sebb@pyuxss.UUCP (S Badian) (01/31/84)
Did anyone else out there hear the President's comment about abortion? He said something to the effect that the irradication of abortion in this country in one of his admin- istrations priorities. In other words, he came out extremely strongly against abortion. Reagan has always been against it, I would think, but I've never heard any strong statements on the subject before. I know abortion is a taboo subject here and I don't want to generate discussion on the rights and wrongs of abortion. But I would like to know how people feel this will effect Mr. Reagan's standing in the polls. Do you think this will become a re-election issue? With so much else happening, will it even be noticed? And will this further offend women voters, who already don't support him very strongly. A lot of folks are saying that women are going to make a much larger percentage of the voting public in the next presidential election. Sharon Badian
features@ihuxf.UUCP (M.A. Zeszutko) (02/01/84)
It will be interesting to see what Reagan's stand on abortion will do to the gender gap. I, too, wonder if it will be noticed. Mary Ann Zeszutko AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville
kwmc@hou5d.UUCP (K. W. M. Cochran) (02/01/84)
My understanding of Reagans comment on abortion was that he wishes to remove the NEED for so many abortions. That could mean sponsoring more responsible attitudes to sex, so that the number of unplanned pregnancies reduces. However Ronald Reagan does appear to dislike the idea of abortions. I personally like his attitudes, it will be interesting to see how they work out in legislation.
glass@houxf.UUCP (K.GLASS) (02/01/84)
Regardless of Reagan's personal views or values, I find it extremely inappropriate and ill-advised for the President to discuss his personal opinions during the Constitutionally appropriated State of the Union address. Utilizing this national address to preach is inexcusable and, in my opinion, intolerable. He should save his comments on religion, God and abortion for his campaign speeches (at his own expense). Ken Glass houxf!glass
ka@hou3c.UUCP (Kenneth Almquist) (02/02/84)
Reagan proposed (or at least announced his support for) a constitutional amendment a year or two ago. Chances are that the particular statement was included in the speech to ward off criticism from the right that Reagan isn't serious enough about abortion and other "social issues". My own guess is that Reagan is quite serious about his opposition to abortion but doesn't want to expend too much effort on such an unlikely undertaking. Kenneth Almquist
sebb@pyuxss.UUCP (S Badian) (02/02/84)
The statement I heard was that Reagan wants to make abortion illegal, by a constitutional amendment. I would figure that a statement like this by our President might generate a little more discussion in net.women concerning not the morality of abortion, but whether women will come out strongly against Reagan. Sharon Badian P.S. I (and many other people, I would think) would rather not see anyone saying whether they support President Reagan or not since this would only start the ole ball rolling on the abortion issue. This is not my aim, believe me.
fish@ihu1g.UUCP (Bob Fishell) (02/02/84)
> ... "inappropriate for the President to discuss personal opinions.." > ... "comments on religion, [etc.] for his campaign speeches" ... > ... "[not in the State of the Union address]"... Yeah, but everybody else since the constitution is guilty of the same. Ronnie's just a bit more explicit about it. The State of the Union address has never been anything more than a political sermon extolling the virtues of the current administration. Ronnie's just telling us what he thinks we want to hear. I'm surprised you take it seriously. It's never what they say, but what they do that you have to take seriously. Now, Ronnie's got combat troops and The Bomb all over the globe. THAT I take seriously. -- Bob Fishell ihnp4!ihu1g!fish
saquigley@watmath.UUCP (Sophie Quigley) (02/02/84)
> Regardless of Reagan's personal views or values, I find it extremely > inappropriate and ill-advised for the President to discuss his personal > opinions during the Constitutionally appropriated State of the Union > address. Utilizing this national address to preach is inexcusable > and, in my opinion, intolerable. He should save his comments on > religion, God and abortion for his campaign speeches (at his own > expense). > > Ken Glass > houxf!glass > This might sound like a stupid question, but what is the president supposed to talk about in the State of the Union? and why? I have often found in the past that such talks are usually very superficial. Maybe if a president starts discussing his personal opinion, that might make those messages more interesting. I usually do not agree with anything Mr Reagan has to say, and I didn't hear this particular State of the Union, so this is not a letter of support or dissent, just an enquiry. Sophie Quigley watmath!saquigley
woods@hao.UUCP (Greg Woods) (02/07/84)
For those in net.politics, this is a reply to an article posted
in net.women by pyuxss!sebb wondering how Reagan's recent speech on
abortion will affect his standing in the polls. Like her, I hope this
does not reignite the abortion debate. This is intended solely as a
comment on how his stand on the issue will affect the election. I do
not read net.politics, but I do read net.women.
All I can say is, I hope Reagan continues to be vehemenent in his
opposition to abortion. That way, we will be guaranteed that he will
offend a good portion of the voters (i.e. most women and a good
percentage of the men as well), and we will stand a better chance
of defeating him this year! Maybe we can yet avoid WWIII....
Greg "Closet Hippie" Woods
--
{ucbvax!hplabs | allegra!nbires | decvax!kpno | harpo!seismo | ihnp4!stcvax}
!hao!woodsariels@orca.UUCP (Ariel Shattan) (02/11/84)
I believe that Ronnie's statement and stand on abortion WILL be noticed (witness the mention in this newsgroup), and that, if anything, it'll work FOR him. However, I hope that other issues might overcome that gut level instinct that most people in America tend to have that if a person is not specifically against abortion, then s/he is FOR abortion (A stand I've NEVER heard ANYBODY take). I think that the buzzword of "abortion" will get tossed around a lot by the Republicans, especially the most conservative ones, in hopes that something so close to so many women's guts (you know what I mean) will dissuade them (the women) from thinking as closely about where the Reagan Administration failed them (again, the women). Ariel (Vote for Sonia Johnson! That'll show 'em!) Shattan ..!tektronix!orca!ariels