Conservatives Hopeful McCain Will Change His "Exceptions" Abortion Stance

Washington, D.C (AHN) -- Republican presidential John McCain may be called a flip-flopper if he changes his stance on the Pro-Life Plank that conservative republicans often consider one of the most important issues in U.S. government.

In the past, McCain has said that while he is pro-life, he does think there should be exceptions in cases of rape, incest, or if there is a risk to the mother's health. Now, that he has secured the candidacy for the Republican party, some think he may retract those statements to win the votes of conservative voters.

A report by ABC News said that McCain has not spoken about the abortion issue since he secured the nomination for president, but April 2007 he expressed a desire to change the blanket policy that the current administration has in place, which is that abortions should not be allowed for any reason.

According to the ABC News article, Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., the co-chairman of McCain's Justice Advisory Committee, said he doesn't think McCain will stick to his guns on the issue because so much of his support comes from those who would like to see the current status-quo within the republican party stay the same.

Brownback was quoted saying, "There are going to be a number of people supporting his nomination that want that plank left exactly as it is," he said. "They're going to be a strong majority." Brownback is a leading abortion rights opponent.

While leaving the plank as it is may satisfy conservatives, it will likely not win the votes of moderates, who see the exceptions and not only acceptable, but necessary.

Jennifer Blei Stockman, the co-chairwoman of Republican Majority for Choice was quoted in the ABC article as saying, "If he doesn't change the platform, then he's being the same kind of hypocrite that he accused Bush of being in 2000. To not accept abortion in cases of rape and incest, give me a break. That's sick. That's inhumane."

"And the life of the mother?" she added. "These are things that we can't even put our arms around because they are so inhumane."

In 2000 when McCain ran against George W. Bush in the presidential election, he accused Bush of being a hypocrite.

McCain said to Bush in a televised roundtable debate, "Your position is that you believe there [should be] an exemption for rape, incest and life of the mother, but you want the platform that you're supposed to be leading to have no exemptions."

Now it remains to be seen whether McCain will support the current no exceptions plank, or will change the plank, allowing the exceptions he has said he believes should be in place to be part of the policy.

In Jan. 2000 The Boston Globe reported that "McCain said he thought Roe v. Wade should be overturned and said he would support exceptions to a ban on abortion in cases of rape, incest, and when the mother's life is in danger."