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Bill Richardson on Abortion

Democratic Governor (NM); Secretary of Commerce-Designee


Stem cell research as part of preventive healthcare

My health care plan [focuses on] prevention. It’s starting early with kids. It’s getting rid of junk food in schools, as I did in New Mexico; a healthy breakfast for every child, mandatory phys ed, research into Alzheimer’s, into cancer, into stem cell.
Source: 2007 YouTube Democratic Primary debate, Charleston SC , Jul 23, 2007

Supreme Court model cannot be justice who dissented on Roe

Q: You were asked in the debate who your model Supreme Court justice was, you said Whizzer White, who is Byron White, appointed by President Kennedy. He wrote the dissent against Roe v. Wade for abortion rights. When you were told that the next day, you said, “That couldn’t have happened.” But it did.

A: I checked up afterwards. White was for the right to choose, but he dissented on the opinion. When I was asked, I shouldn’t have said that. I’ve been in public life 25 years. You’re going to find a lot of these.

Q: You disagree with him on Roe v. Wade. Let’s do a do-over. Who is your model Supreme Court justice?

A: I would say two: Ruth Bader Ginsberg, who wrote the dissenting opinion on the abortion issue, who I think is a distinguished scholar. Earl Warren, you know, who led a number of civil rights efforts. But, you know, I did not know that record of Whizzer White when I said that.

Q: So we’re off Whizzer White now?

A: Well, yeah.

Source: Meet the Press: 2007 “Meet the Candidates” series , May 27, 2007

Resist any effort to weaken a woman’s right to choose

I’ve been at the forefront with issues that affect women. I fought discriminatory wage policies in the federal government, supported legislation to help women-owned businesses, and voted to fund breast and cervical cancer screening. I have also resisted any effort to weaken a woman’s right-to-choose.
Source: Campaign web site, RichardsonForGovernor.com, “Priorities” , Oct 24, 2002

Protect the reproductive rights of women.

Richardson co-sponsored protecting the reproductive rights of women