I Beg to Differ
On the campaign trail this weekend, Senator Obama touched on what is perhaps the most explosive question in an already-explosive issue: whether abortion is ever a good thing. Here’s what he said, addressing his support from many to the right of political center:
“It may be that those who have opposed abortion get a sense that I’m listening to them and respect their position even though where we finally come down may be different,” he told reporters at a news conference.
“The mistake that pro-choice forces have sometimes made in the past, and this is a generalization so it has not always been the case, has been to not acknowledge the wrenching moral issues involved in it,” he said.
“Most Americans recognize that what we want to do is avoid, or help people avoid, having to make this difficult choice. That nobody is pro-abortion, abortion is never a good thing.”
I’d agree that the abortion rights movement has gotten itself in trouble sometimes by refusing to acknowledge the complexities of a woman’s decision to terminate a pregnancy. But, really, Senator Obama, has the other side done that complexity thing any better? And do we gain anything by starting to accept and repeat their talking points? I think not. What’s more, saying — as many on the anti-choice side of things do — that abortion is never a good thing obscures the myriad reasons that women get abortions. Yes, abortion is often a fraught decision for women. But it is often a good decision — and the availability of abortion is a good thing. It’s a good thing for the already-living children of a woman who decides to get an abortion because she is struggling financially and wants to be sure that she can still put food on the table for her kids. Legal and accessible abortion is a good thing for the college student who decides to get an abortion because knows that she will not be able to finish her coursework and maintain her work-study job if she is pregnant or parenting — or for the high school student facing the same dilemma and having the same thoughts. Legal abortion is a good thing for the professional woman who — in large part because of the societal sexism that we have not yet figured out how to escape — accidentally becomes pregnant and feels that she has to choose the career she has always dreamed of or the child she wants some day but not right now. And abortion may be a good thing for a couple who are facing a long and painful labor to deliver an unviable child. Abortion is certainly complicated for many, many people. But that doesn’t mean it’s never a good thing. Obama betrayed his convictions by speaking that way on the trail today. (via zuzu).
April 14th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
You really need to lighten up… If I say that Kidney Dialysis is never a good thing, does that necessarily mean that I don’t believe it’s good to have available? Of course not. What Senator Obama was refering to is the fact that abortion is never a pleasant thing, and although he is aware of and acknowledges the difficult decision that a woman has to make regarding this issue, he is also aware that no one wants to actually back themselves into having to make this decision. e.g. I’ve never heard of a woman wanting to have sex and get pregnant just so she could have an abortion.
I really don’t think that Senator Obama was refering to the availability of abortion.
April 14th, 2008 at 5:06 pm
I’m not so sure, Greg. Seems to me that Obama (of whom I am a supporter) was saying to a conservative crowd that abortion is a necessary evil. I’m not sure I want to endorse a portrayal in those terms. Certainly women don’t get pregnant just to have abortions. But a lot of women with unplanned pregnancies think legal abortion is a good thing.
April 14th, 2008 at 6:52 pm
What I think Senator Obama is trying to do is to open up the conversation and keep it going so that each side of this issue will continue to dialogue. I listened to what he said at the Compassion forum and my sense is that he was trying to get folks to realize that this is a very touchy issue for lots of folks. In the end, he said it was really a personal choice that had to be made by each individual and that the government needs to back away and leave things where they lay today. Again, my sense is that he was hoping to get people to “walk in each others shoes” before rushing to some kind of judgement. He certainly is more open to listening to others opinions than any of the other candidates. He has also demonstrated that he is willing to listen and reform his opinions too.
April 15th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
I hope you’re right, Marc. I definitely have my hackles up a bit on this issue, because I am frustrated that politicians are constantly trying to make their support of abortion rights as lukewarm as possible. It’s frustrating to hear politicians call abortion “never a good thing” — even if it is intended to open dialogue and recognize the complexity of the issue — simply because, as I say in the post, I just don’t think that’s true. Yes, abortion is fraught and difficult…but it can be those things and good too. I do agree with you that Obama is trying to build consensus here (as he has done in other areas — and mostly with success). I just wish he could do it without that language.
April 16th, 2008 at 2:11 am
I’m always torn between wanting the politician I support to “lay it on the line” and speak the absolute, unvarnished truth and having he/she tone down the rhetoric somewhat so that they will appeal to a broader set of voters thus getting elected. The next steps are for he/she to move us in the correct (I can’t use right) direction! My sense is and my hope is that this is what Obama will do once he is elected.
April 16th, 2008 at 4:00 am
I sense he is trying to push the “prevention” line when he says we should help people “avoid” having to make a difficult decision. But I feel like anyone who brings up the word “morality” is really saying that keeping the pregnancy is always a more moral choice. There’s a sense of judgment underlying the discussion. The fact is, I know plently of women for whom abortion was a good choice and I’m not afraid to say it.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I totally agree that there always seems to be an underlying sense of judgment/morality that comes into play on the issue of abortion. I’ve always been bothered that some of the “loudest” and shrillest moralists are males. When it comes down to it we don’t have to make the ultimate decision and then live with the consequences, except as a more “intellectual” exercise. This is one reason why I think women particularly should be listened to on this issue.
I also agree that having an abortion is the correct choice — incest, rape, child would unduly suffer if born, health of the mother, etc. I guess I may be putting too fine a point on the discussion to use the words “good choice” as opposed to “correct choice”.
July 15th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I know I’m WAY late on this but anyway…
I’m definitely tired of democratic politicians using anti-choice/conservative rhetoric when discussing abortion. I thought the link/post below provided a really useful critique of Obama’s recent abortion-related comments, and also usefully provided a more progressive way to frame the issue, even while appealing to less pro-choice voters who still support comprehensive sex ed (as the vast majority of Americans do).
http://www.feministe.us/blog/archives/2008/07/05/obama-and-the-acceptable-abortion/
I don’t mind a dialogue on this issue, so long as the dialogue doesn’t
turn into pro-choice politicians expressing their stance reluctantly–
there are very significant moral reasons to support abortion access
(gender equality, women’s autonomy, and many more) which aren’t a
large enough part of the mainstream abortion discussion.