Abortion is the issue that shouldn't be. So many more things call for the urgent attention of America's political leaders. For this to be deemed a major issue is beyond ludicrous. But, it's what you get when a party takes hold of a religious issue and makes it one of its corner piece. In the case of abortion, that party is the GOP.
On most issues, Trump gets it right. But on abortion he was revealed to be a naif. How was it possible for a candidate, so pitch perfect, to flounder on the shoals of abortion? My guess is that on this issue he really, and truly, isn't a true believer. He couldn't care less about the abortion issue. He knows however that this an important issue in GOP politics. He has no choice. He's got to be against abortion. But, note: he was the only GOP candidate to speak in behalf of the good works of Planned Parenthood.
In answering Chris Matthews question, Trump tried to be logical. If abortion is a crime, then those engaged in it are criminals. If you drive a getaway car, you become guilty of any crimes, such as the murder of the liquor store being robbed, that might be perpetrated by the holdup gang. Merely being the driver does not excuse you.
Trump applied this same logic to abortion. If it's a crime then all who participate in it are guilty, and must be punished. But, while logical, this line of thinking is unacceptable to the American public. Americans know that a woman seeking an abortion is generally someone who's troubled and in considerable distress. It would be cruel to punish this woman despite the fact that she undoubtedly instigated the commission of a crime. Nope, she's not guilty, nor, for that matter is the nurse who assisted in the commission of this crime. Only the doctor. (The getaway driver gets off Scot free.)
It's all nonsense. But it's the kind of nonsense politicians engage in when they try to cater to a misguided public. It's a game Trump had little experience with and down he went.
The real answer to the abortion question -- in my opinion -- is to decriminalize it. If it's something engaged in by two consenting adults then, as I see it, it's nobody else's business. Government should stay out of it. Isn't that what Conservatives are always saying: Keep government out of places where they do't belong.
The right-to-life crowd then goes into its "the fetus is a human being" chant. Again, another bit of nonsense. This nonsense will be addressed in the posting to follow shortly.
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