Stephen Taylor believes he just found the magic solution:
Here’s what the Conservatives might say about Michael Ignatieff’s flirtation with abortion policy,
“Mr. Ignatieff doesn’t seem to realize that in the past 34 years, we Canadians closed the divisive debate on abortion in this country. This topic has split families and the debate has caused heartache for countless Canadians. We are saddened by Mr. Ignatieff’s attempt to reopen the topic for discussion and to callously use the philosophical debate over life and the exercise of reproductive rights as a political football to be tossed about carelessly.
Mr. Ignatieff we’ve moved past this. We will not allow you to bring the American-style politics of abortion to this country as a wedge issue to divide Canadians.
Canadians that we’re consulting these days are concerned about jobs and the economic recovery. While Mr. Ignatieff wants to hold university style seminar discussions about abortion, we’re focused on phase II of our Economic Action Plan.”
So winning now means giving up? Orwell would be proud.
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Chet says
Taylor is a coward, as are all of the people that work at the PMO. Notice how they have systematically refused to support a pro life stance.
They have sold out the group of people who elected them.
Melissa says
I think, personally, that they should take the incrementalist approach. What if Stephen Harper were to develop a Conservative position on abortion, like that of, say Britain, where two doctors have to agree that continuing the pregnancy would be more detrimental to the mother than abortion would be? And maybe restricting it to the first trimester, mandating informed consent and parental notification in the abortion of a minor?
If the Conservatives came back with a platform like that, who would then look like the extremist?
Julie Culshaw says
You’re holding Britain up as an example for Canada to follow? please God, no.
Britain has the highest rate of abortion in Europe, plus the highest rate of teen pregnancy. The country is a moral quagmire.
I don’t think anyone should look to Britain as an example in anything these days.
SUZANNE says
I think that we should try to get Ignatieff talk some more. Canadians aren’t pro-life, but they’re not keen on abortion either.
Keep talking Mr. Ignatieff!
Melissa says
Fair point, Julie. Maybe Britain’s law isn’t the best example.
But I do think that putting some restrictions on a woman’s access to abortion would be a good thing. The current status quo is really unacceptable.
So what if the conservatives were to come back with a platform that restricted access to abortion, but didn’t eliminate it entirely. I think that most Canadians could get behind such a platform, at least initially. And then it would be Ignatieff who looks like the extremist.
I’ll always be one who votes to reduce abortions. I would prefer to see them gone entirely, but I don’t think that we can achieve that in one fell swoop. I really do think that the incrementalist approach is the way to go.
Melissa says
Just saw your point Suzanne. Agreed! He seems to be hoisting his own petard.
David says
For Stephen Taylor to say “we’ve moved pass this” meaning that Canadians have more important issues and we don’t see abortion/Pro-Choice/Pro-Life as a current issue is to deny the constant attack against Pro-Life Clubs on University campuses, the significant response to Ignatieff in today’s newspapers and ignores, as the media does, the largest rally every year on Parliament Hill – the March For Life. While Ignatieff is out of touch and grasps for poll numbers and votes if Stephen Taylor really believes that Canadians are only interested in “jobs and economic recover” he is narrow minded at best and debases all Canadians who work for the betterment of others in Canada and elsewhere.