Explore Candidates and Issues
Ralph Nader on Abortion and Birth Control
"Q: So you are for abortion rights? A: I don’t think government has the proper role in forcing a woman to have a child or forcing a woman not to have a child. And we’ve seen that around the world. This is something that should be privately decided with the family, woman, all the other private factors of it, but we should work toward preventing the necessity of abortion."
Interview on ‘Meet the Press’ May 7, 2000
"Q: If McCain or Bush is elected because of votes going toward the Greens, they’ll appoint Supreme Court justices. Roe v. Wade will be overturned. A: I don’t think that Roe v. Wade will ever be overturned. I think the Republicans will destroy their party if they push this to the limit. They’re already very, very cautious about not taking a hard stand the way Pat Buchanan has, for example. The reason why they’re doing that is because they know they’re going to lose a lot of votes if they do."
Alternative Radio interview with David Barsamian Feb 23, 2000
On Oct. 29, 2000, Nader questioned all the concern being voiced by liberals about abortion rights. "Even if Roe v. Wade is reversed, that doesn't end it," he said. "It just reverts to the states."
"Nader: Crusader, Spoiler, Icon" by Justin Martin, p.261
"Q: What is your response to RU-486? A: It’s up to the woman, not the government. This is a pill that’s been shown to be safe in Europe for numerous years. And it’s preferable to surgical procedure."
Nader-Buchanan debate on ‘Meet the Press’ Oct 1, 2000
"PB: Let me move to the social issues. Would you have voted against or in favor of the ban on partial-birth abortion? RN: I believe in choice. I don’t think government should tell women to have children or not to have children. I am also against feticide. If doctors think it is a fetus, that should be banned. It is a medical decision."
Nader Indicated which principles he supported (if any) regarding abortion: d) Abortions should be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape. "The Nader-Camejo campaign supports the principles articulated in Roe v. Wade and its progeny."
Nader Indicated which principles he supported (if any) regarding abortion: e) Abortions should be legal when the life of the woman is endangered. "The Nader-Camejo campaign supports the principles articulated in Roe v. Wade and its progeny."
Nader Indicated which principles he supported (if any) regarding abortion: i) Provide funding for family planning programs as a means to decrease the number of abortions. "The Nader-Camejo campaign supports the principles articulated in Roe v. Wade and its progeny."
"There must be free access to birth control devices, information counseling, and clinics to all who desire them."
Nader Indicated which principles he supported (if any) regarding abortion:: [Did not indicate support] h) Prohibit public funding of abortions and of organizations that advocate or perform abortions. "The Nader-Camejo campaign supported the principles articulated in Roe v. Wade"
"We [The Green Party] call for implementation of family planning education for both genders in all levels of the state school system."
"The Green Party openly rejects the restrictions in No Child Left Behind on the distribution of birth control devices in schools and rejects the federal government's stress on abstinence education."