CNN

I am completely against abortions unless in cases of rape. However when the other candidates talk of being for abortion I wonder how far they want to go with the right to abort a child.
Do they want to have mandated paternity tests before the child is born to determine if the father wants a child whom the mother doesnt? Because if abortion is legal then why shouldnt the father have the right to choose if he wants the child even if the mother doesnt?
or if the mother wants a child and the father doesn't then why should she be able to say no i dont want to have an abortion and yet the father still be responsible for supporting the child.

Seems like our economy would improve if paternity tests were mandated before the birth of a child in cases of welfare and child support and that child recieving medicaid because the parents arent together. I think stricter laws in cases of these support payments to the primary care giver of the child would keep a lot of people from getting pregnant in the first place. And in Ky its being debated about welfare drug testing for the recipients- maybe this would help America overall for cases of them having a child so they can get money to buy their drugs. Yes in the begining it would be very hard to fund, but in the end America would not be teaching our kids its ok to use drugs and basically telling them if they say its unconstitutional they can get by with anything.
I think that by taking a stand on drug abusers we can teach our children how to become sucessful and teach them responsibility of having a job and supporting themselves.

Thats kinda off subject i know, but in the end the birth of a child born our of wedlock will affect our economy tremendously. And if abortion is legal then i think the laws on abortion and support for that child really needs to change.

I agree with Patrick, from Tulsa on abortion. I also agree that a lot of candidates are side stepping real issues. With McCain's experience, I have more confidence in him making those tough decisions than any other candidate. It is time to start talking about what the candidates views are when it comes to Iraq, immigration, foreign policy, our ability to become less dependent on oil and such.

Let's put this law to the states and see how it does.

Abortion is legal if you've been raped, its incest, or the health of the mother is at stake. It's illegal to have late term abortion if none of the above criteria exists.

Beyond that it remains legal, but the dad has to be consulted or the parents if the girl is under age.

This law would be fair, would get rid of the disgustingly immoral late term abortion and not please the far left or far right. This is about as much progress as we can make on the issue at this time.

I personally believe in 300 years when people are looking back at the first 300 years of our country the two worst injustices they will find will be slavery and abortion but that's just my opinion.

Can someone pro-life explain something to me?

Fertility clinics destroy thousands of early period embryos all the time. They implant multiple embryos and do selective abortions to control the number of children a woman will have at one time (Something I'm totally in favor of... the health issues involved in having a litter are immense for the children, not even thinking about the mother).

But where is the outcry against the fertility clinics? Why is IVF not being condemned in broad swipes the religious right? (I'm aware of the Catholic church's stand, but what about everyone else?)

If 'life begins at conception', why is this not an issue? If you're pro-life, you're pro EVERY life, not just those already implanted into a uterus. Why are these politicians and religious people not lobbying to put fertility clinics out of business? I'd be willing to bet that they destroy as many, if not more, embryos than an abortion clinic per annum.

Mind you, I'm very much pro-choice. I do not have the right to tell someone else to live by my moral code or tell them what to do with their body. I just don't understand why this isn't an issue unless it's more about the control of the woman's body and sex life instead of the saving of an unborn, potential life.

McCain the religous right hates you because you made it harder for them to use all of their tax free money to bankroll politicians and legislation that overrides the US Constitution and legislates and legitimizes their religous beliefs to turn the US into a Christian version of Iran. It's not about abortion. Enjoy your trip back to Arizona.

Why is McCain comparing himself to the 'major' candidates?

Is anyone else tired of candidates standing on issues that they should not be representing? If the president should express the will of the people, and the American people are split on an issue, it shouldn't just be a clear cut decision.

And why does everyone care about "flip-flopping", I for one would prefer a candidate who makes educated decisions on the issues at hand, but also has the open mindedness to learn and change their views. All I'm hearing from politicians are more reasons why they're alienating themselves from ever getting my vote.

Pro-life? Tell that to the MILLIONS of unwanted children in this country who are abused, underfed, neglected, uneducated, living in the streets. Hey, John McCain, you have a few bucks. Put your money where your mouth is. Promise to feed and cloth every unwanted child born and THEN, you'll have MY vote!

A reminder: Pro CHOICE is just that. There is nothing Pro or Anti LIFE about it. It is leaving the most personal of choices to the individuals living the moment. It is minding your own business. It is not populating the world with unwanted miserable people who turn quite often into miserable adults.

Maybe you should visit an ER and talk to them about the child abuse cases they see?

What's next? McCain hates burning flags more than any other candidate? What a dope.

Brendan and Aaron - Good points

Ron Paul is the most consistent on abortion. He wants to give the abortion question back to the STATES, where it BELONGS. Let the states choose for themselves. Thats the constitutional way.

McCain has good positions on most things conservative. It is very hard to satisfy all of the people. Everyday, in my family, I am reminded of the extreme balance that a man and a woman bring to the raising of a family and to the planning of everyday life and for the future and retirement.
GOD knew what he was doing and still does and forever will. Believe it or not. It doesn't matter. GOD is in control of all things whether you like it or not. Christians love the sinner, hate the sin. Christians believe in Love and try very hard to practice the teaching of Jesus in granting 'grace'(translated 'tolerance'). The 'world' should get on board but even if they don't, the Christian understands and sympathizes and is truly sad for those who don't believe in Jesus. They don't get mad and try to belittle, or behead those who don't believe as they do.

Does anyone see the irony of our bi-partisan views on human life. One side is for abortion, against the death penalty, generally anti-war. The other side is against abortion (supposedly protecting the sanctity of human life), but for the death penalty and war.

This does not make sense. I believe human life is to be valued above all else; not just for americans, not just morally upright, not just if you have to look them in the eye before you decide whether to take their life.

With that said, women do have a choice, and so do men. The choice is made before pregnancy.

Most Americans are Pro-Choice. The only ones who are Pro-Life are the ones who would never think of donating or adopting a child... i.e. the 'good' Christians who just want to tell everyone else how to live their lives.

It is a rightous thing that women have the right to have an abortion, but not in all cases. People have a problem with abortion because so many women do it. Women who go about being sexually active, and do not use protection of any sort, and are aware of the factors and the consequences; such as getting pregnant; should not get an abortion. Cruel, but if one wishes to be sexually active, one needs to use percautions. Yes, accidents happen, I'm proof of that, I was a factor of Pre-cum, but my mother took responsibility. There are so many forms of protection out there for women and men, and affordable ones too!! The local health clinic and even schools provide free condoms!
Then there are those girls whom are raped, melested, and are told it could be a health hazard for them to get pregnant. Those are the women that should have rights to abortion. If women are careful and smart about it, there shouldn't be such a huge contorversy over our rights to abortion, so let's not abuse that right.

Yawn.

McCain's turned into a yippy little bowser, genuflecting to the religious right while losing all credibility to those on the right and left.

As a life time republican, this is where I parts ways with the party. Although I understand the argument with abortion, there are still many times when abortion is absolutely the right solution. Rape, incest, too young and even too poor to care for children are examples. Lastly, the government has no right to tell any women what she can or can't with her body!

McCain is a bit late on the scene. We've already be here all of October, and all indications are that Giuliani successfully neutralized the wrath of the Religious Right.

so what, you arent winning anything.

McCain you are an old fart with bad breath.

Also, I can't stand that whistle of yours when you speak!

As a Democrat I happen to disagree with McCain. The government should stay out of citizen's personal lives and work on taking care of this country because the Republicans have brought this country down in the past 7+ years. We have got to get back our world respect.

A drunk father comes home one night, goes to his daughters room and rapes her.
Two weeks later this 8th grade girl is pregnant.
Force her to have her father's baby while she is still in middle school?
PRO-LIFE MEANS THAT THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!

Way to pledge to deny women the basic right to make decision about their own bodies, McCain. I respect you for your stalwart resistance to torture as a POW, but after knowing first hand what having your basic rights denied is like, it's baffling why you would choose to deny those rights to others. It would be gratifying if the next debate moderator would ask you what happened to make you stand against rights.

Mike Huckabee would beg to differ.......

A 12 year old girl gets pulled into an alley and gets beaten and gang raped by five guys, then get pregnant.
Do we force her re-live the ordeal for nine months and have the baby?
She would only be in 7th grade.
PRO-LIFE MEANS THAT THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS!

Again, McCain's delusions come to light. This guy really needs medical testing to ensure that senility hasnt sent in. Him beating Hillary? Too funny.

I can't decide which is more flakey... John McCain or a KFC Buscuit.

It's such a shame that McCain supports the government's efforts to push their idea of morality onto a woman and her decisions about her own body. I have so much respect and admiration for him otherwise, such as his brave support of campaign finance reform. Too bad this issue is such a deal breaker for me, or I would have (gasp) voted for a Republican for the first time since my father stopped telling me who to vote for!

Exile is the only just punishment.

A global community requires a global place to send such Exiles. When prisoners are held between warring factions this global place of exile exists as a place to send such prisoners as agreed not-retrievable during conflict; such places of international exile which would also accept the masses of the criminally disagreeable elements from general civilized society.

With want of an abortion both should seek voluntary exile to gain natural miss-carriage due to exposure.

-

With a life sentence: Antarctica is a choice given for seeking death by suicide instead of life in exile on a U.N. stocked island full of ankle-tagged convicts; the death penalty not legal as a final sentence without guilt and acceptance.

Please, don't let the candidates turn the next election into an anti-abortion, anti-gay election. There ARE other, much more pressing issues... lets talk war, economy, health care, etc.

Ah abortion...

I think it would be interesting if Honorable Senator John McCain took a trip to the Gitmo internment camp, but as a Senator.

I'm pretty sure Ron Paul is the most consistent on any issue; everyone knows where he stands. But when it comes to the abortion, don't even say you have him beat. It's a lie, and it makes you look like a fool. The man was in the business of delivering babies.

Senator McCain you believe that water boarding is torture. You complain about the stance Attoney General designate Michael Muskasey takes, yet you will 'go along to get along' and vote to confirm him. You did not take that, 'go along' stance while a P.O.W during the Viet Nam War, and you suffered for your beliefs. You're willing now to take the easy path, while watching the shredding of our constitution by Bush and his adminstration.

It is interesting that McCain is so interesting in presevering life when he plays the part of a pro-war fanatic.

Of course he is pro-life. He's a man!
He isn't the one faced with an un-planned pregnancy.
Why do men feel they should control and regulate a woman's body?

Check out this great article that Pete Grasso wrote regarding this topic of abortion and the hypocrisy within the Washington leadership...

http://www.grassoforpresident.com/site/Viewer.aspx?iid=11122&mname=Article&rpid=3861

McCain is a bit late on the stage... Giuliani has already gone through this, and all recent indications have it that he has successfuly neutralized the wrath of the Religious Right.

Hello CNN: I for one am willing to acknowledge Mr. McCain's barbaric stand on abortion. Yes, let us make it clear to all that he supports the conservative platform on women's right to choose, their right to empower themselves in the process of reproduction. Conservative resistance to abortion rights is rooted not in consideration for the "rights of the helpless unborn" as much as the determination to relenquish any control of the birth process from men to women. God forbid we should move into the modern world and acknowlege that women are capable and responsible enough to have a say in reproduction! Long live the "good old days" of the earlier centuries! Yeah, right...

Why is this guy talking about abortion? Shouldn't he be focusing on real issues like health care, education, Iraq and the economy? Oh that's right, he's talking about abortion to make his religious backers forget about real issues. The media shouldn't even be reporting this.

McCain if you are so against abortion then don't have one. As for American woman...it is there choice, not yours!