Jimmy Carter Condemns Pro-Abortion Stance of Democrats

Here's an interesting piece.  Although former President Jimmy Carter hasn't been a major figure in the Democratic party for many years, he is a revered figure by Democrats and his words carry a certain weight.  He spoke out against his party's ideological insistence on legalized abortion, remarking, "I've never been convinced, if you let me inject my Christianity into it, that Jesus Christ would approve abortion."  Adding to this is the upcoming hearings to confirm Judge Alito to the US Supreme Court, with abortion being a key issue of contention.  Now I'm not saying that Republicans are the party of the Almighty, but can one be a good Catholic and continue to vote Democratic?  Any thoughts?

Comments

[W.]

"can one be a good Catholic and continue to vote Democratic?"

It would seem if there is a pro-life alternative, which there sometimes is in the GOP, a Catholic should vote for that candidate instead. Kerry vs. Bush. Clear: Bush. Hillary vs. Giuliani. Not clear. Let's hope it does not come to that. Go Condi Rice!

I hope people see the difference between supporting abortion rights and supporting the use of the death penalty. One is not justifiable and the other is. One is not in any way a position for a Catholic or clear-thinking individual to have while the other is a position a Catholic may have.

[ICMiker]

"can one be a good Catholic and continue to vote Democratic?"

No.

[Ray Zacek]

I wouldn't vote Democratic unless I was dead and buried in Chicago.

What about Casey v. Santorum?

[John Jakubczyk]

To give one a little history, in 1976 when Carter was running for president, he went to Iowa and told the pro-lifers there that he was pro-life and opposed abortion. the pro-lifers voted for him and he won Iowa and his campaign took off. Once he became the candidate, he "clarified" his stance and said that he was "personally" opposed to abortion, ala Mario Cuomo. He picked strong pro-abortionists during his administration and did absolutely nothing to advance a pro-life agenda. (of course Gerald Ford was a pro-abort as well) In 1976 the pro-aborts took over the party in a big way. They adopted a pro-abortion plank to their platform thus provoking a massive march of over 10,000 protesters around Madison Square Garden in July 1976. This was only three years after Roe and a lot of Democrats were insensed at the actions of the party. After Carter's victory, the pro-aborts became entrenched and many Democrats ( including this author) migrated to the Republican party because of a fellow named Ronald Reagan who said abortion was wrong. While it is tragic to see how the failure of Carter to stand up for life affected the last 30 years, there is always redemption. We embraced and forgave Bernie Nathanson, Norma McCorvey, and many others. If Jimmy Carter wants to apologize for his mistakes, I say let do so. However we need to warn him. He will no longer be quoted by the MSM and he will be marginaalized by all of his so called friends. He will find himself being attacked just as Zell Miller. Of course he can speak out against the killing of unborn children. That is always a good thing.

Carter's stance on the issue was more neutral than pro-anything.

He did not challenge Roe, nor did he challenge the Hyde Amendment, which was passed over Ford's veto.

Of course, Carter never got a Supreme Court pick, so his impact on abortion policy was minimal.

[*Name Hidden*]

Of course, Carter never got a Supreme Court pick, so his impact on abortion policy was minimal.

We can still see the damage Carter had on the country by his court appointments. The 9th circuit court of appeals, of which 12 out of 28 were appointed by Carter, recently ruled that parents have no exclusive right to decide what their children are taught by the government. I haven't done much research on how many abortion cases have come through this court, but considering that it represents almost 20% of the country, I'd hardly call his impact minimal.

[Aquinas]

I personally think that voting for any pro-choice candidate is wrong.

That said, I do not think all Republicans are truly pro-life. I think many (Oliver North comes to mind) exploit it purely for political reasons.

That said, I would still vote for such a republican if I believed they would do something to limit/end abortion.

I just do not think all of them would, given the chance.

I think in order to REALLY get rid of abortion in the country, we do not need more pro-life Republicans. We need more pro-life Democrats.

[Aquinas]

I personally think that voting for any pro-choice candidate is wrong.

That said, I do not think all Republicans are truly pro-life. I think many (Oliver North comes to mind) exploit it purely for political reasons.

That said, I would still vote for such a republican if I believed they would do something to limit/end abortion.

I just do not think all of them would, given the chance.

I think in order to REALLY get rid of abortion in the country, we do not need more pro-life Republicans. We need more pro-life Democrats.

[Sharon]

At least he admitted that he's a better ex-president than he was president.

And although I am a Republican, I am still more than happy to hear him express disappointment in the Democratic party. (esp. regarding abortion)
I'll take that any day over a pro-abortion statement.

[Michael]

Casey vs. Santorum, the answer is simple. Casey will be a single voice in a sea of pro abortionists. He will be forced to toe the party line. He will talk pro life and vote pro murder. With Santorum you have a Senator who has talked pro life and voted pro life.

[mike]

"I hope people see the difference between supporting abortion rights and supporting the use of the death penalty. One is not justifiable and the other is. One is not in any way a position for a Catholic or clear-thinking individual to have while the other is a position a Catholic may have."

The catechism of the catholic church says it is nearly impossible to find any case today that justifies using the death penalty, because of technology avaolable today in the prison system keeping people locked up and safe from harming others.

[michael]

I have always wondered what the vatican's position would be on what is a better choice, between a politician who is pro-life, pro-death penalty, pro-pre-emptive war (typically a republican), and a pro-abortion for birth control reasons, anti-death penalty, anti- pre- emptive war (a tpical democarat).

Because the vatican takes positions on the legality of these issues in seperate, but I have never read them prioritizing their importance as far as which opportunity to attain each goal takes precedence over an opprtunity to achieve another goal.