The Republican platform on abortion

[calicoug]

I honestly can't believe the Republicans are proposing that the 14th Amendment should apply to the unborn as a part of their official platform. Truly- I'm beyond astonished by this. Just as I am by the fact that people I consider to be intelligent (even if I disagree with them frequently), like Indy Coug and Jacob, seem to think this isn't a big deal or that this doesn't "explicitly" prohibit abortions in the case of rape, incest or where the life of the mother is in danger.

I know we have a separate thread on rape, but I think this topic is deserving of its own thread.

Lawyers- chime in here. Is there any Republican attorney who can even begin to defend this concept? Here's the language, per CNN:

“Faithful to the ‘self-evident’ truths enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, we assert the sanctity of human life and affirm that the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed,” said the draft platform language approved Tuesday, which was first reported by CNN. “We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children.”

[smokymountainrain]

Republicans are evil and stupid.

[il Padrino Ute]

Republicans are evil and stupid.

Democrats are more evil and stupid.

[DU Ute]

Democrats are more evil and stupid.

Tea Party types are eviler and supidist!

[pellegrino]

Why, especially in this election year, did they choose to make that a part of their platform? They might as well send ammunition to the DNC. There is absolutely nothing to gain from this bullheaded approach to the issue.

[byu71]

Why, especially in this election year, did they choose to make that a part of their platform? They might as well send ammunition to the DNC. There is absolutely nothing to gain from this bullheaded approach to the issue.

I think it has been a part of their platform for a long time. The candidate is not obliged to follow the platform. It is really a non issue except for those who want to distract from the real issues this election cycle.

I wonder where this issue plays in importance in the electorates mind. I suspect way down the list.

[il Padrino Ute]

Why, especially in this election year, did they choose to make that a part of their platform? They might as well send ammunition to the DNC. There is absolutely nothing to gain from this bullheaded approach to the issue.

It's certainly a mistake to bring up anything other than Obama's incompetence as it relates to the economy for this election. The Repubs do what they always seem to do - allow the Dems to dictate what will be talked about.

Of course, it helps the Dems that the media, for the most part, are Obama worshipers and do all they can to steer the discussion away from the economy.

[Moliere]

I'm prolife for the most part. I think the churchs stance on abortion is appropriate and I fall in line with it, meaning there are times when abortion makes sense. I guess this is just another reason why I'm not really part of the GOP because they are just manhandled by the crazy evangelicals at times.

That being said, stance on abortion is about #27 on my list of 50 things that are important to me when I pick a candidate. Seeing their tax returns is #49 and seeing their birth certificate is not on the list.

[Uncle Ted]

Republicans are evil and stupid.

Democrats are more evil and stupid.

Tea Party types are eviler and supidist!

Cool. That pretty much leaves the Libertarians as the ones that are not evil and stupid.

[Babs]

The Fourteenth Amendment, huh? I wonder how that will impact contractual due process.

[calicoug]

Not much luck getting lawyers to respond here in support of the Republican platform position.

Let me start it off then by suggesting some issues I see with 14th Amendment protections for the unborn.

First, presumably naming the "unborn" as a group that enjoys 14th Amendment protections would put them in the category of "suspect class." Any law regarding the unborn (and their rights) would then have to go through the same analysis as laws re race, gender, etc. This would have a lot of unpredictable consequences.

Second, as a group subject to the 14th Amendment, one would also have to then include the unborn within the definition of "Person," which would mean all of the Bill of Rights would apply. Would an ultrasound by a government doctor be an invasion of privacy? If it was done at a state hospital, would it be an illegal search? Would it require a warrant? Would delivery be an illegal seizure if done by a government doctor? If a woman was incarcerated and was pregnant, would the baby's rights against unlawful detention be violated? Would the unborn baby need a passport to travel in the womb? Would it be able to contribute funds in an election, thereby allowing pregnant women to contribute twice the legal amount (if it couldn't contribute, would its First Amendment rights be violated)?

Third, as a group subject to the 14th Amendment, would the mother automatically commit a civil rights violation if she had an abortion for any reason? Would government doctors be prohibited from assisting in any abortion (no matter the reason) without due process first determining that the life of the unborn could be taken away?

Extending 14th Amendment protections to an unborn fetus is so moronic on so many levels. It's also totally unnecessary to accomplish the goal of banning all abortions. All that would require is a constitutional amendment saying that all abortions are illegal (and if you want exceptions, you can say except in circumstance x, y or z). Why take it 12 steps further to stupidville?

[calicoug]

The Fourteenth Amendment, huh? I wonder how that will impact contractual due process.

see one post below yours for how I think it will have undesired effects.

[Moliere]

Just out of curiosity, why doesn't the man get a say in the abortion or non-abortion of the fetus he helped create and will also have to help support? I'm genuinely curious as I've never really thought this through but it seems disingenuous at the surface to preclude him from the discussion.

[Pheidippides]

The Fourteenth Amendment, huh? I wonder how that will impact contractual due process.

Lol.

[LA Ute]

Cool. That pretty much leaves the Libertarians as the ones that are not evil and stupid.

Neither evil nor stupid. Just unrealistic. There are worse sins.