McCain surrenders GOP Party Platform. Includes Palin's hard lined stance on Abortion
By Jon Perr Friday Sep 05, 2008 5:45pm
In an interview with CBS' Katie Couric Wednesday, Cindy McCain seemed surprised to learn that her husband John wants to see Roe v. Wade overturned. But as it turns out, the surprises hardly end there for the McCains when it comes to abortion and the 2008 Republican platform. By rejecting John McCain's limited proposed exemptions for cases involving rape, incest and the life of the mother, the GOP's hard-line abortion banning plank echoes not its presidential nominee, but his running mate Sarah Palin.
That result was to be expected. During a July 30 interview, John McCain admitted he had "not gotten into the platform discussions." And it shows. Unlike Barack Obama, who personally intervened to help create a new abortion plank in the Democratic platform, John McCain left the GOP committee to its own devices in producing a document that is far more radical than even McCain's own draconian anti-abortion stand.
In reaching out to his party's religious right, John McCain famously reversed course on overturning Roe v. Wade. But as the Washington Post noted Monday, McCain in a May interview still claimed to support exemptions for abortions in cases involving rape, incest or the life of the mother:
"My position has always been: exceptions of rape, incest and the life of the mother," the senator said.
When asked if he would encourage the party to include them in the platform, he replied, "Yes," adding: "And by the way, I think that's the view of most people, that rape, incest, the life of the mother are issues that have to be considered."
As it turns out, not so much. As predicted, McCain flip-flopped on his position in 2000 that the Republican platform should allow the abortion exemptions. His hands-off approach resulted in a hard line GOP abortion platform that not only did away with those most minimal of protections for women's health, but called for that total abortion ban to be enshrined in the United States Constitution:
"We support a human life amendment to the Constitution, and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment's protections apply to unborn children."
While the Republican Party apparently added fetal due process rights during the process of creating the 2008 GOP platform, John McCain played no part in the process at all. An astonished Chuck Todd of MSNBC Tuesday described McCain's abdication of the platform-writing to radicals in his own party:
"They made the decision not to fight these delegates here on this issue. Senator McCain, this platform does not represent Senator McCain's conservatism. He did not make it his party's platform. He made it the Republican Party platform, that he happens to be representing. Stark contrast to Barack Obama who went ahead, changed the wording on abortion, put in a line in there that made pro-life Democrats a little more comfortable. That was not done here. If anything this is as stringent of a platform on abortion the Republican Party ever has. And the problem is this. These delegates are more conservative -- I had, I had -- than, than even the ones four years ago. Than even the ones eight years ago."
And McCain's detachment from the platform of his party hardly ends there. On same-sex marriage, immigration and stem cell research as well, the GOP bucked McCain each and every time.
As it turns out, McCain's acquiescence doesn't merely reflect his weakness (which it surely does) as much as his disinterest. As McCain himself admits, he just doesn't care about details of policy; his campaign is about putting winning, and not country, first.
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The party of Change! Changing his stance whenever politically necessary.
The Theocrats are in control. The Fourteenth amendment, hijacked to confer person hood on Corporations, now will be called into action for fetuses.
I have to wonder how many American women, when they understand what is afoot here, will go along with this.
50% chance we may have to kiss our own asses goodbye.
Why am I not surprised?
McCain is being pussywhipped by Caribou Barbie and her friends.
McShame, indeed.
timothy @ 1:
While the MSM is entertaining the American public with the on going political circus, very serious storms are building and have been building in the Middle East. The spectre of possible war goes completely ignored.
Aw, c'mon. He's old. He's getting tired. He can't pay attention to everything. He needs to pace himself. But he shouldn't be crossing Cindy Lou . . . she could take the T-Bird, I mean plane, away.
Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 2:
I hope the majority of American women get it because it is not just the right of choice that these folks want to take away from women. The Right leaning Roberts court has already ruled against women on equal pay. I try and understand the thinking but just don't get it.
I shall recc. a good book all of us should read before voting..."The Nine" by Jeffrey Toobin.
Here Palin and McCain have gone after the press and anyone else who dares to mention her daughter and her condition saying it is a family matter and her daughter has a right to privacy.
Fair enough. Too bad the far right won't give that to every woman instead of feeling it is their right and duty to legislate regarding a woman's body.
Women better get it. The next Pres. will probably get to pick 2 or 3 new people to the court.
Christians do make up for a large percentage of voters. But I hope that one issue will not sway all of them to the darkside, again.
When James Dobson said last week that he would now vote for John McCain, he didn't really mean he was voting for McCain. If, God forbid, McCain/Palin win in November, Dobson will be on his knees every night praying for McCain to suddenly die. This is what he really wants. He really wants Palin as President, then Dobson's wet dream will come true. Just imagine roving squads of Religious Purity Platoons, Religion Police, etc. This is really what Palins selection means.
Pity they are so keen to restrict the rights of others.
Not allowing for discretion is tyrannical. Abortion is a question of discretion of the mother.
Discretion being the better part of valor falls short on the nutjob right, for they believe in neither.
If we're lucky maybe the Dems have some major bomb-shoe to drop on the cons as the election gets close and we'll at least see a Nov 2006 repeat and con defeat.
Sarah Palin isn't Hillary Clinton.
The McCain campaign expect low information voters to associate a female candidate with pro-women issue stances.
While, at the same time, the more informed and frightening base enjoy the real red meat.
Please take a look at Sarah Palin's issue positions, and share them with all your friends (especially the inattentive).
Learn the differences, vote smart.
www.SarahPalinISNTHillaryClinton.com
Shocking. I'm shocked I tell you.
Actually, not shocked at all, the American Taliban have McCain in their back pockets.
You know that Edith Prickley really ran the place while Guy Caballero simply rolled around trying to look relevant. Oh- we're talking about the GOP and not SCTV?
US (State) To Take Control of Fannie and Freddie
Can't believe that Congress authorized this bail out without first changing the tax code to insure the rich pay their fair share.
C&L, I think you mean uninterest, not disinterest. There's a difference. XXOO, an editor. I wonder what else McCain would sell to make himself president? He's already sold his soul.
Trust the Yanks to give the world a gun owning, butt kidding Artic Circle Redneck who kills animals for laughs, wants creationism in the schools, is pro-war and,
if old man McBush gets elected and snuffs it, will become the Head Honcho of the planet's biggest military machine.
Why do I feel insecure?
Took this from Anderson Cooper's blog....Palin has a brother in jail...anyone know about this?
So, his differences with Bush are now:
He is...
1. Older!
2. Meaner!
3. Whiter (as in almost transparent)!
Oh, and...
4. Richer!
anything to win. so much for country first.
We won't see Palin for a while because she is getting intensive schooling getting ready for the debate. Right now she has no clue about international issues, national issues, history, law, etc. etc.
They know if they let her talk now, there would be so much video and audio of gaffs, miss leading statements, and of course BIG LIES, that she alone could tank the whole party for the next 4 (or more) years.
Her charm (gak, I just threw up in my mouth) and her conservative views have run their course. She can now only hurt herself.
I can't wait.
Alice X - (Chomsky Nader) - status quObama - change you can pretend in - @ 2:
Do you really think that american women understand ANYTHING? Most of the women I know dont care about politics at all. They have no idea how far this country has strayed from the basic tenets of the Constitution.
Looks like caribou barbie is running the show already. At least the evil one stayed behind the scenes until after the election. We must not underestimate her appeal to the rethugs and fundies. The dems have to knock her down a peg or two if they want to win this election.
I don't know why anyone would be shocked by this revelation. When you embrace, sell-out and arse-kiss your enemies the way John McCain has done with Bush and Rove, this is a minor blip of the screen of hypocracy.
Enor @ 21:
According to reports, Palin was diverted away from a fundraiser for a pro-life group headed up by Phyllis Schlafly so she could attend a grilling session conducted jointly by AIPAC and Lieberman.
The AP has an article questioning if the McCain-Palin ticket is becoming the Palin-McCain ticket. McCain had zero chance of winning until he picked Robert Z'dar(look it up)...I mean Sarah Palin as his running mate. This election has become more about Obama vs Palin than Obama vs McCain. I'm sure it doesn't bother him because of his obsession to become president. Disgruntled Hillary voters should take note, on the issues, Palin is not Hillary. 4 years of Palin/McCain means the end of Roe v Wade, equal wages etc...
The Republican ticket is not qualify to become President....We've had Eight Years of Liars and Hypocrites leading this country. We need Change from Republicans...LIARS, CHEATERS, TRAITORS, THIEVES.
mccain also wants to sacrifice lives of soldiers but does not want the rich to pay for the protection of their riches. (to take off from mario cuomo).
Q: Christian huh? What Denomination?
A: Republican!
L.A. Confidential @ 24:
That explains the Israeli flag pins the whole family + Cindy were wearing Wednesday night.
L.A. Confidential @ 5:
That, I believe, is part of the reason Ms. Mooseburger was selected. A classic case of misdirection: turn everyone's attention at point A, and they can quietly do what they want at points B through whatever the agenda is. We're seriously screwed, I say.
It comes as no surprise that John McCain is ill-informed regarding the issues. After 2000, I believe he was promised the white house. He is just hanging around waiting to pick up the keys.
I don't know whether Senator McCain became Candidate McCain or if I, like many of us, were snookered in 2000 in believing in this man.
What I do know, is, "the maverick" has jumped the shark.
We have work to do all. Much work to do.
L.A. Confidential @ 24:
Makes sense doesn't it?
We will see her in very controlled (non threatening) situations, reading speeches, etc. They are not going to risk putting her on the talk shows.
There's a lot people don't know about Sarah Palin. The main reason is that the campaign will not allow her to talk to the press. Since her announcement on August 29, she has not been interviewed once or held a single press conference. She needs to called out on this.
The Sarah Palin Watch Widget
This is a clock that documents the elapsed time from her selection by McCain until her meeting with independent reporters.
Devil with a blue dress blue dress blue dress...Devil with a blue dress on.
This woman, in my opinion, is Satan incarnate. And I am agnostic.
Would it be considered amoral for hoping the women and children of those who drafted these policies be raped and forced to deal with pregnancies that might kill them?
I'm not suggesting anyone do it, but it would be a perfect way for them to put their cervix's where their mouth is since they are such hard-liners. Would they be willing to die for those beliefs? I'd say the same thing about their stance on gays, would they be consistent like Alan Keys and disown them?
Cheney Warns Russia to Reverse Its Course
“That is no way for a responsible power to conduct itself,” Mr. Cheney said. “And it reflects the discredited notion that any country can claim an exclusion zone of authority, to be held together by muscle and threats.”
He warned that Russia’s recognition of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, if not reversed, could lead to new divisions and conflicts on Europe’s eastern borders.
The Lunatics are still in charge of the asylum. (Imagine McCain)
Forget Palin’s Jet, McCain Sold His SOUL on e-Bay
Unbridled ambition. It's a shameful thing. It sounds like McCain just wants to have the title of
President, but not really make any decisions. Can't we just give him a flight suit with a codpiece and send him to the set of the TV show the West Wing? He probably wouldn't notice the difference.
Mark @ News Corpse @ 33:
I guess that's what makes a great Republican VP...How often do we see Cheney talking to the press anymore. Was he even mentioned at the convention? I didn't watch, I got a weak stomach.
NoOneYouKnow @ 16:
What a great skit for The Daily Show or SNL -- John McCain selling his soul...and whatever...on ebay in a fund drive for his presidency. Finding no buyers, he sells privately to RNC for cents on the dollar. I want to know what it's worth.
Ron @ 29:
It's out there that apparently Joe was McCains choice for VIP. But Rove decided that would be a total disaster and a Palin type would be the winning strategy.
L.A. Confidential @ 24:
Report: Secretive Right-Wing Group Vetted McCain’s VP Candidate Sarah Palin
http://www.democracynow.org/2008/9/2/report_secretive_right_wing_group_v...
AMY GOODMAN: Talk about, Max, the Council for National Policy, the story that you broke.
MAX BLUMENTHAL [of The Nation] : Well, this is the larger issue, which is, you know, what role Sarah Palin would play in a potential McCain administration? And last week in Minneapolis at the Radisson Hotel, without any media present, the most powerful power brokers of the Christian right met and essentially vetted Sarah Palin. They were there to watch her speech accepting her selection as the vice-presidential candidate. And they were delighted.
The only way I found out about this meeting is through a web video posted by the Christian right organization Focus on the Family, in which they discussed attending the meeting. One of James Dobson’s spokesmen discussed attending the meeting and being electrified by the selection of Sarah Palin. The Christian right absolutely loves this woman. And so—and what I wrote in my article is that the Council for National Policy is sort of the hidden hand behind the selection.
AMY GOODMAN: Explain who is in this council.
MAX BLUMENTHAL: Right. And it’s hard to know who is in this Council for National Policy. What it is is an umbrella group of the most powerful figures in the Christian right; the biggest donors of the right wing; the activists, like Grover Norquist, anti-tax activist; people like Erik Prince from Blackwater and his family; people—
DekeD26 @ 18:
L.A. Confidential @ 41:
Winning for them i losing for us. Big time.
Paul in Boca @ 30:
I just hope that "point B through whatever" has nothing to do with Cheney's recent excursion to Azerbaijan.
McCain is absolutely appalling. He has no reasons to become the president other than wanting to become the president. Whoever he thinks will help him with that he'll adopt their views.
I gotta tell ya, I'm not seeing the "maverick."
Carol @ 17:
As a liberal I've never been more supportive of the Second Amendment and the right to bear arms than I am right now. That shit was written as a means to protect people like us, those who value the American ideal, regardless of our opinion of the implementation, from people like these, who would throw it all away in the name of corporate rule and theocracy. Discard the right to bear arms at your own peril. Who's going to protect us? The cops? Not in this country they won't.
CMINCA @ 13:
Someone needs to creat an add that juxtaposes the Taliban and Republican Party...all it has to do is be seen once to do the damage.
McCain thinks Palin should rather lose a baby than win an election!
Why is Katie Couric asking Cindy McCain policy questions in the first place? What does it matter whether the first lady is pro-life or pro-choice or pro-iguana? It just doesn't matter. What a pointless interview.
TBone @ 28:
Dominionists - "a radical Christian movement, which seeks to cloak itself in the mantle of the Christian faith and American patriotism. Dominionism seeks to redefine traditional democratic and Christian terms and concepts to fit an ideology that calls on the radical church to take policital power. It seeks to politicize faith and, like all fascist movements, a beliefe in magic along with leadership adoration and a strident call for moral and physical supremacy of a master race, in this ccase American Christians." [excerpts from American Faschists: The Christian Right and the War on America by Chris Hedges, a Harvard Divinity School graduate and former New York Times Foreign Correspondent]
Arianna is right. We need to contact the corp media, one at a time and ask them to accurately cover McCain, stop calling him a maverick and address the extreme weakness of the GOP not only on the abortion issue, but the economy, his recklessness and his placing winning 1st, party 2nd, country last.
Select a few corp sponsors of lack of coverage and WRITE.
60m@cbsnews.com, anderson.cooper@cnn.com, letters@cnn.com, editor@latimes.com, editor@washingtonpost.com, letters@msnbc.com, countdown@msnbc.com, phil.griffin@nbc.com, abrams@msnbc.com, akmuckraker@yahoo.com, scoop@huffingtonpost.com, letters@latimes.com, nightline@abcnews.com, ftn@cbsnews.com, nightly@nbc.com, newshour@pbs.org, letters@washpost.com, letters@newsweek.com, letters@time.com, renata.luczak@comedycentral.com, tips@upi.com, fair@fair.org
Here's a sample:
When are you going to report on McCains lack of interest in his party's platform, his lobbyist laden staff, his lack of an economic plan, his lack of an energy plan besides "drill baby drill" and his laughable health insurance plan.
And while you're at it, care to report about McCain being 894 in a class of
899 at the Naval Academy? Or that he crashed 5 jets and caught an airline carrier
on fire before, inevitably, being shot down in Viet Nam? Or that the POW card can't
be played at Saddleback when questioned about cheating, about how many homes he
owns or about his taste in music to name a few.
This election is too important for 98% of Americans. Even if you aren't among
that 2% who could care less, I'm sure you have relatives, even children who
will pay a horrific price if the 4th estate is once again silent on the facts.
timothy @ 1:
LOL!!! HAHAHAHA!!!!! Brilliant
CMINCA @ 42:
The Repugs will never outlaw abortion!
They get 25,000,000 votes every national election because of this singular issue.
Different Anonymous @ 45:
http://www.linguakonzept.de/Praxis/Wild%20West%20Heroes/heroes/maverick.jpg
CMINCA @ 13:
You know, this may seem like a radical comment but is too close to the truth for us to ignore. What ever happened to separation of Church and State in this country? And how can we intervene in places like Afghanistan because we oppose some dogmatic theocratic state when these power-mad thugs in our country will enable the same thing if it will sustain their vision for a "permanent Republican majority?"
I suppose in a worst case scenario a person could just pretend their one of them.
Good luck with that
This is pretty frightening because it shows McCain is so in decline that he is in charge neither of vetting his vice presidential candidate nor of shaping the GOP platform. We can't afford another four (or eight to 16) years of putting this country on Talibamerican autopilot, with either McCain or Palin at the helm.
McCain is weak.
-Bill Maher
Are you ready for a President PALIN?
I hope he has an official food taster. He was safer as a POW.
LibertyLover @ 43:
Smitty @ 51:
He didn't set the Forrestal on fire, a freakin' defective Zuni missile was responsible for that and it's an aircraft carrier not an airline carrier. All it takes is one screw up like that an your entire message is discredited. Great idea but do your homework, check your sources and then send the email PLEASE!!!
StirFry @ 58:
And he'll be weaker still by election day. The is the guy were a tire, he wouldn't be worth recapping.
the evil-doers who foisted Palin to the precipice of leadership of the free world MUST be stopped... and by the way, has anyone seen Dick Cheney lately?...
What is Conyers time frame on Inherent Contempt charges against Karl Rove? THIS IS CULTURAL WAR!! GET THAT S.O.B. OFF THE AIR AND IN JAIL!!
Does anyone in the Obama campaign (or the candidate himself) possess the courage to seek out the cause of Don Seigelman? Why not? HE IS THE VERY DEFINITION OF POLITICAL PRISONER!! GET HIM ON THE AIR!! STAND BESIDE HIM!! DON'T COWER TO THESE ZEALOTS!!
How about the Permaculture bus, Amy Goodman and others denied their Constitutionally-protected right to freely assemble? Is anyone on this? Think its a non-starter? Or care to explain wha'happe? REDRESS OF GRIEVANCES IS NOT CONSPIRACY TO RIOT!!
Anyone preparing for the inevitable October Surprise these Repugnant SOBs have up their sleeve? What about when they steal the election? Do we get up Nov 5 as if it is merely business as usual? Do we realize exactly what is at stake here?
Sadly, ill-advisedly, naively, Al Gore as President of the Senate, and 49 Democractic Senators, accepted the 2000 results and the unconstitutional Supreme Court involvement in 'selecting' the President? THIS WAS A POLITICAL/JUDICIAL COUP DE ETAT!!
Kerry conceded Ohio DESPITE CLEAR MALFEASANCE!!
Does Barack Obama REALLY think merit will win this? Or will some proxy, authorized or not, have the cajones to stand up on the national stage and ask the hard questions?
These Repugnants are THE VERY DOMESTIC ENEMIES the Constitution warns us will attempt to destroy our great nation. WE ARE ENGAGED IN A CIVIL WAR OF MONUMENTAL IMPORTANCE, with possibly the hope of the human race at stake. Dammit, I say, TIVO, schmivo, do something to make a difference, today! @#$%^&!!! CAJONES, PEOPLE!!!
i gotta eat somethin', i'm gettin' light-headed! whew!!
[Paragraphs are your friend -- ours too. Makes you easier to read. I added some for you, so I could read it-Sitemonitor]
This is absurd. Let's just get this over with, already! At this point, does anybody (that intends to vote) really NOT know who they're going to vote for!?!
If you're seriously 'on-the-fence' now, you're not going make up your mind until you get into the voting booth, anyway, so why prolong the public humiliation of these buffoons making a mockery of the democratic process!?! THIS is what passes for a major political party in a modern 'Representative Democracy'!?! Really!?! Meanwhile, we are so self-absorbed and oblivious everyone and everything else, other countries are embarrassed FOR us.
The shining star of yesteryear, onetime role model to so many, now the punchline to so many jokes...
Enor @ 59:
hahahahaha! I just mentioned to a friend of mine today that I thought Sarah might slip a lil sumpin sumpin in McGrampy's nightcap at some point...
I'n terrified of the prospect of McCain/Palin Supreme Court picks. That' all we need. Another Alito and Roberts.
HERE IS ONE OF THE HILLARY SITES THAT WILL NOT LET GO. I BELIEVE LARRY JOHNSON AND SUSANUNPC ARE REALLY RACIST. They are devoted to Hlllary beyond the measure of sanity. As soon as Obama won, they turned their attacks on him up tenfold. Something over at this website does not pass the sniff test.
http://noquarterusa.net/blog/
Life Begins at Conception.
http://bgladd.blogspot.com/2008/04/diploid-dave-et-al.html
Breaking news......
After hearing that Obama had won the Democratic nomination over Hillary Clinton, Sara Palin was overheard in a public restaurant loudly proclaiming to some friends, "So... Sambo beat the bitch!" .
Then they all laughed in that smal-ltown knee-slapping way that is so endearing to all Republicans.
We all forget one thing--no single branch of the gvoernment decides any issue. It's called checks and balances folks.
McCain, alleged war hero, SURRENDERED and was taken prisoner.
McCain, facing a loss in OHIO, SURRENDERS.
McCain, in a Mavericky moment, SURRENDERS his own ideals to those of the GOP.
McCain, accepts a completely unqualified nut job as his running mate, essential SURRENDERRING his oursuit of the Presidency.
Enor @ 53:
At this point, they really don't have to. They have that pretty much sealed up in the south by creative legislature created by and backed by the religious right. There are Christian pharmacists that will not even carry contraceptives in their stores. It is another world there.
Also, you simply cannot carry out perpetual war without poor and uneducated cannon fodder. I don't mean to be crass or offend, but this is definitely the stance behind this anti-abortion rhetoric.
Theres a reason Elephants are not allowed to wander around poking trunks into bedrooms, clinics and places they dont belong.
Maverick, my ass.