Tuesday, October 09, 2012

George Allen Stumbles On Abortion Questions

For nearly two decades George Allen has prostituted himself to some of the most extreme elements of the Christian Right, including here in Virginia, The Family Foundation ("TFF") which is affiliated with Focus on the Family and Family Research Council, a SPLC certified hate group.  Yesterday in his debate with Democrat Tim Kaine, Allen's past came back to bite him in the ass and his evasive answers  did little to convince listeners that everything Allen's opponents have been saying about him isn't true.  Even back in our law school days (we were classmates), Allen was a party boy follower who preferred to kiss up to people and avoid independent thought. As a Republican in Virginia that has translated to doing whatever TFF has dictated as if TFF head, Victoria Cobb, were some kind of whip wielding dominatrix.  About the only disingenuous thing Allen did not do was call the moderator a "macaca."  Politico looks at Allen's fumbling debate performance.  Here are highlights:

Republican George Allen is well aware he needs to close the gender gap with women in order to win the Virginia Senate race.    The severity of that challenge was on full display Monday night in his fourth debate with Democrat Tim Kaine.

When asked about proposals in the GOP-led General Assembly’s this year to require an ultrasound before women could get an abortion and to codify that life begins at conception — so-called “personhood” legislation — Allen punted and pivoted.

“Some of those issues are state issues on informed consent,” Allen replied, before shifting to contraceptive access, which was not brought up in the question. “I would never prohibit contraceptives. I think women ought to be able to have access and should be able to have access to contraceptives.”  Allen then said a “personhood” bill would help punish a woman’s attacker who kills or injures an unborn child.

Kaine dubbed the legislature’s attempts a “vivid and horrifying spectacle last year” and made clear Allen wasn’t comfortable addressing the issue.

“When the legislature tried to force women to have an invasive ultrasound proceeding against their will, medically unnecessary, at their own cost, I spoke out against it strongly. George Allen took no position on it,” Kaine charged.

He also hammered home that Allen touted support for a “personhood” amendment on his campaign website, warning that it “could jeopardize FDA-approved birth control.”

A Public Policy Polling survey released Monday showing Kaine ahead had him holding a 12-point advantage among women, 53 percent to 41 percent. His lead among men was pegged at just 2 points.

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