The Boston Globe: on Abortion


Angus King: Favors abortion rights; keep Planned Parenthood funding

King, who also favors abortion rights and opposes efforts to strip funding from Planned Parenthood, says the GOP's focus on abortion laws, women's health providers and contraception is "a huge mistake."
Source: Boston Globe, "Enter King" Apr 16, 2012

Sarah Palin: Rejected sympathy for Down’s Syndrome son, as gift from God

She is opposed to abortion except to save the life of the mother. When she learned that her infant son would be born with Down’s Syndrome, she said she never considered ending the pregnancy. When Trig was born in April, she penned a note to loved ones in the voice of “Trig’s creator, Your Heavenly Father,” rejecting sympathy for her son.
Source: Boston Globe, “A valentine to evangelical base”, p. A12 Aug 30, 2008

Sarah Palin: Opposes embryonic stem cell research

According to an October 2006 profile in the Anchorage Daily News, Palin opposes stem cell research, physician-assisted suicide, and state health benefits for same-sex partners.
Source: Boston Globe, “A valentine to evangelical base”, p. A12 Aug 30, 2008

Kerry Healey: $1B for stem cell research is irresponsible

Healey blasted Gabrieli’s proposal to have the state invest $1 billion in stem cell and other scientific research through the sale of bonds, calling it “pretty irresponsible” and “a decision just made in the dark.”

“I don’t think he understands how the budget works here in Massachusetts, and obviously he can’t be trusted to control the budget,” she said.

“First, Healey was against stem cell research,” said a Gabrieli spokesman. “Then she was for it. Now, it sounds like she’s against it again.

Source: Andrea Estes in Boston Globe, “Shifts stance on immigrants” May 17, 2006

Tom Reilly: Supports abortion rights

On social issues, [Reilly’s selected running mate, State Rep. Marie] St. Fleur has supported same-sex marriage, as does Reilly, although he came late to his position, much to the anger of some gay political activists. The two also support abortion rights, but differ on the death penalty. St. Fleur opposes capital punishment, while Reilly, once an opponent, now supports it. She also supports charter schools.
Source: Frank Phillips, Boston Globe, “rising political star” Jan 31, 2006

John Kerry: Kerry staunchly resists restrictions on abortions

Kerry staunchly resisted restrictions on abortions, including a ban on the ‘partial birth abortions
Source: Complete Biography By The Boston Globe, p.293 Apr 27, 2004

Mitt Romney: Endorsed legalization of RU-486

Source: Boston Globe, review of 1994 campaign issues Mar 21, 2002

JoAnn Sprague: Pro-choice

Sprague’s aides were positively gleeful over this week’s polls showing state Senator Stephen F. Lynch of South Boston with a commanding lead on the Democratic side. They believe that Lynch, who opposes abortion, can be beaten by a moderate Republican in the mold of former Governor William Weld - socially liberal yet fiscally conservative. “I will receive support from people who support choice for women, and who don’t have a pro-choice candidate,” she said. “I am going to get that vote. Absolutely.”
Source: Boston Globe, p. B4 Sep 7, 2001

Steve Lynch: Pro-life

[Lynch’s GOP opponent] Sprague’s aides believe that Lynch, who opposes abortion, can be beaten by a moderate Republican in the mold of former Governor William F. Weld - socially liberal yet fiscally conservative.
Source: Boston Globe, p. B4 Sep 7, 2001

John Paul Stevens: Favors abortion rights

Stevens favors abortion rights, affirmative action, and defendants’ rights. His 1995 opinion struck down state term limits on candidates for congress.
Source: (X-ref government) Reuters article in Boston Globe, p. A45 Dec 1, 2000

Joseph Lieberman: Parental consent with judicial override; Gore agrees

Gore & Lieberman have some differences on abortion, always a thorny campaign issue. Lieberman said yesterday that he favors a law requiring parental consent for minors seeking abortions. His spokesman said Lieberman would insist on a judicial bypass provision, under which a judge could allow the abortion over the parent’s objections.

Gore, however, is opposed to parental consent laws. He told reporters yesterday that he could, however, back a parental notification law that allowed a doctor or judge to offer a waiver of the notification in some cases. But a Gore spokesman said Gore generally opposes even parental notification laws because they are a ‘’back-door’’ threat to abortion rights. Campaign aides, noting that Lieberman has a 99% ranking from NARAL, said both Gore and his running mate are adamantly in favor of a right to abortion.

Source: Susan Milligan, Boston Globe, p. A1 Aug 10, 2000

Alan Keyes: Withdraws; job done since GOP & V.P. are both pro-life

Talk-radio host Alan Keyes will officially end his long-shot campaign for the Republican presidential nomination next week, but aides said the well-spoken conservative has not yet decided whether to endorse George W. Bush.

“His work is done now that the Republican Party has adopted a pro-life platform and pro-life running mate,” said a Keyes spokesperson. Bush announced Tuesday that Dick Cheney would be his vice presidential running mate.

Source: Reuters, in Boston Globe, p. A15 Jul 27, 2000

Steve Forbes: Dialogue to persuade instead of impose

Forbes said that he is opposed to abortion, but that Americans need to talk to each other about the subject. “We can’t impose views, we need to persuade,” he said.
Source: Boston Globe, p. A21, “Political Notebook” Nov 18, 1999

Orrin Hatch: Appoint conservative judges without litmus tests

One of Hatch’s prime reasons for running is that the next president could nominate three Supreme Court justices and a large number of federal judges. While Hatch said he does not believe in litmus tests for judges on issues such as abortion, he has made it clear he prefers conservatives for the bench.
Source: Boston Globe, p. A-11, “Hatch sees opportunity” Jun 28, 1999

  • The above quotations are from Media coverage of MA political races in The Boston Globe.
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2020 Presidential contenders on Abortion:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)
Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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