John McCain's Stand on Abortion

John McCain was born into a military family. He grew up learning the fundamentals of family and honor. Moving from Naval base to Naval base as his father served his country. It was no surprise being the son and grandson of naval admirals, that John McCain would graduate from the Naval Academy and sign up for active duty during the Vietnam War.

John McCain's time spent fighting in the Vietnam War was not an easy one. He spent five years as a POW in various prison camps in Vietnam. On March 1973, he was released along with other POWs. It was this time spent as a POW, that has contributed to some of John McCain's stands on human rights and the affording of dignity to all.

His political career started in 1977 when he became the Navy's liaison to the U.S. Senate. In 1982, he won a seat in the House of Representatives. In 1986, John McCain won the election to the U.S. Senate.

John McCain moved rapidly through his political career. This rapid advance was not with out some black marks though. For two years, from 1987 to 1989, he underwent a federal investigation. This federal investigation had McCain as a member of what was known as the Keating Five. The Keating Five were a group of senators that were accused of improperly intervening with federal regulators. The intervening was on behalf of Charles H. Keating Jr. McCain was eventually cleared of all charges.

The scandal could not stop John McCain, who twice won reelection to the Senate. Each time McCain won with a solid majority.

John McCain's beliefs in family and honor show in his political stands on many controversial topics. One such controversial topics is abortion. John McCain's stand on abortion is clear, he is pro-life. But how far does he want to go with his pro-life beliefs if elected President?

John McCain's official John McCain for President website states that he is willing to go far for his pro-life beliefs. He believes that Roe vs. Wade is flawed and needs to be overturned. If elected President, his website states that he will work hard to return abortion back to the individual states. Also he will nominate judges who believe like him, that courts should not be legislating from the bench.

His website also states that once Roe vs. Wade is overturned and the question of abortion is returned to the states, then the government needs to work harder to empower and strengthen what McCain calls " Armies of Compassion". He believes that these groups can help to build a consensus that will help to end abortion on the state level.

When speaking with the Chronicle, McCain stated," 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 vs. Wade, which would force X number of women in America to illegal and dangerous operations."

His contradictions are not only in what is on his official website and what he told the Chronicle. His contradictions also are shown in a National Right to Life Committee questionnaire last year, McCain answered "yes" when the questionnaire had asked if he supported the complete reversal of Roe vs. Wade.

What his official website states and what he is saying in press interviews and such differ. McCain is against abortions but what are his true intentions where abortion is concerned should he be elected President? Can the American people truly trust a man that says one thing then turns around and says something different?

To read more on John McCain's stand on abortion visit his official website. Also to see how much he flip-flops read the news report from the Washington Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/campaigns/wh2000/stories/mccain082499.htm

http://www.johnmccain.com/Informing/Issues/95B18512-D5B6-456E-90A2-12028D71DF58.htm