Sarah the Savage

If you ran anti-abortion ads that were this visual and manipulative, would there be an outcry?

Fowl

Sometimes, liberals slip up and speak openly and honestly.

South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler sharply attacked Sarah Palin today, saying John McCain had chosen a running mate " whose primary qualification seems to be that she hasn’t had an abortion.”

In other words, the decision to have an abortion is a routine, mundane one. Having decided not to abort her mentally damaged baby and commit herself to the hard work of raising a down syndrome child because 1) she believes that to be the only moral option and 2) because she believes the joy it would bring into her family is far greater than the burden, is a similarly mundane decision.

Feminism sold abortion as devoid of emotional impact - a practical decision, of no greater consequence than sraping the uneaten food off your plate into the garbage - no soul searching, no struggle, no haunting dreams, years later, of the children that never were. So while Fowler's comments aren't surprising, they're still shocking.

As is the bigotry of the educated elite. The sense of moral superiority they feel because Sarah is small town, Sarah is religious, Sarah fires a gun. We were taught that they are the party of compassion, inclusion - fighters against bigotry. Yet they practice it with such zeal.

Fowler was later forced to offer a... clarification.

"I personally admire and respect the difficult choices that women make every day, and I apologize to anyone who finds my comment offensive. I clumsily was making a point about people in South Carolina who may vote based on a single issue."

I wonder what that point was.

Obama Frank on Abortion

Barney Frank, the gay Massachusetts congressman who faced a scandal, and a remprimand, 18 years ago for using his public powers to help his male prostitute boyfriend, is the first Democrat to say that Sarah Palin's personal life should be part of the campaign conversation.

"Apparently she’s a great favorite with the conservative social movement," Frank said. "They have said that it’s liberalism and liberals who have undermined families — same-sex marriage has been a problem, they don’t want gay people to adopt ... This helps undercut those arguments."

I say, let Democrats push the story all they want - in the end, it helps McCain. The power of Palin as a candidate is that she represents real Americans. A pregnant daughter can happen to anyone, regardless of political philosophy. The question is, how do parents respond?

"Well, hers is a family in great turmoil," added Frank. "She fired the state police commissioner because he wouldn’t fire her sister’s ex-husband. She has a daughter who became pregnant. That’s not her fault."

Obama, while playing like he's staying out of this issue, has launched a radio commercial attacking McCain's position on abortion rights.

Here's the script:

OBAMA: I'm Barack Obama, candidate for president, and I approved this message.

VAL BARON: As a nurse practitioner with Planned Parenthood, I know abortion is one of the most difficult decisions a woman will ever make. I'm Val Baron. Let me tell you: If Roe v Wade is overturned, the lives and health of women will be put at risk. That's why this election is so important. John McCain's out of touch with women today. McCain wants to take away our right to choose. That's what women need to understand. That's how high the stakes are.

ANNCR: As president, John McCain will make abortion illegal. McCain says quote, "I do not support Roe v. Wade. It should be overturned." And listen to McCain's answer on Meet the Press:

RUSSERT: "A constitutional amendment to ban all abortions. You're for that?"
McCAIN: "Yes, sir."

VAL BARON: We can't let John McCain take away our right to choose. We can't let him take us back.

ANNCR: Paid for by Obama for America.

Statement Aborted

Do past abortion statements offer clarity where Barack seeks vagueness?



Barack doesn't mention abortion on the Issues covered at his website, so folks are left to guess, and parse, his words.

Breakdown

Look at how voters view the candidates on the major issues as revealed in the latest Rasmussen daily tracking poll. Barack leads significantly only on the environment and healthcare, while McCain leads bigtime on national security, the war in Iraq, immigration, taxes and abortion. Barack is trusted more only on 4 of these 14 major issues. Do you feel you've gotten a good sense of this from media coverage?

McCain-Obama: Trust on Issues	McCain	Obama	Links
Economy	45%	44%	C, T
National Security	51%	40%	C, T
Energy	46%	42%	C, T
Ethics	44%	46%	C, T
Iraq	51%	39%	C, T
Immigration	45%	36%	C, T
Environment	40%	48%	C, T
Balance Federal Budget	43%	40%	C, T
Negotiate Trade Agreements	45%	40%	C, T
Taxes	47%	40%	C, T
Social Security	44%	38%	C, T
Healthcare	41%	46%	C, T
Education	39%	43%	C, T
Abortion	40%	34%	C, T

By the way, Barack leads by two points in the poll.