George F. Will's column "Abortion's 'So-What' Factor" in this past Sunday's The Washington Post makes sense regarding The U.S. Supreme Court's power to affect policy on abortion.
Abortion policy is almost entirely in the custody of the U.S. Supreme Court and will remain so unless or until the court decides to restore moral federalism regarding the issue.
Will's point about a possible overturning of Roe shifting decisions about abortion back to the states rings true.
Many, perhaps most, Americans, foggy about the workings of their government, think that overturning Roewould make abortion, one of the nation's most common surgical procedures, illegal everywhere. All it actually would do is restore abortion as a practice subject to state regulation.
Even Will's parting remark regarding voters feelings for candidates' positions on abortion strike me as logical.
It is not irrational for voters to care deeply about a candidate's stance regarding abortion because that stance is accurately considered an important signifier of the candidate's sensibilities and sympathies, and of his or her notion of sound constitutional reasoning. But regarding abortion itself, what a candidate thinks about abortion rights is not especially important.
I just wish I could assign less importance to "what a candidate thinks about abortion rights."
My heart won't allow it.
(c) 2007 Marybeth T. Hagan
Crossposting with http://www.mothermayibeborn.com
Abortion is a top issue for me, one the most important ones.
I am volunteer for Dean Scontras here in Maine. Just wanted to post this link for you Dean is talking about Pro-Life issues on National Pro-Life Radio.
http://www.teamdean08.com/mediafiles/audio/DLN_20071030_Scontras_seg_MIX.mp3
Maine's first Congressional District is currently open as Tom Allen is running for the US Senate. The other Republican in this race has taken money from Republicans for choice $1000.
www.teamdean08.com is Dean's site, visit sign-up