The GOP platform has long been strongly pro-life for quite sometime, in no small part to President Reagan's strong pro-life stance. Michael Steele has indicated, however, that abortion is not a central issue, that other issues trump that one. In an interview that may lose the Huckabee Republicans, Steele made these statements:
LISA DEPAULO: How much of your pro-life stance, for you, is informed not just by your Catholic faith but by the fact that you were adopted?MICHAEL STEELE: Oh, a lot. Absolutely. I see the power of life in that--I mean, and the power of choice! The thing to keep in mind about it... Uh, you know, I think as a country we get off on these misguided conversations that throw around terms that really misrepresent truth.
Explain that.
The choice issue cuts two ways. You can choose life, or you can choose abortion. You know, my mother chose life. So, you know, I think the power of the argument of choice boils down to stating a case for one or the other.
Are you saying you think women have the right to choose abortion?
Yeah. I mean, again, I think that's an individual choice.
You do?
Yeah. Absolutely.
Are you saying you don't want to overturn Roe v. Wade?
I think Roe v. Wade--as a legal matter, Roe v. Wade was a wrongly decided matter.
Okay, but if you overturn Roe v. Wade, how do women have the choice you just said they should have?
The states should make that choice. That's what the choice is. The individual choice rests in the states. Let them decide.
Steele then released this statement, supposedly clarifying what he meant:
"I am pro-life, always have been, always will be. I tried to present why I am pro life while recognizing that my mother had a 'choice' before deciding to put me up for adoption. I thank her every day for supporting life. The strength of the pro life movement lies in choosing life and sharing the wisdom of that choice with those who face difficult circumstances.""The Republican Party is and will continue to be the party of life. I support our platform and its call for a Human Life Amendment. It is important that we stand up for the defenseless and that we continue to work to change the hearts and minds of our fellow countrymen so that we can welcome all children and protect them under the law."
Sounds good, except that one cannot say "let the states decide" and "I support a Human Life Amendment." They contradict each other.
Get more on this and contact your RNC leaders at SteeleforChairman.org.
"hip hop" Steele must go. We need one of our own kind in that position. Dems are so afraid of Rush it should be him. Seriously, libs fear him so why not? LIFE!
oh my goodness how can this person say that he is pro life when he is clearley not and I think that he just wants to make everyone happy and is in no way stepping up to the plate and voiceing his own feelings or oppinions. People like him or just sick!!
This is the wrong man for the job.
As I understand it he is not only a Republican but a Catholic. In my humble opinion it is time for the Catholic church to start cracking down on American politicians. I know after many priests in Latin America were extolling the ideology of Liberation Theology the church took the stand that it will not become involved in politics but when we have politicians like Pelosi (D) and Steele (R) representing themselves as both Catholic and pro-choice this is causing much confusion in the American Catholic community. Now Catholicism may not be for everyone but to my mind the church must make very plain their position on abortion and give politicians who represent themselves as both Catholic and 'pro-choice' their walking papers. One cannot be two diametrically opposed things at the same time.
Unfortunately he who funds the party, runs the party
Steele became head of the RNC, because the other party leaders wanted him there. These are the same people that ran a presidential candidate endorsed by Republicans for Choice (financially tied up with Planned Parenthood). Also, McCain has been funded by George Soros and Teresa Kerry for a decade.
The exact same people are also funding the Democrats and giving them marching orders too! It's no accident that as soon as the election (which is little more than a game for the Republicrats) is over, they are all on the same page and receiving the same marching orders.
That's why Steele is trying to appease the pro-choicers. That's why Sarah Palin just appointed a Planned Parenthood board member to the state Supreme Court. That's why Brownback is leading the welcome reception for the pro-abort health & human services nominee.
It's the same party, but with two faces.