Why do people assume that Republicans are Pro-Life and Dems Pro-Choice?

Question

Neither is true.

About 45% OF Dems are pro-life and about 40% of Republicans are Pro-Choice. Most party members are not single issue voters and do not agree with their party on every issue.

As an independent voter I find people who stereotype groups, for example Dems being Pro-Choice or Republicans being Pro-Life as being sick, closed minded, ignorant bigots.

I have to ask myself why people do things like that?

The reality is that the DNC does support pro-choice in their platform and the Republicans does have a "pro-life" plank in their platform.

However, if you actually review the 2004 party platforms it really isn't cut and dried.

The DNC's plank is divisive and adversarial,

"We stand firmly against Republican efforts to undermine that right. At the same time, we strongly support family planning and adoption incentives. Abortion should be safe, legal, and rare."

It would appear that the Democrat's plank is less about woman's rights and more about creating a perception of fighting against a Republican position.

The Republican position is much more involved and detailed since it also includes positions on assisted suicide.

From the RNC:

"We oppose using public revenues for abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it."

"We oppose abortion, but our pro-life agenda does not include punitive action against women who have an abortion."

You can get this info from the RNC.org and DNC.org websites.

http://www.gop.com/images/2004platform.pdf

http://www.democrats.org/pdfs/2004platform.pdf

Answer 1

It is your opinion that the DNC's plank is adversarial.  The Republicans are constantly trying to undermine a woman's right to choose and the Democrats promise to defend that right.  The Democrats are all about women's rights which is why women usually vote Democratic.

Republicans love every baby until it is born.  Then it is on its own, with little support for its health, education and welfare.  Pro life is more about controlling women by restricting no only abortion but also birth control access and knowledge so they can produce lots of poor cannon fodder for the Republican wars against brown people.

Answer 2

What and tell the truth as most see it.  Republicans want to continue white dominance and Democrats want an equal footing!  I think that really sums it up.

When they use these issues you know it is not because of that because most of the women have had one if not 12.

(Stevie Wonder will see the thumbs down I get on this one)!  

Answer 3

Only because this is the parties platform, Republicans are for life, Democrats are for death, except for Sexual predators, murders, rapists, child molesters, etc.

Answer 4

the platforms that the conventions create are meant to be broad and all inclusive. They are trying not the exclude people so they don't come out and directly say "We are pro-choice and that is our only view." They write the platforms so that they say they are pro-choice without actually having to come out and say it. Confusing, i know.

Answer 5

Well, most parties are defined by their extremes.

The relgious conservatives, the hard right, is against abortion. They want Roe v. Wade overturned. However, this won't make abortions illegal. It will throw the decision back to the states. It just removes the federal guarantee of a woman's right to abortion.

The democrats, the hard left, is adamantly pro-choice. Don't want any definition of when life begins. Feel the woman should have the right to choose no matter what.

As always, most people fall in the middle. Generally pro-choice, but willing to accept some restrictions on late term abortions. The parties end up being beholden to the "base" so they talk alot to placate them but usually end up doing not too much to address it. They know the majority of voters are more moderate in their views.

The issue for this election is putting supreme court justices that may support an overturn of roe v. wade. There are 3 possible positions that will open up on the court, all of them more liberal leaning judges wanting to retire. So, whoever gets elected could either preserve the current balance or change the leanings of the court to a more conservative view. Probably why you hear the DNC call against fighting the Republican efforts to make the court conservative.  If the Democrat wins, probably not much will change.

Answer 6

Pro Life-Anti McCain, Dem.  This issue should not be the deciding factor of who to vote for.  Unfortunately many older Americans have blinders on.  What is the point of Pro-Life without children's health care and a planet to live on???

Answer 7

It is the party's platform,

however, I think you would be hard pressed to find a true conservative anymore.

Answer 8

That's why I too am independent.  You can see both sides, The hard party line doesn't work for me either.  I do lean this year to the right, but the liberals have slammed the door and closed their ears to logic and reasoning.  They are in a frenzy because the media has made Obama a celebrity.  I too liked what Obama said, then I researched his past.  Something the too few take time to do.

Answer 9

36 years of history - there IS NO assumption, just facts.

Answer 10

I could not agree with you more.  Very good post, very detailed and great facts!!

I'm independant as well. I'm disgusted by individuals that assume  Dems are ALL pro-choice and Repubs are pro-life. THAT SIMPLY IS NOT THE CASE! And I have to say, I'm appalled that people ASSUME Obama is going to choose justices that will preserve the right to choose and McCain will choose justices that will be pro-life.  It's just not necessarily the case (and not the be all and end all, even if they do!).  

People forget that Obama, in particular, voted TO ALLOW partial-birth abortions.  Do a little research on his voting record and it will make you cry... no matther whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, the stories told during the hearings for this will make you sick.  And this guy voted to allow them.

There are some very detailed aspects to this position that are never discussed.  It's not black and white, pro-life, pro-choice.  And it's NOT along party lines, either.

Answer 11

I agree. If anything, the Dems should be pro-life and the GOP pro-choice.

As Ronald Reagan said, conservatism is really small-l libertarianism.

As Barry Goldwater said, abortion is a matter of personal choice and not intended for government involvement.

I find so-called "conservatives" who oppose abortion rights to be mistaken. Conservatism calls for abortion to be legal, at least if you agree with my quotes from Reagan and Goldwater.

The problem is that the religious right has (too much) influence in the GOP.  

Answer 12

Because historically, republicans vote pro-life and democrats vote pro-choice. I blame the media and minorities. :P

Answer 13

The majority of Americans are sheep that have been brainwashed into a two party system. It has become a part of their brain to throw each other into these two pots.

Divide and conquer....

Answer 14

Actually, most people are pro-life and pro-choice - they are not opposites.  The religious right and the religious left are anti-choice.  So the question should be if someone is pro-choice or anti-choice.  A lot of people who claim to be pro-life are actually anti-choice and they pick and choose when to be actually pro-life.  For instance, supporting a bogus war (Iraq) makes you anti-life in that case.