Partial birth ban ok if exceptions made for woman’s health January 23, 2004
Posted by faithinwes in civil liberties, health care.comments closed
Clark said he supports a woman’s right to an abortion within the confines of a Supreme Court ruling that allows states to impose limited restrictions on when the procedure can occur. Clark’s remarks appeared to refine those he made earlier this month, when he suggested that there should be no time limit imposed on a woman seeking an abortion. In his latest statement, Clark repeated that he supported “Roe v. Wade as modified by Casey,” a reference to a 1992 ruling that allows states to impose limited restrictions. Asked when Roe v. Wade stipulates that life begins, Clark said: “I’m not going to get into a debate on viability. Viability is a standard determined by a doctor, and I’m not going to get into a specific time frame.” Clark also said he would support legislation banning partial birth abortions as long as an exception is included based on the health of the woman. Earlier this month, Clark suggested that no time limit should be placed on a woman’s right to an abortion.
Source: Paul Schwartzman, Washington Post, Page A10 Jan 23, 2004
Abortion: An issue of human rights, not of Catholic doctrine January 22, 2004
Posted by faithinwes in civil liberties, faith and spirit, health care.comments closed
Q: As a Catholic, can you clarify your pro-choice position on abortion and describe how you reconcile that with Catholic doctrine?
CLARK: I reconcile it with my own beliefs. And I do believe in the right of conscience. And I support a woman’s right to choose protected by law. I fought for human rights in Bosnia. I fought for human rights in Kosovo. And I will fight for human rights in America. And no one is going to take away a woman’s right to choose when I’m president of the United States. It’s that simple.
Q: Can you clarify how you reconcile that with Catholic doctrine?
CLARK: I understand what the Catholic doctrine is. But I have freedom of conscience. I believe that the right to choose is a right that should be protected by law. I believe the decision about issues like this are the issues that have to be worked between a woman and her family, her god, her doctor. And as much as I respect the opinion of the Catholic Church, in this case, I don’t support it. It’s that simple.
Source: Democratic 2004 Primary Debate at St. Anselm College Jan 22, 2004
Clark Slams Media Consolidation January 6, 2004
Posted by faithinwes in 2004 platform, media reform.comments closed
Another Democratic presidential candidate is speaking out against further media consolidation. General Wesley Clark says measures to protect localism and promote diversity in media ownership need to be reinstated, according to a report in AdAge.com. He was apparently referring to a series of federal media ownership rules that were either dismantled or rewritten by the FCC last June, much to the benefit of large media companies. The new rules are on hold pending the outcome of a court case brought against the FCC by the Prometheus Radio Project and the Media Access Project.
Speaking on the campaign trail in New Hampshire, Clark told an AdAge.com reporter that media consolidation “is damaging to putting out diverse opinions and fostering public dialogue. … We need to distribute the ownership in media. We need to have the fairness in broadcasting rules put back in place.”
Last fall, former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean said he would work to reign in the power of conglomerates that dominate both the production and distribution of news and entertainment.
Ohio Congressman Dennis Kucinich has also made media reform part of his campaign platform, issuing a proposal to reinstate media ownership limits and promote the growth of non-commercial, community-based media.
