Friday, April 20, 2007
Supremes on abortion
The United States Supreme Court has ruled a federal law which outlaws some late-term abortions is constitutional. It is widely reported that Justice Kennedy provided the swing vote in a 5-4 decision. You should also note that Justice Samuel Allito, who replaced Sandra Day O’Connor changed that vote to become part of the majority.
It is also worth a mention that only two justices concurred in a dissent that explicitly said Roe v. Wade should be overturned. My views on abortion are sufficiently inconsistent to aggravate people on both sides. One thing that concerns me about this decision is the willingness of these mostly elderly law professors to play doctor.
This decision has the political effect of raising the stakes in an already inflamed atmosphere. When we should be worried about war and health care, the abortion debate will be a continuing sideshow. Of course, this is an important issue, but churches have squandered much of their rightful teaching authority and most of the voters have already made up their minds.
This is double bad news for Democrats because it encourages the feminists to move the party further to left and further from a solid control of Congress or the White House.
(Broadcast April 19, 2007)
It is also worth a mention that only two justices concurred in a dissent that explicitly said Roe v. Wade should be overturned. My views on abortion are sufficiently inconsistent to aggravate people on both sides. One thing that concerns me about this decision is the willingness of these mostly elderly law professors to play doctor.
This decision has the political effect of raising the stakes in an already inflamed atmosphere. When we should be worried about war and health care, the abortion debate will be a continuing sideshow. Of course, this is an important issue, but churches have squandered much of their rightful teaching authority and most of the voters have already made up their minds.
This is double bad news for Democrats because it encourages the feminists to move the party further to left and further from a solid control of Congress or the White House.
(Broadcast April 19, 2007)
