George W. Bush's position on

Abortion: In 1973, in the case of Roe v. Wade, the US Supreme Court legalized abortions. Today, the court is perceived to have 5 justices believing Roe v. Wade should be upheld and 4 who believe it should be repealed. However, Sandra Day O'Connor, whose record shows support of abortion, is believed to be near retirement. Recently, Congress Passed and Bush signed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, making partial birth abortions illegal.

Description of Candidate's Position: Bush believes that the United States government must create a culture that values life and protects its weakest members. Furthermore, Bush believes that every child, born or unborn, must be welcomed into life. Thus, Bush has maintained a commitment to reducing abortions throughout his administration. During his first term, he passed the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and ended funding of international organizations which support abortion. Furthermore, Bush would support a Constitutional Amendment outlawing abortion except in cases of rape, incest, or potential danger to the woman. However, Bush does not explicitly claim that he will only nominate Supreme Court justices who believe abortion should be illegal. Instead, he will support judges who have strict interpretations of the Constitution and avoid creating social policy from the bench.

Quotation from the Candidate: "I believe that life is valuable, even when it is unwanted, even when it is physically imperfect. I believe our society has a responsibility to defend the vulnerable and the weak. And I believe our nation should set a goal: that unborn children should be welcomed in life and protected in law. This is the ideal: a generous society that values every life. I know there are many steps on this road. A democracy is ruled by consensus, not by edict. Laws are changed as minds are persuaded." link

"America stands for liberty, for the pursuit of happiness and for the unalienable right of life. And the most basic duty of government is to defend the life of the innocent. Every person, however frail or vulnerable, has a place and a purpose in this world. Every person has a special dignity. This right to life cannot be granted or denied by government, because it does not come from government, it comes from the Creator of life. In the debate about the rights of the unborn, we are asked to broaden the circle of our moral concern. […] And today, we welcome vulnerable children into the care and protection of Americans." November 5, 2003. Link.

Assessment of the Proposal:

Positive: National Right to Life, one of the largest Pro-Life organizations in the nation, supports George W. Bush because his record shows a commitment to the right to life for unborn children. Furthermore, they believe that he will nominate Supreme Court Justices that "will read the constitution&emdash;not read into the constitution."

Negative: Planned Parenthood, the nation's oldest and largest abortion rights organization, believes that through the combination of his support for anti-abortion laws and judges who have a history of supporting the end of abortion, Bush has shown a "total lack of compassion for women's reproductive health."

Comparison: John Kerry, on the other hand, believes that abortion should remain legal. In the past, Kerry has voted to support "partial-birth" abortions and abortions on US Military Bases. Furthermore, he will only nominate Supreme Court justices who will uphold Roe v. Wade on the bench. Kerry Issue Brief.

Link to Kerry's issue page