2012 N.J. Senate debates: on Abortion


Joe Kyrillos: Pro-life in my affairs; pro-choice for society

When the debate turned to abortion, Kyrillos drew a distinction between his private and public lives. "I'm not exactly sure when exactly life begins. I know for me, I have a pro-life thought process," he said in response to a question asking when he believed life first begins during pregnancy. "I'm pro-life in terms of how I conduct my own affairs," he said, adding, "I'm pro-choice for society at large."

"I have now been in three debates, and I've heard three different answers" from Kyrillos about abortion, said Menendez, who added he is pro-choice. "What I don't believe women in this state can afford is someone who goes to the Senate and is multiple-choice," he said.

Source: The Bergen Record on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 14, 2012

Robert Menendez: I'm pro-choice, not multiple-choice

When the debate turned to abortion, Kyrillos drew a distinction between his private and public lives. "I'm not exactly sure when exactly life begins. I know for me, I have a pro-life thought process," he said in response to a question asking when he believed life first begins during pregnancy. "I'm pro-life in terms of how I conduct my own affairs," he said, adding, "I'm pro-choice for society at large."

"I have now been in three debates, and I've heard three different answers" from Kyrillos about abortion, said Menendez, who added he is pro-choice. "What I don't believe women in this state can afford is someone who goes to the Senate and is multiple-choice," he said.

Source: The Bergen Record on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 14, 2012

Joe Kyrillos: Supports parental notifications and waiting periods

The Menendez campaign has accused Kyrillos of changing his position on abortion rights--he says he supports them but marked "pro life" on a questionnaire last year--and wanting to overturn popular portions of the Affordable Care Act.

The campaign has pressed for women's votes, noting that Mr. Kyrillos declined to vote on a resolution supporting an equal-pay act.

Mr. Kyrillos, more velveteen and affable, does not come off as an extremist. He said that he was unfamiliar with the questionnaire, but that he supported parental notifications and waiting periods for abortions--positions, he said, most voters also support.

At the debate on Thursday, Kyrillos declined to answer when asked if he would support a Supreme Court nominee who would most likely vote to overturn the law barring federal recognition of same-sex marriage. He said only that he would give a fair hearing to a president's nominees.

Source: Associated Press on 2012 N.J. Senate debate Oct 5, 2012

  • The above quotations are from 2012 New Jersey Senate debate.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Abortion.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Joe Kyrillos on Abortion.
  • Click here for more quotes by Bob Menendez on Abortion.
Candidates and political leaders on Abortion:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 04, 2018