Bioethics Questions put to McCain, Obama

Nancy Gibbs at TIME puts a couple of good bioethic questions to McCain and Obama.  "Imagine if the presidential candidates were willing to talk frankly about the things that affect us most: not just guns and butter, but also life and death..." she says.

For Barack Obama: Democrats have long argued for greater reproductive freedom. Do you think that should include the right to choose the sex of your child? The same genetic tests that screen for terrible diseases could in theory target many other predispositions. What if prospective parents could screen for short or shy or gay or blond? This is a largely unregulated universe of treatment; should it be?

For John McCain: About 8,000 people may die this year waiting for organ transplants. Do you think the free market should include kidneys? You've said human rights begin at conception. But fertility clinics create excess embryos that are frozen and often discarded, which you've favored using for research. So are some embryos more equal than others?

Click here to read her entire article.  Click here to read Albert Mohler's comments.

She's a Rebel, She's a Saint...

...she's the one that they call her Sarah Palin.

Huh

McCain and Obama shake hands at the September 11th memorial ceremony.

Just the other day, the Republicans jumped on Obama's reference to "lipstick on a pig", and claimed that he was attempting to slur Palin and McCain personally. And then today, an under-the-belt swipe from the Democrats. A youtube video mocking his inability to use a computer keyboard or send an email, due to injuries he recieved when fighting in the Vietnam War.

I wonder, who is going to be the next president of the United States... I think it is going to be John McCain, but it's a hard call to make.

Give Dobson a Break

American RTL Action, the political 527 group, is exposing Focus on the Family's Dr. James Dobson for violating his pledge in which he invoked the name of God by declaring that he is voting for John McCain...

On April 28, 1990 at the Washington D.C. Rally for Life Dr. Dobson stated, "I want to give a pledge to you on a political level... I have determined that for the rest of my life, however long God lets me live on this earth, I will never cast one vote for any man or woman who would kill one innocent baby." (See video at ARTLaction.com.) James Dobson is violating this pledge by voting for John McCain for president, a Republican who has recently voted to authorize funding to kill some children by surgical abortion." - Christian Newswire

Dr. James Dobson made that statement 18 years ago. Believe it or not, he is human, and humans do make mistakes. Sometimes it is more important to do what you believe to be right rather than to hold dogmatically to something that you said almost two decades ago. For Dobson, it is the choice between a lot of babies being killed, or a lot more babies being killed. For him, the logical, but hard-reached conclusion is that he should support John McCain - being the most pro-life presidential candidate, not to mention his VP candidate, Sarah Palin.

"The ARLA [American Right to Life Action] says Focus founder Dr. James Dobson violated a pledge to God to never back a candidate who supports abortion. Dobson recently said on his radio show that he would "pull the lever for John McCain" if the election were held today" - Denver Post

They responded by protesting Dobson's statement, trespassing on Dobson's Focus on the Family premises, and refusing to come out until escorted out by the police. Get your act together ARTL. Why are you wasting time and effort on protesting the work of those who are more closely aligned to yourselves than almost any other group in existence? Sigh...

Jill Stanek commented,

"Sigh... I have good friends and respected pro-life colleagues who are members of American Right to Life. They did such a good job establishing credibility with their Sheets of Shame huge pro-life sign at the Denver National Convention, and then they had to do this. It's as if they can't handle respect." - Jill Stanek

To finish, here's an excerpt from Rebecca Orczeck's article, Incrementalism Vs. Purism In The Abortion Debate,

"Purists will not consider voting for a candidate who has a history of voting for any abortion legalization (even within the context of conceding some practices in order to get others outlawed) or does not support the complete and immediate end of abortion.

Incrementalists, on the other hand, work toward getting abortion completely outlawed, using smaller steps when necessary. They will vote for a candidate that is pro-life for the majority of their voting history.

The debate is basically about choosing the lesser of two evils; do you vote for someone who believes in outlawing most of abortion, or hold out for abortion to be abolished quickly, in one step?

Personally, I believe there are great intentions on both sides of the debate. I don’t know a single incrementalist who would turn down a complete abolition of abortion. In that way I believe we would all be purists, in an ideal situation. On the other side of the opinion, the purists have it right that incrementalism is a one step forward, two steps back dance." - Bella Online

Definitely worth reading the entire article there.

Pro-Life Chosen for Republican Vice President

Wonderful news in from John McCain's office. The word is that he has chosen the Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin to run with him for the White House. This is ridiculously good news, and here's why...

Palin's strong pro-life views were highlighted earlier this year when she and her husband Todd were informed she was carrying a Down syndrome child but chose to carry through with the pregnancy. "We've both been very vocal about being pro-life," Palin told the Associated Press. "We understand that every innocent life has wonderful potential."
The day after the birth, the Palins said in a statement: "We knew through early testing he would face special challenges, and we feel privileged that God would entrust us with this gift and allow us unspeakable joy as he entered our lives. We have faith that every baby is created for good purpose and has potential to make this world a better place. We are truly blessed." - WND

Sarah, a self-described hockey mom is 44 years old, a former beauty queen, and has five children - her last born in May, and with Down syndrome. The Democrats camp will be gnashing their teeth.

"McCain, who turns 72 today, decided on his choice for vice president early Thursday. Palin's selection was confirmed by campaign sources. Palin would become the first woman on a Republican presidential/vice presidential ticket, and could be attractive to disaffected Hillary Clinton supporters who haven't jumped onto the Obama bandwagon." - Detroit News

And in the UK, the Guardian reports,

"At 44, she is a youthful addition to the Republican ticket. Palin is an avid fisher and hunter, a member of the politically powerful National Rifle Association, and her husband has native-American roots." - The Guardian

A good deal more attractive than her Democrats counterpart if I may say so...

Update (2pm, 30 August): Doug Phillips discusses Sarah Palin's selection as Vice President

Update (3pm, 31 August): Voddie Baucham, "Did McCain Make a Pro-Family Pick? (great article)