and who was the nitwit that said Kerry wasn't a flip-flopper
Life begins at conception, Kerry says
By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff | July 5, 2004
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa -- Amid a three-day bus tour in which he highlighted his values and cast himself as an acceptable alternative for conservative voters, John F. Kerry was quoted yesterday as saying he believes life begins at conception, but continues to favor abortion rights.
The Roman Catholic Church, of which Kerry is a member, teaches that life begins at conception, and thus abortion should be opposed. Kerry's refusal to adhere to the latter portion of the teachings has prompted some conservative prelates to declare they would deny him Communion. Yesterday, President Bush's reelection committee cast Kerry's most recent comments as an attempt to appease critics at a time when he is trying to broaden his support among moderate and Independent voters.
''Vatican II is very clear. There is something called freedom of conscience in the Catholic Church," Kerry told the Telegraph Herald of Dubuque in a story in its Sunday editions. ''I oppose abortion, personally. I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception. But I can't take my Catholic belief, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant or a Jew or an atheist . . . who doesn't share it. We have separation of church and state in the United States of America."
While Kerry, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, has previously mentioned his personal discomfort with abortion, a database search of newspaper stories failed to find any previous reference to him saying that he believed life began at conception. A campaign spokeswoman said she also was unaware of him making the comment previously.
It is that belief among conservatives both in and out of his church that leads them to oppose not only abortion, but also stem cell research -- which Kerry has said he favors and which Bush supports only in a limited fashion.
''John Kerry's ridiculous claim to hold 'conservative values,' and his willingness to change his beliefs to fit his audience, betrays a startling lack of conviction on important issues like abortion that will make it difficult for voters to give him their trust," said Bush-Cheney spokesman Steve Schmidt.
Meanwhile, Kerry campaigned side-by-side yesterday with Tom Vilsack, although neither he nor the Iowa governor acknowledged speculation that Kerry may tap Vilsack to be his running mate.
The two marched in a parade in Cascade, played baseball at the ''Field of Dreams" ballpark, and then indulged in a Fourth of July barbecue here, yet Vilsack refused comment on the vice presidential speculation, while Kerry similarly refused to speak about a process he has labeled personal and private.
One report sent a buzz through the caravan that carried him across the Midwest since Friday. The ABC News online political newsletter ''The Note" reported that Kerry held a late-night meeting last Thursday at the Washington home of former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright and that the person he favors for his running mate attended. The newsletter said that in checking the schedule of Kerry's prospective running mates, only Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri was in town.
The campaign appears poised to make the announcement tomorrow morning in Pittsburgh, where Kerry's staff has taken the exceptional step of asking television crews if they want to arrange live broadcasts from what is being depicted on the schedule as a routine political rally.
Life begins at conception, Kerry says
By Glen Johnson, Globe Staff | July 5, 2004
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa -- Amid a three-day bus tour in which he highlighted his values and cast himself as an acceptable alternative for conservative voters, John F. Kerry was quoted yesterday as saying he believes life begins at conception, but continues to favor abortion rights.
The Roman Catholic Church, of which Kerry is a member, teaches that life begins at conception, and thus abortion should be opposed. Kerry's refusal to adhere to the latter portion of the teachings has prompted some conservative prelates to declare they would deny him Communion. Yesterday, President Bush's reelection committee cast Kerry's most recent comments as an attempt to appease critics at a time when he is trying to broaden his support among moderate and Independent voters.
''Vatican II is very clear. There is something called freedom of conscience in the Catholic Church," Kerry told the Telegraph Herald of Dubuque in a story in its Sunday editions. ''I oppose abortion, personally. I don't like abortion. I believe life does begin at conception. But I can't take my Catholic belief, my article of faith, and legislate it on a Protestant or a Jew or an atheist . . . who doesn't share it. We have separation of church and state in the United States of America."
While Kerry, the presumed Democratic presidential nominee, has previously mentioned his personal discomfort with abortion, a database search of newspaper stories failed to find any previous reference to him saying that he believed life began at conception. A campaign spokeswoman said she also was unaware of him making the comment previously.
It is that belief among conservatives both in and out of his church that leads them to oppose not only abortion, but also stem cell research -- which Kerry has said he favors and which Bush supports only in a limited fashion.
''John Kerry's ridiculous claim to hold 'conservative values,' and his willingness to change his beliefs to fit his audience, betrays a startling lack of conviction on important issues like abortion that will make it difficult for voters to give him their trust," said Bush-Cheney spokesman Steve Schmidt.
Meanwhile, Kerry campaigned side-by-side yesterday with Tom Vilsack, although neither he nor the Iowa governor acknowledged speculation that Kerry may tap Vilsack to be his running mate.
The two marched in a parade in Cascade, played baseball at the ''Field of Dreams" ballpark, and then indulged in a Fourth of July barbecue here, yet Vilsack refused comment on the vice presidential speculation, while Kerry similarly refused to speak about a process he has labeled personal and private.
One report sent a buzz through the caravan that carried him across the Midwest since Friday. The ABC News online political newsletter ''The Note" reported that Kerry held a late-night meeting last Thursday at the Washington home of former secretary of state Madeleine K. Albright and that the person he favors for his running mate attended. The newsletter said that in checking the schedule of Kerry's prospective running mates, only Representative Richard A. Gephardt of Missouri was in town.
The campaign appears poised to make the announcement tomorrow morning in Pittsburgh, where Kerry's staff has taken the exceptional step of asking television crews if they want to arrange live broadcasts from what is being depicted on the schedule as a routine political rally.
