Clark seeks to clarify comments on abortion

By BETH FOUHY
Associated Press Writer
February 5, 2004

CHATTANOOGA — Democratic presidential contender Wesley Clark on Thursday sought to clarify his comments from a day earlier in which he told a Tennessee voter, "I don't believe in abortion."

"I would hope that it would be done only on rare occasions, but it's a woman's right to choose. It's a private matter and I support the Supreme Court. I support Roe v. Wade. And I support a woman's right to choose," Clark told reporters as he campaigned in the state.

The retired Army general created a stir in New Hampshire with a series of comments on abortion, telling a newspaper's editorial board that he was pro-choice and "life begins with a mother's decision."

Within days of those comments, Clark told reporters in New Hampshire that he supported a woman's right to have an abortion "as modified by" a 1992 court case that allows states to impose limited restrictions.

more: http://www.gomemphis.com/mca/national_politics/article/0,1426,MCA_15116_2632117,00.html

freedom. I am in the same camp. I would never want to have anything to do with an abortion but it's not my place to tell others if my morals are better than theirs. This should help Clark in the South because a LOT of people have the same feelings about this.

This man is out of control and thoroughly unprincipled.

He has no excuse of not having known that Edwards and Kerry both voted and heroically fought against the Bush tax cuts, so it was a lie.

We have nothing to go on with this guy but his word, since he has virtually no applicable track record. Now that he's deliberately lied (yes, that was a dark, dastardly lie) about a critical issue, he needs to go away. It's like preemption: it only works if it's correct.

Who does he think he is, Dean?

and they both want to keep them. It sounds like election year pandering.

This thread is about Clark's position on abortion.

Let's talk about he abortion issue then. He's trying to have it both ways here by courting those who are opposed to abortion with a clever deflection. Is he going to go back and tidy up the misrepresentation he's done, or is he just going to try to be all things to all people and try to skate?

He has no record on virtually anything. We only have his word to go by, and his word is more than just suspect. Was he for the IWR or against it? It seems that if he'd recommend to a legislator to vote for it, he might entertain doing it himself.

Calmly, for a moment, let's reflect on things like this.

I'm deeply upset with this man now, and it's amplified by the fact that the person who his efforts are hurting most is the person I feel has the best chance to beat Junior and the person whose policies I like the best.

The abortion statement is mealy-mouthed politicking. At least he doesn't huff with outrage--like Dean's done in similar situations--when being called to account, but he needs to make amends.

If he just thinks a "gosh, I'm sorta sorry" is okay, then he's still willing to deliberately deceive those voters and get votes he doesn't deserve. If he's serious, then his commitment to sustaining Roe is suspect. He's being colossally amateurish, and it's disturbing.

Who in their right mind is "pro" abortion? I am "pro" choice, which is EXACTLY what the General has said from day one. To say otherwise is intellectually dishonest.