Abortion rights activists were unhappy with the president’s comments, as millions of people are being denied access to abortion care in nearly half the country.
Abortion rights activists were unhappy with the president’s comments, as millions of people are being denied access to abortion care in nearly half the country.
I don't really have a problem with the president saying "I don't personally like abortion, but I still stand by a woman's right to choose". I'm a staunch atheist and I would much rather work with that style of Christian than the ones who want to force others to follow their own insane rules.
It's not a huge deal but why preface it though? All you have to say is "Roe vs Wade was the correct decision and a woman has the right to choose"
I'm "big on abortion" because it's a human right and I like human rights. And it doesn't really matter if a cis man is "big on abortion" because these laws will never affect him and his body. He's just trying to appeal to Christians because Christians control so much of this country 🤮
And it doesn't really matter if a cis man is "big on abortion" because these laws will never affect him and his body.
I'm pro-choice but I've heard this and many similar things said and it's such a ridiculous thing to say.
"It doesn't really matter what you think about inhumane treatment for XYZ medical condition because you're not a doctor and you don't have that condition"
"It doesn't matter what you think about banning this important subset of knowledge in K-12 education because you've already aged out"
Believe it or not, things can affect you even if they're not directly happening to you. People don't exist in a vacuum.
Disregarding someone's opinion has never once changed someone's opinion.
You can't get elected by being honest, really. The optimal president is one who appeals to the most common middle ground with as many people as possible (single issue voters notwithstanding). He's hoping to acknowledge moderate Christians who, having perfectly valid opinions on abortion, disagreed with overturning major Supreme Court decisions on culture war activists. Moderates are the only people who you can move on the ballot, sadly.
Was thinking the same thing and saw that you had it covered. "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say it at all" seems like the kind of shit his old ass would gripe about. So sick of these "moderate Dems" trying to poach votes from the right. Anyone trying to build long term stability or a cohesive path to progress wouldn't be inviting these fucks into their "big tent."
edited, because I forgot to say: Us pizzas know whats up.
I'm not sure where you live but I'm in the bible belt and almost every single Christian I've heard speak about the issue (people are very vocal about religion here) has said that abortion is murder and they do not approve of women having the ability to choose to end a life for any reason.
The only understandable reason to oppose abortion is if you think it's murder. I hate that stance, but I understand it
If you don't think it's murder, why have a problem with it? If you do think it's murder, how couldn't you actively oppose it!?
Like, if Biden thinks it's murder, he can't just say "but it's still a woman's choice". Murder isn't a right. If it's murder then you have to fight it with everything you have, or you're complicit.
I feel like this is the best response we could get from someone who's got a more right wing personal stance on abortion
"I don't really like the idea of it, personally, due to my beliefs, but you know it's still absolutely none of my business what other people do with their bodies and I support their right to choose. My opinion doesn't dictate their freedom."
It a bit surprising given that he mentioned being catholic, too - the catholic church has generally taken a pretty firm stance on abortion.
That said, I grew up in the UCC, and it resonates perfectly with the way that they emphasized tolerance. If somebody wants to do something that you don't like, that's absolutely fine as long as they don't force you to participate - in this case, the tolerant, "christian" take on abortion should be "I don't want one, but if you do, go for it."
I feel like at one point that was the general right wing stance. When did Republicans stop caring about liberty? Was it when the fascists showed up and bilked them all?
I think this is a pretty good stance? Seems to read like, "While I'm not a big fan of abortion, it's not mine or the government's decision to decide on this matter."
The article says the activists are angry at his comments generally, because they aren't aggressive enough. Kinda important context which is missing from the post here, making it sound like this specific comment is the source of their anger.
I mean, no one ever is "big" on abortion. It's a traumatic procedure done for many reasons, personal or medical. Don't want one, don't get one. I hate it that it's still somewhat controversial, even where I live, when the laws were passed almost 50 years ago.
I'm very much in favor of safe effective medical procedures of all sorts. Acting as if abortion is something bad that must be tolerated is not helpful.
But it is bad in the literal sense of the word. It's difficult emotionally and physically, it's often not a wanted procedure, and in some situations it's traumatic for families who actually did want the child, but couldn't for one reason or another.
Still, as uncomfortable as it may be, we shouldn't get in the way of individuals and their healthcare. We need to make the process as painless as possible because it does really suck for a lot of people.
I too like this response. It shows that he keeps his personal beliefs as his own view and understands that governing has little to do with belief and everything to do with providing the people what they need most.
It's a good balance imo. Making it super clear "yeah, I have my own personal beliefs, but that's not what governs this country. Freedom to choose goes beyond my personal opinions"
Like not every pro choice activist will like abortion as a concept. Many of them might even have opted for pregnancy to term when given the choice. Pro choice doesn't mean "forced abortion", it means "my personal beliefs don't govern others' bodies"
Same thing with like Catholic LGBTQ+ supporters. "It's not really my thing, but it's also absolutely not my business to decide for others." That's about all you can ask.
Well, I'm not big on catholicism, but I respect that some people are OK with it and leave them be, so long as they don't try to impose their beliefs on me. That's ACTUAL freedom.
HuffPost just trying to drum up some conflict for comments…I agree with Biden in that the option should always be there, especially as it will never be my personal choice to make. As a man, I have absolutely no right to demand women give up their rights to choose.
Ironically most of the Constitutional Law experts will argue that Roe v Wade got the reasoning wrong, even though the decision and the legal effects were right. Because Roe depends on a Constitutional right to privacy, and it's pretty much the only Supreme Court ruling to claim the Constitution grants a right to privacy. Meanwhile you could fill a book with the number of SCOTUS decisions that rely on denying the Constitution has any mention of a right to privacy.
It really should have hinged on the right to bodily autonomy and the lack of legal personhood of an embryo. Religious definitions of personhood is irrelevant there are as many beliefs about it as there are religious sects. Choosing one religious definition to dictate the legality of abortion is a religious infringement on the beliefs of all other with different beliefs, faith-based or otherwise.
I don't like a lot of things about Biden, but his comments on abortion have always made sense to me. Pretty much "I personally would never have one, but it's not my business to tell you what you can do with your body." Which is really the only proper response from anyone.
I remember him debating Paul Ryan and Ryan said "I don't understand how you, as a catholic, can be pro-choice" and his answer was essentially "My personal religion needs to stay out of my politics" which I personally think is the even bigger problem with this whole deal.
Abortion rights activists were unhappy with the president’s comments, as millions of people are being denied access to abortion care in nearly half the country.
Then stop voting for Republicans, it's THAT simple.
It's called a right to choose stance. He can not be in favor of someone getting an abortion, but still acknowledge his personal opinions have no bearing on a woman's control of her own body.
As an atheist I'm not "big" on abortion. However I know it's a hard subject both for the individual making it and it's not really my place to make that decision for people. I'd prefer no abortions take place but the option is there if one needs it.
This is how all people should approach all things. Have your opinion, but accept that your opinion is not, nor ever should be- the driving force behind someone else’s decisions for themselves, their health, and their life.
The Roe ruling was garbage and deserved to be overturned. As another poster mentioned, basing it on the right to privacy was a mistake.
And people seem to forget that the question is not whether you support abortion or not. That’s irrelevant. The question was always whether there was a Constitutional right to abortion.