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

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

Study: Half Of Iowa Pregnancies
Unplanned
 KCCI.com

Stephen Colbert faces off with
Harold Ford Jr. over beliefs
 Memphis Commercial Appeal

Franken warns Roe v. Wade may be in
danger
 Minneapolis Star Tribune

NARAL leader: Ford’s not pro-life,
but he’s not pro-choice
 New York Post

Minnesota Pro-Life Group
Upset Al Franken Speaking at NARAL Pro-Roe Event
 LifeNews.com

When Pro-Life People
Kill
 Houston Chronicle

Oh No! Abstinence works?
(revisited)
 GetReligion

Do you live in the United States?
Here are some stats
 Feministe

Margaret Sanger and The Infamous
"Negro Project"
 AlterNet

For Abortion Rights
Group, the Choice Is Clear in NY Senate Race
 AP

Catholic Campaign for Human
Development’s Ties Pro-Abortion Group Blasted
 LifeNews.com

Woman who wounded Kan. abortion doc issues
warning
 KTKA.com

Include abortion in
maternal-health pledge, Michael Ignatieff tells PM
 Globe and Mail

Pseudo-Reality Web Show Zooms In on Abortion Issue Truthdig

Pro-life groups voice concern about
new Ellaone ’emergency contraceptive’
 Catholic News
Agency

New York Times Editorial, Opinion
Piece Examine Impact Of Abstinence-Only Programs
 Medical News
Today

The Great Abstinence Debate New York Times

Abstinence-only study could alter
sex-education landscape
 Christian Science Monitor