Why is abortion a major issue upon which people make their Presidential voting decisions?

Question

The President of the United States has no authority to outlaw abortion. NONE. And we should be looking to our religious leaders, not to our political leaders, for moral leadership. So it really shouldn't matter how a Presidential candidate feels about abortion. So why is this such a major issue?

Answer 1

For most people, its sort of the measuring stick of morality. Quality vs. quantity of life, Christian fundamentalism, new morality, so may ideologies come into play, and its a pretty basic issue that everyone understands. Asking where someone stands on abortion can usually give you a quicker insight into their ethics and morals than other moral-dilemma questions, like the ones where you're stranded on an island, and there's only one parachute, who do you give it to, or whatever, you know one of those things. Instead of deciphering some kind of morality test, you can just say "Abortion? What do you think?" and you can immediately begin your judging.

Although I said that people do this, I do think its sad that people would actually use that to judge a candidate, though. You're right, and I keep trying to explain this to people, the president has no control over the abortion law. His feelings about it have no legal vent, so what's the worry? I think its more of one of those political issues where candidates and their supporters can yell and point fingers to get voters riled up one way or the other. Even if people feel that they can judge a candidate's morals based on this issue, its so much more complicated than a lot of people like to admit that we should really start cutting this issue out of our political agenda.

Leave abortion where it is; don't like it, don't get one. People say that flippantly but I think its actually a fair statement.

Answer 2

Because it is a "life or death" issue. Morality cannot be compartmentalized, such as saying "he's a great man and he believes in abortion". One might as well say "Adolf Hitler was a great man except for starting a World War and annihilating nearly 6 million Jews".

Americans seem to want their cake and eat it too. Abortion allows individuals to maintain a high life style but the consequence will be that such lifestyles will crash with the selfish generation spawning them. The coming economic crunch will devour Social Security, overwhelm the health system, and force us to alternative energy sources for a numbers-depleted population.

"Moral leadership" has to come from every individual American, not just from religious or political leaders. If we choose to reduce our own population for "convenience and personal freedom" we have no one to blame but ourselves for the subsequent evils. A "moral" President would be most refreshing...and vital.

Answer 3

Yes, it is starting to. However, not for the presence of the Palin in and of itself. I am still undecided, however, I have been playing close attention to how the Democratic party has been treating women in the wake of the Hillary screw job by Obama and the DNC. I have not been favorably impressed at the reaction since the Palin nomination on the part of the extreme ultraliberal left. Therefore, for the moment at least I am starting to lean toward voting McCain. The Dems need to muzzle those shrill old hypocritcal harpies and their too overtly sexist attacks. The fact that Obama seems incapable of doing this does not depose well for his leadership qualities. The more these attacks continue, the meaner the Obama camp seems. So, for the moment at least, if I were to vote tomorrow I would likely vote for McCain, and not because Sarah Palin is Sarah Palin, but rather because I do not agree that a generational long struggle to better women's causes can be just thrown into the toilet when it is politically expedient.

Answer 4

Like I just said a little while ago on another question, the voters who care mostly about abortion are thinking, not about whether the Presidential candidate they are voting for (or against) is opposed to abortion, but whether or not the candidate is likely to appoint people to the Sup. Ct. who will or will not overturn the precedent of Roe v. Wade (and Planned Parenthood v. Casey).

Answer 5

Because abortion is wrong, a sin and we want a morale leader. I think a president that respects the life of the unborn, the least of them would care for all people. If he/she has no respect for these unborn what makes you think he/she will others?

Answer 6

POTUS has the authority to appoint judges to the Federal benches and circuits where abortion and other civil rights cases are decided - not to mention the Supreme Court, where they are ultimately adjudicated on appeal.

That's why it's a major issue.

C'mon, BITG - I know (and like) your posts and answers and I know that you know this about abortion and politics, AND that you base your vote on this, too.

Answer 7

They DON'T have the authority to outlaw abortion. Where they DO have an impact is on nominating people to the Supreme Court, who COULD change the laws on abortion. While not the only issue to decide who to elect, it is AN issue.

Thank You for answering my question BTW!!!

Answer 8

I'm not saying the guy i vote for has to promise to outlaw anything, but i want a candidate who has similar opinions to mine about many issues, much less abortion.

Answer 9

Because using a divisive issue like abortion in the forefront of political discussion makes all the other important issues fade into the background. And nobody notices what the politicians are doing.

Divide and conquer. And it's worked.

Answer 10

It's called a "wedge issue" political types use it all the time. Also, many times people believe this is a moral issue and many times this is how they decide what party to belong to and what president to vote for. That is why many policticians claime to be "chrisitian" people in order to appear to have a moral compass, when sadly many times they really don't as we have seen with the current administration.