Advocates React To McCain's Suggestion That He Might Choose Abortion-Rights Supporter For Running Mate

Main Category: Abortion
Article Date: 18 Aug 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) could face "dire consequences" in the November election if he chooses a vice presidential running mate who supports abortion rights, several socially conservative advocates said on Thursday, The Politico reports (Martin, The Politico, 8/14).

In an in an interview with The Weekly Standard Wednesday, McCain, who opposes abortion rights, said, "I think that the pro-life position is one of the important aspects or fundamentals of the Republican Party," adding, "And I also feel that ... Americans want us to work together. You know, Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don't think that that would necessarily rule Tom Ridge out" as his running mate. McCain also said that although opposition to abortion rights is a "fundamental tenet" of the Republican Party, "that does not mean we exclude people from our party who are pro-choice" (Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 8/14).

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), who ran against McCain in the presidential primaries, said that although McCain needs to pick a running mate he is "comfortable with," he should ensure that the running mate does "not do anything that would be disruptive to what has been very important to the Republican platform" (FoxNews.com, 8/14). Phil Burress, head of the Ohio-based Citizens for Community Values, said that picking Ridge would "end [McCain's] bid for the presidency and spell defeat for other Republican candidates."

McCain on Wednesday night met a handful of social conservatives in Michigan. James Muffett, head of Michigan-based Citizens for Traditional Values, said that many people in the meeting urged McCain not to pick a running mate who supports abortion rights. "Some people in the movement say it would be a kiss of death," Muffett said, adding, "He heard that in the room last night." A McCain aide said, "The point that McCain was making is that people can differ on one issue and still be a vital member of our party," adding, "The fact that Governor Ridge is not perfectly in line with the party platform does not make him any less of a Republican" (The Politico, 8/14).

Meanwhile, some abortion-rights groups criticized McCain's statements, saying that it is a reversal from comments in April that his opposition to abortion rights is a "deeply held belief" and that it would be "difficult" to pick a running mate who supports such rights, the Boston Globe's "Political Intelligencer" reports. Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, in a statement said, "Pro-choice Americans know that this flip-flop is not indicative of a policy shift or a reverse course for the anti-choice and anti-birth control McCain. It is clear that McCain is nervous about his diminishing support among independent women, a key voting bloc that will likely determine the outcome of this election. McCain knows he needs pro-choice Independent and Republican women to win in November, but his extreme position on a woman's right to choose makes it increasingly difficult to attract these voters" (Rhee, "Political Intelligencer," Boston Globe, 8/14).

~ MSNBC's "Hardball With Chris Matthews" on Thursday discussed McCain's comments about Ridge and other abortion issues related to the November election. The segment includes comments from Republican strategist Joe Watkins and former NARAL Pro-Choice America President Kate Michelman (Schuster, "Hardball With Chris Matthews," MSNBC, 8/14).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.nationalpartnership.org. You can view the entire Daily Women's Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery here. The Daily Women's Health Policy Report is a free service of the National Partnership for Women & Families, published by The Advisory Board Company.

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