Why is abortion such a hot political topic to Republicans?

Question

I'm not saying it's not an important issue, but I think it gets more attention, given all the other problems in the U.S., than it deserves. What do you think?

Answer 1

Because if they said they were for lower taxes on millionaires and higher taxes on working people, they couldn't get elected.

Answer 2

I would agree that it gets more attention than other things that are perhaps more pressing, however, with that said, the Republican party thinks it is such an important issue because a lot of Republicans are evangelical Christians (as am I). A lot of Christians, including myself, think that abortion is a moral issue, it is killing a small child that God has created and entrusted to a woman. That woman, in their opinion is violating that. It is much more, to many Christians, it is murder of an innocent child.

Answer 3

Because if you believe it's murder, then it trumps most of the other problems. Over six million aborted in this country. If it's morally wrong, it amounts to a Holocaust. What could be worse? I think that Republicans have an ethical objection to "murder" and they are just people who happen to believe that we should defend those who are too weak or small to protect themselves. One of my college professors suggested that it's bc they want to control reproduction, but I don't think most people think that way. A lot of Republicans are Christians too and I think many Christians would find it very difficult to support abortion rights.

I just want to edit this and say, while I lean libertarian, this is not a "women's rights" issue. That's just the only way Democrats can justify it. They take something that is completely about one thing and turn it into something else and accuse pro-lifers of wanted to limit a woman's freedom. PLEASE. Nobody thinks like that. Ironically, the biggest supporters of a "woman's right" to kill her fetus are men ages 18-34.

I hate Republicans, but I really flipping hate Democrats.

Answer 4

I will say it's not an important issue.

It's an issue framed in extremes. The pro-choice crowd want to murder babies, and that gets most Republicans riled up. Similarly, the pro-life crowd plot to enslave women, which few Democrats can stomach.

You might think that a compromise would be in order, but so far no ones found a way to both murder babies, and enslave women - at least not on a scale sufficient to apeas both sides.

Answer 5

Watch what happens when Republicans can no longer evade the abortion issue.

After trying to have it all ways and looking silly in the process, Rudy Giuliani finally came out and restated his support for a woman’s right to choose.

If he sticks with his decision, Giuliani will end the free ride his party has enjoyed on an issue that’s supposed to be about morality, but has more often been used cynically to harvest votes.

Giuliani will also test the seriousness of those who claim that abortion is the decisive issue in the political choices they make.

Republicans are steadfast against using public money to pay for abortions. That leaves abortions available to better-off women who can afford them and who often vote Republican. It limits access only to low-income women, who rarely vote Republican.

What Republicans have stopped pushing, or even talking much about, is a constitutional amendment to repeal Roe v. Wade. They prefer gauzy language that sends soothing messages to pro-lifers without upsetting voters who favor abortion rights.

Giuliani would take any position as long as he could paste the stale and meaningless phrase “strict constructionist” over it—and shuck off responsibility to a judge.

If leaders of the anti-abortion movement don’t oppose Giuliani during the primaries with the same passion they summoned against Kerry, it will become clear that abortion is more an excuse to vote Republican than the foundational issue they claim it to be.

Answer 6

I think you see what you want to see. Democrats see this as an important issue as well. Just try to get a pro life candidate selected as the Democratic presidential candidate. They would never do it. The extremists control that party and they support abortion for all ages at all stages.

Answer 7

Abortion is a tragedy and it is legalized murder of the unborn.Most conservative voters are against it and most republicans ran on that platform just to get elected by conservative voters. They all let us down.Reagan and bush sr, were both in office a total of 12 yrs and chose supreme court justice replacements.They chose people who upheld roe vs wade.Some of the republicans who are pro abortion are being gutsy and honest enough to say so instead of lying to their voters.

Answer 8

L M...issues like this were, a few years back, referred to as buzz words. that is...issues that people can easily wrap their minds around with a minimum of thought. black or white issues that require little conversation to clarify your position. some other similar issues making the current rounds include...illegal immigrants, new taxes, gas prices, funding of the war, etc..the political parties and media use them to influence their constituents.

Answer 9

Is due to the Southern, pro-life, evangelical base which is a big base to the GOP. Abortion to them is a matter of life and death, to them is murder so they want to know that their candidates are strongly pro-life. The issue of abortion is very important and not to be undermined.

Answer 10

A belief that the right to life was listed first in the Declaration of Independence for a reason.

Answer 11

roe vs. wade will never be overturned so its a non-issue. but people have strong opinions one way or another. i will not base my vote on this issue, not because i dont care, but because im a man and do not choose for a women who has to go through the glorious 9 months to have a child. each family and situation is different. i try to only help and judge my own family members as a group and help any way i can regardless of the presidents views.