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Fred Thompson on Abortion and Birth Control
On the issue of abortion Thompson was unequivocal: "Prolife." Asked if he supported overturning Roe v. Wade, Thompson was equally unequivocal: "I think Roe v. Wade was bad law and bad medical science And the way to address that is through good judges. I don't think the court ought to wake up one day and make new social policy for the country. It's contrary to what it's been the past 200 years... That's what happened in this case [Roe v. Wade]. I think it was wrong."
The Fred Factor, by Steve Gill, p.143-144 Jun 3, 2007
"I think that [overturning Roe v. Wade] should be our number one focus right now."
Q: Do you want to overturn Roe v. Wade? THOMPSON: I think Roe v. Wade is bad law and bad medical science. And the way to address that is through good judges. I don't think the court ought to wake up one day and make new social policy...
In fact, the Colorado Congressman has received an "A" grade from the National Right to Life Committee and says that, as president, he would work to bring about an end to Roe v. Wade, which he describes as "lousy law" that should be challenged. "We should think of a way to bring it again to the Supreme Court," the presidential candidate says, "because I think we have a chance of overturning it."
Thompson, who served from 1995 to 2003, backed a 2000 effort to prohibit federal family planning programs from being used to distribute emergency contraception to teens. Both [McCain & Thompson] also supported a 1996 plan to shift federal dollars from health programs for women and children to "abstinence-unless-married" education.
Voted YES on banning partial birth abortions. This legislation, if enacted, would ban the abortion procedure in which the physician partially delivers the fetus before completing the abortion. [A NO vote supports abortion rights]. Status: Bill Passed
Partial Birth Abortion Ban; Bill S. 1692 ; vote number 1999-340 on Oct 21, 1999
The "PRO-CHOICE" position paper mentions, as does the "PRO-LIFE" one, that Thompson opposes "federal funding of abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger," and supports other restrictions, while concluding that "(b)eyond that, Senator Thompson has said that the federal government should not be involved in the issue of abortion. He does not believe that early term-abortions should be criminalized. He feels instead that this is a battle that must be won in the hearts and minds of the American people.
The "PRO-CHOICE" position paper mentions, as does the "PRO-LIFE" one, that Thompson opposes "federal funding of abortion, except in cases of rape, incest, or when the life of the mother is in danger," and supports other restrictions, while concluding that "(b)eyond that, Senator Thompson has said that the federal government should not be involved in the issue of abortion. He does not believe that early term-abortions should be criminalized. He feels instead that this is a battle that must be won in the hearts and minds of the American people.
The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association whom Thompson lobbied for says that, "There is widespread public support for expanded access to birth control: 89 percent of the voting public is in favor of public funding for family planning services." When asked about lobbying for this pro-choice, pro-contraceptive organization, Thompson explained: "Thompson in a column posted July 11 on the blog Power Line said he does not remember but will not dispute evidence alleging that he lobbied for NFPRHA. In the column, Thompson wrote that if a "client has a legal and ethical right to take a position, then you may appropriately represent him as long as he does not lie or otherwise conduct himself improperly while you are representing him"
Thompson's campaign checked the indicated supporting the following positions on abortion: - Abortions should be legal in all circumstances as long as the procedure is completed within the first trimester of the pregnancy. - A woman under the age of 18 should be required to notify a parent or guardian before having an abortion. - States should be allowed to impose mandatory waiting periods before abortions are performed. - Congress should eliminate federal funding for clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services. - Congress should eliminate abortion services from any federally funded health care plan. - Congress should leave legislation on this issue to the states.
Congressional 1994 National Political Awareness Test. Project Vote Smart (1994). Retrieved on 2007-06-03.
Thompson, who served from 1995 to 2003, backed a 2000 effort to prohibit federal family planning programs from being used to distribute emergency contraception to teens. Both [McCain & Thompson] also supported a 1996 plan to shift federal dollars from health programs for women and children to "abstinence-unless-married" education.
Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. Vote to retain a provision of the Budget Act that funds abstinence education to help reduce teenage pregnancy, using $75 million of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program
Bill S 1956 ; vote number 1996-231 on Jul 23, 1996
Voted YES on $75M for abstinence education. Vote to retain a provision of the Budget Act that funds abstinence education to help reduce teenage pregnancy, using $75 million of the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Program.
Bill S 1956 ; vote number 1996-231 on Jul 23, 1996