Patrick Lee wrote an interesting piece on the abortion issue. Specifically, if the issue were framed as any other human rights issue, would it sound the same? Lee uses the slavery arguments from 150 years ago.
The tradition argument for abortion has been expressed often by Sen Obama “I have been a consistent champion of reproductive rights and will make preserving women’s rights under Roe v.Wade a priority as President.” He says would hope his policies would reduce the need for abortion, but will not do anything to make them (as Bill Clinton was fond of saying) “safe, legal and rare.” It didn’t happen under Clinton, and is not likely to happen under Obama. He supports public funding for abortions, and his health care proposal would mandate funding. He’s a hero at NARAL (the National Abortion Rights Action League) is never on the same side as the National Right to Life organization.
So Lee looks at the Obama-Biden position on abortion were stated in terms of the slavery arguement, this is what Lee thought it might say:”
“I do not endorse slavery. I wouldn’t own slaves. I think people should be free not to own slaves, if they wish. But I am pro-choice. I have been a consistent champion of the right to own slaves for the last ten years. And I will make defense of that right a priority in my presidency. Of course, I hope fewer people will feel the need to resort to that choice, and so as president I will put into place economic policies that will reduce the need for slave labor in agriculture and in factories. But, to ensure that slavery remains an option for white men who should, after all, be free to decide how to manage their own affairs, I am in favor of providing subsidies for the purchase of slaves by whites whose farms and factories are at risk because of the high cost of wage labor.”
Lee summarizes the arguement wth “By their position on abortion, Obama and have relegated a whole class of human beings to the status of sub-personal objects that may be destroyed for the benefit of others.”
He is right in saying both are addressing the same kinds of issues: the economy, national security, health, etc. The difference, says Lee, is “One side wants to preserve life, the other access to abortion.”
source: National Review Online
Posted by OldGuy 