McCain flips, flops and flips on abortion

Human Events, Sep 3, 1999 by D'Agostino, Joseph A

In a series of contradictory and convoluted statements over the past two weeks, Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) signaled that he may do little to curtail abortion or reverse Roe v. Wade were he elected President. Roe is the 1973 decision that legalized abortion on demand in the United States.

In an August 19 interview with the San Francisco Chronicle, McCain said: "I'd love to see a point where it is irrelevant, and could be repealed because abortion is no longer necessary. But certainly in the short term, or even-the long-term, I would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade, which would then force X number of women in America to [undergo] illegal and dangerous operations."

"Kate Michelman could almost have made the statement he made," Dr. David O'Steen, executive director of the National Right to Life Committee (RTL), told HuMAN EVENTS's. Michelman heads the National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). O'Steen was especially upset over the idea that abortion is somehow "necessary."

McCain spokesman Howard Opinsky insisted the senator has not backed away from his pro-life principles. "He will pick judges who share his values, who are strict constructionists," Opinsky said, but added that McCain would not impose any "litmus tests on any single issue." He said that the next President might well overturn Roe v. Wade through his Supreme Court appointments. "That's why it's so important to appoint constitutionalist judges," he said.

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Asked about the "even the long-term" part of McCain's quote, Opinsky replied, "You're looking at one quote over a 17-year career." Asked if McCain regrets saying that or wishes to retract it, Opinsky said, "I think he clearly regrets having left the impression that he may not want to overturn Roe v. Wade."

But just two days after McCain was interviewed by the Chronicle, World magazine (in its Aug. 21, 1999, issue) reported on a recent McCain stump speech: "Though [McCain] insists he, personally, is `morally pro-life,' he said he would work to ensure that no voter felt 'excluded' from the GOP 'I would not seek to overturn Roe v. Wade tomorrow,' he continued, because doing so would endanger the lives of women. He promised not to screen Supreme Court nominees for their opinion on Roe."

McCain made yet another similar statement on CNN's "Late Edition" on August 22. "We all know, and it's obvious;' he said, "that if we repeal Roe v. Wade tomorrow, thousands of young American women would be performing illegal and dangerous operations."

In the year before Roe was decided, the Centers for Disease Control reported 39 deaths of mothers from illegal abortions and 27 from legal ones.

In the year before Roe was decided, the Centers for Disease Control reported 39 deaths of mothers from illegal abortions and 27 from legal ones.

McCain issued a written statement later in the day on August 22, pointing to his "strong and consistent pro-life voting record." "I have always believed in the importance of the repeal of Roe v. Wade, and as President, I would work toward its repeal," he said.

But he also said, "If Roe v. Wade were repealed tomorrow, it would force thousands of young women to undergo dangerous and illegal operations. I will continue to work with both pro-life and pro-choice Americans so that we can eliminate the need for abortions to be performed in this country."

The next day, he wrote a letter to NRL President Dr. Wanda Franz. "Today, I am writing to clarify my unequivocal support for overturning Roe v. Wade," he said. "My longstanding record in defense of the unborn has consistently received high marks from the National Right to Life Committee.... While we work to overturn Roe v. Wade we must promote policies that reduce the number of abortions."

O'Steen pointed out that Supreme Court appointments by the next President could indeed turn the balance on the court against Roe, which would restore to states the power to prohibit abortion.

"Right now, there's a 6-to-3 majority in favor of Roe;' he said, and pro-Roe Justices Sandra Day O'Connor and John Paul Stevens could leave the court during the next four years.

O'Steen contended that McCain's position on abortion differs from Gov. George W. Bush's, though Bush has also refused to make a litmus test of appointing only anti-Roe justices. "We think this is categorically different from Gov. Bush, who has said there are not enough votes to pass a human life constitutional amendment," he said. "That's true. . . But Bush has said he would seek to appoint judges who share his conservative philosophy and will interpret [the Constitution] according to its text. We are very comfortable with Gov. Bush's pro-life position."

Douglas Johnson, NRTL's legislative director, said in a statement, "This opportunistic flip-flop demonstrates that McCain will sacrifice any principle in order to curry favor with certain political elites, in an attempt to further his personal political ambition."

Other pro-life leaders are not happy with either McCain's or Bush's position. "His position is the same as Bush's," said Judie Brown, president of the American Life League.