Roundup: Harold Ford Jr., the "Sometimes" Supporter of Choice

Roundup: Harold Ford Jr., the “Sometimes” Supporter of Choice

Feb 3, 2010, 10:03am

Rachel Larris

So what does Harold Ford Jr. really believe about abortion? Parsing his stances on reproductive choice is trickier than nailing jello to a wall.

So what does Harold Ford Jr. really believe about abortion? Is he a supporter of women’s reproductive choices all
the time or he is just another fair-weathered friend, for example claiming to
be "pro-life" when running for office in Tennessee but now saying he’s "always"
been pro-life. More important, what kind of politician would he be if somehow
he beat current New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in a Democratic primary and
then managed actually win the election? While after meeting with New York NARAL’s
executive director Kelli Conlin, there is a phrase for Ford – he’s neither pro-choice
nor pro-life.

Pro-choice group NARAL’s leader Kelli
Conlin emerged from a 40 minute meeting with Harold Ford Jr. making clear that he is not pro-life – but said she also doesn’t consider him
"pro-choice."

"No, I do not," Conlin, who’s
backing his rival, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, told reporters after sitting down
with the likely Senate hopeful, saying she considers the phrase to apply to
total support.

While she made clear she doesn’t consider him "anti-choice" – which had become a perception that some felt Conlin had – she said "pro-choice" is an all-in concept.

And she took issue with Ford’s support
– as a Tennessee congressman, and recently professed – for a ban on late-term abortions and a parental-notification requirement.

It is true
that it’s hard to call yourself pro-choice if you are okay with limiting choice
in "some" scenarios, for some women, at some times. Ford recently took the heat
from Stephen
Colbert over his "choice."

Colbert gigged Ford over his changing
views. "Did you change from not pro-choice to pro-choice?" he asked. "Was that
your choice?"

Ford said he was trying to use the
political language differently in Tennessee, wanting to expand the definition
of "pro-life" to apply to other issues, such as health care and veterans’
benefits.

On gay marriage, Ford said he simply
changed his mind.

"Over the last few years I’ve come to a
different opinion, and I’m for marriage equality," Ford said. "If you’re for
politicians who are static in thinking, I’m not your guy."

Yes, it’s
true. Harold Ford certainly can’t be counted on for consistency in his thinking
at all.

In Other News: The woman who shot Dr.
George Tiller in the arms, Shelley Shannon, sent an email warning
of more violence directed at abortion clinics and those that work in them.

In her e-mail, Shannon said the judge
had been influenced by media and abortion rights activists who said that if
Roeder had been allowed to use that defense more abortion doctors would be
killed.

"Abortionists are killed because
they are serial murderers of innocent children who must be stopped, and they
will continue to be stopped, even though Scott didn’t get a fair trial,"
she wrote. "May God bless Scott for his faithfulness and brave actions and
stand."

Roeder has also alluded there would be
more violence against abortion providers.

"I know there are many other
similar events planned around the country as long as abortion remains
legal," he told the AP just days after his arrest.

FBI spokeswoman Bridget Patton said
Shannon’s e-mail was not specific enough to require investigation.

Bonus item:
Speaking of warnings, Sen. Al Franken warns that the Roberts Court, having
proven stare decisis doesn’t mean much to the conservative members of the court,
might
be happy to rule against Roe.

February 3, 2010

Out of touch with pro-choice views Chicago Daily
Herald (Letter)

Abortion ads could
be First Amendment victory Chicago Tribune

California Medical Board admits allowing
troubled doctor to monitor another Los Angeles Times

Sex-obsessed Church must deal with
its own sins WalesOnline

February 2, 2010

Are Carpets & Computers
Dispensing Timed-Release Birth Control Vapors? Treehugger

Abstinence programs effective, new
study shows Catholic Culture

Girls bank on Saturday pills Times of India

A Look At U.S. Policy On Family
Planning Abroad NPR

Obama’s New Budget Contains Massive
Funding of Abortion, Planned Parenthood LifeNews.com

The Truth About CBS: C-hoice,
B-ias, and the S-uper Bowl Huffington Post