nomination of Sarah Palin was primarily a gesture of reconciliation to the religious right.  The Republicans feel they cannot maintain power without them.  And a constitutional amendment banning abortion is right at the top of their agenda.  McCain has made it clear he is willing to compromise his own beliefs to get elected, and there's no reason to think that would change once he's in office.  So yes, I'm really scared.