Monday, December 05, 2005

Why I think Judy's abortion stand helps her.

The Carol Marin column on November 30th had a summary of Judy's views on abortion, views that I think really help her in the general election.

After all, Topinka has for years been described in political circles and in the media as a Republican "moderate" who supports the Supreme Court's Roe vs. Wade decision establishing a woman's right to choose. And in fact, she is. And does. But with notable exceptions. Topinka supports parental consent, opposes the so-called partial birth abortion and has voted for legislation that allows for spousal notification.
It helps her because the 'limits' she supports are basically stuff most people who are pro-choice but not militantly so can be comfortable with. It helps her in the general because it makes inroads for her with collar county moms and moms in cook county. The one group Gov. Blagojevich needs to really do well with to have any chance at a second term.

Go find 50 suburban and urban moms and ask them if they are really comfortable with the idea that their daughter can get an abortion without their permission at 14 (especially when she can't get her ears pierced at the same age without parental permission). I suspect that a majority are not comfortable with that fact and would find Judy's position closer to their own. When they think of notification in terms of their own daughters I think most moms are closer in their views to Judy than Rod.

She isn't going to fight for the support of the pro-choice groups because they will always support a pro-choice Democrat over a pro-choice Republican. So why chase an endorsement you will not get. Heck the 'questioning' of her pro-choice views by pro-choice PACs helps her within her own party. It isn't like a lot of people who listen to pro-choice PACs vote in Republican primaries anyway.

When it comes to the general election, the pro-life folks are going to find Judy a much better option than Gov. Blagojevich. Yes they might stay home in the general but I suspect they are going to find Judy closer to their views than Gov. Blagojevich and an option worth voting for.

Then again these are just the thoughts of
OneMan

6 comments:

Yellow Dog Democrat 11:48 PM  

One Man -

I agree with you that if JBT could sit down 50 soccer moms, explain to them her position in detail, they would probably agree with her.

Just as if PersonalPAC could sit down 50 soccer moms, explain in detail why her position is wrong, they'd probably agree with PersonalPAC.

The problem is, neither side gets to do that in a campaign -- so the question is, strategically, who is in a better position to deliver their message and move voters? PersonalPAC. They have the lists, they've honed the message, and most importantly, they have third-party credibility.

When they send out that first mailer covered with pics of women's faces that says:

"Topinka told us she was pro-choice. Topinka lied."

And then you flip it over and read four statements of how Topinka isn't pro-choice, stuff like:

Topinka supports legislation that would take away the right to abortion for incest victims;
Topinka would ban public funding of emergency abortion services for rape victims;
Topinka thinks a domestic abuser should be able to force his victim to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term;
Topinka supports restrictions on reproductive choice, even when a woman's health is in danger.

Do you see now why Topinka is in trouble?

Anonymous,  7:25 AM  

I think I'd rather see someone sit down with 50 pastors and explain how the number of abortions within their congregations are failures of their moral authority. I'm uncomfortable with the assertion that government could or should instill morality, especially for topics where the different religions disagree considerably. There's not a lot of support in scripture for this "leave it to government" approach. It's not Caesar who is branded on our hearts.

Anonymous,  7:28 AM  

Yellow dog Democrat, what do you do with pro-life Democrats like
Congressman Costello, all the Dem Reps and Senators south of I-80, State Rep Kevin Joyce
former State Senators John Daley, Tim Degnan, Jerry Joyce
State Rep Ralph Caparelli, Bob Bugielski State Senator James DeLeo
ALL DEMOCRATS, ALL PRO-LIFE
even nationwide the Dem Senate President Reid from Nevada is pro-life
former Democratic Senate President Phil Rock is pro-life
Speaker of the House Democratic Michael Madigan is pro-life
so again, what is your issue with Dem pro lifers

Topinka is NOT pro-life, the mailer is NOT accurate if you made it, and Topinka is more in keeping with the general public than Terry Cosgrove and the extremists.

OneMan 7:37 AM  

Two things.

First: I doubt most national or even local pro-choice PACs are going to spend much money helping one candidate who is just more pro-choice than the other. Why spend your money there when you can spend it on leg. races where the issue is going to end up anyway if the court does something drastic with Roe V. Wade.

Secondly: For most voters, parental notification and a ban on partial birth do not a pro-life candidate make.

OneMan

Rich Miller 8:51 AM  

Good points in the main post, OneMan, but I think you're wrong when you say that pro-choice groups won't spend money helping one pro-choice candidate defeat another. They don't think JBT is pro-choice, by their own definition, and they're out to defeat her. I believe they'd much rather have a stark contrast next fall just as much as the pro-life groups do.

Anonymous,  10:04 AM  

The problem with Topinka is that she flip-flops all over the issue depending on what group she is talking to. The pro-choice groups that I talked to are most upset with that.

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