Westmiller On Abortion

Abortion

I support a woman's right to life and control over her own body.
I oppose the use of taxes to pay for any abortion.

The central political issue is whether a fetus is a legal person. If it is, then it would have all the same rights to life, liberty and happiness as any other legal person. Which means that killing the fetus by abortion would have to be considered premeditated, first-degree murder on the part of the prospective mother and accomplice to murder for the doctor. The only just response to this kind of heinous crime, if it is to be a crime, is capital punishment. To date, I've met very few people who support capital punishment for women who commit abortions. Therefore, in most everyone's mind, there is little doubt that a fetus is not a legal person.
With thirteen years of Catholic education, I understand the moral wrong of lightly terminating a pregnancy. Both men and women should take responsibility for their sexual conduct. There is no doubt that abortion is killing a human life, but there is also no doubt about a woman's right, as a legal person, to control her life and make choices about her own body. Nearly everyone agrees that women who are victims of rape, incest or critical health risks have that right. But, the basic issue is not how a woman was impregnated, or a balance of rights between two legal persons, but whether she chooses to spend her life carrying a fetus to term and raising a child.
There is only one caveat to a woman's right to choose: informed consent. A minor cannot, by legal definition, consent to drastic surgery, much less the obligations of parenthood. Therefore, it may be appropriate for states to require the consent of parents or adult guardians before an abortion is performed. In no case should states or the federal government erect barriers to adoption.
Under no circumstances should the government support, encourage, subsidize or promote abortions. Aside from being an unconstitutional exercise of federal power, no taxpayer should be obligated to finance any conduct which they consider immoral. Therefore, I will oppose any and all financial incentives (or disincentives) related to 'family planning'. It's simply none of the federal government's business.
My opponent, on the other hand, has consistently supported all forms of 'family planning' programs funded by the federal government, including financing of abortions.
Brad Sherman is a co-sponsor of at least two bills that would extend federal financing of abortion: HR411, which would pay for Armed Services abortions and HJRes36, which would eliminate the restrictions on United National abortion services. He has also co-sponsored HRes46, which would eliminate the existing barriers on federal 'family planning' services.
Late term or 'partial birth' abortions are horrendous, usually unnecessary and occasionally come close to the line. However close to birth it might be, an abortion is still not infanticide. States may appropriately guard against abuses in the third trimester, but the federal government should respect the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision. While flawed in some respects, this ruling is a consolidation of the best legal and scientific views on abortion.