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Obama picks Joe Biden as VP - so what’s his record?
By Daniel McConchie | August 23, 2008
Here I am sitting up way too late…listening to rock music and reviewing voter guide program applications…when The Wall Street Journal sends me an email announcing that Delaware Senator Joe Biden has been tapped by Barack Obama to be second place on his Presidential ticket. I hurriedly turn on my Blackberry and check - no text message from Barack. Bah.
So, since I’m now too wired for sleep, let’s see what Biden’s statements have been on abortion.
I still am opposed to public funding for abortion. It goes to the question of whether or not you’re going to impose a view to support something that is not a guaranteed right but an affirmative action to promote.
Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Apr 29, 2007
Q: You supported the ban on partial-birth abortions or late-term abortions.
A: I did and I do.
Q: And the Supreme Court came and basically upheld that ban, and you criticized the Supreme Court.
A: They upheld the ban, and then they engaged in what we lawyers call dicta that is frightening. You had an intellectually dishonest rationale for an honest justification for upholding the ban. I know this is going to sound arcane–they blurred the distinction between the government’s role in being involved in the first day and the ninth month. They became paternalistic, talking about the court could consider the impact on the mother and keeping her from making a mistake. This is all code for saying, “Here we come to undo Roe v. Wade.” What they did is not so much the decision, the actual outcome of the decision, it’s what attended the decision that portends for a real hard move on the court to undo the right of privacy. That’s what I’m criticizing about the court’s decision.
Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Apr 29, 2007
Q: You have changed your position on abortion. When you came to the Senate, you believed that Roe v. Wade was not correctly decided and that you also believed the right of abortion was not secured by the Constitution. Why did you change your mind?
A: Well, I was 29 years old when I came to the US Senate, and I have learned a lot. Look, I’m a practicing Catholic, and it is the biggest dilemma for me in terms of comporting my religious and cultural views with my political responsibility.
Q: Do you believe that life begins at conception?
A: I am prepared to accept my church’s view. I think it’s a tough one. I have to accept that on faith. That’s why the late-term abortion ban, where there’s clearly viability.
Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series Apr 29, 2007
Q: As president would you have a specific litmus test question on Roe v. Wade that you would ask of your nominees for the high court?
A: I strongly support Roe v. Wade. I wouldn’t have a specific question but I would make sure that the people I sent to be nominated for the Supreme Court shared my values; and understood that there is a right to privacy in the United States Constitution. That’s why I led the fight to defeat Bork, Roberts Alito, and Thomas.
Source: 2007 South Carolina Democratic primary debate, on MSNBC Apr 26, 2007
And here’s how Biden has voted on life issues:
On prohibiting minors crossing state lines for abortion - NO
Reference: Bill S.Amdt.4335 to S.Con.Res.70 ; vote number 08-S071 on Mar 13, 2008
On expanding research to more embryonic stem cell lines - YES
Reference: Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act; Bill S.5 & H.R.3 ; vote number 2007-127 on Apr 11, 2007
On notifying parents of minors who get out-of-state abortions - NO
Reference: Child Interstate Abortion Notification Act; Bill S.403 ; vote number 2006-216 on Jul 25, 2006
On criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other crime - NO
Reference: Unborn Victims of Violence Act; Bill S.1019/HR.1997 ; vote number 2004-63 on Mar 25, 2004
On maintaining ban on Military Base Abortions - NO
Reference: Bill S 2549 ; vote number 2000-134 on Jun 20, 2000
On banning partial birth abortions - YES
Reference: Partial Birth Abortion Ban; Bill S. 1692 ; vote number 1999-340 on Oct 21, 1999
On banning human cloning - NO
Reference: Motion to invoke cloture on motion to proceed to S. 1601; Bill S. 1601 ; vote number 1998-10 on Feb 11, 1998
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