Columnist: GOP should confront Democrats, media on abortion
The other reason the GOP’s presidential nominee should go on the offense on abortion is that the Democratic Party’s abortion platform is extreme — and its likely presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton, is no exception. Democratic presidential candidates typically support abortion measures that a majority of Americans find extremely distasteful, like late-term abortions, federal abortion subsidies, abolishing parental notifications, and so on.
Now, of course, the media will never let voters know this. But this is all the more reason to turn the tables on them. That’s what ads are for. That’s what debate stages are for.
The next GOP presidential nominee should therefore adopt the following strategy. First, he or she should give a speech that, while emphasizing his or her strong pro-life views, acknowledges the profound division of Americans on the issue and commits to only supporting abortion restrictions that are supported by a majority of the public.
Then, he or she should attack Hillary Clinton for her extreme positions on abortion. Phrases like “in the pocket of the multibillion dollar Planned Parenthood abortion business” should be used as a matter of course. The key is to refuse to back down or prevaricate during the ensuing media firestorm: the GOP candidate is the moderate candidate on abortion, but Hillary Clinton has extreme positions on abortion, and the American people have a right to know it.
~ Pascal-Emmanuel Gobry, The Week, April 27
[Photo via winteryknight.wordpress.com]

This is all good and fine for the Republican enthusiasts who are strategizing for a “win.” They are looking for something that strikes against the weakness of the Democrats’ “War on Women” schtick.
But we want more than to merely defeat Hillary. We want a President and Congress with the spine to protect women and children, as much as divided Americans will tolerate. We want to hear the shrill screams of “EXTREME” as we talk about banning abortion after 13 weeks or so, such as most of Europe does.
Del, long time until the election, now, and of course many things will happen before it’s all over. Last time around, at this stage, I figured Romney would win.
Wasn’t that long ago that Hillary looked like an easy winner, but now I think we’ve got us a horse race.
I don’t care much about who wins. If Hillary put on some pro-life airs, I would pay attention.
But let’s suppose that the Republican wins with a moderate pro-life schtick, the way that Obama squeaked by on his pro-bort “War on Women” bluster.
I won’t be happy with an empty win of mere pro-life rhetoric. I want to see some courage.
It’s early yet, but to this point I think it’s notable how far Christie has fallen, and how strong Jeb Bush, and recently – Walker, are.
It sounds so nice, but I’m not interested in politicians that put on a good show then act like weenies once they reach office. See how republicans have acted since the last election? Do they seem to have any guts at all? Nope. They checked their guts at the door and left us hanging. The one thing many of us can agree on no matter which party we belong to: no more Clintons or Bushes!
I don’t have a problem with dynasties. Bill Clinton was actually a very good, bipartisan president…. in spite of his glaring faults. He still deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering that lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
If Hillary learned a thing or two about working with Republicans and and balancing a budget, she could be good president. Alas….
Jeb deserves his own evaluation, without regard for what one might think of his brother or father.
Jeb is a Catholic convert, not an Evangelical Christian. Whatever that means to you, it tells me that he is of a different mind from GW.
Jeb stood courageously with Terri Schiavo, intervened as much as he could to save her life, and mourned when she died. He deserves a fair evaluation by pro-lifers. The euthanasia battle will be gearing up large soon, now that gay-marriage appears likely to steamroll over us.
I am far from having made up my mind. But I intend to give Jeb an honest hearing.
Bill Clinton was actually a very good, bipartisan president…. in spite of his glaring faults. He still deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for brokering that lasting peace in Northern Ireland.
Del, good on him for the Northern Ireland deal, yeah. Other than that, though, I think you give him too much credit. He was lucky to be in office “at the right time” for several other things, rather than those things (like the relatively “good” economy) being due to his efforts.
Hillary doesn’t have an extreme position on abortion. She wants it left to individual women to decide for themselves. No enforcement. The anti-choicers on the other hand…..
Del, Jeb definitely will need to be evaluated on his own merits. He was alright as governor in Florida, I grew under his administration. He implemented policies that increased reading scores for Florida students,and has humane immigration policies, cut spending and sponsered scholarship programs for disabled students, among other decent things. But he also doesn’t think that homosexuals deserve to be protected from hiring and housing discrimination, is opposed to affirmative action, among other things I disagree with.
And he isn’t really pro-life. He presided over more executions thahithe three governors before them and refused to commute any of them.
So he’s a mixed bag imo.