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John Edwards on Abortion and Birth Control
This candidate has withdrawn from the election
I support a woman's right to choose and believe this that right is constitutionally protected. I also support funding for family planning.
Vote-Smart Presidential National Political Awareness Test Jan 8, 2004
I support a woman's right to choose and believe this that right is constitutionally protected. I also support funding for family planning.
Vote-Smart Presidential National Political Awareness Test Jan 8, 2004
The decision about whether to become a parent is one of the most important decisions that a woman can face. Edwards believes that she should make it with her family, her doctor and in the context of her religious and ethical values. He will protect and defend the right to choose and reverse the damage that has been done by President Bush's anti-choice agenda.
Edwards supports steps to guarantee reproductive choices and reduce unwanted pregnancies, including access to birth control and Title X family planning services. Edwards believes all health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs should cover prescription contraceptives and we must improve access to emergency contraception. He supports comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education for young people that includes information on both abstinence and contraception.
Speaking on behalf of Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards before the family planning and abortion-rights group Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Elizabeth Edwards lauded her husband's health-care proposal as "a true universal health-care plan" that would cover "all reproductive health services, including pregnancy termination," referring to abortion. Edwards was joined by Democratic candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) at the group's political organizing conference in addressing issues at the core of the political clash between cultural liberals and conservatives, including abortion rights, access to contraception and sex education.
Q: What is your view on the decision on partial-birth abortion and most of the public agreeing with the court's holding? EDWARDS: This decision by the Supreme Court is a perfect example of what's at stake in this election. The kind of people that will be appointed to the US Supreme Court by the next president will control whether a woman's freedom, freedom to choose, make her own health care decisions will be made by her or will be made by the government or by some men sitting on the US Supreme Court. Now, on the issue of abortion, I believe in a woman's right to choose, but I think this is an extraordinarily difficult issue for America. I think it is very important for the president of the United States to recognize--while I believe the government should not make these health-care decisions for women--I believe they should have the freedom to make them themselves--this is a very difficult issue for many people. And I think we have to show respect for people who have different views about this.
South Carolina 2007 Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Apr 26, 2007
"I could not disagree more strongly with today's Supreme Court decision," Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards said in statement just released by his campaign. "The ban upheld by the court is an ill-considered and sweeping prohibition that does not even take account for serious threats to the health of individual women. This hard right turn is a stark reminder of why Democrats cannot afford to lose the 2008 election. Too much is at stake -- starting with, as the Court made all too clear today, a woman's right to choose."
"The decision about whether to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions that a woman can face. She should make it with her family, her doctor, and in the context of her religious and ethical values; government and politicians should not make the decision for her."
"The decision about whether to become a parent is one of the most important life decisions that a woman can face. She should make it with her family, her doctor, and in the context of her religious and ethical values; government and politicians should not make the decision for her."
Edwards supports steps to guarantee reproductive choices and reduce unwanted pregnancies, including access to birth control and Title X family planning services. Edwards believes all health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs should cover prescription contraceptives and we must improve access to emergency contraception. He supports comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education for young people that includes information on both abstinence and contraception
I support a woman's right to choose and believe this that right is constitutionally protected. I also support funding for family planning.
Vote-Smart Presidential National Political Awareness Test Jan 8, 2004
He supports public funding of abortion services for low-income women.
Edwards supports steps to guarantee reproductive choices and reduce unwanted pregnancies, including access to birth control and Title X family planning services. Edwards believes all health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs should cover prescription contraceptives and we must improve access to emergency contraception. He supports comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education for young people that includes information on both abstinence and contraception.
Indicated SUPPORT for the question: Would you support the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act which would create a federal grant program to channel money to states that choose to teach comprehensive and age‐appropriate sex education for America’s students that includes science‐based prevention methods?
Edwards supports steps to guarantee reproductive choices and reduce unwanted pregnancies, including access to birth control and Title X family planning services. Edwards believes all health insurance plans that cover prescription drugs should cover prescription contraceptives and we must improve access to emergency contraception. He supports comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education for young people that includes information on both abstinence and contraception.
Indicated SUPPORT for the question: Would you support the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act which would create a federal grant program to channel money to states that choose to teach comprehensive and age‐appropriate sex education for America’s students that includes science‐based prevention methods?