Since US Representative Stephen F. Lynch of South Boston backed off his staunch opposition to abortion early this month, his rival for US Senate has been trying to distinguish himself as the only Democrat in the race who is “100 percent pro-choice.”
US Representative Edward J. Markey of Malden has made the case so well, in fact, that the abortion rights group NARAL Pro-Choice America plans to formally endorse him on Thursday.
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Markey's epiphany was poll-driven not personal. To be pro-life in a crowded field of pro choice Dem. primary candidates insured his victory when he first ran for Congress. But, to be pro-life in a one-on-one Democratic primary against a pro-choice candidate was not favorable in any way to Markey, so he switched. It was pure Markey political pragmatism. A poll-driven epiphany, poll driven conscience. Now he claims to be the only "100% pro-choice" candidate for US Senate.
Forgive me if I yawn, I have seen this show before.
What evidence do you have that it was not personal? About this same time, a friend of mine got pregnant. According to the Catholic church, I should have told her what to do and that abortion was a sin and she should outright reject it. Instead, I behaved as a friend. I listened to her and didn't try to persuade her to any decision, recognizing that the consequences of the decision would fall entirely on her and thus the decision must be entirely hers.
At that moment, I decided that the law of the land has no place in this decision. I have been adamantly pro-choice ever since.
Yes, it is always about politics. The political winds of the Democratic Party were strongly supported the life of the un born child. No poliotician could have survived by agreeing with the court that any woman can end the life of her un born child for any reason. Today, the opposite is true, in the Democratic Party. Favoring life over "choice" is a political death sentence (no pun intended), and scant few democrats have the courage to publicly hold these views.
Some of us see it not as picking "choice" or "life" although that does make for a good sound bite. Some of us see it as picking "freedom" over "govt. intrusion". Another nice sound bite, yes.
I too have a personal view on abortion and a political view on the subject. They are very different and they do have to do with individual rights. Abortion has always been a complicated subject and like most complicated subjects it is easy to create sound bites and simple positions.
Every law that is becomes "government intrusion". Decisions have to be made on what constitutes conduct for the good of society. The fabric of a man's moral code cannot be me/not me. What we have here is political expediance in action.
THIRTY YEARS AGO ?? Oh come on. This is as silly as the Scott Brown smears of Senator Warren about her family narrative about ancestors ... pretty soon, we'll have opponents excavating garbage dumps for decades-old throwaways. Oh, wait ... that is what this story is about.
The crude attempt to "brand" Markey as some cheap-suited opportunist, like the lobbyists who were so cozy with former Senator Scott Brown, shows how desparate some are to block Markey's election.
"Never a political calculation" to switch to support abortion. How sad. He will say or do anything to get elected even if he has to sell his soul and on the backs of the unborn.
Belief in souls is a supernatural befief. Science has never been able to find what we call souls.If you think people can sell something that can't be found you aren't very bright.
A certain amount of soul-selling here. Ted K. felt the consequences at the end, writing to the Vatican for assurances.
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Lynch is a coward. Anybody who's seen a three month sonogram knows that abortion at that point is no better than killing a child. With all the methods of contraception easily available to anybody, there is no real justification for "accidental" pregnancy, let alone any justification for abortion short of rape. But I'll probably vote for Markey in the primary, now that Lynch has abandoned one of the stances that actually made him somewhat appealing to me.
As soon as contraception is 100% effective, you might possibly have a point. But it's not, so you don't.
It would be great if once in awhile the anti-choice crowed could come up with something besides an appeal to emotionalism. Noone wasts an abortion. No one thinks its just a great idea. No one says, "hey just for fun I think I'll have an abortion." Or rather than kick out a few bucks for contraception, I'll spend a small fortune for an abortion. You know the appeal to emotionalism is nothing but silly. A difficult issue reduced to a slogan.
I would imagine a great many of us have seen a three month sonogram. Quite emotional, but it doesn't speak to the issues surrounding abortion.
It's been 37 years. Isn't it time for Ed to get a haircut?
Your handle fits you to a T.
Incredible had it half right. Just what has Markey done in 37 years to justify giving him a promotion to the senate? Consistently voting the party line? You could train a reasonably bright house pet to do that.
Still waiting for my cable bills to go down, Ed.
Markey and Lynch are both bootlickers to the democratic party, abortion,taking of a life,0k, death penalty, taking a life,no good, they have nothing to explain here,when the party is over they can get in line behind Ted and Kerry good Catholics all and explain to a higher authority, that they state they believe in,and explain their positions. Good luck with that.
37 years in the House, I was enthused when he promised to lower mu cable bill...Never happened especially since taking Telecom $$$$. Time to consider retiring to the dog track. Will have to be in MD since all of the liberals banned them in Mass.
Markey was against killing babies before he was for killing babies.
A vertitable Kerry-esque flip!
Are there any politicians against killing babies? He is about getting elected for his personal pocketbook. Is there a doubt? He doesn't and hasn't lived here in forever. Another moronic Massachusetts rubber stamp. Lets send a drone to Washington it would be cheaper and more honest. McGovern. Warren. Kerry. Barney. Al Cowens or whatever his name is. Whatever the geniouses tell them to do it's done. Pelosi. Barbara Lee. Maxine. The gay mafia. The crimial thief Reid. The Rapin' Latino, Melendez. Ellison. Massachusetts follows the superious leadership.