issues
Posted at 3:29pm on Nov. 17, 2007 It's not about the Human Life Amendment
(a minor Presidential political squabble)
By Mark Kilmer
Doffing my cap to Erick's post below, I have a quick reflection to add.
Neither Fred Thompson nor Mitt Romney, unless they've changed their minds, will propose a Right to Life Amendment, or anything federalizing abortion. Neither will a party platform. It is up to Congress, and nothing has been happening there.
The currently-heralded 1980 Republican Party Platform reads on this matter:
While we recognize differing views on this question among Americans in general—and in our own Party—we affirm our support of a constitutional amendment to restore protection of the right to life for unborn children.
What amendment? It was up to Congress to propose.
The platform continued:
We also support the Congressional efforts to restrict the use of taxpayers' dollars for abortion.
The latter, not requiring a consensus of the three-fourths of the State legislatures, is much more doable and has been done. And will continue to be done. But President Reagan did not strongly push the Amendment and Congress brought nothing of import. The plank was a laudable goal, as is much of what comprises a party platform, but it was not a true draft of policy much less legislation.
But it can be something meaningless but contentious when argued out of context on a Sunday Morning Talk Show.
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Posted in 2008 | Abortion | Fred Thompson | Human Life Amendment | issues | Ronald Reagan — Comments (13)/ Email this page » / Read More »
