McCain has not ruled out pro-choice running mate

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Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain

Washington D.C., Aug 15, 2008 / 02:00 am (CNA).- Speaking on his campaign plane on Wednesday morning, presumptive Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain said that some potential running mate choices would not necessarily be ruled out because of their support for abortion rights.

The four men most frequently mentioned as potential running mates are reportedly Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Ridge and Lieberman both support permissive abortion laws, while Romney supported abortion rights at least until November 2004.

"I think that the pro-life position is one of the important aspects or fundamentals of the Republican Party," McCain said, according to the Weekly Standard web log. "And I also feel that--and I'm not trying to equivocate here--that Americans want us to work together. You know, Tom Ridge is one of the great leaders and he happens to be pro-choice. And I don't think that that would necessarily rule Tom Ridge out."

McCain made these comments while responding to a question about his remarks earlier this year during the Republican primary season concerning whether New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg would make a good running mate. While praising the mayor, Sen. McCain said that Bloomberg’s support for abortion would make such a choice difficult.

In his Wednesday morning comments, McCain said Governor Ridge would be preferable to Mayor Bloomberg.

“I think it's a fundamental tenet of our party to be pro-life but that does not mean we exclude people from our party that are pro-choice,” McCain stated. “We just have a--albeit strong--but just it's a disagreement. And I think Ridge is a great example of that. Far moreso than Bloomberg, because Bloomberg is pro-gay rights, pro, you know, a number of other issues.”

According to the Weekly Standard, Sen. McCain has a solid pro-life record and has promised to appoint “strict constructionists” to the U.S. Supreme Court. His campaign website says McCain believes the Roe v. Wade decision, which mandated legal abortion throughout the U.S., is a “flawed decision that must be overturned.”

Saying the overturning of Roe v. Wade would restore “constitutional balance,” McCain’s website said the senator believes “the difficult issue of abortion should not be decided by judicial fiat.”

Comments: 8

Subscriber comments:

Published by: Paul
St. Louis, Mo. 08/18/2008 12:48 PM EST

Lets all vote for Ron Paul as a write-in if necessary. He represents the pro-life view.

Published by: Jeff Johnson
Collegeville, Mn 08/17/2008 10:47 AM EST

How distressing this is. McCain this week in the interview with mega-church pastor Rick Warren claimed conception begins at birth, but he supports embryonic stem cell research.

Meanwhile, at the same event,Obama proved that he is an utter coward when he sidestepped the question on abortion. When asked when human rights should begin for an unborn person, he merely claimed that we should cut down on unwanted children.

In fact, his voting record, and his A+ rating with Planned Parenthood, Emily's list, and NARAL prove that he has no regard whatever for the innocent children that want only to be born and cared for and loved. His shrill vitriol advocates total access to abortion at all stages.

Think about it: he defends even so called "partial birth abortion" which involves puncturing the head of a child so its brains can be sucked out.

Murder looks like murder, doesn't it? And he assents to it.

What in the name of God can Catholics to this fall but abstain from voting and pray instead? This is my plan...

Published by: robert
NY 08/16/2008 08:21 PM EST

We are told we should vote- as our civil duty and yet too often we have candidates that have significant moral failings- if they lack a basic understanding of morality (or worse yet lack the will, desire, or courage to exhibit it) then it is obvious they can not a.) be trusted, b.)consistently follow moral guidelines (for example on issues such as abortion or just war) c.) be reliable on issues that are less clear.

The problem is that many people are unable to arrive at a clear understanding of what a human is. Instead of deciding on the side of caution they choose what is easiest or most convenient. This is regrettable since it is not too difficult to determine that abortions and unjust wars are horrible, senseless acts (in the fullest sense of the word). Either the word human has a special and significant meaning or it does not. If it does not then no words do and no concept can be communicated at all. If a person believes that concepts cannot be communicated then in order to be consistent they could never talk to anyone else. If they did they would be a hypocrite. Those that read this and disagree with me must not be upset because they must admit that they have no concept of what I am writing (even if they admitted it through words they would contradict themselves). Thus to be human must have a special meaning (those disagree please don't bother writing me because according to your beliefs I could never understand you- save you breath and energy- and mine too- thank you

Published by: James
tampa/FL 08/16/2008 11:47 AM EST

I am 100 % of the same mind as Vilma, Dale, Brenda and John. And I believe that McCain will be undone if he chooses a VP like Tom Ridge or Joe Lieberman. I hear from all of my conservative friends. There will be nothing for him to rally his strongest base, his social conservatives; and the election will be over before it begins. It is the social conservatives that do most of the campaigning at the grass roots level in this country because defending life is so fundamental to who we are as faithful sons and daughters of the Lord. McCain had better wake up or we will have a worsening of this holocaust in America that will be beyond repair for too many of our brothers and sisters. Pray hard America. Pray real hard.

Published by: John J. Fielding
Glen Cove, NY 08/15/2008 10:45 AM EST

The Republicians need to stop taking for granted the Pro-Life people. It is an insulte to all of us if he picks a Pro Choice person.

Published by: Brenda Walls-Conca
Poughkeepsie, NY 08/15/2008 10:35 AM EST

I logged on to McCain's
web-site when this story first broke,
advising them that, as
a faithful Catholic, I
would not vote for him
under this circumstance.

Published by: Vilma Lowery
Mcdonough ga 08/15/2008 10:18 AM EST

I will not vote or support any candidate that is pro choice.

Published by: Dale Lund
Branson MO 08/15/2008 06:44 AM EST

If McCain isn't strong enough to select a pro-life running mate, my wife and I will vote third party. Otherwise, the choice will be between either a murderer or a hypocrite that's too wishy-washy to stop murders.

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