Nixon on Abortion
June 24, 2009
“There are times when an abortion is necessary. I know that. When you have a black and a white,” — Nixon.
Two intrinsic evils in one pithy statement.
22 Comments
Comments are closed.
Catholic perspectives on culture, society, and politics
Blog Associations
Site Counter
Ad Free
Ah, yes, imagine what he would have thought of President Obama.
He did, however, give several great speeches at Catholic colleges.
Hmm, he shares one intrinsic evil in common with our current Abortionist-in-Chief.
Did anyone read the rest of the tape note. Chuck Colson makes a statement that appears positive toward abortion. This of course was before his conversion.
Cmatt, save your Limbaugh-esque rhetoric for other places.
As has been observed by a number of writers, at the time of Roe abortion rights in many ways had a more logical home in the Republican Party than the Democratic one.
The story of how Christian conservatives took over the GOP while Catholic democrats threw the door wide open to the abortion rights lobby is all post-Nixon history.
What’s shocking is not so much that Nixon said something despicable (are we surprised?) but that his political opponents have so thoroughly taken on his worldview in the decades since.
Well, I don’t see any mainstream politician proclaiming that abortion is virtuous in certain circumstances. I know that distinction is not made often in various circles, but it is still a distinction that needs to be made.
I think Nixon’s view comes directly from one strand in American history that I believe was inspired by Calvinism — strong white protestant Christians were superior to blacks, native Americans, immigrants, and the physically and mentally disabled. And yes, the “progressive” movement in America (eugenics, anybody?) came out of this as much as the more reactionary side.
Thankfully, we don’t see these arguments made in public any more (though I think they may be still made behind closed doors in parts of the south in particular).
So what changed? I think the Democratic party moved away from promoting the economic common good to the individual “rights” of each different interest group. I believe the Republican party adopted the issue of abortion as a Trojan horse to hide their rather dubious agenda, especially on the economic side (where, ironically, they were taken over by the very same individualist ideology that was affecting the Democratic party in other ways).
I don’t see any mainstream politician proclaiming that abortion is virtuous in certain circumstances.
Nixon didn’t proclaim that abortion was virtuous in certain circumstances. He said it was “necessary” and he said so privately. Given some of Obama’s public statements on the issue (e.g. that he wouldn’t want his daughters “punished with a baby”) it strikes me as being highly naive to think that Obama hasn’t made similar statements privately (obviously I don’t think he shares Nixons views on interracial pregnancies).
Given some of Obama’s public statements on the issue (e.g. that he wouldn’t want his daughters “punished with a baby”)
As has been pointed out enough times that it shouldn’t have to be pointed out again, Obama was talking about teaching young people about the use of contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of STDs. He was not saying, “If one of my daughters got pregnant, I would want them to have an abortion.”
Nixon was a racist, an anti-Semite, and a liar and a crook. He resigned because it was certain that he would be impeached. I don’t understand why a criticism of Nixon must be met immediately with attacks on Obama.
And remember, Nixon’s “southern strategy” has now reached its zenith (nadir?) — his party is now basically a southern regional party.
MM,
If you had started this thread by posting an odious Nixon quote that had nothing whatsoever to do with abortion, the thread would still have wound up being about Obama and abortion.
Cmatt, save your Limbaugh-esque rhetoric for other places.
Why? It is a helpful reminder to pretty much dismiss everything he writes.
David– everything is about Obama and abortion!
“And remember, Nixon’s “southern strategy” has now reached its zenith (nadir?) — his party is now basically a southern regional party.”
Hmmm I can recall a George Wallace running against Nixon. Nixon did the heavy lifting on the Civil rights laws in the South . That should not be forgotten
Even Oliver Stone in his Movie recogized that
Oh and by the way looking at pools I am not sure the GOP is at all a regionbal party.
David Nickol Says June 24, 2009 at 2:18 pm
“As has been pointed out enough times that it shouldn’t have to be pointed out again, Obama was talking about teaching young people about the use of contraceptives to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of STDs. He was not saying, “If one of my daughters got pregnant, I would want them to have an abortion.”
His words:
“Look, I got two daughters — 9 years old and 6 years old,” he said. “I am going to teach them first about values and morals, but if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby. I don’t want them punished with an STD at age 16, so it doesn’t make sense to not give them information.”
“Punished with a baby”… Speaks for itself, no?
You must be careful not tread down Kmiec Way.
“Nixon was a racist, an anti-Semite, and a liar and a crook. He resigned because it was certain that he would be impeached. I don’t understand why a criticism of Nixon must be met immediately with attacks on Obama.”
I wonder if Harry Truman comments were recorded or FDR’s if there would be a different outlook.
I wonder if every telphone call and every shoot the bull coversation I and other posters and comment people on here had on here were made public how would we look
When I converted to Catholcism I loved the Sacrament of Confession. There seemed to be realization among Catholics how in our secret lives we all fell short of the mark
Despite what I am seeing here I hope that has not changed
One other thought
I a tape came up with Harry Truman talking about those darn “ni***rs”. Would that make all his action on intergrating the Armed Forces mute? I think not. But people can disagree
Was Nixon an anti Semite? How was this reflected in his policies and his administration. Is not what should be clebrated is they enacted the common good Despite their flaws?
Maybe I have a different view of politics
“Punished with a baby”… Speaks for itself, no?
No, not if you are trying to make it about abortion rather than contraception. A more complete quote, putting what you quoted in context follows:
Finally, something we can agree on: Nixon was a despicable ass.
Oh and by the way looking at [polls] I am not sure the GOP is at all a [regional] party.
Yeah, great job at Republican outreach in Argentina.
Y’all should read the stories about Natl. Security Study Memorandum 200, in which Nixon’s SoS Kissinger called abortion “vital to the solution” of population growth.
Check out Maafa21, for more racist Nixon Quotes and Eye opening documentation on Abortion and Black Genocide.
http://www.maafa21.com