Contest: Decipher Herman Cain's Abortion Position

[JoeTheJuggler]

And of course this, "The President has no constitutional authority to order any such action by anyone. That was the point I was trying to convey.

As to my political policy view on abortion, I am 100% pro-life. End of story."

contradicts this,

"It's not the government's role, or anybody else's role, to make that decision. . . .

It ultimately gets down to a choice that that family or that mother has to make--not the president, not some politician, not a bureaucrat, it gets down to that family, and whatever they decide, they decide. I shouldn't tell them what decision to make for such a situation."

Even though this second quote was in the context of rape and incest, the two quotes aren't consistent. Now he claims he was saying he's Pro-Life (which is a position in favor of criminalizing abortion so that the woman or the family doesn't have the choice). [ETA: Or is he implying that the president does have that authority in other situations? His "clarification" seems to be speaking about abortion in any situation again--the president always lacks constitutional authority to force a woman to have or not have an abortion.]

FWIW, saying that the family has the authority to make the decision on behalf of the pregnant woman is also problematic--especially in cases of incest!

 

[Ausmerican]

I happened to be have Fox News on today. Cain was being badgered about his abortion position. She finally got him to say he believed abortion should be illegal, "period". But if a family chooses to disobey the law, well, that's that family's decision. "That's all I was saying", Cain explained.

Typical politiker. Sticks his foot in his mouth, then tries to chew it off before anyone notices.

That is kind of how I took what he said. To paraphrase;

"Of course the decidion will ultimately rest with the woman. If they choose not to obey the law that is up to them.
This does not mean they would have any recourse to safe, legal medical assisstance naturally.
But if they can afford to fly to another country, or they still own those old wire hangers, it is their decision.
Not saying they wont be prosecuted after mind you."

 

[steve s]

I happened to be have Fox News on today. Cain was being badgered about his abortion position. She finally got him to say he believed abortion should be illegal, "period". But if a family chooses to disobey the law, well, that's that family's decision. "That's all I was saying", Cain explained.

In order to be illegal, the government has to make the decision for it to be illegal. But this contradicts his statement that it's not the government's decision to make. He's toast.

Steve S

 

[varwoche]

I happened to be have Fox News on today. Cain was being badgered about his abortion position. She finally got him to say he believed abortion should be illegal, "period". But if a family chooses to disobey the law, well, that's that family's decision. "That's all I was saying", Cain explained.

Here's the exchange: Poor Herman, always being victimized. If only he were within shouting distance of intelligibility.

 

[NotJesus]

Looks like I got it right.

 

[Tricky]

It's funny and sad. Abortion is not even much of an issue with most GOP voters, only with their ultra-religious base. But that base is capable of destroying a candidate's chances of nomination. In Iowa right now, a shadowy pro-life group is circulating flyers trashing Herman Cain. This is the same group that kneecapped Huckabee in 2008. I guess there's no need for abortion in a party that eats its own young.