AP misrepresents McCain's positions on same-sex marriage, civil unions, abortion
SUMMARY: The AP reported that Sen. John McCain "has expressed limited support for the rights accorded couples in same-sex civil unions" and that he "oppos[es] a constitutional amendment to ban abortion." But the AP's assertions about McCain's views are contradicted by statements McCain himself has made, which the AP did not report.
On August 27, the Associated Press, in an article headlined "GOP takes hard line on abortion for its platform," reported that "[Sen. John] McCain opposes gay marriage but also is against a constitutional amendment against it. He has expressed limited support for the rights accorded couples in same-sex civil unions." The article also stated, "Apart from opposing a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, [McCain] is against most abortion rights and says he would favor overturning the Supreme Court decision affirming those rights." In fact, McCain has expressed support for a state constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and civil unions and for a federal constitutional amendment banning abortion in most cases.
In contrast with the AP's claims that McCain "is against a constitutional amendment against" same-sex marriage and that "[h]e has expressed limited support for the rights accorded couples in same-sex civil unions," McCain supported Arizona's Proposition 107, a constitutional amendment that would have banned same-sex marriage and civil unions. Further, as Media Matters for America has documented, McCain has said he would support a constitutional amendment if the Supreme Court required states to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states. McCain said on the March 13 edition of Hannity & Colmes: "I believe that states like mine and other states ... should amend our state constitutions. And I will stick to that position until such time, if ever, a higher court says that my state or another state has to recognize the other stat -- another status of marriage." He added, "I'm committed to maintaining the unique status of marriage between man and woman. I think it can best be accomplished, and in keeping with my federalist philosophy that states should do as much as possible to have that done at the state level. ... But if it is overturned by a superior court, I will then obviously support the other path." The AP has previously misrepresented McCain's position on same-sex marriage, as Media Matters has documented.
Additionally, contrary to the AP's claim that "[a]part from opposing a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, [McCain] is against most abortion rights and says he would favor overturning the Supreme Court decision affirming those rights," McCain has previously asserted that he supports a constitutional amendment banning abortion. As Media Matters documented, on the November 19, 2006, edition of ABC's This Week, host George Stephanopoulos said to McCain: "You're for a constitutional amendment banning abortion with some exceptions for life and rape and incest." McCain replied: "Rape, incest, and the life of the mother, yes." Stephanopoulos then asked: "So is President Bush, yet that hasn't advanced in the six years he's been in office. What are you going to do to advance a constitutional amendment that President Bush hasn't done?" McCain said: "I don't think a constitutional amendment is probably going to take place, but I do believe that it's very likely or possible that a Supreme Court should -- could overturn Roe v. Wade, which would then return these decisions to the states, which I support. ... I'm a federalist. Just as I believe that the issue of gay marriage should be decided by the states, so do I believe that we would be better off by having Roe v. Wade returned to the states."
From the August 27 Associated Press article:
Sharp disagreements still exist in the party on social issues, but there appeared to be little taste for complicating McCain's chances by mounting a symbolic platform fight as the document is hashed out in Minneapolis.
The platform will be adopted at the Republican National Convention next week in St. Paul, Minn., after the committee finishes with it Wednesday at the Minneapolis Convention Center.
McCain opposes gay marriage but also is against a constitutional amendment against it. He has expressed limited support for the rights accorded couples in same-sex civil unions. Apart from opposing a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, he is against most abortion rights and says he would favor overturning the Supreme Court decision affirming those rights.
Jukebox John changes his position everytime the wind blows, so how can this be misinformation? ;)
Snoopy, priceless!!!!!!!!
Wrong guy Onion...that was Edwards/Breck Girl's theme song.
;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AE847UXu3Q
Snoop, FYI...McCain was interviewed on KDKA Morning Show. When asked about being out of touch with the average Amercian worker trying to make ends meet, the other POW informed the hosts that he knows what it is like to not have a house, table and chair etc. He is right but hates to talk about it.
KDKA1020 Morning show...
Of course McCain doesn't support same sex marriage or Civil Unions. It's a well-known fact that they lead to more abortions.
I am sure AA will be here shortly to document that fact for us.
Gee, what other path could he be referring to?
23. McCain wanted to change the Republican Party platform to protect abortion rights in cases of rape and incest. Now he doesn’t.
58. McCain went from saying he would not support repeal of Roe v. Wade to saying the exact opposite.
And from his campaign website:
However, the reversal of Roe v. Wade represents only one step in the long path toward ending abortion. Once the question is returned to the states, the fight for life will be one of courage and compassion - the courage of a pregnant mother to bring her child into the world and the compassion of civil society to meet her needs and those of her newborn baby. The pro-life movement has done tremendous work in building and reinforcing the infrastructure of civil society by strengthening faith-based, community, and neighborhood organizations that provide critical services to pregnant mothers in need. This work must continue and government must find new ways to empower and strengthen these armies of compassion. These important groups can help build the consensus necessary to end abortion at the state level.
Looks like you're wrong again...
I get my internet service via Comcast. More often than not, their news headlines are anti-Dem, anti-Obama. That means that I see these neg headlines each and every time that I go online. They run pieces from AP, Reuters and others. When I open the story, I find that the negative ones are most likely to be from AP, though not always. Often, Comcast doesn't identify the piece as commentary or analysis even though that’s what it is. How many millions of other Americans are subjected to the same rightwing slant daily when they go online via Comcast? Comcast simply lists it as "News." For example, they are running a 'story' this morning that is nothing more than a biased analysis of proposals Obama outlined last night in his (fantastic) speech. It is HORRIBLE! They manage to fault Obama’s health care proposal even while acknowledging that it is nearly identical to the Massachusetts model, which has been largely successful. I plan to write a letter to Comcast to complain. I concur with others here who have said that corporate info-tainment whores are unfairly lending their support to McSame and the Repugs. See http://www.comcast.net/articles/news-politics/20080828/CVN.Obama.Promises.and.Problems/