Both democratic presidential hopefuls Senators John Edwards and John Kerry both did not vote on the partial birth abortion legislation.

Shows these guys can't make decisions on tough issues. Or they don't want to have to answer questions regarding this subject while running for president. Pretty weak if you ask me.

Question for debate: Does Kerry and Edward's no vote on Partial Birth abortion show they cannot make decisions in tough situations or is politics simply coming into play?

It would be foolish of either of them to isolate half the country by voting one way or the other. Politices are most likely the only reason why they didn't vote, as it is unlikely for either to not have a strong opinion either way.

That's politics. Quite simply, to win the presidency you have to appear moderate. I think it was smart for them to not vote. Abortion is a tough issue with no good answer (in the political sense). I think this shows a real desire on their parts to win the presidency.

Yes it is politics. But would either of you vote for somebody who can't make a tough decision? Seems like the easy way out to me.

This was not a vote on abortion, but specifically on partial-birth abortion, which a big majority of people are against.

Neither of them wanted to alienate the far left of the Democrat party. This has nothing to do with the general electorate, it has to do with the Democratic constituency (specifically those most likely to vote in the Primaries).

To me, it's a cop out. A President must be willing to take a stand on tough issues, and then be prepared to back up his (or her) position. Neither of these gentlemen were willing to do that.

(Does anyone know whether or not they were even present for the vote? One tactic is to be "out of town" at the time of a controversial vote. Maybe they used that as an out...)

Abstaining doesn't show leadership. Gephardt is the worst Presidential candidate in this regard (I think he votes less than half the time, if I remember correctly).

Actually, over half our country voted for a guy who couldn't make a tough decision. My bad, actually, I mean less than half our country + 5/9 Supreme Court Justices.

Politicians can't do the things that the people don't like until they are already elected.

However, I'd like to know what I was getting into. I would never vote for an anti-choice candidate, and with candidates these days avoiding answering such issues, it is difficult not to accidently elect a wolf in sheep's clothing.

About not making tough decisions - I trusted the current administration to make the tough decisions when I didn't have enough evidence to decide for myself. I didn't have the facts they did. They lied to me about the urgent need to go to war. I trusted them. I'd almost rather have someone in office who can't make tough decisions than someone who makes the wrong ones and lies to me while doing it.

Imo, it shows they are merely competing for votes from anti-conservative voters.

Does Kerry and Edward's no vote on Partial Birth abortion show they cannot make decisions in tough situations or is politics simply coming into play?

Of course it's politics. The thing that angers me most is by choosing not to vote they did not represent their constituency.

I bet this is something this forum could come together on - our Congresspeople missing votes for unacceptable reasons.

Actually, it shows that y'all don't read the paper. Pretty sloppy, if you ask me. You're right on Edwards, wrong on Kerry. I expect everyone who slammed this will do the honorable thing- especially Sleeper- and mail every Kerry supporter a letter of apology vowing to check your facts better.



washington Times article

I applaud Kerry for at least voting. Double applaud him for going against the will of the people...


It does take guts to stand on your principles when you are in the minority.

John Edwards was asked about this on "Hardball". He claimed he couldn't make the vote due to scheduling. He did, however, state that he would have voted "no" because he would not condone the bill without an exception for the life of the mother.

I don't know if he was being truthful about his reason for missing the vote or if that was merely a political play, however, the fact that he stated his reasons on a very public TV show and in front of a college crowd, may be more public to many than his actual voting record. I will say that missing the vote showed he had greater priorities elsewhere, but the vote was not close.

Well considering I got my news from a local ABC affiliate on lunch break while driving, I don't owe any Kerry supporters an apology. He's gonna lose anyway, so what does it matter .

What I did find odd are different sites are reporting different total vote numbers for the senate. Some are 64-33, and some show 64-34. Odd

THOMAS is reporting a NAY vote for Kerry, and that's the official word I think. There were two Senators who didn't vote, Hutchinson and Edwards, so I would go with the 64-34 tally. Interestingly enough, later on a cloture vote over the Class Action lawsuit bill shows that Kerry was absent for that one. Perhaps your local ABC station got the two votes confused?

I can see how someone would abstain from voting on this one. A 'no' vote would label them as an "advocate of infanticide" by opponents, and a 'yes' vote is the equivalent of usurping the doctor's judgement (regarding the health of his/her patient) by politicians in Washington. Some choice.

I agree that it is a tough issue to vote, but that is politics for you in a nutshell. If the issue were an obvious black or white, there would be no real need for a vote. But the eternal lingering in the gray area will ultimately yield no change, and no change equals stale politics, disgruntled constituents, and lack of progress. It is a vote unhappily made, but a necessary evil. I believe it is at least a possibility that Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina sidestepped the issue for political intentions. But then, I am just labeling as well. "Infanticide advocate," "doctor's advice usurper," or "political sidestepper." How can you win?



Edited to make text black. Please use color for emphasis only. -Jaime

The fact that there even was a vote is what's important. The Congress is supposed to make the law, not the judiciary. It's about time we return that power to the branch of gov't where it belongs.

Simply Politics. It shows the difference of most democrats and republicans.

Kerry and Edwards are both Liberals, of course they would not want to vote for the partial birth abortion ban. AS for most liberals thats how it is.