Terence Jeffrey reports on an interview with Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman:
Republican National Chairman Ken Mehlman doesn't mind telling you that he sees the pro-life cause as a moral and political winner for his party.Here's the best part:
Mehlman insists, however, that the GOP should advance the pro-life cause "because it is morally right," not because it is politically advantageous.Hence, Sen. John Kerry was pounded during his unsuccessful 2004 bid for the Presidency for agreeing with his republican opponents that "life begins at conception.""Those people that say we should abandon our pro-life platform, I believe, are wrong from a political perspective, and I think are wrong from the perspective of what's right for this party," he said.
Mehlman's analysis can explain the self-contradictory behavior Democrats often exhibit on abortion. But it cannot explain similar behavior by Republicans. Democrats find themselves caught between the demands of commonsense and good morality on the one hand and a core constituency adamant about preserving legalized abortion on the other. They forsake commonsense and morality to appease their base.
Jeffrey, whose entire column is well worth reading, comments:
Kerry's statement attracted attention precisely because by stating the obvious he put himself in an obviously untenable position: If life begins at conception, Senator, how can you justify taking life in an abortion?Kerry later explained himself by suggesting that human life and human personhood are two different states of being, with a
It appears a growing number from his own party recognizes this untenable position as well.
