McCain, Obama, and Abortion: By Their Friends/Enemies Ye Shall Know Them?

In her most recent column urging Democrats to rally around Senator Barack Obama, Ariana Huffington argues that women who supported Senator Hillary Clinton can be brought over to Obama by emphasizing the abortion issue. Huffington argues that, comparing Obama and Senator John McCain on the issues, “nowhere is the difference more profound than with reproductive rights.” The rest of the column is devoted to “unmasking McCain” for his “reactionary record on reproductive rights” (translatation: McCain is genuinely and consistently pro-life):

Since 1983, in votes in the House and the Senate (where he has served since 1987), McCain has cast 130 votes on abortion and other reproductive-rights issues. 125 of those votes were anti-choice.” . . . .

Of his anti-choice voting record, McCain has said, "I have many, many votes and it's been consistent," proudly adding: "And I've got a consistent zero from NARAL" through the years. And last month he told Chris Matthews: "The rights of the unborn is one of my most important values."

What's more, McCain has made it very clear that if he becomes president he will appoint judges in the Scalia, Roberts, Alito mold. His big judicial speech earlier this month was filled with coded buzz words that make it clear that, if given the chance, he'd replace 88-year-old Justice John Paul Stevens with an anti-choice Justice who would tip the scales against Roe v Wade. Throw in an additional anti-choice replacement for the 75-year-old Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and you can kiss the right to choose good-bye for a long, long time.

Hmm. Is running as the pro-choice candidate really the best way for Obama to win over those Catholics who voted against him by lop-sided margins in most of the Democratic primaries? Will Catholics for Obama publicly repudiate any effort to win over Hillary Clinton supporters by campaigning as the abortion rights candidate? Inquiring Catholic minds want to know!

Greg Sisk